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I had to land a 172 on the beach once. Pretty loud bang and oil everywhere. (It turns out the engine doesn't run very when connecting rod bolts shear.) All I could really do is fly it to the scene of the accident. It was low tide and the sand was pretty compact. I just got it as slow as I could and held the front wheel off as long as I could. The FAA investigator complimented me on my landing. I told her I've had worse. Luckily, it was a cold day in FL and the beach was empty or I would have had to put it in the water. I'm sure that would have ended up on youtube too.

There's one aspect everyone keeps overlooking: you only get one chance in your life to fly fighters, if you're lucky. Definitely not for everyone but, if pay, hours, or lifestyle have anything to do with whether or not you want to join the club, then we don't want you and you probably won't make it anyways. There will be a time when I'm done flying fighters and I'll leave this all behind. I won't miss the long hours, all the hard work, or the stress that is intrinsic to the job. I will miss the flying, shooting the gun, lasing bombs in, Turkey shoots, BFM, roll calls, naming ceremonies, and all the shenanigans with the bros. When the time comes, I'll move on, but I'll really miss all the amazing shit I did with all the amazing people. All the hard work is definitely worth it. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Maybe he really wanted to be a part of the, um, "community of men" in the C-model in the days before the repeal of DADT?

I think the new C-5M still holds the time to climb record and it has 4 jet engines. I can probably talk to your UPT flight Commander if you want... Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

Yep...and I'll be the asshole who says the unpalatable truth: upt studs are likely getting the long rehearsed BGC version from the few fighter pilots who are at UPT because they got "screwed." Things are much different than 5+ years ago, the fighter community cannot afford to send all but the lower performers to an ALFA tour (certainly not the case when I went through). And that's the pool of IPs studs are forming their opinions from/on. I only hope there are enough older reservists around who don't fall into this category, but I have a feeling that's not the case/they're part time, so exposure is limited with those guys. Caveat: I realize this is a general statement, not saying every single dude falls in this category, but you're lying to yourself if you don't think most fall into it, for the current time period at least.

This is like your friend getting dumped by the crazy chick who was cheating on him...in hindsight it'll be the best thing that could've happened. If he can't cut it in fighters then he'll go to a heavy anyhow. All the shit talking going on by fighter pilots making it "seem" undesired and rubbing off on uniformed naive students can only really be interpreted by fighter pilots who know what it's about...it still beats 96.69% of jobs out there. Sent from my iPhone using Baseops Network Forums

This is still the case unfortunately, there have been at least 3 instances in FY 17 drops here at Sheppard so far. In one case the student wanted the C-17 but was so low in the class the three C-17s available were already taken and the stud ended up getting a Viper because that's all that was left...

We're having another board. Same info for applying. Hoping to have the board in October. Come visit! Aug Drill: 4-6 Sep Drill: 8-10

we were rtb to Eglin that day and saw you guys land, solid work man. Too bad nobody got a pod on until after you were stopped, that would have been some good video to send over. Small world...

I remember being at my first drop at ENJJPT 10 years ago as a bright eyed casual awaiting pilot training and watching a grown man cry in stage because he really wanted to fly C models and got a Viper. Fast forward 6 months later and half the class was getting predators. It's all about perspective.

But has space not become such a vast and growing domain (much like air power in WW2), that it doesn't warrant it's own service? I think it's arguable the AF is not much different from the Army post-WW2 in wanting to keep a hold of all the toys, but doesn't have the capacity to use/develop those toys to their fullest capabilities. Thank god we became our own service, because in 2017 the Army still showcases daily how fucking retarded they are with the use of air power. I wouldn't be surprised to hear some space guys say the same thing about their current services. I say let them become their own service. The con is the asspain of joint coordination (by the way, coordinating space effects today is a metric asspain, so it's not like we're losing easy coord capes by shedding space), but the pros of better space capability/future ingenuity and taking that domain off the AF plate = more focus on AIR domain is more than worth it. I like the space nerds, they do great things, so this isn't flicking a booger, it's making all of us better/stronger in our true areas of expertise. And for fuck's sake, let's not be like the Army and act like we know best how to do everything...everyone stay in your lane and we'd be way better off as a military in general. FYI, that comment is not directed at the bros doing the J-O-B.

I had to go to a beach once. To do beach things, and thats about I'll I've got……good job!

Considering the dick dance done over intra-theatre transport, ISR, and Ballistic Missile Defense, etc.... I don't see how you could watch the services come to the table in front of Congress arguing they need job X over service Y and come to any other conclusion.

Nice job

Fantastic article, well thought out and supported by facts. It will therefore be dismissed out of hand by out General Officers, because it's "not how they did it."

https://foreignpolicy.com/2017/07/03/the-air-force-fumbles-a-post-mortem-on-the-recent-promotion-board-for-lt-colonels/ Just choose reader view if the site wants you to register.

Trying to get rid of that ridiculous cat jacket picture. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Whatever you end up flying is the best airplane in the Air Force.

It's an assignment, just like any other. Plenty of guys wanting fighters get non-vol'd to Buffs, Awacs, C-130s, and everything seems to work out just fine. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

air medal = free license plate? count me not interested. im getting turned off by the veteran = instant "hero" culture

When I login to USAA and search for the word "limitless," it's there in the first return. It does say "online pilot, limited availability" so YMMV depending on what that means. I have the card already, so ops checks good in Tennessee.

Wait.. Did you just change your name AND your gender?