Clark Griswold

Rog, just another idea from moi, I’m not adamant about it per se but in this particular case I see a reason for it. I argue for it as I see it along with a revitalized training fleet as part of what I call strong pilot culture. Just from the outside, it seems to be eroding a bit.

I’m sure they would have an ADSC from UPT, as to UPT I believe it’s a one shot deal in the AF at least for performance problems if removed from training

I see the justification for a stand alone program as these cso/wso’s are being recruited specifically for the -21, UPT is already very busy and this program would help justify a companion trainer program for that platform. I imagine the recruitment for this will be as you said high speed low drag guys and an opportunity to go to an elite assignment with a unique training pipeline will only increase the pool of applicants, giving them the picks of the litter. There’s a cohort of guys / gals that for whatever reason didn’t get a pilot slot at their commissioning source but went wherever, this second shot with a direct path to the -21 I think would motivate a lot of people to work hard, compete and bring a strong candidate to them.

B-21s will have 2 pilots and CSO/WSOs recruited will be retrained as pilots https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-decides-against-flying-b-21-raiders-with-just-one-pilot Could / should they be trained as pilots in a stand alone program? This program (in my mind) would also serve as the companion proficiency trainer for the crew force. Probably not at all Raider bases but one or two (pilot training for the B-21) Civ ratings (PPL, AMEL, INSTM) then a mil course, maybe 75 hours, or so. Throughput would be manageable methinks, IPs rotating from the B-21 line for two year stints.

Full rate production decision delayed 2 years https://www.airandspaceforces.com/gao-t-7-delays-push-full-rate-production-decision-back-two-years/ Again, hedge your bet, interim trainer acquisition, continue T-7 program but have an option. PC-21 or M-345. Versatile enough for both intermediate and advanced training, if the T-7 works out, awesome, keep flying them as trainers or special program aircraft (demo, test/chase, training support, conversion, etc…).

A bit of the googling and the 900 seems more logical a choice From cut n paste: Falcon 900EX Temp: 15°C Altitude: SL Passengers: 8 Flight Duration: 4hr 00min (Mach 0.80) Reserve: 1hr 30min Balanced Field Length: 3,400 ft Flight Duration: 8hr 00min (Mach 0.80) Reserve: 1hr 30min Balanced Field Length: 4,775 ft Landing Distance: 2,430 ft. Vref: 111 KIAS https://flightinfo.com/threads/short-field-performance-best-swept-wing-corp-jet.40741/ Decent clearance underneath it too, Tactical Tanker also?

Probably so as to requirements Requirements and resources are always doing a tango and I’m assuming they are looking for used aircraft but with high mounted engines and it being triple engined, I wonder with a brakes upgrade and some other tweaks (interior mods for weight savings) if you could get better TOLD

I googled Yeager and F-20 with some other key words for sales, nothing came up, but shit happens in sales meetings. Here’s a short write up on Vasu Raja at AA who screwed up buying A350s dirt cheap, could’ve immediately sold them to another airline at market rates and made bank for a quick paper transaction but shit happens View from the WingThe Inside Story: How American Airlines Killed Airbus A35...Usually complex large supplier relationships are handled diplomatically. Not so with Vasu Raja.This would have been awesome but wrong guy in the wrong position at the wrong time

Always thought that was a missed opportunity like the F-20 Modernized A-7 model built by a hobbyist, probably pretty close to what an updated F/A-7 would be https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=9313.0

Really? Seems like a different platform for a different set of requirements. Surprised they are not looking at a CASA 235 or other like aircraft unless they want a lotta range for PACOM.

Just posting to show the speeds these are achieving Father n son team built drone reaching 400+ mph https://www.businessinsider.com/drone-warfare-interceptor-guinness-world-record-bells-fastest-quadcopter-ukraine-2026-1

Yup or builds one or many with a camera, small image recognition system and goes into the engines on final just after the FAF. Other than massive land setbacks to geographically isolate the airport plus several layers of different anti drone systems, how else could you defend against this?

Found this on FB speaking of Crusader, an AI produced F-8 with side intakes Guns / Sidewinders in the wrong spots

First flights scheduled later this year, if it demonstrates consistent vertical takeoff and landing, it’s a big deal. Awww c’mon, I see a bit of F-8 with the chin intake

Only one anecdote, on arrival into DFW maybe a year ago, aircraft ahead of us reported one at about 7000’ MSL and about a mile off his right wing, we both continued arrival to RWY36L, uneventfully. Never saw it. Funny you mention this, I’ve wondered when some idiot, maniac, terrorist, saboteur, etc… was going to fly one into an airliner, or a train, bus, ferry, etc…

Too old (T38) Gotta move on, just for all the decision makers lurking here, hedge, get an interim / second advanced trainer

As to 6 gen probably not, 5+ gen ala the Ferrari F-35 proposal from LM is probably more than enough https://www.twz.com/air/what-we-just-learned-a-more-advanced-ferrari-f-35-could-include

Long form articles on the T-7 woes https://breakingdefense.com/2026/06/t7-red-hawk-air-force-trainer-secret-struggles-investigation/ It’s done, there’s no chance of buying anything else at this point but whatever decision matrix they use for non-operational platforms must increase the weighing of technical / industrial risk in its calculation.

My guess is no.

Yes, I’d recruit CFIs, Army WO pilots, prior rated Es, cast a wide net but be discerning on which fish you throw in the cooler… It would be a reasonable commitment (less than a commissioned officer) but they would have the same aero rating, that’s the kicker. Now while they are instructing they wanna get a degree and at the end of their commitment apply for an ARC or AD billet, more power to them, if they wanna punch and separate, thank you for your service. There would be some commissioned IPs still flying T-6s, supervisors and such, but the bulk of the IP cadre would be WOs. This would solve some manpower issues for the AF and fix the inconsistency in instructional quality described in the UPT Next thread.

This is where I see WOs fitting into the Line well. WOs recruited from aviation programs and with a specific initial career track, along with others. Basic flight instruction handing off to commissioned officer instructor pilots. UPT split into three phases: Flight screening. Contract CFIs and mil check pilots, PPL with INSTM rating, military only program, contract IPs only fly mil students, focused and consistent instructions. Basic phase. USAF WO IPs instruction. T-6 syllabus then a 30 hour ME course in a T-54. Advanced phase. Commissioned IPs in the T-7, track after formation phase. Fighter/bomber on to the T-7 and IFF, Crew/heavy to a 737 type and sim course.

News TWZTurkey’s ‘Fighter Drone’ Teamed With M-346 Fighter-Traine...The demonstrations put Turkey among a small group flight-testing advanced crewed-uncrewed teaming as air forces race to field collaborative combat aircraft. The demonstrations put Turkey among a small Noteworthy IMO for the rapid progress of Turkish indigenous tech / mil industry

Pressure tends to focus the mind, with the US and Western Europe growing apart I think they will probably get something going. Really they have the industrial base but it’s the will and willingness to keep it realistic, focused and with enough of everyone’s core requirements met to keep it on track. This was a good pod on the matter and what went sideways, spoiler alert: the French aren’t easy to work with. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/whats-next-for-the-luftwaffe-after-fcas-collapse/id840308131?i=1000772925372

If they want a credible nuclear deterrent they need also nuclear armed TBM or cruise missiles and a secondary strike capability, a nuclear sub. Basically mirroring the Israeli nuclear capability (allegedly), 100-150 weapons. If the Euros want their own deterrent, pooling resources, agreeing to sharing technology and buying common delivery systems could make this feasible. Also keeping the requirements tight and focused, i.e. not trying to deter anyone other than regional aggressors, weapons yields and delivery ranges focused on that. All nations agreeing to a minimum capability purchase and maintenance, also declaring these capabilities are in addition not in lieu of conventional capabilities. They could probably make this work within their political and philosophical boundaries: declare no first use, no threat of first use and no deliberate targeting of civilian population centers unless their civilian populations were struck first by a WMD.

The scale of rot in the governing quarters of the UK staggers the mind https://notthebee.com/article/op-ed-the-sentence-that-should-shame-a-nation?from_social=twitter The grooming gang report was released and the royal family releases this, they really need something to happen there, sometimes you have to abandon the approach, it’s too f’d up and just go around https://notthebee.com/article/the-royal-family-is-touting-its-efforts-to-curb-sexual-violence-in-africa-and-the-middle-east-the-comment-section-is-approaching-regicide?from_social=twitter Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk