Tonka

Only if they are younger than 55 when they remarry…

That has a nice ring to it…

I agree, but mainly because of the reasons in this thread...(is it scoffed at!)

but, but, but... https://www.defensenews.com/air/2020/05/27/air-force-looking-to-up-gun-its-airlift-planes/ https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a32714464/air-force-cargo-planes-makeshift-bombers/ and we're paying lockheed to try: https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/lockheed-martin-to-support-jassm-er-launch-demonstrations-from-cargo-aircraft/140878.article

Some info: https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2541547/daf-offers-1300-plus-summer-job-opportunities-to-qualified-students/ wont be "aviation" necessarily (but could be), have seen it work well for a few folks (follow on civilian jobs). But yes, sometimes security approval may take longer then the length of internship...

I went to MH a few years before I retired, knowing 2 things - it was my last assignment and I was going to retire, so I knew I had little to lose if I said the wrong thing to the wrong people... (I think you all knows these “words” and they are serious enough that you/we should put them at a priority above flying, but I know full well the internal dilemma) ... I had been encouraged after talking with (and taking) another pilot at another base who went through a divorce and who smartly gave someone else his guns (temporarily of course!) and went to mental health... and I don’t think he ever got dnif-ed. so after they ask the big question about 20 times in a mostly straight forward manner, then you are just going to talk about your life and daily routine. I had a game plan, but please don’t feel like you have too, just remember if you are dancing around the big question, they are really there to help ascertain where on the “scale” you are... and yes they’ll error to the side of safety as they should...they tried to push some meds that I knew were a no-go for the FAA (they are easy to figure out, most likely you’ll have to show 6 months of use with them, with limited side effects and reduction of symptoms for FAA approval)... so if FAA is your plan you can get those months out of the way while you are on AD, NOTE: there is little guarantee that you’ll make it through the FAA waiver, but I would rather know that on AD/early then wait to fly for the airlines for 10 years and then take that gamble at 50. I’m really glad I went, at least it is documented if something goes south later, I felt it was pretty low threat and I was never dnif-ed (even though it was non-flying, it was a flying billet and the FSO didn’t know the difference). If nothing else, I realized that life really does suck some times and feeling that way can be a normal response or it can be a imbalance and it is not that “you” are bad, there is just somethings you need to balance in your life, and sometimes it can be chemical and there is help there if it is needed. It definitely does get better. so risky yes, but much less than you think... just talking with someone about something I had bottled up for a decade plus was pretty liberating and worth the risk... throw a spouse and kids in the equation and it becomes a no brainer, they need you even if you can’t make the airline pay check. I eventually chose to not do the airlines (this being a minor part of the decision)... glad I did, gave me time to get “me” in order... looking back I can’t believe I waited so long, and can’t believe I put flying above my life and my family for sooooo long, but that’s unfortunately part of what you are going through. I do remember many nights struggling/worrying about the what-ifs. You can get better, there are people who want to help you get better, and there is way more to life then Mach 1.5 or a airline gig, WAY more! You just have to realize that first.

at least its sister company flew a caravan electric only: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/electric-aviation-startup-magnix-opens-new-headquarters-and-production-facility-in-everett/

Sounds like they started putting together a production facility... https://leehamnews.com/2021/01/18/pontifications-electric-aircraft-builder-poised-to-start-production-near-everett/ 8,200 lb (3,720 kg) of lithium-ion battery! https://newatlas.com/aircraft/eviation-alice-magnix/ first flight... "soon" pretty: https://eviation.app.box.com/v/public-media-kit/file/796960354198

Now that t mobile and sprint are merged... is it worth it for the t-mobile military deal? I don’t travel nearly as much and seems overkill for Verizon any more.

I dont have to take another test (i dont think) just prep for check ride and gk ground eval... didnt think sheppard air would help for that.

perfect... coming from the military world, any good sources of information to study from? Love to find some flash card material.

Anyone added Single Engine commercial/ATP on to a Multi engine comm/ATP rating? sounds like just a single engine commercial checkride is all that is required, but wondering what the expectation is (full ground eval, etc...)

Edwards could be some of the best flying you’ll ever do... but IMO if you have kids over 10ish, you’re basically trading their youth for your flying career. Bold statement and there are definitely ways to minimize that (live with an hour+ commute, send them off base for school,etc) don’t get me wrong, the weekends can be great, lot of amazing things to see/do within 2 hours drive, people are amazing, they just love the mission... but the kids get lost. Leadership doesn’t see it as a problem, rumor is they moved the gate years ago so it doesn’t count as a remote, so schools are Cali-worthless, the pools are freezing, they built one in housing with no heaters... kids come out blue. Make good friends, have good times, leave before all the other kids leave or they’ll be the only ones in their peer group left. as for masters, yes technical is better, embry is not as good, but showing initiatives are what matters... vol for any “tests” in your airframe, tell your sq/cc - they might know a dude/dudette, have them write it in your OPR (“ready for tps now”) and if nothing else call the squadron out there that handles your airframe and ask for an ADO, they’ll help you out. They want to know that you’re above average intelligence, ready to learn something quickly and then apply it, and have better than average pilotage... so finds ways to get those experiences on paper. Turn off the autopilot whenever you can and trim the aircraft to +/-1 knot and see if you can get it to stay for 5 minutes, do full after burner climbs with the same tolerance, find what is difficult and dedicate time to perfecting it. If you want it -go after it, if you just want to apply one day, they’ll smell you out... many folks apply a few times and have years dedicated to getting their app ready. There’s actually a reg that governs the application, go read it now see what they want, then make those things happen in you career.

Bought the Ipad Mini, and was ready to just go for Foreflight, until I realized my backup plan of putting Foreflight on my phone is a no go with an android... was considering ifly gps or maybe get foreflight on the ipad and a free/cheap alternative on the android phone. I would get garmin pilot (will go on ios and android), so maybe I could eventually link it up with the garmin 650 in the plane, but adding it up (garming pilot, plus flight stream ssd card, plus garmin ads-b/wx) blew my mind... thinking about a stratux too (which won't work with the garmin pilot). Anyone use ifly recently? or anything else besides foreflight and garmin pilot?

And before some one calls me out, no the flt doc doesnt rate you... but they have a guide that informs them what to look at and record... a lot of it is range of motion (ROM) and if you cant go past a certain angle (without pain). If they dont break out a protractor, they're just guessing.

It depends on the Doc really, because in general they have never done one or at least they're not very experienced at it... which, as you know, can be very good for you or very bad. In the long run both could be bad. 1) if they rate you lower then you should be rated then you'll have to appeal and everything will be re-evaluated... 2) if they rate you too high you'll most likely be re-evaluated down the road (could happen regardless) and it could be lowered, of course you'll bank some coin until then. Ive heard both outcomes... but sounds like the flt doc is pretty much reading the requirements while s/he is doing the exam.

I submitted close to 180 days out and got scheduled soon after... FYSA, my DAV (wright patt) was awesome, but he books 6-9 months out, no joke! Spent 3-4 hours with him, made everything easy...

Curious... double blind? Thats a lot of work! But appreciate the insight...

ACT II oil seems to be discontinued? or I can't find it anywhere... I don't think I want to go to vegetable or canol oil, and coconut seems overboard? but I could be convinced otherwise... what brands are the best? where to buy bulk? I found ACT II Kernels at one place, but almost $1/#

I think the Military is unique in that we move so much that we experience so many different, mostly sub-urban like, environments. By statistics alone you are almost guaranteed to have at least 1 bad experience with a neighbor, neighborhood, or local-government (even if that is the base-governing body)... and that is exacerbated by some of the people we have to interact with in the military, unfortunately they tend to be more likely in the "jobs-program" roles... the only logical conclusion is that a decent portion of people are arrogant, greedy, incompetent, and/or idiots... let's call them "deplorables" (not meant to be a political swipe, just a good re-use of that term). Contrast that with some of the most dedicated, selflessly, honorable people that IMHO we get to interact with more in the military then many other professions (I'd imagine other professions, like firefighters, also share those attributes)... the only statistically feasible option then is to move away from dense populations to limit your exposure to the total number of deplorables, while maintaining the potential to interact with the more honorable people... I'm sure you still have similar ratios in the rural communities, but lowering the denominator also lowers the numerator. I'm not saying that ratio is high per se, I bet it is lower than we think it is, however the deplorables have such an impact on those they interact with that you feel like it is more than it really is, and thus we try to avoid it like the plague (pun intended). Obviously this is one motivation and one technique to overcome... there are many other motivations (enjoying hunting, outdoor stuff), and other techniques to overcome the deplorable ratio (live like a hermit or start getting involved with organizations to call our their B.S. and expose them)... YMMV

But we spent some much time and energy "studying" it... read my lips, no more changes. https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2015/05/28/welsh-no-more-changes-to-the-pt-test-coming/

I ruptured a disk in my neck, took about 12 weeks to recover to having "no symptoms" (key word to use with the med folks - asymptomatic), 3-6 months later I was flying heavies again, but it took another additional 12 months or so to get an ejection seat waiver... much much harder and I'd been flying for the AF for 10 years at that point, so it will all depend on the resolution of the treatment and the time you'll need to have everything lined up to make it work. Its not a 0% chance but its not a good chance.

He/She might be a wonderful person, but in general they're flesh peddlers and they are trying to make you happy about the $hit sandwich you are about to eat. I would say 7-8 months is a minimum, you have to factor in some extra time for an unforeseen "extension" to your deployment (and then cross streaming an in-processing and out-processing, good luck - the people at MPF are not our best and brightest)... mainly because of this: no one in the military really cares to help you retire (YMMV). Regardless of what you hear or what other people experienced... in general it is all on you, you really have to become an expert, especially if you have ANY medical issues - those last 12+ months are pure gold while you are on AD to either: get them corrected/improved or get records of the treatment so when your knee blows out at 60 you have the VA to fall back on. There are 100Ks of separated/retired individuals that didn't take care of themselves the last 12+ months and it has cost them dramatically over their post-military life... many of them had something like this forced on them and they had no choice, you'd be rolling the dice by volunteering for it. So what benefits are you seeing from this? Good job, good experience? bank BAH? your last 24 months you really need to start changing your mindset to what is best for you... if you've got a great job and you can land on your feet anywhere then great, otherwise you should have a 36 month plan (24 months before to 12 months after, with back up plans for a pandemic) and I if given the choice I would not want a deployment in the last 12 months if I could help it... Here is a decent guide for retirement from the ARMY: https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Documents/2020 US Army Retirement Planning Guide.pdf But again, what is in it for you? I don't see it... a deployment to Germany where I can live high on the hog for 6 months - awesome, count me in. It would have to be an insane amount of $/other reasons to get me to want to spend another non-flying day in the desert.

There is really nothing amazing that can come out of this... You're best outcome is to break even. I know 4 or 5 guys that have separated at 18 & 19 years because of something like this dropping in them. Do your job, bring honor to u and the country but there comes a time to start thinking about what is best for you. Retiring is harder than it looks, trying to do it from a location where the majority of people either don't want to be there or don't want you to be there will be impossible to do right.... Trying to put together a resume, do job interviews, setup moves, etc...Just say no.

Probably not the same as what the OP is describing, but there are at least a couple dozen (maybe around a hundred?) of civilian AF flyers (99% separated/retired/reservist Os), that obviously don't wear rank (so the can appear as Es from a distance), but wear radiator wings... Pretty hilarious sometimes when someone tries to dress them down for pretty much anything related to proper uniform and customs and courteousies... Usually the not wearing a cover gets people angry from a distance and after they get close and/or start yelling the usually catch on, but not always...