HuggyU2

Silly rabbit. You can’t just break titanium. Didn’t you watch RoboCop? Now go grab me an Ensure, and go back to eating your FudgeSickle, junior.

More proof that P.T. Barnum was spot on with his quote.

"So all you speculators.....just STFU!" Hard to put it better. Too bad some of the pilots over at COPA (for Cirrus pilots) and other aviation websites can't understand this concept. Thank for that post, Hacker.

Pawnman, your point is well taken, and I appreciate the perspective that I hadn't taken in to account... mainly because I had simply forgotten it in my advanced age. Same with Skitzo's post.

I'm probably missing the gist of what you're trying to say... But barring an injury, if Airmen show up to the PT test and find it high threat and stressful, then they are the problem. The AF standards are about as minimal as it gets. Watching 20-somethings weezing on lap 4 of the 1.5 mile run is pathetic.

That was a long article that stated absolutely zero. It did, however, make me look up "irascible". So I got that going for me. Which is nice.

Are we going to commence the speculation? Let's not. To address your point, however, the elevator is up on takeoff. And I seriously doubt two pilots would have missed a yoke in an unnatural aft position during the entire taxi out. Also, the elevator is down after it comes to a stop. Do you believe the pilot who was seriously burned took the time to unlock the flight controls after it came to a stop?

Longer video of the mishap: Do any of folks here have significant C-47/DC-3 time? If so, is taking off from the 3-point attitude (e.g. not raising the tail on the roll) a normal thing?

Word. My hat is off to those of you that rode out The Lost Decade. What a shitty time to be an airline pilot. Glad to see AA's latest monster-bid, and everyone there moving up finally.

Hard to keep track... numerous times. PBD-720 was the big attempt: it started retiring U-2 airframes in 2007 with the last jet gone in 2011. That got rolled to 2008... then 2009... then 2011... etc..

Devil, That is hysterical! The irony of the San Diego Air & Space Museum using Russian SU-25's, streaming the colors of the Russian flag, to wish everyone a happy American Independence Day. Winning!! (It is a great museum, if you haven't been).

What's the big deal???

Who would have guessed that being a dancer is more stressful than being a pilot? https://www.businessinsider.com/jobs-to-avoid-if-you-hate-stress-2015-9#obstetrician-and-gynecologist-35 Idiots.

I find it tragic that this dolt wasn't given a Code Red at West Point by his classmates.

Kenny, I'll give you my opinion on the matter, but I hope others post theirs, as there are certainly many, many other viewpoints. The U-2 guys that have gone in to the aerospace sector were pretty well networked, for the most part. While some of that was through the U-2 Brotherhood, much of it was also because they built relationships with various the people from those companies while they were on active duty. They would go TDY to conferences, site visits, etc... and made the effort to stay with the entire group, rather than bolt and do the "aircrew only" bar scene once the meetings ended. For example, one friend of mine became a trusted agent and social friend to a couple of Flag Officers, an Under Secretary, and and some other heavy hitters you would know from recent news events. I have very little first hand knowledge, but I assume the same opportunities exist within your community. LinkedIn: I built a profile years ago, but have never used it. I'm sure there are success stories out there, but the positions I were offered were not something that I could imagine happening on LinkedIn. The Executive Director position I had from 2014-2016 was purely a result of meeting some CEO's and entrepreneurs at Oshkosh, and spending many hours engaged with them on a personal level for a couple of years. One interesting "networking" thing that happened was at Oshkosh in 2003 or '04. Two of us flew a Beale T-38 there for static. Met and spent quality time with some people from Virgin. A couple of nights later, I'm at a small, private house party in Oshkosh with about 30 people. It wasn't until we walked out to the pool area that we realized Richard Branson was hosting the party. Too bad I had no aspirations to move to the UK or Mojave. In summary, Kenny, I don't think the positions you would want will easily materialize through job postings. But that's just my opinion, since I have no direct experience with social media job hunting.

I never used a recruiter, but wouldn't rule it out. As with CH, building relationships was the key to any opportunities I've had. In my case, I kept those relationships alive because I liked the people I met... it wasn't to "find a job". But the job offers that came my way were a unintended consequence of those friendships. If you're 12 months from retiring, and expect to start networking now to find a great opportunity, it will be very difficult, in my opinion. Many of the opportunities I've had were developed over relationships that went back many years.

https://abc7.com/community-events/palm-springs-aerial-tramway-to-offer-free-rides-to-military/3598728/ Palm Springs tram deal. Good to know if you're heading that way in July.

Could you clarify: I was told recently that there is still F-16 training going on at Luke. If true, which squadrons still train in the F-16?

"Beer for life if you can land this thing." - Some OSO

SMSgt Siemiet was involved in this... I'm not surprised. He was a SRA and SSgt at Beale "back in the day", and a terrific NCO. Leader, mentor AND innovator. Infectious demeanor, boundless energy. He is what I'd want all of the NCO's in my squadron to be like. I hope CMSgt is his next stop. If you're at Yokota, go shake his hand. Then figure out a way to get him into your squadron.

My recollection is that they weren't... but some people that had them were going to try to manipulate the orders to make them so. I don't know if they succeeded. In my case, I had no need for an exemption from the 5 year clock, so I never paid attention to that aspect.

I was not aware of this. However, I do not understand how there is no USERRA protection. Whether you volunteer or not does not affect your USERRA rights. Not sure which version you mean by "the original version": I took the VRRAD from 2010-2014, and I had USERRA protection. In any case, it doesn't matter for me now that I've looked at the numbers. While I was pleased to see that going for a two-year hitch would increase my retiree pay over $1,000/month, I'm not sure I'd live long enough to make up the difference in the overall pay cut. It is just huge. Massive. At least I can now justify some additional aviation activities I want to get involved in, since I'll still come out way ahead. In addition to losing my retiree pay, it would probably hamper some of the additional income I'm making at my other part time jobs. I still envision a number of scenarios where this VRRAD might appeal to recently-retired pilots. That said... will there be at least 50 people that see it as enticing? I know of one. However, I may be so far off that I'll be buying matmacwc multiple rounds.

I'll take that bet: even if I lose, I win since I get to drink beer with another aviator I haven't met. I'm an hour from Rancho Murrieta.

The irony.

"Sounds like" is one thing. Have you flown either so that you can give us your personal experience... especially in the "black jet with shiny ass tailpipes"? Duster has probably 1000 hours in the T-38N. If you want to speak to him about it, let me know and I'll get you in touch with him.