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Hard to believe this was 12 years ago. For all of you out there deployed or remote standing watch...you are not alone, you are NOT forgotten. I am grateful for each and everyone of you. God Bless

Nothing that can't be fixed by another "Back to Basics" read file

Negative, that’s just the strawman thrown out by Putin simps to argue that the current Russian state poses no concern at all to Eastern Europe. Riga/Tallinn ≠ Paris. Trump is right that this is a European problem and NATO has atrophied. Europe needs to contribute more and some are starting, but one major weakness of the West is the DIB. We can’t print F-35s or munitions overnight. Our DIB is slow and obsessed with high end. Boeing is a shitshow. While we try to dig out of that hole, we shouldn’t just about-face and leave our NATO partners in the dust. Trump’s approach is anti-Teddy. Instead of speaking softly and carrying a big stick, Trump runs his mouth and serves up TACOs. Maybe it will work. Regardless of his style, appeasing totalitarian heads of state has proven to be as effective as pissing into hurricane-force winds.

One of the better uses of AI I have seen to date. Imagining the old lady as Congress. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DAuJ7XTnC/

Dibs

I know, and am friends with, several great dudes who are WSOs. They’re also smart and very capable human beings. That said, get rid of their positions in totality as aircraft advancements allow. There’s good reason we don’t have FEs on airliners anymore or navs on almost all aircraft models. There was absolutely a time and place, but those days are long gone. Stop trying to force a square peg into a round hole. They all need to accept this fact and move on… retire/get out early and transition to civ employment Shift to a different AFSC USAF reduce WSO production commensurate with current WSO-required aircraft retirements Stop trying to stupidly argue WSOs are required on new aircraft

Was #4 a photo chase?

Complete asshattery. How in the world do you say refused ILLEGAL orders is sedition?

keep telling yourself that. i only see one side offering peace plans.

I think a snapshot in time...and disappointing in many ways. Electing a communist mayor in NYC...an Attorney General in VA that no only called for KILLING his opponent, but also putting a bullet in the head of his opponents kids...that is the new DNC. I really wonder what will happen in the mid-terms with the DNC slipping so far left they are openly supporting socialism and in some cases communism. Seriously, the new leaders are FAR left lunatics. Nancy just tapped out, Schumer is on the ropes. Who is the leader of the DNC? Is it Jefferies? Pete? Come on... Kamala is talking about another run perhaps linked with AOC ("they" think they will win all 50 states with that combo....ummm yeah). Hating Trump is one thing, but is it enough for the rest of the country to go full retard?

Haven't y'all heard?!?

Hard to stay in position as #4 in a T-38 when the formation is in burner.

And then there was one. "Hal stop turning into the sun!"

This is the part where Trump's infantile ego pushes him to stupidity that will cost Republicans everything. I had hoped he could at least make it to the midterms. Oh well.

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. I rather have a WSO than second pilot in the B-21. Even in the long-range strike scenarios the bomber bros are pushing back against. Most are using the B-2 community as the blueprint for B-21 dynamics. That's a mistake (for a couple reasons). I always felt I had more in common with strike WSOs as a B-2 dude. Hell, I even called the "Mission Commander" position the "Pilot-WSO". B-2 employment was weird - at times the MC was a WSO, and at times it was a co-pilot. Further complicated by either the Pilot or MC could be the AC. I say make the B-21 community mirror the F-15E community as far as crew dynamic. I'm for the WSO in the B-21 - it'll make better pilots too. And WSOs don't need some special WSO course to AR and Land. A f-ing pilot can do that - with smart crew dynamics that "unofficially" teaches WSOs to land, AR, etc. Otherwise - Biff was right - go all in with 2x WSOs!

If everything’s an SII, is anything an SII?

Both sides are cherry picking. My War College Classmate, now retired Col Andrew Milburn wrote his thesis on the subject: BreakIng Ranks Dissent and the Military Professional - The paper was later published in JFQ where Pultizer Prize winning author Tom Ricks (who is a complete douche by the way), picked up on it and wrote a scathing article bashing Milburn. It was obvious Ricks never read the paper as Andy simply laid out a line of thinking around unlawful orders. Bottomline, we all swore an oath to the Constitution, not the President and we should act accordingly. I have only heard reporting on Trump's comments which are obviously Fing stupid but I did hear one report say the left-leaning networks have edited his comment and left out the phrase "if convicted." Obviously that qualifier slightly lowers the stupidity factor, likely not enough to matter. Bottomline, we have free speech in this country (despite the wishes of some with the Ministry of Truth), and Trump should shut his big mac eating, diet coke swizzling pie hole.

I think Trump confused sedition and treason (and the max punishment for each). Regardless, another example of not thinking it through before opening one’s mouth.

Glad to see my airline/union assisting UPS/IPA in their time of mourning and assist bringing Captain Diamond home to rest.

Who puts it together, the LPA?😁

The perpetual military pilot shortage due to civilian market forces is the only reason this idea is even being considered. But I have a very very strong suspicion that the idea was conceived by HAF staffs that are 90% non-pilots in a bid to get their union to the tip of the spear. There may have been a day where the radiator wings were leading the way, but now staff is all WSOs, EWOs, ABMs, and RPA guys. All great people, but we’re seeing widespread effects from what happens when you fail to retain what you originally stratified as your best guys. If you’re a pilot and know a pilot on staff, make sure they always drink for free because they’re carrying the water for all of us.

Most are aware of Flightaware, Flightradar24 and ADS-B exchange and now there is a new option that tracks in 3D. Tons of overlays including airspace. Air LoomAir Loom - 3D Flight TrackerReal-time 3D visualization of aircraft flight paths. Watch live flights with stunning ribbon trails across the sky.

Haha, yeah he took a lot of grief. But of the 71,337 in attendance, about 22 even noticed. And seldom do I see the players react like they did I'll wait to see how well a formation of jets that are less than 60 years old manage the next one (14 Dec) in that overly complicated airspace. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRgdW09kceb/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

So, is the island still available? Some Epsteiners are curious.

You're touching on a related issue. As time goes by more and more roles and platforms will be automated/uncrewed especially in the military given the advantages and reduced risks to our personnel. Fewer military pilots available for the airlines overall. Airlines will arguably be the last things to go single pilot but so many other lower-level jobs in aviation will be automated. The CFI pyramid scheme is just going to get worse on the civilian side with things like pipeline patrol eventually gets taken over by drones. A few on here are old enough to remember writing checks all the time and that pilots built time back in the day in beat up twins flying checks in bulk back to the bank. A lot of kids now are staring at 6 figure loans with no real way to pay them off and AI/automation is already on its way taking the entry level jobs across a whole range of industries. My biggest concern for the B-21 is will we build enough of them? For the B-21 and its overall contribution and value to national defense the expense of putting in two pilots is relatively small IMHO.

Had no problem getting rid of tail gunners, Flight engineers, and Navigators, soon it will be all humans eliminated

Probably but I hope AMC could make the argument to not have to get into a problem and just lead the turn with a replacement before we get to fatigue life issues My druthers would be to separate out how much lift really needs to be capable of expeditionary / austere delivery and how much just needs to be conventional (air land to at least modest length / width / load bearing prepared runways) Buy commercial freighters for probably half the lift and half having military airlift capability

Well that seems definitive! Thanks lads.

I attended the funeral this weekend for Richard Wartenberg. In addition to all his Squadron mates attending there was a large UPS pilot presence as well. I was talking to one of the UPS pilots about their MD-11 and plans to replace them and he was saying that UPS has been working on an Airbus/Boeing widebody freighter for years due to the increased MX issues with the MD-11 and scarcity of parts and engineering expertise. One interesting point he said was that UPS elected not get the STC (supplemental type certificate) pylons that the FedEx MD-10/11 fleet have. These are stronger pylons that require less MX and replace the original pylon.

Kinda random, but has anyone started a gun club in their local area? I'm looking to get one going where I'm at and would love some pointers/warnings.

Need a good solid Tiger team effort with a solid look at tshirt color and boot height.

I know I’m preaching to the choir here but even for a decent pilot it takes numerous hacks at landings and A/R in a heavy aircraft before they’re even remotely close to safe. And this talking about a winged pilot who has flown UPT fingertip/CT/fluid maneuvering and then done all that stuff again in the FTU as well. The scope of the upgrade required here is to bring the WSOs up to speed is basically just.. pilot training. This is an idiotic and borderline suicidal idea enshrined by a 4-star who was on their way out the door and in search of a silver bullet to fix their self-inflicted manning problems. Probably the suckiest part is that when it’s inevitably walked back the WSO union is going to feel even more betrayed and sidelined than they already do now. And then we’ll be back to square one where there’s still no plan of what to do with them.

Based on the current and future plans for aviation pipelines across all the services, I honestly believe that the Bobs have made a conscious decision to accept higher mishaps rates and lower quality of product, at least in the near to mid term in order to up production numbers. They’re just not outright saying that. As an FTU CI, it’s frustrating. The FTU syllabus for the airframes I teach are based on the legacy UPT/UCT product. A lot of the T-6 direct to the FTU students are struggling. It’s not their fault; most of them are hungry, have a good attitude, and study. They’re just behind in multiple areas because they haven’t gotten enough reps before they show up here.

Sure. We see/hear it plenty. They learned it from Trump himself. I think he's calling for executions of those Dems. See, despicable posturing ... or something. * * I do not condone either actions, just playing ref and throwing a flag on both plays.

Actually, I've dealt with numerous graduates from the AQIT course, and they know their shit. That said, I'd avoid acquisitions like a burrito from Taco Bell! And at least they don't have the word 'weapons' in their name!

I have never seen such an absolutely despicable and disgraceful posturing from any government official. Mark Kelly has been a disappointment for a long time, and this has put him squarely in the category of irredeemable.

Go all in and put two WSOs in it.

just awesome, it's like we're all in a race to find the bottom

Be more like Boyd... https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/john-boyds-roll-call-do-you-want-to-be-someone-or-do-something/

??? Is this legit? Aggies fly side by? https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOCdhkfEQdF/?igsh=MW4wOGl6YWNoY283Mg==

Over the years, I’ve seen numerous discussions here about the potential impact of Cyber on warfighters, the threat posed by China, and what the AF and DoD should do. i highly recommend anyone interested in the current focus on 2027 and beyond should listen to a podcast called “To Catch a Thief.” There are 9 episodes and it is well worth listening to, especially if you have more than a 20 minute drive to/from work. If you can’t muster that much attention span, just listen to the last episode. Nicole Perleroth worked for the NYT, and reminds mo of the stories of a conservative being “a liberal who got robbed.” check it out, you should be able to use it for PME credit or CEUs if you have any computer certification. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/to-catch-a-thief-chinas-rise-to-cyber-supremacy/id1798267956

Four nights ago, Beale did the Monday Night Football flyover at Levi Stadium. Challenging airspace, to say the least, and led by a young ex T-6 FAIP who is a brand new flight lead. This is how it is done. Perfection IMG_1720.mov Edit: forgot to mention... 58 and 60 year old A-models, with an iPad and a stopwatch

Hope everyone is having a good Thanksgiving. Remembering those that can't be home.

Me

True but thank god she has that fine ass IYKYK)...especially given the history of the B-2 and her rear end. One ass hat senior general fell on his sword saying the B-2 "might" have to go low which led to a complete redesign, years of delay with massive cost overruns and a paltry fleet size of 21.