Everything posted by HuggyU2
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U-2 Dragonlady info
Ever flown Deuce?
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Airline job or return to mil
Wow! I guess I beat the system when I went back on full-up active duty while on Mil Leave! Yay me!! Yes, I'm being sarcastic.. although when I did it, USERRA applied to active, Guard, or Reserve. Voluntary or involuntary. I'm guessing it hasn't changed. I'm no USERRA lawyer... but if I had to bet money, I'd say your employer is full of shit. Call. An. Expert. This is the guy I called and asked for help many years ago when I was dealing with the same issue: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_F._Wright I don't know how to contact him now. But he helped write USERRA. If you need the right answer to make a critical USERRA decision, don't rely on your employer.
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Airline job or return to mil
You have a seniority number? Go back.
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The new airline thread
I don't know your specific circumstances, but that sure sounds good to me. Enjoy the next 8-10 months. I'm not involved in any way with hiring at my airline, however there will be a logjam of applications building up due to the hiring stoppage. And yes, it will be that much more competitive. Three years ago, UAL had 10,400 qualified applicants, and I'd guess less than 15% of them got interviews. I'd say we will probably end up there again... or worse. Trivia: UAL will retire 2.1% of their current pilots by the end of 2020. Thirty percent will be gone by the end of 2027. I don't know what you mean by "dedicating to the more ancillary parts of the resume" but flying regularly as an instructor/evaluator would be my advice. Based on very recent union town hall meetings, I would expect it will be a while before any significant hiring takes place. Even though they are the experts, it is still speculative at this point, so I'll skip the details of what they said. Find a place to ride things out for a year or two. If the situation improves faster than that, all the better.
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
When I was a FAIP, there were a few guys going through the T-37 portion of UPT and then heading back to their home in Honduras or El Salvador to fly the A-37. An airline pilot friend of mine went through San Salvador a year or so ago, and saw 3 of them sitting on the ramp. Wiki says they are still flying 15 of them. There are two A-37's flying in North America, and a 3rd that will start flying later this year.
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Popups blocking "submit reply" button
It worked on Safari too. I'm good. However, can you configure the site so pop-ups don't show up there?
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The new airline thread
I'm 2 for 4. If I don't get out of the house in the near future, it will probably go to 1 for 4.
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Popups blocking "submit reply" button
Same on Chrome. I show pop-ups as blocked. The ad covers the button to post what I've written.
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Popups blocking "submit reply" button
This is also a problem for me. I generally use Safari. I'm trying to post something now, and cannot find a workaround.
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Airshows and COVID-19
Listen up. I was the OP on this thread. I don’t care about your office. I don’t care about your fast-food cravings and how they are affected. I don’t even give two shits about UPT since they won’t let me go through the course again, nor let me teach there This thread isn’t about things like “terrorism” and “pilot retention” and “military readiness”. This thread is about something WAY more important. This thread is about Airshows. And bringing the dream of aviation to the masses... especially the young. And keeping America in the forefront of aerospace because of Airshows. And of course, great airshow parties... but I digress. So write your Congressman and Senator and DEMAND that... when this crisis is over... they REQUIRE ALL WING COMMANDERS to support the 2021 airshow season. Stop threadjacking my thread. Stop picking your nose. Wash your hands (Hacker!!) And for crying out loud, learn to use the rudder in the T-38, you pussies! WTF?!?! That is all. p.s. get off my lawn, Ram.
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Airshows and COVID-19
As a part-time contractor, I didn’t get the word from my company. I showed up and the base was a ghost town. I honestly cannot believe that the Bar Officers were not considered “essential personnel” and were not there making hot corn. WTF!?
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A-37 Stuff... anything
A big thank you to Springer for sending me some incredible vintage and original A-37 memorabilia. Although I’ve been fortunate to get orientation rides in some frontline fighters, when you sit in an A-37, you realize the guys that went to war in those machines were something special.
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
Sorry for the confusion. I was just trying to be sarcastic and funny, and figured that anyone that looked at my avatar would chuckle.
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
You're right! I completely forgot about this track out of UPT. I worked with a number of these guys that went on to successful fighter careers having done exactly what you stated. Case in point: Brig Gen (later Lt Gen) Bob Otto. Started in the O-2, and then off to the Eagle after 2-3 years in the Duck. Great pilot, officer, and American. p.s. what's an OA-37 ???
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Airshows and COVID-19
https://youtu.be/wujVMIYzYXg
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The new airline thread
Sent from a friend at Delta.... This is from an email our Delta Air Lines CEO sent out this morning. 40% reduction in capacity in the next few months and parking up to 300 aircraft. Unprecedented pull down in flying by any company. Crazy times. “The speed of the demand fall-off is unlike anything we’ve seen – and we’ve seen a lot in our business. We are moving quickly to preserve cash and protect our company. And with revenues dropping, we must be focused on taking costs out of our business. In order to do this, we are taking difficult but determined actions to protect the financial position of the company. These include: An overall capacity reduction in the next few months of 40 percent – the largest capacity reduction in Delta’s history, including 2001. Elimination of flying to continental Europe for the next 30 days, which could be extended. We will maintain service to London. Parking up to 300 aircraft as our reduced capacity requires a substantially smaller fleet. Deferring new aircraft deliveries to manage our reduced capacity and preserve cash. Reducing capital expenditures by at least $2 billion for the year, including delaying aircraft mods, IT initiatives and other opportunities to preserve cash. Immediately offering voluntary short-term, unpaid leaves as well as an immediate hiring freeze. Substantially reducing the use of consultants and contractors. We’ll be making more critical decisions on our response in days to come. The situation is fluid and likely to be getting worse.”
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The new airline thread
Which circus are you at?
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U-2 Dragonlady info
I found this old post from over 11 years ago, which I quoted above. Despite the fact the OP is an asshole, I wanted to reiterate the relevance of his statement about coming to Beale to get a first-hand look at The Program before you apply. Don't interview, get accepted, PCS there... only to find out the U-2 isn't for you. If that happens, you have no one to blame but yourself.
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
Yes, that was a decision that saved no money, and ruined an excellent program. I remember when "they" were giving the hairy eyeball to the T-38 CTP at Beale back in the 2006 timeframe. IIRC, we were flying around 3700 T-38 hours. Around 2005, there was an F-22 at Hill that sucked a gear pin down the intake and trashed the engine. Damage cost? About $6.9M... more than the entire 3700-hour budget of Beale's T-38 CT program.
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What's wrong with the Air Force?
Although most of you weren't around for it, ADAIR was around in the 70's and 80's at Tyndall, Hickam, and other places using the T-33. Some of those pilots racked up a shit-ton of T-33 hours (1000-2000 hours) before transitioning to the Eagle. I never did it, but those I know that do/did say it is very cost effective. Years ago, Beale T-38's used to work with Fresno's Vipers on occasion. We did a variety of "different" presentations for them and it was great training for all of us.
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The new airline thread
Pretty interesting statement. Are basing this on the perceived cash-on-hand the major airlines have? Something else?
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Airshows and COVID-19
I’d expect an announcement will come tomorrow or Monday... but I would expect the Demo Teams to be stood down until the end of May. I flew to San Diego today to announce the Blue Angels’ season opener at El Centro. I got off the plane... got a phone call telling me the show was cancelled... walked three gates to my right and was on the return flight to Sacramento 55 minutes later. LA County, Yuma, Laughlin and McDill all cancelled about the same time. Looks like Navy Contracting is going to only pay me a fraction of my contract. Even as a retiree, if you do business with the Govt, be ready to deal with the “I have no control over that” mentality.
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Airshows and COVID-19
Well... I suppose I posted a few hours too early. Excellent speech by the President. When The Pentagon wakes up in about 6 hours, I'm guessing that military support of airshows is going to get cut for ~60 days.
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Airshows and COVID-19
I might make a day of SnF, but too early to see. Staying on the west coast this year and cutting back on my airshow work. March ARB just cancelled their airshow in the last hour or so. But it was a local decision, not mandated from DoD.
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Airshows and COVID-19
I hope you're right. As a note: the airshow season starts Friday, and the demo teams are traveling today.