HuggyU2

Uh... it was executed to perfection... well beyond the DLO. Even the Russian judge gave it an "Excellent". (BTW, isn't "Fair" a 1?) In any case, I know these things. I was a FAIP... and I saw the video. So I got that going for me.

It’s an “aileron roll”! Sheesh!!

I flew the MC-12 for 13 months... and the rampant enlisted aircrew that felt they were in change (and leadership that didn't fix it) helped make that a shitty assignment. Of course, there was plenty of other things in the MC-12 that were FUBAR.

You simply schedule with for the 67% that are there. Same way we do it in the U-2, where the 99 RS been deployed non-stop to the Arabian Peninsula since Saddam invaded in 1990; Osan for over 40 years; and our other location for over 40 years. Yes, continually to all three locations, simultaneously. If an event like a Naming is well done, people will show up and have a great time. As alluded to, "namings" may not fit a particular squadron or mission culture. And one thing to note is that, in my conversations with U-2 pilots older than me, they didn't have callsigns... much less "naming ceremonies"... in earlier years. This includes guys that came out of pointy-nosed jets in the Vietnam era. To digress into a historical context... I went through UPT in '85-'86, there was definitely no naming ceremony at Laughlin back then and very few IP's had a callsign. I was an exception since "Huggy" had been what people called me since middle school. One example, the current AF Vice Chief of Staff General Steve 'Seve' Wilson was a young FAIP in the squadron then, and I'm guessing he got his callsign after he went to the B-1. I only recall a handful of MWS guys coming back to ATC/AETC with a callsign during my FAIP years (86-89). One of the few I recall was a guy named "Buc" due to using the BUC Start on an F-16 that lit off at less than 100' AGL. Cowboy Keck (F-4, F-15) was another... but those that know Cowboy can probably assume he was given that callsign in the womb. When I arrived at RAF Alconbury in 1990, there were two A-10 squadrons there and a fair number of those guys had callsigns. I have no idea if they had big naming ceremonies (I've posed the question to a couple of old A-10 guys I know), but callsigns were certainly established. I would guess that actual naming ceremonies in fighter squadrons began to occur a little before my time (circa 1982)... but that's just my impression from talking to old-heads. The bottom line is that "naming ceremonies" are a relatively recent addition to the USAF pilot culture. Personally, I think they are a great thing and I've had a great time participating in them during my time. There's probably a great story about "the history of namings" that some academic at Air University should write a paper on, using lots of taxpayer dollars to research it.

When I was furloughed by my airline... both times... they were line bidding. So I’d say your theory is false. A strong airline needs to be profitable. Efficiency aids that profitability. If we only need 1000 pilots to meet flying within the limits of the collective bargaining agreement, I don’t believe we should have 1200 pilots. That doesn’t help. From what I’ve seen, the bigger problem in this industry are Captains that just don’t give a shit. They are wasteful. And they do nothing to engage with the people that get me my salary. They just don’t get it.

He pulled out the lines for January that he was carrying and just kind of walked me through it. He said his ability to get specific days off is reduced, and that finding a trip without a one-day and without a redeye was difficult. However, with PBS he was able to specify his criteria and had much better success at getting the specifics that he needed. I'll admit that it seems that the System Scheduling Committee should work harder to push the company to build better lines, and that I was at a loss to understand why it couldn't be much better. However, the entire thing just looked cumbersome and inflexible. The PBS interface is terrible, no doubt. In this day and age, there should be a much easier way to input the data.

I'm still scratching my head at your post. "More productivity" is a bad thing for my company??? I wasn't a Business major, but I'm all for "productivity".. But hey, if you think hiring 2000 more pilots below you will fix your woes and increase your pay through quicker upgrade times, then I don't know what more I can say. Having extra pilots hired below you is worth very little. If/when the recession comes, they will all get furloughed... just like I was after 9/11. Don't blame PBS for your ills... blame the negotiating committee that gave you the contract that you have. If your company is more productive, you should reap the benefits. If that's not happening, your union has to fix it. I won't waste my time trying to convince you that PBS is good for your pilot group because I don't know enough about alternatives. But I find PBS works quite well for me: I am able to specify what I need (unlike line bidding), and I generally get it. As for line bidding... three days ago, I flew LAX-HNL with an Alaska Airlines Captain in the jumpseat. He said they just left PBS and are going to line bidding. He wasn't impressed, and went through a number of reason why it was inferior. He had a shitload more experience in this industry than I do, and I simply listened and took notes.

Hmmm... I wonder how the Swiss military handles arming their soldiers, aircrew, etc...

Nice find! I will forward this to the Wing Commander at Beale: maybe he can make it part of the "Commander's Required Reading" list.

I was sent this by a U-2 guy and figured I'd post it here. Interesting look back at Patton. Today, December 16, is the 74th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge. Here is a link to a related story of leadership and prayer. Enjoy. https://myvfw.org/va/dist10/uncategor...s-prayer-1944/ My uncle was caught behind lines in the Battle of the Bulge and fought his way out. Harrowing story. The era of "iron men and wooden ships".

Who would have thunk it was Top Secret? https://taskandpurpose.com/u-2-pilot-manual-diet-defecation/ For the record... 900 sorties and I never joined the Strato-Shitters Club.

Suggestions? Go find a career counselor. Pay them to find you a job that is "flexible and pays decent". WTF?

https://www.captiongenerator.com/780212/Navy-Dick-In-The-Sky

In my case, I simply jumpseat and that is very reliable. Therefore I never buy a ticket. However, I do not send my family members Non-Rev (e.g. "Space A"). The company offers discounted positive-space tickets and I buy my family those. I/We are almost never "flexible" on travel plans. And I would rather pay than have them suffer through the pain of flying Non-Rev. Some people aren't bothered by Non-Rev... and they will get to travel for really cheap. Me... I hate Non-Rev and won't generally use it for my family.

Where do aircrew wings go on the OCP? Sewn or Velcro?

Wow. Thanks for the quick replies. I'll look at these previously unknown options. Much appreciated.

What's the latest gouge on who to go with for nametags and custom patches? Old threads mention ProgSpec, AviatorGear, eSnacko, etc... but the info is dated. I am also aware of Nametages4U. I'm also looking for aircraft briefing sticks and models (metal or wood)... preferably a company that can do custom paint/decals. I saw one some time back that did a great custom Alpha Jet briefing stick but don't recall the name anymore. I'd like to hear your recommendations. Thanks.

I just did. And will do so in the morning.

Nor did they ask me about my wife's career. Assuming your wife also isn't serving her country in the military, then I wouldn't expect AFPC to do so. You're not entitled to it. A married couple both serving in the military and striving to get an assignment together is worthy of efforts by AFPC to make it work. After all, both the husband and the wife are legally obligated to their assignment. It would be nice if AFPC could do it for every person in the military. However, they can't. So better to do it for a few that really could use it. I certainly don't begrudge their success if they are able to pull it off.

Transitioning from purely a Heritage Flight demo to a full-up-demo has been the plan for at least a year. The airshow convention starts in 11 days, and the Demo Team schedules (and personnel) will be announced Tuesday, 4 Dec.

One year ago today. Stuck was a great guy.

Shaft, Post some pics of you fighting the fires up here in NorCal.

A lot gets lost in the translation when it comes to making a post. However, this statement significantly stood out to me. And I thoroughly disagree with the implication it brings with respect to flight disciplined operations. Certainly not what you meant... but not the best choice of words.

Epic night in U-2 Land last night. The fires north of the base tried their best to stop the gathering, but to no avail. The Wing and Ops Group leadership went out of their way to help us make this work out (especially considering what they had on their plate with the short-notice POTUS visit today), and it was quite the event. We had around 50 Alumni make it out. Even Tony B showed up... he solo'd in the U-2 in March 1957, and about 10 years later went on to fly the SR-71. Great guy! When something like last night happens, it reminds me how great things in the AF can be; how great the people that work in the flying squadrons are; and how I'm thankful I ended up in the U-2 Program for my career. Hail Dragons.

Any releasable words on how the other instructor is doing?