FourFans

Off altitude and off TOT? That checks. Standby for the HHQ directed FEBs

100% of the say. Unfortunately 'the people' largely can't or won't effectively communicate their opinion to Congress. We are a republic 'by the people, for the people' where 'the people' have had physical barriers placed between them and the governing body (note the new security fence around The Hill). Decisions about this conflict are being made behind closed door by people who are not responsible for those decisions. Anyone who thinks that the Joe is setting the policy for our engagement there (which he's not responsible for), or that the Congress is actively involved in determining the direction of our grand strategy, is simply ignorant. Want proof? Try having a coherent and factual conversation about the Ukraine war with anyone over the age of 65. There are some bright and sage exceptions, but the majority of those conversations will rapidly devolve into inaccurate assumptions and unfounded preconceived notions. That demographic is largely who are supposed to be responsible for setting policy in this conflict, because that's the demographic nominally in charge of our government right now. To be blunt, they clearly aren't the ones setting policy for that conflict. THAT should concern everyone.

DIA not wanting to disclose sources and methods regarding information gathered (likely digital or human) in the only other country on the planet that poses a military and economic threat to the US security. Not shocking. Having seen how the sausage is made, I can attest that we overclassify the ever-living crap out of everything. Given very active Chinese efforts to infiltrate every aspect of our society, politics, and military, that's also not surprising. Frustrating as all hell, but not at all unexpected. I have no doubt that espionage effort is definitely a two way street. What is sincerely concerning is the fact that our current leadership is not simply doing nothing at all to bring China to account for creating or at least not containing COVID, but that individuals in the administration are actively engaged in personal gain from Chinese influence, and have been for decades.

You guys smell that? Smells like documents burning...

One eyed pilot safely lands hate box glider in the mud I can only guess that @HuggyU2 was the right seat IP on this one. …meanwhile, all the c-130 guys respond: ‘ok, he did it with one eye…so call it a Q1 with 2 downgrades: t-storm avoidance and centerline control’

Please tell me this is you Chang...yeah, the guy who said stop hiring white men because you all think alike.

Apparently we learned nothing in the past 3 years. Fun fact refreshers: - According to Johns Hopkins It takes 5-10 years to completely develop and study a vaccine. History tells us it take longer then that. Logic says it takes 20 years to do a 20 year study on the 20 year impact of a vaccine....weird. It's been 3 since this show all started. - Modern news agencies exist to do one thing: Make Money...which they do by getting us to click...which they do by posting scary stories. - Politicians want a crisis during an election. This should shock no one. Stop feeding into the real enemy's game (politicians trying to polarize their bases). They don't care about you, they just want to retain or gain power. Everyone chill out. Frankly, I think @Biff_T has the right line here. Can we somehow link the word replacement game with a drinking game?

I've spent time in Germany. It's true.

Hey @Prozac, you're a brown dude, right? You've been here a while, what are your thoughts?

Great question. Consensus of dudes I've spoken with seems to be that 67 would be a complete PITA, as those dude couldn't fly outside CONUS because of ICAO rules. That would necessitate making a whole set of unique domestic lines for 65-67 year olds, many of whom are on the international fleets. So maybe they're trying to kick the 67 can down the road until ICAO is sorted, as well as voluntarily shrinking the fleet as package volume declines. Two birds, one stone. Hell, from 2008 to 2014 when we didn't hire, they shrank from 3100-2200 pilots. That could well happen again. Long story short, no one knows and Brown a telling, but it would make sense...though I won't be surprised when they announce their parking the entire MD fleet in January...but that's 100% RUMINT. One fact for sure: We won't be hiring until COVID-24 kicks in.

Can confirm. That slide is valid. It should simply clean out the dudes that were going to retire in the next 12 months...which was about 60 mandatory retirements anyways. Add in the dudes that are in range and just done, and I think we'll hit that target no problem. But it's not a good harbinger of things to come.

I've only met a couple kids like this. In every case the parents are completely disengaged. This is why I laugh when older generations hate on younger generations, as if they had no hand at all in how those kids turned out. We don't have a lazy kid problem. We have a lazy parent problem. I'm with the rest of you gents. A kid in high school, and one in middle school. They both have their plans pretty well wired. It's awesome to see.

In case anyone one the fence didn't hear it: Don't take the bonus.

They might, but then they actually assemble the jets with superglue and the aerospace equivalent of drywall screws that are left exposed. Lo-vis? Sure. Stealth? No.

I'm not on either side of your debate, but do bear in mind that this is a Russian war. Historically speaking, they're just getting warmed up. Russians are decidedly eastern in their views on the value of human life, so using a body-count in any argument concerning this war completely mis-understands the utterly genocidal and horrific cultural context. Not saying I approve, but facts are facts. If you want a real tour-de-blood, go look up the Russian revolution or the history of the Cossacks (Ukrainian ancestors). It's absolutely brutal.

This was so accurate for my last AD squadron.

...and somehow also Chang's IRL actual exec. Crazy times.

That is absolutely and in all imaginable ways depressing for everyone on that base. Individuals who've never been responsible for so much as a flight meal order and letting them lead an entire wing. Wow.

...until you realize that if it were up to a straight popular vote, LA and NYC would set the federal agenda...yeah, that popular vote that would replace the electoral college that so many keep saying we should abolish. Crazy to think what would happen to the coasts of this country if they were divorced from the center of this country. Mass starvation, for one. The modern woke liberal agenda is so far removed from reality that it's literally suicidal.

So @nsplayr and @Prozac, you both have defended your support of Biden, and you've both been rather quiet recently. What do you guys think about this?

You guys sure do know your cows. So, which is it...ya'll AWACS backseaters, or do you just hang out at the AJ's by Hurbie?

...soooooo ops normal for an AWACS unit?

Did I just hear a ClearedHot/Biff_T ticket with M2 nominated as the head of ATF?