HuggyU2

Well, that'll just about cover the flybys. Looks like Kwast is doing well. https://spacenews.com/kwast-joins-skycorp/ Me and a bud rolled through Laughlin when he was the OG, to give U-2 recruiting briefings. We stopped by his office to kiss the ring, and he had O-6 rank on... but only Senior Pilot wings. I think he was 6 years below the zone to O-6. Impressive guy.

Equity.

Because my squadron RA pushed back when I asked for a specific boot to be ordered. It wasn't on the Safe To Fly (STF) list. It was never a problem in the past. Now it is. So... I am asking because there are about 20 pairs of boots on the list, and I really don't know the difference in comfort between the ones on the STF list, and the ones I wanted to buy. Instead of dropping $475 for a pair of Dehner boots that a former Thunderbird friend said was what they wore on the team, I figure I'd ask some other professional military pilots what they thought, and if something worked well, I'd try them... for free. Does that answer your question?

The USAF Safe to Fly boot list has a handful of "authorized" boots. For those of y'all who actually wear any of them, which ones do you like? Which ones do you not like?

I'm wondering when Boeing's next delay will be announced. As of a year ago, plane didn't have an internal ladder, and the side of it wasn't stressed to hang a ladder on it.

I would guess you've been around long enough to have an idea.

And... let the speculation begin.

Newly released view of the inside of the cockpit of the advanced companion trainer for the B-21.

Radar contact...

Not sure I can trust someone who rolls their flightsuit sleeves above the elbow. WTF?

I'm sure there are plenty of folks here with first hand knowledge of his exploits.

The stories about this guy coming out of Laughlin are... incredible. I look forward to hearing about his upcoming FTU training.

So every one of the 535 are not striving to improve things? And Bone WSO is "myopic" after having served as a Legislative Fellow?

Don't. It's an inherently poor design: They put the tailwheel on the wrong end.

The chinese will buy it.

A good buddy of mine works as an aerobatic instructor for her. He has good things to say about her.

https://www.thefp.com/p/the-day-the-delusions-died-konstantin-kisin

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/video-when-a-us-navy-f-14-tomcat-shot-down-a-usaf-rf-4c-phantom-ii/amp/ Mike Ross went through T-38 PIT when I was an IP there. Good guy, good story. However, I heard his ejection injuries got worse with time.

Keep in mind: some of them actually vote. The pilot did not survive. https://www.walb.com/2023/09/14/1-dead-1-injured-fitzgerald-plane-crash/?fbclid=IwAR0tzps455x_jui85dKS_MhH9UyAWYf7SygcOHnI-ZmxOOw5oRmh3X_P-b4

When I was a T-38 PIT IP, we did formation touch-and-go's. They were a blast. And a great way to get the reps to get really good at them fairly quickly. I tried a few times to get them approved at Beale and it's 300' wide runway. Never could.

I hear all of the pointy-noses guys saying T-38 training needs to be more relevant to what they do. I imagine circling isn't a big priority in F-22 and F-35 real world ops. Probably not in the B-2 and upcoming B-21 either. There are only so many bananas in the UPT syllabus. Save circling for FTU if needed But bring back formation landings, you pussies!

scle·rot·ic /skləˈrädik/ adjective 1. MEDICINE of or having sclerosis. 2. becoming rigid and unresponsive; losing the ability to adapt. "sclerotic management"

Having known people who have had false allegations levied against them, I'll hold off on my judgement of Maj Gen Stewart and see what the investigation comes up with.