HuggyU2

You may be right. But I know a few that have said in the last few days that they are done watching it for good. Time will tell. Maybe I'm an extreme case, but you won't find "NFL" on any TV in my house; on any TV in a house I'm visiting; nor on any merchandise in my possession. I have no idea why "fans" have loyalty to teams, since the bulk of the players have no loyalty to a specific city nor their fans. The days of Johnny Unitas are gone, folks. A Marine officer I know sent me this letter from a guy he knows: Commissioner,I’ve been a season pass holder at Yankee Stadium, Yale Bowl and Giants Stadium.I missed the ’90-’91 season because I was with a battalion of Marines in Desert Storm. 14 of my wonderful Marines returned home with the American Flag draped across their lifeless bodies. My last conversation with one of them, Sgt Garrett Mongrella, was about how our Giants were going to the Super Bowl. He never got to see it.Many friends, Marines, and Special Forces Soldiers who worked with or for me through the years returned home with the American Flag draped over their coffins.Now I watch multi-millionaire athletes who never did anything in their lives but play a game, disrespect what brave Americans fought and died for. They are essentially spitting in the faces and on the graves of real men, men who have actually done something for this country beside playing with a ball and believing they’re something special! They’re not! My Marines and Soldiers were!You are complicit in this!You’ll fine players for large and small infractions but you lack the moral courage and respect for our nation and the fallen to put an immediate stop to this. Yes, I know, it’s their 1st Amendment right to behave in such a despicable manner. What would happen if they came out and disrespected you or the refs publicly?I observed a player getting a personal foul for twerking in the end zone after scoring. I guess that’s much worse than disrespecting the flag and our National Anthem. Hmmmmm, isn’t it his 1st Amendment right to express himself like an idiot in the end zone?Why is taunting not allowed yet taunting America is OK? You fine players for wearing 9-11 commemorative shoes yet you allow scum on the sidelines to sit, kneel or pump their pathetic fist in the air. They are so deprived with their multi-million dollar contracts for playing a freaking game! You condone it all by your refusal to act. You’re just as bad and disgusting as they are. I hope Americans boycott any sponsor who supports that rabble you call the NFL. I hope they turn off the TV when any team that allowed this disrespect to occur, without consequence, on the sidelines. I applaud those who have not.Legends and heroes do NOT wear shoulder pads. They wear body armor and carry rifles.They make minimum wage and spend months and years away from their families. They don’t do it for an hour on Sunday. They do it 24/7 often with lead, not footballs, coming in their direction. They watch their brothers carted off in pieces not on a gurney to get their knee iced. They don’t even have ice! Many don’t have legs or arms.Some wear blue and risk their lives daily on the streets of America. They wear fire helmets and go upstairs into the fire rather than down to safety. On 9-11, hundreds vanished. They are the heroes.I hope that your high paid protesting pretty boys and you look in that mirror when you shave tomorrow and see what you really are, legends in your own minds. You need to hit the road and take those worms with you!Time to change the channel.Col Jeffrey A Powers USMC (Ret)Vista, California

Anyone else going? Drop me a note.

Way to go, coach. Hell of a mentor you are. https://fox2now.com/2017/09/18/8-year-old-cahokia-football-team-kneels-during-anthem-ahead-of-recent-game/

Reply sent. There will be at least 6 current or former U-2 pilots at the show. Trying to get a few more to come down.

Another incredible year in Box 102. Tons of U-2 guys past and present showed up. Plus the usual suspects Strega looked fast. But I believe Voodoo & Steve-o are saving up for the world record attempt... again. If you haven't been, you don't know what you're missing.

Would love to have a T-1 there, too. As I mentioned, you can arrive Friday... or Saturday morning before 1100.

I've taken an ACC T-38 to a non-towered airport in the past. I cannot recall where the "you must have a tower" rule is... but in my case, Squadron and Group leadership allowed it. What's the waiver authority in AETC for a T-6 to do this?

That exact scenario DID happen a few months ago. It was one of their family-model A-4s.

They had a T-6 lined up, but that just fell through. A good opportunity for one of you T-6 instructors to jump in.

Hey A-10 guys: Havasu is only a short hop from D-M.

The only reason Cleared Hot made it to where he is is because of his rank and position. It had nothing to do with his talent, drive, or personality. Nor with his ability to think big. Plus, it's not possible to network with others until you get command and/or O-6+. As someone who also never made SQ/CC, I recommend you give up and accept something less.

Pancake, Business jobs are completely varied. Comparing upper level management benefits is futile. And a part of that is what you negotiate (already mentioned by others). And even if you knew my base salary, I wouldn't want to try to explain the metrics associated with the bonuses I was eligible for since it would put you to sleep. Additionally, you contradict yourself. You say the pay and benefits in the airlines are great, but you're not satisfied. Then go find something that will satisfy you, if that's what's important. But don't complain about the lack of pay information here: you've already stated your current well-paying gig isn't cutting it, so what does it matter? As for executive level jobs, if you weren't an O-6 who can get an executive headhunter, you better have networked very, very well over the past few years. As a retired O-5, getting directly into the Executive Director job, my situation isn't too common. And it didn't happen by accident. If that's what you're looking for, do you have those kind of connections? Finally, you can do another job AS an airline pilot. I met a jumpseater that was furloughed for 9 years, and went and got a law degree. He does wills, trusts, and that sort of thing on layovers. In my case, I am doing a plethora of odd, part-time jobs that are "satisfying". You should have the time to do something satisfying too. My gut feeling is that you just need to think outside the box.

You're wrong. The reasons for omitting some details varies from person to person. Many people do not want to discuss their salary on a public forum. And for many different reasons. In my case, I signed a legal document when I resigned that prevents me from stating much more than I did. Simply be happy with the information you DID get and add it to your list of data points.

I went to the Hangar 24 Grand Opening in Havasu in Feb, and you're right: the same great beer. Although it's a bit further of a drive for you, Clayton.

Yes, I'm sure the granola-pot-growers that flourish in that region were not happy with the "sound of freedom". 'Merica.

This event was incredible. So glad to be a part of the community. https://www.theunion.com/news/local-news/a-century-in-the-sky-99th-reconnaissance-squadron-celebrates-100th-anniversary-at-nevada-county-airport/

When I retired 35 months ago, I went straight into an Executive Director position, with the expectation that if I did well, I'd be CEO in ~3 years. The position got me access to CEO's, millionaires, entrepreneurs, and a host of other highly successful... and famous... people. The social events were off the chart. However, after 18 months, I resigned. Entirely too much work, no free time, and high stress led to this. I appreciated the organization bringing me on, but in the end, it wasn't the right fit. It did scratch the itch I'd had for a long time in doing this type of job. Glad I got to go to that side of the business world.. and maybe I'll go back some day. But for now, the airline lifestyle and benefits are a better fit.

They are looking for military statics for this AirFest. Small ramp area, so can't bring in the big aircraft. T-6, any fighter, or some of that AFSOC stuff that is different and cool. One-day show, 4 Nov, sponsored by Hangar 24 Craft Beer. Concert on ramp after the show. Non-towered airport, 8001x100 runway, FBO has contract fuel. Arrive Friday, or come in Saturday morning. Show doesn't start until ~1300. Ping me for details if you think you might want to show up.

This is one of those that you will need to create "a first". It will take persistence.

You, my friend, are insightful. You haven't seen the POWER of the dark side. Screw the flight pay. You don't know what you're missing. No Sir,... you just need to imagine being terrified at 55 knots. Or negative 4G's. Or inverted on a straight-and-level pass at 200' AGL. I was bored in my '77 Corolla... until I learned to DRIVE it. Yes. And I respect the hell out of those that have the drive to actually build/create. Those are the type of people that also give back. Can't wait to see you at a fly-in, Brother!! And Reno is next month. Beers are on me. And you know what? That lifestyle will impact the relationship you have with your kids. And wife. And it will be very positive. Good on you, good Sir. Ah... silly, silly, Grasshopper. Give up your love of such things as golf, motorcycles, golf, cars, golf, and... did I mention golf? These things were created by Lucifer to steer you away from your Aviation Destiny. Well,... keep the fast car. But only if it doesn't keep you out of more aviation. Being able to drive to your 60 mph aircraft in a car that can do 165 mph is kinda worthwhile. I think. This makes no sense. Whether you rent or buy Item #2, you simply need to do it. As for Items #1 and #3, I have no advice to offer. A quotable quote. The first girl I kissed wasn't much of a kisser. Neither were the next three. Thankfully, I didn't give up before I met #5. Some airplanes just don't respond well to inputs. It might not be a problem with "that type of airplane", but rather with "that particular airplane". I remember my first Extra 300 flight in 1996: indescribable. And now... with 110+ different aircraft in my logbook... I'm happy to say that I'm over 25% of the way to my goal. They are truly, unique experiences. Not to mention the amazing people I have met along the way. I should have written a book. Awesome thread, jspace.

1111, Let me ask you one question. I'm an airline pilot. Let's suppose I show up to fly... in my uniform... for my company... and we take off. At level off, the seatbelt sign goes off and I begin to talk on the microphone: "Ladies and gentlemen... from the flight deck... welcome to yada, yada,... seat belt sign is off... yada, yada.... And by the way, folks, I want to tell you what I think about the current political climate in the USA, and discuss my views on the whole LGBTQ scene going on..." What do you think my airline should do to me if I decided to do that? Assuming they didn't ground me or fire me, what if I did that every flight? When Kaepernick puts on the uniform, he is there the perform for his team and represent the NFL. That's it. Play your silly game to the highest level you can. You're an employee,. Execute your job. CK's actions... on the job, and in his company uniform... are disgraceful to the company (NFL) and he should be disciplined. However, Goodell was too weak to do anything, and his "company" let him run amok. If CK wants to run his mouth and give his views when he isn't working, he has that right like anyone else. I'm not sure he really can, since he comes across as not too articulate, and not very well read. While he probably has a diploma, I seriously doubt he really developed his intellect during his college years. But while his is in the uniform of an NFL team, he represents that business. He isn't there to make "statements". Play your silly game, go home, takeoff the uniform, and then call your press conference. Yet another reason I'm glad I gave up watching NFL football in 1992.

Kaepernick's parents must be so proud.

The insanity continues. "The free-agent quarterback will have his own exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, according to the Twitter feed, @BlackToLive." https://sports.yahoo.com/colin-kaepernick-exhibit-national-museum-african-american-history-culture-160414439.html And yet Justice Clarence Thomas isn't recognized by this federally-funded museum?

I don't get it. I'll ask my fighter pilot buds to explain it. I guess it's like U-2 pilots talking about data links, tube food, and shitting in the space suit: it only entertains our group.

The 99th RS is having their Centennial 24-26 August. While not a "reunion", we figure we will make it one anyways, since a lot of Alumni are coming to the event. Details at www.99RSevents.com If you didn't get the email through the U-2 network today, you can contact me and I'll get you the additional info. Most of you have my direct contact info. If not, send me a p.m. with your info, and I'll call.