HuggyU2

What is Lt Col Kennedy's background... other than a Patch? https://www.spangdahlem.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1895410/480th-fighter-squadron-change-of-command/ And this was somewhat interesting... https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2020/01/16/spangdahlem-group-commander-disciplined-for-inappropriately-touching-squadron-commanders-wife/

We've got a few guys in the squadron that own 4-place aircraft... and they actually fill all 4 seats on a regular basis. But I think they are generally the exception. Another guy in the squadron just got rid of his Bonanza and bought an RV-8 that is almost done. He said he seldom flies with more than 1 pax.

What a mistake by the Corps. Their "leadership" is either unaware... or simply has become a den of bureaucrats.

I'm brand new to the 777, and the F/O on this flight out of Denver was on both of my international IOE trips a while back. Absolutely stellar airline pilot and a good shit. I hope he gets the accolades he deserves.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2020-02-06/wind-turbine-blades

The folks over at The Drive found Extreme’s web-presence and just wrote about it. https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39267/crazy-montage-of-bad-landings-shows-how-hard-it-is-to-tame-the-u-2-dragon-lady-spy-plane Extreme was the one that did the really cool Aurora Borealis pics from the U-2 that made national TV/media about mid-2018. Was it worth the blowback from leadership? I’ve never asked him.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/gaetz-tells-kinzinger-to-bring-it-as-gop-feud-heats-up

The BUFF should have been pulling a banner that stated “Bring back SAC” Also... 1+2+52 = 55.

It's spelled "Merryl". And the photo is from the backseat of one of the four two-seaters. Not the rearview mirror and the yaw string on the front canopy.

I think that's the new administration's plan.

RND indeed. I worked across the street from you in the sim building (I was OSS). Guy was 559th, IIRC. We were FAIPs at DLF together... and roommates on a U-2 deployment in 1999.

Vito is spot on: it was a "different time". In my opinion, a lot of the folks that washed out in my class (DLF 86-05) would have graduated UPT just a few years later. We started with 63, and graduated 42... exactly 33% washout rate. And that was not uncharacteristic. Having been a FAIP during the 86-89 timeframe, I saw the worst of it, and then it began to trail off a little before I left. We saw a few losses in the T-38, but that burden fell mainly on the T-37 IP's. As a PIT IP from 93-96, I didn't have first hand knowledge, but it was generally well known that the washout rate was quite low. I can't recall specifics anymore, but I remember "leadership" mandating that pilots make it through training. Like I stated... a lot of students that washed out would have become USAF pilots had they gone through UPT just a few years later.

Is it boldface in the E-11? In my brief scan of the document, the wording implies it isn't boldface.

I just did a Qwant search on "USAF Civilian Path to Wings Program" and nothing came up that helped. Never heard of it. Can you provide any details?

How was the experience?

Well damn. All this time I thought it was the March guys. I guess if I actually paid attention to the first 10" I would have figured it out. Thanks. As for Guns, that was a shame. He was on the fast-track to four stars.

No beer/booze allowed on California ANG bases.

It's a parody of the Cal Worthington used car commercials in the 1960's and 1970's in the Los Angeles area. I lived in SoCal for 3 years as a kid, and those commercials were ubiquitous. That video was from the old March AFB F-4 Guard unit, and they were right in the middle of "Worthington Country". Do a Youtube search, watch a "Cal Worthington and his dog Spot" commericial, and you'll see what I'm talking about. After you watch a couple, you'll realize the pilot that did that parody was pretty spot on! Here's one: What I never knew until about 10 years ago was that Cal Worthington was a B-17 pilot in WWII. After the war, he wanted to be a professional pilot but couldn't make it happen. He died about 7 years ago in a town not far from Beale AFB. He owned a gorgeous old Learjet, and when it was sold, I almost took a job flying it. The inside had pretty much zero avionics upgrades but it was immaculate. I saw it on the ramp at my local non-towered airport (KLHM) 3 months ago. Cal was apparently quite a nice guy, and a great American.

I wrote them and got a draft of the proposed new emblem. Not approved yet but in coordination. CD64EF33-660B-45F2-99B4-8039C994B068.pdf

Rule of Thumb: If you cannot drink the tap water in a country, don’t fly their nation’s airlines.

Yes, there was a significant backlog, however that logjam is getting much better. That said, I've seen a number of solid applications floating around, so I think you better get yours in the moment the Chief of Recruiting says to do it. It used to be you submitted the app no earlier than 12-14 months from a potential PCS, but you'll need to call and see what the latest is. DSN 368.4447 and speak to Maj Lang. I recommend emailing him also if your call goes to voicemail. He has been in that seat a while and is moving on very shortly. Not sure who will replace him, but the phone number is good. Moose is right: the "advice" and "perceptions" I've heard from outsiders on the U-2 Program has often been inaccurate... to say the least. The U-2 is definitely not for everyone.

Well, there really is enough airline stuff going on in the squadron already. There's nothing else anyone in the unit can come up with to put on the tab that's better?

I'm sure someone has tried it with avocado oil. How did it turn out? BTW, PilotCandidate, I appreciate your passion on that. We will try that next.

Ah... don't try to fool me again, M2.

There are many great truths to be extracted from the original "Star Wars". One of those truths is that the orange flight suit will return in its full glory.