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The pilot of that Luscombe was my good friend. I'd known him 19 years and had flown that Luscombe with him. We took a T-38 to Oshkosh a few years back. Aviation... all facets... was his passion. You always hear about guys that will do anything for you; guys that are always the bright spot in your day; guys with an eternally optimistic attitude. Spanky really was that guy. He was an amazing pilot. And an even better father and person. He always cared about his fellow man. After being a T-38 FAIP, a tour in the B-52, and a staff tour, Spanky applied for the SR-71 in 1997: they were hiring one... only one... pilot that year, from the hundreds of applicants. Spanky beat out everyone and was hired. He showed up at Edwards to start training, but four days later, Pres Clinton killed the SR program. Three days later, Spanky is at Beale to fly the U-2 interview flights. Five days later, he is hired to the U-2 Program and has to get a SecAF waiver for two PCS' in 2 weeks. He became my neighbor on base. When I first met him, I knew he was about 35, but he looked barely 21. I gave him his T-38 checkride on 23 Dec 1997. Friends ever since. He was the deployed U-2 squadron commander in Saudi before the war kicked off in 2003. I replaced him at the end of his tour. He elected not to go the professional pilot route after retirement, but was always super active in GA, EAA, and teaching his kids about aviation. The fact that Tim perished too is just crushing. So very tragic. He was loved by all that ever met him. God bless you, Spanky.

that's because he's a dick.

There is such a huge split between the Rated and Non-rated Officer Career fields. You get your first real good picture of that while at SOS. I went there already feeling jaded at the system, ops tempo and leadership in the Ops world. Even back then before the airlines were hiring, I knew few pilots who were planning on staying in. Imagine my surprise when I found out that a ton of Officers in the AF couldn't be happier. Working 9-5 (sometimes), deploying maybe once in their career (The Deid BPC) and making almost six figures. These dudes were happy. Their biggest problems were what they needed to do to make the next Wing Quarterlies... When they told me what their job consisted of, a report, updating some slides now and then, EPRs, etc. I realized that we were in two completely different military organizations and they would never quite get it. Before anyone jumps off a cliff, I know some other non-rated career fields have it tougher. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Almost every payment or budget item in the government should be pegged to chained CPI to account for inflation. So often programs or departments or specific payments erode over time simply due to bureaucratic and legislative inaction and gridlock. Even when the intent is not to cut, cuts take place because dollar amounts don't matter much, purchasing power is what matters. If legislators want to cut budgets, great, but make them vote for cuts rather than allowing them to slowly and silently enact cuts by just failing to allow payments to keep up with inflation.

https://www.kens5.com/mb/news/local/plane-crash-reported-in-mckinney/381002833 Lt Col (Ret) Gregory "Spanky" Barber, a U-2 pilot, and C4C Tim Barber died when their aircraft was struck by another allegedly doing aerobatics immediately after takeoff.

6-9 years ago was a different AF....if you go thru 38s today, I'd expect a fighter. That being said, if you want a u28 talk to your flt cc in t-6s early so they can guide you. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

True story. Where they want to rank the failed-out-of-wic guy behind joe bagodonuts finance guy because he didn't pass training.

McCain could pick any number of actual monetary abuses in the DOD, but instead picks one that will impact compensation for the military members. It's as if he's so senile as to have forgotten that he was once in these shoes.

Judging by how many bright and shiny "HPO" IDE-selects (you know, the future CCs the AF so desperately needs to fix this mess) are 7-day opting out of IDE... you're not the only one who isn't motivated by command.

MDG can't support one of their core functions, so some ops guy should do it...where the fuck are Wing Commanders who actually have balls and crush this kind of bullshit? Wait, doing actually leading may jeopardize their "upward mobility," so never mind, nothing to see here.

Agreed, but apparently some folks here don't. So why would you say two in one cockpit is more advantageous than two single pilot aircraft?

No place better to wish everyone a very merry Christmas than in the Squadron Bar! I hope everyone is able to spend the day with friends and family, and for those of you who cannot, please be safe wherever you are and know we appreciate your service and sacrifice! Cheers! M2

Sooo, I got whisky and books. Guess my family has figured me out.

Hello everyone I've got a new website up that is an alternative to guardreservejobs. It's goes out and searches all the reserve/guard units webpages and gets the jobs directly from there so to save all of us the cumbersome task of going to each website individually. Give it a look! Any feedback would be awesome and you can find my email on the contact page of the website. https://afpilotjobs.com/

You guys done circle jerking yet?

Hair's frizzy on left side of her head. Right shoulder isn't round enough. Crease in bottom lip. 2/10, Would not bang.

Guys, let's be realistic about this. She probably gets cracker crumbs in the bed sheets and I bet she uses the express lanes at the grocery store with a full cart of produce. I'll pass.

Merry Christmas! Seasons Greetings! Happy Kwanzaa! Blessed Eid! Happy Hanukkah! If any of that offends you.... Fuck you and Merry Christmas!

FYI casuals are not really useless anymore. APTers (casual studs) are crew chiefs, admin across the base, and working actively. You can take leave but I don't want people thinking the aren't doing anything for months on end. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk