HuggyU2

I haven't flown with any of these items from Campbell's, but I saw their display a couple of years ago at Oshkosh, and they looked really high quality. https://www.campbellaeroclassics.com/

Wait... ... Dokken broke up?

Our squadron has had 1 to SWA, 1 to XOJet, and 3 to NASA.

As with everything... rather than get all of your info in the internet, call Maj Bartholomew at U-2 Recruiting.

Others have done the MC-12 thing to better align for the U-2. I cannot think of any reason anyone would object to that. The MC-12 is moving toward "normalization". Beale stood up the 427th RS two months ago: it is the "ops squadron" for the MC-12, as opposed to the FTU. You'll have to ask the MC-12 guys here whether the changes could cause you to get retained by the MC-12 community for more than the ~11 months that the "flow through" pilots stayed there. That's the only "complication" I can see.

No we don't. The strong have figured it out. And when they made a mistake, they mitigated the effects. They survived. No sense in giving the weak any help. Let them sacrifice themselves, so we can be rid of the dead wood. There is no shortage of dead wood in the AF officer corps. Then again... would anyone really "listen" to a "Boldface" that was posted here? Doubt it. As valid as it might be, I know I wouldn't have... had we had the internet back then. Ram, get me another Ensure.

Yes, I get it. The Colonel,... the political situation... blah, blah,... Just having a little fun, making comments to draw comments. However... ... my point stands... Had a Syrian Army Colonel driven an old, irrelevant piece of hardware across the border, it should have made about as much of a stir as this equally less-impressive-piece-of-hardware MiG.

A MiG-21? Maybe an Army Colonel will drive across the border in a Sherman Tank. It's about as relevant. If you want a MiG-21, there are plenty available, and it will only cost you about $50,000-$100,000 for a real nice one that is in flying condition... probably a lot nicer than this Syrian -21.

Well, define "old", junior. Maybe you're right. But I'm sure that video would have had the same effect on me at age 25. What's really funny is seeing that Ram is a "Gray Beard" on baseops.net. I guess I am "old"! However,... if these Viper drivers had this much time and energy to go about making this video,... all while stationed within minutes flying time of the North Korean pig-dog-enemy that they should be focused on,... then certainly they could have been spending that extra time in the vault "getting more tactical" (thank you Brabus!) Or at least they could have used that extra time to pull closed and grab a few extra touch-and-go's. You see, long ago,... I had a legendary U-2 squadron commander pull me aside when I was a young punk in the squadron. Why? Because I was trying to make a video too (we used Super 8 video back then... it was real new stuff). He called me in his office and said "I need recce pilots, not videographers. If you want to do the latter, then I suggest you get stationed at March AFB flying KC-10's, and rent a place in Hollywood. Now get your butt back in the jet and go do some touch and go's." Wise words from a wise ass man. I haven't picked up a video camera since (not counting in the bedroom,... but I digress).

"The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." OK,... I copy all (including the fact that Brabus won't even to spend time in the squadron bar, since that's a few minutes he could be in the vault),... however, if you're going to do the overhead and eat up the time anyways, why wouldn't you do the T&G? You just burned up 1000+ gallons of fuel, pulled enough G's to continue to put significant stress on the jet as compared to a T&G. Is answer in the fighter/attack community honestly "tire wear"? I've landed the Viper from the front seat, and Hornet and T-45 from the back. They are "easy to land". Got it.

That video was hard to watch. I was actually embarrassed for those guys. No wonder Maestro doesn't want people to see it.

I've never understood the CAF's reluctance to do a touch-and-go, and to settle for a low approach.

Maybe not tactical... ... but at $412M, you still have got to bring a Code 1 jet back Code 1.

Quit being such a pussy, and go to the gym.

Cambridge is excellent.

How was it? One of our Beale guys came out there for the Friday event.

Good find. One of the classic war pics. I'd wondered what happened to her. Fascinating story. Everyone who goes through Randolph should take the time to go through the 560th. It is excellent. I had the privilege of helping to organize the POW/MIA Reunion for 3 years. Interacting with these guys has been a highlight of my life. If you do stop through, there is a small room that's the size of a Vietnamese prison cell, and has some artifacts. Ask around and maybe they will open it for you. Maj Todd 'Monkeyboy' Ernst is still there, I think, and he did a lot to improve the exhibit over the last 10 years. Definitely go see it.

Holy shit, they use a lot of exclamation points in their emails!!!!!!!!!!! I can hear the excitement in their typing-voice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M2 / Mods, If skibum doesn't get a 3 month ban/probation for that post, there is something majorly wrong around here.

Had I been drinking beer when I saw the previous post, it would have shot out both nostrils.

That in no way forces something to pass the litmus test for me. I can think of a few things that, while I may have to accept them on legal grounds, I won't argue are a good idea.

I would recommend a solo flight to all prospective suicides. It tends to make clear the issue of whether one enjoys being alive or not. — T. H. White, ' England Have My Bones,' 1936

https://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2012/05/28/153582693/vintage-spy-plane-gives-high-tech-drone-a-run-for-its-money

Lots of folks don't like Del Rio, as per the posts above. Got it. I lived there 4 years and had a blast. Learned to wind surf and ski, explored a lot of SW Texas via car,... ... and met a lot of locals. These folks are typical, nice, conservative Texas folk. Show them some genuine kindness, and they will respond better than most folks in most parts of the country. You'll get invited to some nice stuff, to include hunting with them and their friends, etc... Yep, it isn't New York. But then again,... it isn't New York (thankfully). I have very fond memories of Del Rio. You can show up and bitch about it for a year ... or four. Or you can accept it, make it a great time, and have some great stories for the bar of your follow on assignment. Oh yeah... don't act like a yankee jackass.

This phrase is key. In aviation (and certainly many other career fields), your ability to have a large and diverse network will get you more places... far more... than your resume. Until you figure this out and capitalize on it, you will be at the mercy of "the number of hours you flew". And as we all know, while being the easiest way to give some sort of filter on "who is most qualified", "number of hours" is also the least accurate measure of someone's aviation ability.