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T-X projected for IOC 2024, with IFF getting the first jets, followed by AETC....contract award was supposed to be June, then July, now it's almost September...we'll see. AETC has a real problem...the math doesn't work for them. Trying to grow their way out of a pilot shortage by upping production, while balancing hours on the C model fleet. The only answer is to cut the syllabus and fly less per student (aka lower standards), hoping that innovative things like VR training can make up the difference. With the A model, I don't know Huggy, I think we're starting to hit the exponential snowball of failing components sooner that the SPO projected. The MTBF is decreasing on lots of components, harder and harder to keep Code 1 jets on the line. They (the SPO) have a plan on phasing the A models in for something called the TRIM mod. Which is basically a light weight version of the Pacer Classic 3 mods on the C model to beef up the structure and extend their structural life. A models have never been cracked open, only x-ray'd and other NDI during phase, so we don't exactly know how bad they are from a structural standpoint. Gearbox issues are becoming a problem for the As too...and the other elephant in the room is avionics. We're laughable as an IFR platform. Not on track to meet the 2020 ADS-B either (like everyone else). Multiple jets down right now for HSI problems. Dual UHF radio is a joke. TACAN decommissioning all over the place, no ability to navigate point to point (Thank you Steve Jobs for iPads). Meanwhile NASA is upgrading their avionics...again. My time is being spent right now trying to convince the frozen middle at ACC that this is important and we need to spend a few dollars to make these things last for 10-15 more years.

Her fiance really dodged a bullet on that one!

$400 for top of the line reliable equipment you will use every flight is a STEAL. FF + iPad combo is a no brainer. If you own your own plane what’s another few hundred bucks for peace of mind?

*points to 308 beam crack* SPO: "That little guy? I wouldn't worry about that little guy"

Hell of a good farewell statement by someone I didn’t always agree with politically, but whom I greatly respect as an American. 🇺🇸

+1...not just you. But to be frank it's usually men that perpetuate their behavior. All it takes is one to put her in check

Looks like my stats a million years ago. Except change the P98 to P53...... no engineering experience, just the degree, no PPL and no LORs. 😁 That was a lucky pilot slot in ROTC - so, not really the same situation. Seriously, your stats look like you'd be a solid candidate to be hired by an ANG fighter unit. Predicting success in training and actually becoming a fighter pilot is pretty difficult, so there's not much more to say on the info you posted. In the current environment, if you're willing to cast a wide net and you interview well, I would say you have a good shot at getting your foot in the door.

The purpose of the exhaust location here, just like on the Piper Enforcer, is to hide it from any low-aspect IR-SAM or MANPAD with the wing. There is also a secondary "blown wing" effect by putting the exhaust over the top and increasing lift. On a different subject, the reason this thing is a non-starter is that long-assed nose. It is the same problem the Piper Enforcer had, lookdown angle needed for dropping gravity ordnance. Most fighters have a lookdown angle of about 15 degrees...and this pig doesn't. The PA-48 Enforcer had a lookdown over the nose of about 5 degrees. So, you can't see the target through a HUD at the moment of pickle. Kind of a bummer for a dedicated ground attack airplane. That's one of the main reasons the PA-48 was a bust in the 70s and 80s (it was tested out by the AF twice, and rejected twice). And it is the big reason for the short nose and jacked-up cockpit angle on the A-29.

Update: Finally received the FC1 stamp this week. Looks like a solid 2 months for planning (or just waiting and thumb-twiddling) purposes. Reported to Wright-Patt 6/25

Northrop had it pegged at 8k hours iirc. We're circa 18K in most of the PIT/UPT fleet. IFF as mentioned before, are bent to sH@t. About the only thing that appeases me about my career airframe, is that seat.

Yup that's ACC's plan for now. As the T-X comes online, ACC will take over as lead command for the T-38. CTPs will get C models, ADAIR will absorb the remaining A models (They don't want C models b/c the performance is worse due to PMP...18 deg NL to sustain 5G). I don't think anyone at ACC really knows what the future of ADAIR will be. There's lots talk of contract ADAIR too. T-X seems like a fantastic platform for ADAIR...cheap, relative to F-22 or F-35 flight hours...can simulate just about anything you want on the avionics, so 5th gen guys could train to their respective platforms. But...I predict ACC will, as per usual, shoot themselves in the dick and not buy it. Let's get that contract or reserve CTP IP force going...get you back in the game! I love the A model...but she just needs some attention. At least we're putting up sunshades at Beale to stop them from baking in the sun. Not sure on the final cost of the MB seat...rough number I heard was $1 million / jet. At the end of the day though that seat has saved 4 dudes in the past year. Should've been 5 unfortunately. But that's the stupidity of it all...we'll spend all kinds of money on stupid shit, and then refuse to do simple things, like put in a seat armed light, or an ISS position light...or a speed brake light in the A model.

Backing up with @JustHangingOut said. My unit is currently working on my waiver and OTS packet, but I’m still wrapping up with the recruiter and haven’t sworn in yet. Hell, haven’t even heard it mentioned or gotten a timeframe. Someone else I spoke with that was hired ANG was still waiting on their packet at NGB (can’t remember if they needed a waiver or not), but they were definitely still in the process/without dates and sworn in/attending drill weekends. YMMV by the unit, but that’s the gist I’ve gotten. Actually, I’m curious if what would happen if something happened with the process and the waiver or packet was kicked back and UPT became off the table?

FF is the gold standard. I'd hold off on making an iPad purchase (esp a Mini) until after the next Apple announcement (Sep/Oct time frame)...they are likely to update the product line and if a Mini 5 drops, get that. If the Mini goes away or doesn't get updated, get a 9.7. Highly recommend you get the cell enabled iPad...WiFi only does not have GPS. You'll still want to connect it to a Stratus or Sentry or other external GPS, but it's nice to have that backup GPS just built in just in case. Plenty of documented cases of dudes making it home on iPad/FF alone during electrical failures or other EPs...do it right, you'll be happy. You get what you pay for.

Wing-X pro is free for Mil and CFIs. I used ForeFlight for two years before switching to Wing-X for the savings. Little different, but I can’t say I’m missing FF.

I saw the T-46 articles posted by AvGeekery, but I had never really looked into the JPATS competition. Looks like we had the JPATS because the T-46 never went in to production. The Cessna jet looks like it would have made a great trainer. Leave it to the Navy to screw up a good thing. https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/cessnas-defunct-jet-trainer-was-a-rich-wannabe-fighter-1729767897

Only 3 countries in the G20 have a higher percentage than us in the debt to GDP category: Japan, Italy, and Singapore. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/government-debt-to-gdp

You're trying to have your cake and eat it too. The redistributive policies you call for, the decrying of hoarded wealth... What exactly do YOU think socialism is? Social policy (good): You can't kick me out of your restaurant because I'm black or gay. Regulation (good): Credit card companies must make clear the fees and rates before a customer signs a contract. Socialism: The results of your labor will be seized and given to those with less to create a more equal outcome. You hide behind words like "rights" and "taking care." But healthcare and retirement funds are not rights. Not in the Constitution, the Bible, nor in nature. They are socialist policy. I get what you're saying. The concept is simple, that's why so many people like it. I even agree with it, life should be fair. But it's not, and I'm not willing to flip the table over to force it, when, for the millionth time, every historical example we have shows that what you want leads to chaos. This isn't some artifact of human ambition. This is the natural law of the universe. The Pareto principal is inescapable. Artists, pea pods, galaxies, software bugs, customer sales, sports, fitness... A small proportion (10-20%) will always command a bulk of the resources, and yield a bulk of the production. The most tired of all socialist claims. "All those example you cited about how socialist efforts failed miserably are just examples of people doing it wrong! I know the RIGHT way to do it!" By the way, you haven't addressed your claim about needing to be the child of wealth-hoarding parents in America to strike it rich. Shall we hit that or just repeat your point that you hate socialism too, but here are a bunch of socialist policies I support but they're totally not socialism because socialism is bad guys, I swear?

LAFB 18-14 DROP T-38 F-16 x 2 TBD F-15E Seymour Johnson T-38 FAIP Laughlin T-6 FAIP Laughlin B-52 Barksdale T-1 U-28 Hurlburt C-17 Dover C-17 Hickam C-17 McGuire C-17 Charlston AFRC C-17 Elmendorf ANG E-8 x 2 Robins ANG MC-12 Will Rodgers ANG KC-135 Pittsburgh ANG

While the T-38 is older than you want, don't try to make this an issue. AETC pushed the C-model. Lots of "new shit" on the jet. The got what they asked for. The millions of $$$ spent on the PMP and the MB seat (how many millions???) would have been useful elsewhere. A-models with 21,000 hours are doing pretty well from a safety viewpoint. Yes, the fleet needs to be replaced. No argument there. No: Paul's jet having dual airframe-mounted gearbox failures is more a function of shitty maintenance than anything else. As a retiree, I'm not "in the know" as much as I'd like to be on his death. Yet. But I'd gladly jump in ANY Beale T-38 and go fly it. Because Beale has some quality guys working those jets. And I'll continue to fly the civilian T-38 without any qualms. It's well maintained, and the seat is solid, in the unlikely event I need it. T-38 crashes should have no bearing on T-X timeline. It should be based on the fact we need an upgraded trainer for our future F-22 and F-35 pilots.

no answers? No. No leadership.

Someone needs to make a god damn decision with conviction and big brass ones and make it happen....their career be damned . Too much talk and studies and talk and more studies. Act.

You don't have any chance and I hope for your own sake you didn't even apply and embarrass yourself.

I'm confused. Are they the 1% or are they lowly minimum wage servants? I think you've completely forget that athletes have always been outspoken and played major roles in conversation about racial discrimination in our society. Jackie Robinson said he wouldn't sing the anthem or salute the flag because of the racism he faced in society. Jessie Owens wasn't outspoken publicly but he certainly contributed to the debate. Tommie Smith and the other black sprinter made the black power fist on the olympics to raise awareness about oppression. Mohammed Ali wouldn't go fight for America because a Vietnamese soldier never called him the n word. Pay attention, this has happened for decades. I bet you would love for them to shut up, but probably like to hear Ted Nugent's latest opinions on foreign policy on fox news each week, because he's more qualified than a Stanford educated athlete. Just say you don't agree with their views instead of taking the cowardly way out and refusing to even discuss the problem at it's merits. Athletes are raising awareness that unarmed black citizens, who are legally presumed innocent, are executed by police at a rate 2.5 times more frequently than white men. Why are you so scared to discuss that issue? Why are you saying that kneeling is more disrespectful than some guy who wants to use that precious symbol to decorate his sleeveless tap out shirt?