Beaver

In tweets I was afraid to try and go T-38's. I thought I wanted to fly C-130's. Here's my semi-embarrassing reasons why: I'm naturally lazy and I thought fighters would be a lot of work. (They are) I was a little scared flying formation in tweets. I didn't really like flying solo. I thought I wanted to have someone else in the jet to back me up (lack of confidence) Tweet squadrons are full of heavy guys who told me how great it is to travel and go to different countries and collect per diem. Fighter guys are dicks and it's constant competition and no fun. Fortunately I had a flight commander who helped me see that I was really just trying to cop out of putting in a little extra effort. He was the only fighter pilot in our tweet squadron and he helped dispel some of the myths put out there by the heavy pilots. When I see someone who could fly T-38's but picks T-1's or T-44's instead, I naturally think that they are trying to cop out like I did. People who have never flown a fighter can not even imagine what it is like. I try to encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go for it. No one ever sat in an F-16 and said, "God, I'd rather be flying a C-17."

Once you get into tactical flying, pulling G's isn't really an event anymore. It's just what happens as you try to put your jet where you want it in 3 dimensions. The only time I'm really conscious of it is at the turn circle entry in BFM or at the merge in High aspect BFM, because that's when you're most likely to pull a lot of G's really hurt yourself. With time and experience, your Anti G straining manuever becomes an unconscious reflex when you pull back on the stick. And like Toro said, negative G's are rare, because they suck. Flying out of PSAB I bunted to keep from blowing through an altitude restriction on the departure, and my fag bag floated up and flew into the way back of the canopy. My piddle packs were in there and I had a 6 hour sortie ahead of me, so I had to get it back. I completely unstrapped, turned around backward in the seat, and could just barely reach it, but I got it back. Did I mention it was night? Technique only, but if this happens to you, a better idea is to hit the speed brakes and bunt again. Stuff will usually float back up to the front of the cockpit.

Chick: Both. Everyone should have the comm out procedures memorized, but usually the procedures are also contained in our pilot aid/in flight guide.

Our life support guys didn't teach us the "Ughhshshhumphhhh...jezuss...umgghhh" G-strain technique. Must be Eagle specific.

When Europeans come to America they don't instantly start wearing deodorant and stop wearing fanny packs. They don't try and hide the fact that they aren't American, which would be hard to do. I don't see the need to change the way you dress to not be "branded" an American. If you go see touristy shit, it's obvious you are a tourist. So is everyone else there! Americans wear jeans and sneakers. So do plenty Europeans and Japanese. If anyone there doesn't like it, f*ck 'em.

Cut bait now.

What's our phone call point of reference? Every 5 minutes? Every day? How long have you been together? Do you still have a lot to talk about?

As usual, the Guard is on their own program. I think they will take any rated guy. Actually, I think one of the units has a 2LT ALO that isn't rated. He's just a full time ALO. Which is probably just as good as having a flyer.

I'm an ALO. You can volunteer for the assignment if you want, but most fighter guys get stuck with it. ALO's aren't really forward air controllers. They are liaison officers. They may be qualified Terminal Air Controllers, but their primary job is planning and coordinating close air support and being a liaison between the Army and the Air Force. Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACS) are primarily responsible for attack controller. JTACS are enlisted. Also known as TACPs (tack-pees). Only Battalion ALO's get to keep flying. They are usually LT's who are attached to an Army unit. They do the BALO thing on a TDY basis. But most of the Battalian ALO positions are now being filled by senior enlisted JTACs. Other requirements to be an ALO: Aeronautical rating in Fighters or Bombers A Pulse Enemies in high places (just kidding)

This thread makes me want to vomit.

Misawa has the nicest club facilities that I have seen. It was built 3 years ago and everything is brand new. But all the services pounders decided that the bar would be a "classy" place. It was decorated in early f*ck. It had pictures of airplanes, but they were these photoshopped impressionist looking pieces of crap. The furniture was straight out of the Holiday inn. There was a dance floor instead of a crud table. This is what happens when you let the pounders think they run the place. We did make some progress; we got the crud table in the bar and some actual flying memorabilia put up. It was mostly stuff we donated. We had to make the best of our club because it was the only option. In the states, I wouldn't even bother. When nobody shows up maybe they'll figure out that they don't really have a monopoly. The club tries to increase revenue by increasing membership, and they can't see how back assward that is. How about making people WANT to come to the club, then membership will increase. Step 1: Civilian chicks in the bar Step 2: Cater to flyers Step 3: Civilian chicks in the bar

Sad to say, but besides Nellis, UPT bases have the best club bars in the Air Force. Not even the Auger Inn is what it used to be.

Fold it in half length-wise and wear it around the inside your collar against your neck. It shouldn't be sticking up outside the back of your collar. The two ends hang flat down the front inside the flight suit. Don't zip your bag up too high. If you had any sack you'd wear it outside your flight suit, wrapped around your neck like Eddie Rickenbacker.

There was a big article in the Nellis paper about the eagle agressors. It's definitely going to happen. I don't know if they will be part of the 64th or a separate squadron, though.

I've been wearing my G-shock since UPT. It's pretty sweet: it gains a second a day, so I can always tell how many days it's been since I last flew. It's going to be way off by the time I'm done with this ALO gig.

Your base library should have a Peterson's book with a listing of all schools with online programs and program descriptions. It's in the reference section.

Make sure it's on and the volume is all the way up when reading my posts.

Their syllabi aren't the same. If you go through the guard you will graduate NVG and TGP qualified. At Luke it depends on which squadron you go through. As far as being relaxed, I really enjoyed RTU at Luke. It's not like pilot training. The IPs treat you like fighter pilots. Not very good fighter pilots, but none the less.

I think it was in Nevada. Simply amazing...Nevada to California in a mere 5 minutes!!

Dude, you are thinking of a keg in a plastic trash can with 2 bags of ice around it and a cheap ass convenience store tap. That goes bad in 2 days. A real kegerator keeps the brew fresh for a while.

Yeah, but you are probably going to be flying in your guard unit until you are 69. So a couple of years off the front end isn't that big a deal.

Yeah, the chances of you being assistant training officer are slim. You will quickly be given a job in the squadron commensurate with your rank and experience, and that will limit your flying to an extent.

The Air Liaison Officer is the senior member of the Tactical Air Control Party. He advises the Army on how the AF can incorporate into their scheme of maneuver and coordinates close air support. You have to be rated to be an ALO because that's what the Army wanted when the AF agreed to take over the CAS role for them. WXPunk: Very experienced enlisted JTACs have been ALO's at the brigade level for a while now. ALO's at levels above brigade are all officer's, mostly due to how rank conscious the Army is. Disclaimer: this is all shit I read, due to the fact that I'm still an F-16 pilot and not an ALO yet. And I knew my career was over before I got the ALO assignment. Why would the AF want to keep combat experience in the jet?

How often you interact with the CC depends on him. Now that MX is a different squadron, our CC has a lot more time on his hands to spend flying and being around the other pilots.