ClearedHot

So lets throw a bad aircraft into combat to validate your hunch...brilliant. And yet not one bit of time in SOF, but you want to tell me what is the best aircraft to use based on comments from a friend who flew the test bird. I don't care how much time you have in Dust-off and Lear jets, when it comes to SOF, you have no clue. I am clicking past 14 years as a military pilot with a few thousand hours of my own, and most of it in SOF, and I do understand the mission. I find it absolutely fascinating when someone with ZERO experience in the community wants to tell us what is best. You might not be a Lt Co-pilot but you sure act like one.

You missed the point, I said the V-22 is the wrong aircraft for SOF, not the tilt rotor concept. How many good people have to die in the process of developing a V-23. That approach might have made sense in WW II, but it is absolutely absurd to take that approach in 2004. We "might" need it someday? Does your C-21 squadron have access to 3-1, if so you might want to take a look. I am always in favor of thinking outside the container and trying new things. In fact, I spent three years at the WIC encouraging the SOF community to do just that. However, when one service brings a new system that makes all of the other services change their tactics, training, and equipment, then maybe it is not the answer. It is not just fast rope that everyone will have to change. Most of the current SOF equipment does not fit inside. I tell you what. I am at maxwell too, I'll meet you at the club Friday afternoon and I'll put my 7+ years in AFSOC against your time in little white jets any day and we will see who is uniformed.

Back flying, more problems....surprise. I have heard the aero/flight control engineers are extremely confident they have solved the vortex ring state problem. Many problems/issues remain; 1. Severe brownout problem, up to three times the downwash of current rotary wing systems. 2. Fastrope operations restricted due to downwash problems. 3. Can't hold most current SOF team vehicles. 4. Can't hold SOF team boats. 5. SOF is having problems with avionics because the USMC is controlling the development and they see much of the USAF gear as gold plating. 6. Can't pressurize...although supporters say it would have made a huge difference during Operation Anaconda. 7. No weapons....another stink-bomb waiting to happen. Will they add aerial gunners like current rotary wing assets or go with a pilot controlled chin gun. Still very political...stay away.

AirGuardian, why all the no-caffine stuff in the middle of this stupid exercise? A thankless job, but we were cursing you late yesterday afternoon when our only source of caffine was Lipton Iced Tea. Remind me again why I stopped flying to come to ACSC?

Glad to see the AETC IPs are teaching what the guys in the field will need. Embracing technology has nothing to do with it. GPS is a great tool, but it is not the end all be all. The foundation built in UPT might save someone in combat. There are times GPS isn't there or is not accurate enough to put weapons on target with, especially on the fly. Get the most out of technology but be able to fall back on basic skills when the computer goes tango uniform. Does NAS Whiting have an ILS?

Wow, how things and attitudes have changed. I remember a mission over Afghanistan when my GPS went figure merit 9, my recovery base was 500-2 with blowing sand and all they had to get back in was a portable TACAN. Are we raising a generation of GPS aviators? It is a great tool, but you still need to know how to find your way from point A to point B without a gods-eye view and a computer. By the way not all mil fields have an ILS, especially in combat.

Make sure the theology degree is accredited. I had a friend in my old squadron who got a masters degree in theology and it turns out it was not recognized by the Air Force. He ended up getting passed over to LtCol. Good Luck!

The SOF community is a bit more active. AC-130's shoot live ammo on nearly every training mission, as do MH-53's. The only real limitation is usually getting range time. Aerial gunnery is viewed as a perishable skill so AFSOC and SOCOM place considerable effort and money on maintaining the capability. On the fighter side, I can't imagine there being a big difference for strafe between TP and HEI, other than what it looks like at impact. Perhaps some minor ballistics that can be compensated for by the mission computer. In the old days you were limited to 100 rounds per training sortie. There was a switch you could bribe the crew chief to reset for you. I am guessing the big difference is with MKs and GBUs. The jet must feel different when you pitch a few thousand pounds of Tritonal and steel off your wing. If you want to have the best chance outside combat to drop live bombs, apply to the Weapons School. Fighter and bomber guys going through the Weapons School usually get to drop several types of live rounds while going through the course.

The offical boarded program ended a few years ago. Still happens from time to time.

When you get to your squadron, shut your pie hole, just listen. Stay in the books and if you know your poop, you will be far better off in the end.

Merits to both term and whole life arguments. Those that argue for term and invest the difference assume the person will have the discipline to follow up and invest. When I was younger it was tough to look at the extra few bucks in my pockets and decide between beer or an investment. While they may not be the cheapest organization out there, thanks to First Command (formerly USPA), after 15 years I have a very nice nest egg. I started with $300 per month from my first paycheck and never missed it. Another technique is to raise it everytime your flight pay goes up. Whatever you do, do something. Start now and stay with it. Good Luck [ 01 February 2004, 13:45: Message edited by: Clearedhot ]

Yes I am late to the fight, because I don't spend me entire life on a message board. Doesn't change tha fact that your comments were dead wrong. Great insult, did you get that from a Steve Martin movie? I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.

AirGuardian Student like yourself seminar 1, no way I would stay at ACSC to instruct. Got picked up for SAW, so I am going to Quantico for another year of school. Hoping for a brief stint on the airstaff then back to fly. 7 June can't get here fast enough...

C5Heavy, AC-130 Driver buy trade. IP, SEFE, WIC Grad, Now flying a desk at ACSC.

It cracks me up when Toro makes his assumptions. First he jams the poor Budda drivers telling them they are not a major weapon system. Now he tells them their HUD is not certified… please share some other nuggets from the mountain. A myopic view at best. Red flag is a scenario based exercise to give ALL players their first 10 mission and practice as a purple team. The last few Flags I flew in were close approximations of some of our recent conflicts…minus the big merge in the middle of Coyote, that we all know isn’t going to happen any time soon. Each Vul had the heavies running missions ranging from small-scale resupply to airfield seizure, all the way up to a forced entry airdrops. Now that is funny. Once again you are showing your ignorance. Ever watched guys mission plan a 60 ship formation for a Big Drop? Low-level routes, threat deviations, winds for the airdrop...etc. Dude I don't do airdrop, but I spent three long years teaching at the WIC, and those guys were busting their humps with mission planning just like everyone else. You should sit through a Weapons School ME sometime and see if you come to the same conclusion. I don’t normally spend my spare time defending the heavy drivers, but Toro’s attitude on this board has been off target and just plain bad for business.