ClearedHot

Valid question as well. I learned to fly in a J3 Super Cub and of course there are few unique skills associated with tailwheel aircraft. I am not in the know but I would assume the initial cadre will get a tailwheel transition then it will become just another part of the syllabus. I also think AFSOC will eventually acquire a few slick 802's for training.

Much to learn you still have young Padawan...it appears you have not learned the true history of the empire. Naked Gunner Hugs are a PAVELOW incarnation (yet another F'd up thing that community did to AFSOC). Ever hear the story of welcoming the new guy by forcing him to drink a beer from the prosthetic leg of one of their pilots? As a former Eagle guy (you still "tight" with your crew Chief?), and "SEAL of the Sky", I know you are hyper-sensitive to your underlying desire for man meat, but don't project on us just because you couldn't get a gunship. For years the Harrisburg guys have been pursuing a mission change. Knowing the limited utility of the Solo program given there are many new ways to accomplish including roll on roll off, they wanted to remain AFSOC with a more mainstream mission. The inside baseball is CRAZY...don't F with guard jobs! Single Ship...yes a divergence from the ACC multi-ship model but this is Armed Overwatch NOT Light-attack. With multiple sensors this starts off as a long-duration ISR platform with the ability to provide strike support. Gun is a possibility but given the current weapon options it would likely be the last resort. This leads to another misconception about this mission set...these planes will operate from the dirt but I don't think the CONOP will have them down fighting in the dirt. Just like our current manned ISR assets, this aircraft will have MX-20s and weather permitting they will operate at much higher altitudes and have the ability to provide a deep magazine of precision fires from those altitudes. We all understand GBUs and Hellfire, but many have not seen how APKWS can change the fight. There is still much work to do and as a dude who spent most of his career looking through a HUD shooting 20MM, 40MM and 105MM on the nuggets of bad people I am guarded but hopeful that in at least some situations AOW can provide highly accurate and more importantly highly effective fires single ship form high altitudes. There is another benefit and that is the reduced manpower requirement this aircraft brings to the CONOP. For a better description check out this Collapse the Stack Brief.

Paywall, try again.

Because Slife has REPEATEDLY floated the idea...OFFICIALLY! Slife hates the gunship guys, no shit thinks they are stone cold killers without any morals. When the rest of USAF was standing down for Wokism training the gunship community had another stand down to reflect on all the killing they've done. He is also floating the idea of making the all the gunship kit roll on roll off so he stick in on an MC and they can do CAS on demand. What could possibly go wrong. This is what happens when you put a non-combat cud chewers in charge.

A Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bomber has been caught flying over farm fields in the Midwest by Google Satellite cameras.

Easy to see it from the street, have driven past it many times.

Not much need to test and certify a crop duster much higher. With a new mission comes new test and certification. Nope, but it does have oxygen and a hose so it is legal to FL250. Not yet, but there is a plan. Luckily the 802 platform is very open and robust. 100% with a fully integrated Garmin avionics/autopilot suite.

Taiwan had a big cyber attack this AM. Chicom AF also flew some sweeps right up to the line in The past few hours. I expect the Chicoms will launch some missiles and other bluster, more worried about an accident than something purposeful.

Nope...much MUCH higher. Basing has already been worked by SOCOM. Keep in mind Congress slowed the program until a report was submitted, much of the basing and pork decisions and discussions have already occurred. N/A Different mission set.

Exactly - while I give credit to Biden for taking the shot, homeboy was taken out in downtown Kabul while standing on a balcony. It does show the Taliban were in violation of the agreement they made to not harbor terrorists. If you are a professional and invest time in reading the intel you will see there is a SERIOUS resurgence building since we left. It is time to test the "over the horizon interdiction CONOP this administration promised.

Yes. IDIQ contracts are more flexible and have a ceiling which is at the high end. As conditions change on the battlefield over the next 7 years the this allows the government to change/add options/weapons/capabilities which may cost more (or less), without re-neogtiating the entire contract. In a recent exercise Sky Warden flew a 9 hour sortie and landed with 600lbs. As Danger pointed out the mission dictates a different CONOP more akin to rapid reaction austere employment. It will fit in a C-17 or C-130 which can rapidly deploy it to the other side of the world in less than 24 hours. Four hours after landing (or less), it is ready to conduct combat operations off dirt or grass strips. Three sensors (which can be federated to the ground party or others), a metric crap ton of weapons (APKWS, Hellfire, Gun, GBU, and CLT delivered munitions), it will offer a smorgasbord of options to the warfighter.

A toast to all who helped find and pop this son of a bitch. 🥃 Well done all!

You might get a new guy. https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/3112446/

Biden tests positive for COVID in 'rebound' case, doctor says Double vaccinated and double boosted...got the Rona and Rebound Rona...

Chinese Media is suggesting they should shoot down Pelosi's plane if she visits Taiwan. I wish her no harm and I hope she doesn't back down. I wonder if they will send an escort?

Come on brother, man up.

The annual Congressional Baseball Game which raises MILLION for charity and it supposed to be a "unification event" has AGAIN been tarnished by the DNC. "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the coach for the Democratic team, said in an interview with Fox News’ Chad Pergram that comradery and the players’ love for baseball was the reason the congressional members continue to set aside their differences for the game." Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) showing her true colors.