Combat Platypus

My new copy of Midnight Express (the 919th's propaganda magazine) includes helicopter air refueling as one of the CV's missions. I'm sure someone just cut and pasted the 8th's old mission statement into the text because, I've never seen a drogue or extra gas on it. [ 30. November 2006, 01:56: Message edited by: Co4life ]

Are there any reserve instructor jobs around P-cola?

I fly MC-130P's basically the same mission, some different equipment. HC's and MC's stay current in Airdrop (but no heavy equipment), assaults/infil exfil, we (MC's) stay current in formation (or try to), but our formation is close trail 200'-500' behind the other aircraft and just out of the prop wash. As far as I know HC don't practice formation.

Today I had the best holding pattern ever! I was expecting the worst when we told Eglin approach that we needed to go hold to problem solve. However, Eglin said to hold southwest of the Brooks Bridge at 4k. Brooks bridge right on the beach. Oh yeah, on topic airliners have to hold sometimes going into hub's. I've never had to hold in the military or flying corporate, at least for real. [ 27. April 2006, 23:04: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

Roger the above. If you have a commission it doesn't matter if it's COT, another branch, ECT. If you have metal on your shoulder it's "assumed" you know how to act like an Officer?

I'm not so sure. If your sitting in the jump seats of John Scientology Travolta’s 707 and you a qualified CP or MP on a 135 the FAA or more importantly NWA/Delta(if they exist in a couple of months), FEDEX, ECT are they going to let you count that time? Same thing in the T-1 (Beech jet), you can't log time in the jump seat as a crew member, other wise they'd have to pay the dead heads riding to their jobs in the jump seat of the airliners. (Quick side not the Air Force has a crew chief/Eng sit in the jump seat of a GIII/C-20, but it's not typed for an eng so I don't know if he can long time at all as far as anyone outside the military is concerned)? I’ve got an ATP (Flight Safety just looked at total time) and a good side job that knew my references and who I’ve been flying for. When I have to get a real job that cares to look at my log book that is sooo F’d up I’m going to have to get it professionally scrubbed. From people that were in my position now and got hired by SWA, ECT, they said the thing to do was to admit mistakes and correct them. Seriously my logbook was started when I was 12 and I’ve been trying to keep track of what I think will get me somewhere for 18 years. Now I just try to make sure the times match up.

Yes, if you’re on an active duty training day, (man day). Yes, Full per diem if no mess ($40 apx) available i.e. off base, or depending on how your orders are written partial ($20 apx) or standard rate ($10 apx) if mess available. You can have orders written so that you get full per diem no matter what, but I've never seen more than partial. However, if you go on TDY on a civilian status you'll get full per diem no matter what. (apx. depends on the zip code) As for leave and Tricare, if you’re on orders of 30 days+ you'll accrue leave and be in the tricare system. Usually the best thing to do is to use the leave (you'll continue to get the BAH ect) or you can sell it back (you won't get the BAH ect). As for Tricare, you can start when your orders start. The catch, their cutoff is the 20th and if you don't have your orders by then I hope you can find someone who is willing to work with you or you'll have to wait till the 20th of the next month. Bumin' is a pain on figuring out how much money is going to be coming down the pipe when you factor in AFTP, mandays, Uta's ect. I just try to keep a folder of what I've been paid for and haven’t so I can catch mistakes and I keep enough cash to meet my basic needs. Clear as mud? [ 01. October 2004, 00:10: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

I was supposed to start Pensacola (water survival)on Monday 4 Oct. Found out last week that it was canceled and found out today it won't reopen till Dec. I'm working on a waiver to continue flying with my unit. Is this stopping anyone else from flying and if so how are you going to get around it? [ 30. September 2004, 14:46: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

In the briefing our flight commander told us that Guard and Res didn't have to wear it. Everyone wore it because everyone had one, even though mine didn't fit well anymore. I see no reason for someone to pay $400 for a uniform you'll wear once. Also, I don't think its a required uniform. [ 18. July 2004, 17:05: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

There is a VOQ, but most people still get put off base. Make the reservation for 4 days, but it should only take 2. Call 888-AFLODGE [ 01. July 2004, 16:29: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

It's a poor man's RNAV. Say you want to go from present position to the DLF 290/30 fix (that be the Laughlin 290 radial @30 DME). Then you pretend you don't have GPS, any descent navaids, an actual Nav, or your in a Tweet and have no choice. Then you do some silly pencil method/what ever you learn to get an initial heading and repeat till you get "close" (close being 3nm). Here's a link on how it's done T1driver.com go to the Resources tab, under Navigation bottom left is Fix to Fix. It sucks and I havn't done it since UPT. [ 25. May 2004, 00:18: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

Usually OTS graduation is scheduled to be about one month before your UPT start date. Also if you do get your PPL you can save the time it'd take doing IFT. [ 22. May 2004, 12:31: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]

Don't know about a training squadron anywhere else, but I imagine it'd be at Kirtland AFB, NM if there was one. I can say for sure there is not a V-22 on the flight line at Kirtland, but there is a sim waiting to train people and at least 2 contract sim instructors ready to teach. [ 29. April 2004, 00:48: Message edited by: Shadow05 ]