HuggyU2

I don't... it's what we use in both airplanes... thank goodness.

Well,... it seems that since they can afford to get rid of Petty Officers at 15 years, their service would be worth less than the 15 Major.

C'mon Rainman. I figured you of all people would have figured this out. It's ALL about the PT test... duh! Wilson: he's good to go probably. In fact, that 'stache should have filtered >50% of the schmegma coming through his O2 mask. He's low risk. Probably a smoker too... which should increase his resistance to hypoxia, since he trains for it. Gordon, on the other hand, probably has a waist measurement like mine. Sure, he looks like a middle linebacker from his college days, and can probably squat 315+,... but there is no WAY he should be flying the Raptor based on his waist measurement. And that directly leads to this O2 problem. Fact. And sad. Only pilots like pilots. Everyone knows that. Move along.

I take it you probably know the Redman's from Rare Aircraft?

What do you think the Ryan will go for?

Though I wish that were the case,... we have armed guards and line badges to get near the aircraft. Getting near the crews? Not such a big deal. Yeah, yeah... that's not a great analogy. But we've got plenty of SF troops out there that might be required to take a bullet to keep the "asset" safe. Their life, while valuable, is considered ok to put at risk to preserve the asset. And try this litmus test: Go crash four F-22's in a week with four successful ejections. The following week, have four F-22 Captains killed in separate off-duty accidents. Which one will have Congress' attention?

Actually, the Bagram-based MC-12 crew did an impressive job on that event. Maybe the details will get released.

The U-2 and the Sled use LOX... not OBOGS. I don't know much about OBOGS. But I do know the LOX system works well. "Flyaway cost" is what they call it? I call it "misleading". These jets cost at least $330M each.

Well, over hear at Beale, we also have the U-2, T-38, and RQ-4. So... I guess that that's who exactly is involved in safety day hear.

Well you probably should. 1. These are national assets, and vital to our national interests. 2. They cost a ton of money... something we don't have much anymore as a nation. These are not disposable resources. Beale is having theirs this Thursday... except for the MC-12 squadron, since they cannot afford to stop flying.

I feel for you -E model guys. The AF is completely mis-utilizing that aircraft, and running the fleet into early retirement needlessly. Can I assume y'all are seeing a lot more age-of-the-fleet writeups on your jets?

If you cannot fall to your death, you should not be able to get an Air Medal. Simple as that.

I'm sure you will all be much happier when Sharia law starts to pick up around here...

Worse. I'd call it 1st degree felony.

Yep, not aviation related. So post it in the "Squadron Bar", not here.

M'aidez.,... Mayday... May Day,... 1 May... In a farmer's field near Sverdlovst... A toast to to the guys that flew those missions with no GPS, TACAN, astro trackers, data links, etc... And of course to Frank.

Noonin, BCan and many others know this side of the equation far better than I,... and if they sat down and 'splained it to you for 5 minutes, you'd get it. Unfortunately, I cannot remember many of the nuances of the budget side of it that make the decision invalid. However, I do know that most General-officers (with a few notable exceptions such as Lt Gen Gorenc and Brig Gen Jannitto) know nothing of how or why airshows work, and what they do for the Air Force. I'm willing to bet there are more than a few congressional districts that will be complaining about the lack of AF jet team presence at their show this year. I know of one already. You have to spend money to make money. Although the AF isn't into it to "make $$$", the AF certainly does "make 'money' " at many airshows. And at $55,000/hr, why did the AF decide to keep the F-22 demo team vice the other ones? I'm referring to the demo teams that operate aircraft whose cost per hour is less than half the F-22's (F-15E, F-16, A-10... ).

Let's hear some pros to cutting the demo teams, then. Do you know (past or present) anyone on the Thunderbirds? Everyone I've known on the team has been just fine. Some better than others, but all that I've known are folks I enjoy spending time with.

Somebody woke up grumpy this morning.

I've sent stuff like this to my local high school, recommending they show it at a student rally or whatever. Yeah, yeah,... I know they won't do it. With that said,... every time I go to a football game and see some 15 year old jackasses playing grab ass during the anthem, I embarrass the shit out of them in front of the crowd. Maybe one of these days, the principal will see it and change his mind.

The level of buffoonery at ACC that was involved in this decision is staggering. Granted, they think they are saving some cash. Too bad they didn't ask any of the Demo Teams to weigh in on where the "supposed savings" would be. Had they done that, they certainly would have left them alone.

Concur with Hacker. I spoke with a warbird pilot this weekend who was at Howard's funeral. He says there are other witnesses,... and their impressions may be significantly different.

Thanks to the KBAD crew at the D-M airshow this weekend that gave me a look inside their BUFF. I love "old school"!! And the BUFF is definitely that!

Hacker! There's a Howard in this auction! Now's your time to finally get one!

Yes, Mr Tanerite... I'd like to know what AFI/Dash1/military guidance/reference you are referencing. Not that I doubt it exists, but I've yet to see anyone post it yet. Sputnik, Your rule seems valid. However it was violated by a crew member other than the pilot.