kaputt

Also had the log-on error. Upvote option still doesn't work either.

You mean Biden didn’t actually join the senate 120 years ago? Lol

Yep, that was my reaction too. I also heard some other RUMINT on this guy but I’m not sure I should be the one to share it on a public forum. FWIW it also seems the Air Force did do an investigation into his claims and came up empty.

I asked a buddy who flies 38s with the Raptors if he had heard any rumblings about this guy. “Oh yeah, everyone here says that guy was an awful pilot.” And... ”Apparently he Q3’d an evaluation up at Elmendorf so they sent him to IFF” So yeah, there’s more to the story.

Predictable

I get an error message when I try and upvote posts from Safari mobile browser on my iPhone. Just started today, had no issues yesterday.

The border situation is a literal shit show and this administration has done absolutely nothing other than tacitly, if not openly, encourage the rush to the Rio Grande. https://www.aei.org/op-eds/a-man-made-disaster-at-the-border/ It’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that this is not even incompetence, but a deliberate long game strategy of obtaining a super majority of voters for one political party.

Yep, that is the assumption. Just like when the creepy white dude shoots up asian massage parlors, it’s automatically “WHITE SUPREMACY!!!!” Turn out this dude actually had some weird sexual/religious stuff going on in his effed up/disgusting brain. Meanwhile, actual targeted assaults on Asians (happened in NY and CA, surprise surprise) that were committed nearly 100% by black Americans, have barely been mentioned on the news.

To be fair, most Air Force bases stateside aren’t dealing with 9,500ft density altitude issues and a 215hp SR-20 is more than enough for the mission we’re talking about here. But I see your point. I think you inadvertently bring up a great point though as to why this idea is likely never going to get off the ground in today’s Air Force in the first place. Having had direct insight into the acquisition process, a suggestion like going with an SR-22 vs the SR-20 is going to be met with so much requirements creep at each level of Bob that you’re either going to end up with something so expensive and beyond what was originally intended that it will get cut within a few years or it will never get approved in the first place. Bob1 is going to see an SR22 and say that’s great but I need something that operates in the flight levels and is at least a turboprop. Bob2 is going to agree and also say he needs something that pulls Gs. Bob3 is going to say he agrees with Bob1 about operating in the flight levels but doesn’t need an ejection seat. So we’ll end up at the T-6 and T-1 as suggested companion trainers (which isn’t a bad idea) but the reason we were considering GA aircraft was we already knew that the T-6 and T-1 in this role was going to be deemed too expensive in the first place.

Interesting. I can see it on my phone but not my computer. Can’t seem to fix it either. Honestly, who knows what the actual guidance really is. So many different things out there. Ridiculous regardless that you would stop someone for wearing a light purple, medical grade, surgical mask. Imagine having so little to worry about in your normal job that is what became your focus.

That was a moronic decision to target for his opinion piece. Especially when there are so many other legitimate things you could target about our lack of mission focus as China seems to strengthen theirs that have nothing to do with making it easier for pregnant service members to come to work every day.

Oh I definitely agree a Cirrus SR-20 is not actually a toy for the rich. But I’ve already seen when local and state level politicians try to garner support against an airport by accusing the owners of a bunch of ratted out 152s and PA-28s as being rich guys just making noise on your beautiful Saturday mornings. So it’s not hard for me to see a politician try and go after a low hanging budget fruit of SR-20 companion trainers to try and prop (lol) up their own *insert shitty political agenda here* and also convince a constituency that knows nothing about aviation. As you stated, the benefit is real. I would hope there are leaders in the Air Force and other politicians that could effectively communicate that.

Of course! He stopped me so fast, you would have thought I had a mask with a naked chick on the front or something.

The Air Force did just put out an RFI in the past few days seeking inputs on an IFT 2.5 where studs would get 50 flight hours, including instrument instruction. So that very well could happen. I also think the T-53 idea is solid. Affordable, good performance (for a GA aircraft) legs to actually get somewhere, and a chute to satisfy the Bobs. My only fear is down the line when you get the commander in there who thinks small airplanes are stupid or a politician like AOC who runs to the press about Air Force officers flying around in “rich people toys” and not their main assigned aircraft.

Is there a Vegas line on when the first press conference will be?

On base this morning and realized when I parked the only mask I had in my car was a purple surgical mask and not one of the “approved” mask colors. Joked to myself that I’ll probably pass the wrong person and get lectured. Literally the FIRST person I pass is a Chief who stops me, “Sir, just so you know, a purple mask is not authorized.” “Yeah, understood but it was the only one I had in my car and I’ve gotta get to my desk.” He probably sensed my give a crap level was zero and followed it up with a “when you are in uniform Sir you’ve got to meet all of the standards.” Ah yes, you mean this stupid piece of cloth that was never ever meant to be a part of a military uniform and is actually allegedly being worn for the safety of me and you? Unfortunately I don’t have the balls to say that last part. Just moved on with a “copy” and walked away. Just for shits I looked up the approved mask colors again, and literally the most common surgical mask color you can find (the light blue) is not approved for use in uniform.

Not only has he been a clown his entire career, he now likely has legitimate cognitive decline on top of that. To be honest I do feel kind of bad for him at times. I certainly am not a fan of Biden politically, but no one deserves to be propped up like this man is being, when he should be enjoying the latter stages of his life in peace and quiet with his family.

To be fair, there is a pretty massive difference between saying you are going to boycott a product, service, person, sports league, etc.. (even if some of the reasoning seems silly or ridiculous) by not buying or partaking in what they are offering; vs a concerted effort to smear and ultimately remove and destroy a person, business, idea, symbol, tv show, book, movie, etc... Example: I personally do not watch a second of NBA basketball and have not for years now. My reasoning is based not only on the ridiculous woke, political, and pro Chinese crap the league has spouted in recent history, but also the fact that it’s absolutely garbage basketball. However, my choice to not watch is my own and I don’t give a shit if someone else absolutely loves to watch the NBA, that’s their choice and they have every right to do so. By choosing not to watch, I don’t have to see the stuff I don’t like (imagine that!) and if enough people ultimately start to feel like I do, it will hurt the league in its pocketbook and they may actually make a change that adjusts to the demands of their customers. Which btw, actually seems to have happened with the NBA when their ratings went in the absolute toilet last year, and magically this year they’ve reduced a large amount of their political messaging. Maybe the next move they can make is raising the shot clock to 30 seconds and making them play defense. I digress... What you won’t see me doing is throwing a temper tantrum through social media and interviews on CNN about how the NBA doesn’t prescribe to my cultural norms and needs to be removed from the face of the earth, damn the rest of you!

Thanks gents for the detailed info. Definitely some more research I’ll need to do on my end before heading in this direction. Glad to know it’s feasible though and that’s is something fairly commonly done.

Appreciate the responses. It good to hear that some have had a positive experience going this route. @brabus, when you mention depreciating the plane, I assume you were hinting that there might be some sort of tax advantage when factoring in the depreciation amount on the aircraft, is that correct? Is there a big difference between going this route with a new aircraft vs a used one? I know that aircraft value does not exactly operate the same way as say, a car, and that values tend to eventually level out and hold at a certain level as long as the aircraft is well maintained, has full records, etc... I had been looking at used Citabrias in the 10-15 year old range or less. Hadn't considered going new but wouldn't be opposed to that necessarily. @ClearedHot That is exactly the nightmare scenario I would want to avoid by prohibiting solo rental. Its incredible to me what some rental pilots will do to an aircraft. A tailwheel I used to rent was totaled by solo renter who had only 6 hours of tailwheel time.

Not to mention it’s a guy who was no longer even actively serving.

Has anyone used an aircraft they’ve owned for instruction? I was potentially looking into picking up a tailwheel aircraft (Citabria or Decathlon) and having it be available at a flight school I have a relationship with for tailwheel endorsements and spin training. It would not be available for solo rental and myself and the school’s chief pilot would be the only instructors authorized to fly it. I’ve read a lot on the financial/tax items of registering it under an LLC and the cost offsetting that can come from an aircraft being used as a business asset and not just a recreational hobby. I totally understand this would likely not cover the total cost of the aircraft but it seems like a potential way to help offset some cost of ownership via tax incentives and instruction revenue. Insurance quotes are significantly cheaper if the aircraft is dual only and honestly I want to avoid anything to do with solo rental pilots, especially in a tailwheel. Other costs would of course be 100 hour inspections plus maintaining a maintenance fund. Anything else I’m missing? Dumb idea or a legit way to own and operate an aircraft? I enjoy instructing so being able to do that is a positive in my book. Flight school owner is of course game, but who wouldn’t be for the potential of adding an aircraft to the fleet with limited risk to their own bottom line 😂.

I believe that Gen has the dreaded IMS bearing issues. That will help keep prices depressed as well. FWIW, I personally think horsepower is overrated. Give me a well balanced car with enough power to work the chassis and I’ll be happy. Slow car fast is always the best mantra. The next Gen Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 is probably going to end up in my garage. P car money, even used, is still too much for me and Subaru/Toyota appear to have fixed the one problem with the original: the torque hole right in the middle of the power band. New version has a naturally aspirated 2.4L with 228hp and torque is up to like 184lb ft right in the middle of the power band. That’s similar numbers to my BMW 128i I used to have and the BRZ/86 will weigh 300lbs less.

I think you're talking about the flight crew, but I've seen comments on Facebook links to this article where people are scolding the individuals on the ground where the pieces fell for not having masks on. 🤦‍♂️

On the California vs Texas energy deals: As someone who has lived in both states, they are not even comparable. California has rolling blackouts every single summer for predictable and annual heat waves. You literally have to factor the power going out into your summer planning here. Texas had an energy issue for a once in 80-100 year cold snap. Could Texas have been better prepared? Absolutely. Has Cruz made a fool of himself during this, yes. Is comparing the Texas snow storm power issue to the decades of power grid mismanagement in California fair? Not really.