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Some people can figure it out in a .8. For others, it takes a 3.1 hour sortie and an additional person to lower the gear. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would disagree with you. It is so much more than just a trainer. Designed in the 1950s, it has done a fantastic job for 50 years in transitioning pilots to supersonic fighters, and a myriad of high-performance heavies and bombers. NASA astronaut trainers, USAF and Navy TPS usage, test squadron aircraft for chasing cruise missiles on low levels. And most recently, a jet used to save hundreds of thousands of dollars in its F-22 adversary support role. Versatile... and impressive. Did you know it briefly held the time to climb record in 1963? And be thankful: had the T-38 not been selected, it would have been an F-100 variant. I'd bet we wouldn't be flying those anymore. When it came to getting out of Del Rio, Randolph, or Beale on the weekend, the "two-engine, twin-turbine, JP-8 slurpin', dual afterburnin', supersonic bar hopping machine" was the perfect steed. I met a lot of people as a result of the T-38. Even flew six sorties with Steve Ritchie. I got 5 rides in the T-38 in college; solo'd it in 1985; flew it all over the U.S. in some very challenging conditions, and on gorgeous VFR legs through the Sierra and the Rockies; flew my fini flight on 24 Sept 2014. Some trips were solo, some were with my favorite people. Loved it every time I got in it. And I am a substantially better pilot today because of all the sorties I flew in that jet. I've got over 100 types of aircraft in my logbook, including 8 sorties in the Viper (one from the front seat), a smattering in the Eagle, two in the T-45, three in the A-4,... F-18B, F-18F... and plenty more. From my perspective, looking at those other 100 types I've gotten stick time in, the T-38 is pretty impressive. F16 capabilities? Nope. But just because you're married to a Brazilian supermodel doesn't mean every other woman is a let down. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I'll get in touch with some Minot bros. I haven't seen it floating around Barksdale, but the northern tier bubbas seem to have them periodically.

Nah, he needs to go to trng first. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Trumps a wildcard and she should be in jail, nsplayr for pres?

Yeah I will eventually go there out of uniform possibly for a social gathering. I will be on orders for that visit I mentioned so I don’t know how that would play out.

Completely on the ground of aesthetics.... They screwed up not locking the tails in a neutral position. Doesn't really mean anything to people familiar with aircraft but from a showmanship standpoint it dirties up that "going fast while standing still" look that a marketing department would be wanting to push. Sorta the same reason you park airplanes with missiles and cool stuff not just wing tanks hanging all over them at arms fairs. It appeals to subconscious elements in potential customers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds like par for the course for the Air Force. Especially during a "pilot retention crisis." I've said it before, what a bloated and slow moving bureaucracy we've become. I realize a lot is controlled by Congress, but maybe they should learn to lead turn a bit. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

So that means there won't be a bonus program for 6 months or the old one stays in effect? Rumors of higher payouts have to be depressing sign up numbers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Naw, lasers are just a space based AAA system. The Empire uses the Big Blue new weapons system procurement model; they have "SAMs" but the missiles are still in the test/development phase awaiting a software update that will be ready "in only a few years". In the mean time, "TAMI'd" Tie Fighter pilots are reassigned to Tatooine...

Dice paid the price for his careerism. I know one of his daughter hates him and refuses to talk to him after she left the house. Couldn't of happened to a nicer guy... Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Alpha, There is some great advice and pros/ cons posted for you here in this thread. I'm just going to pile-on to share my take and opinion since I wasted 20 minuted trying to remember my login password. These are very important decisions that you will need to make and you really should give it very serious consideration. Like others have said, if she is The One, you probably need to put a ring on it. The difference between GF and wife in the military is huge. If she is The One, she deserves to be treated as such especially as you guys enter the military and UPT training. Don't leave her out of this incredible part of your life together. If she is The One, she needs to be prepared to move or drop her school and accompany you. This will become the norm and be one of many sacrifices that she will make. If she is The One, then both of you will be better served by being married and supporting each other though the challenge of UPT and beyond. If she is The One, UPT will be just Chapter One. You can't read a great book and skip the first chapter. Determining whether she truly is The One is obviously the difficult decision that you need to make. If she is The One, then UPT, FTU, your first assignment, your many TDYs/ deployments, you last assignment, the missed Xmas'- birthdays- anniversary's- births- etc, your follow on career, your retirement, and happily ever after's will all be separate chapters in this book of life together. Embrace it...together. While an aspiring young fighter jock can only focus on the near rocks...some of the crusty old dudes here will give you valuable perspective on the far rocks. The comaraderie, experiences, and stories that you will gain from the USAF as a pilot are invaluable. Likewise, the USAF will F¥CK you over repeatedly due to its own bureaucratic ineptitude and failed policies. You will embrace your military service for the rest of your life. Your stories will be a source of pride. Your experiences will be your treasures that you will share repeatedly and joyfully. But, the USAF will very likely be a shorter part of your life than you can imagine now at your young life of about 22 years. I promise that your family is undoubtedly far more valuable than the USAF could ever hope to be. u Chang. This forum has centuries of experience amongst its users. If it wasn't for Hacker and his early internet blog (Road to Wings- pre Bops) I might not be here. You'll get all sorts of perspectives and stories and they each bring such value. There is no right or wrong answer for your situation; the right answer is the one that you decide and act upon, after thorough careful considerations. Here's my story in a shell- My wife and I met when we were too young to drive. After high school, our sporadic younger flings became serious and we took our relationship to a commited level. I felt that she could be The One and acted on it. Together, we spent the next 8 years beginning a life together starting with absolutely nothing but each other. I worked on cars putting myself through college and flight school. My wife and I were a team and she stood by my side, while everyone else mocked my dreams. With toddler age children, I finished college and flight school while working full time and supporting my young family. I poured everything that I had into my OCS (OTS to be correct) package and prayed that I did well enough to be accepted. Thankfully, I knew that if I was not accepted, I had my family and passion to succeed in life however that deck was dealt. I was accepted and obviously my family continued to support me through OTS/ UPT. I absolutely couldn't imagine not having them by my side through training. The hardest challenge that I faced was being away from my family for OTS. UPT was not a problem especially with the support structure that my family provided me. Having young kids allowed me to occasionally disconnect from UPT and training to enjoy life a little bit. That mental break is crucially important. With their support and understanding of my studies, I did very well and finished at the top of my class. I went on to fly fighters and did well. Sadly, I spent many fighter TDYs partying like a young single fighter pilot and I regret that to this day. Why? Because the fighter jet came and went. Guess what stuck with me through thick and thin? Yep. I also saw many fly-by-night marriages that lasted a year or two at best. The military isn't going to take you to great locales...your hometown with your hometown HS sweetheart may be better than some would lead to believe. Fast forward a decade and some... The USAF is lost and spatially D'd. After hundreds of days deployed over non-stop bursts and being sick of the politically correct, social experiment that has become the US military, I punched out of AD. While I cherish my experiences, friendships, and stories, this was such a wise move for both my career and family. Remember the book of life that I spoke of? I'm barely into Chapter 7 now. I left AD and worked for a crazy outfit building crazy airplanes for a while while prioritizing my family. After realizing that my book might end abruptly, I decided that an airline career was a wise choice. 15 years ago I was the most determined wannabe fighter jock in the world. Now I'm a much wiser airline pilot and my family couldn't be happier. I couldn't be happier. I love my wife and she loves me. My kids love me and I would do anything in the world for them. I just took one to college and couldn't be prouder of the young man that my wife, errr.... we raised. I now spend so much time with each and every one of them. So much time. I look forward to every day not because I want to fly to Hawaii or DC, but because of the time that I can spend with those that really matter to me. Aside from a few disturbed weekends here and there, the USAF is nothing but great stories and memories about a time gone by. So...embrace your future. It's amazing and you should be thrilled. You should be proud. If this GF is serious, and you are too, don't exclude her because of cold feet or indecision. If you want to be a fighter pilot then learn now how to be decisive. My story is just one of many. Use the info that you have. And now I'm that I'm out of beer...

I'm sorry, but opening this up to T-1 FAIPs is not even going to dent the problem. Letting MAF dudes go be 11Fs isn't going to fix the problem, giving fighters to every booger eater that goes through UPT certainly won't fix the problem. Poor leadership, poor people management, not truly valuing your people and placing acquisitions priority #1 over your people. Plus for about 3-4 years we almost completely shut the 11F pipeline down. Those year groups would have been your young Maj/Senior Capts/IP types. Now those dudes mostly VSP'd back when they had their 3 opportunities to do so because the AF said "leave, someone will take your place."