busdriver

The problem is that no matter what helicopter we pick as CRH it's basically a gen 4.5 platform. Sure it'll have better avionics and might make up for some deficiencies that the G has, but at the end of the day it's still a slow ass helicopter. The Osprey is much faster, but is still a crappy vertical lift aircraft. If we really want to get serious about CSAR and even long range SOF infil/exfil, we should be focused on the next generation. The future vertical lift platform is currently lead by the Army, who knows what they'll pick, but in my opinion both SOF and CSAR are best served by a fast(relative), high flying rotary wing platform that is primarily a vertical lift asset. Something like the X2, but Blackhawk sized and capable of pressurizing, with radar signature reduction measures along with a radar jammer and stand off weapons and sensor.

There are some things the Hawg can do as rescort that others can't, there are work arounds but they require more weight on the helo. You're spot on with the mike model being a half measure. Unfortunately, the technology and money isn't there for the next gen without letting the Army take the lead (FVL, or whatever it's called these days). That said, there are situations where the Hawgs are a liability to the mission and vice versa where the helos are a liability. If the Air Force wants to get serious about contested CSAR it's time to look at the whole thing and find a better solution than slow ass aircraft flying low with a shit load of guns to survive.

We have a form fit function replacement for our FLIR. The new one has three fields of view, the integrated software only lets you use the same two fields of view as the old FLIR. The new FLIR has a space built into the turret to house a laser of whatever type, we didn't even buy an IR pointer.

If you have to decide between corrupt/conspiracy and lazy/incompetent, go with the latter. I suspect most of the problem SPOs aren't trying to line contractor pockets, they just press the easy button. It's the acquisition process/system that is fucked up. I have multiple friends that went into the test world only to bitch and moan about how the fucked up rules and laws make it exceedingly hard to inject common sense into the process. One direct quote: "It's all fucked up but I don't think I can legally fail it because it technically meats the requirement."

With a cost of around 200M for the new tanker, does this come as a surprise?

Moved to coconut oil, it's fantastic. Shocker, it's good because it has more saturated fat than butter. It's really freaking good.

The deferential treatment that AF leaders get has always baffled me. It seems like when a guy pins on O-6 he becomes a demi-god with respect to how the underlings treat him. It only perpetuates the Emperor with no clothes syndrome. The O-6's I most respect as people were down to earth and didn't want any of the pomp and circumstance. One told me if I ever told MX that an O-6 was flying again and had the glad hand parade meet him at the aircraft he'd Q-3 me. Another deployed as a squadron commander just because he wanted to deploy with the boys again and give his commanders a break, same guy would reply to a squadron all email to mock me about my LT choice to spend a stupid amount of money on car stereo equipment that I was trying to sell. He would also attend all naming ceremonies and toss out horrible names with the best of em. One AFSOC General would swing by the Pedro compound just to hang with the 60 guys and swap war stories because he used to fly the same bird. Why are guys like this handed a posse of tag alongs based on protocol, and why does the system promote the pomp? Our leaders should be approachable people, if an O-6 expects different treatment based on his/her exalted rank, something is wrong. I would argue that treatment should make any normal person uncomfortable, if it doesn't that person has failed as a leader.

Garlic powder + Parmesan cheese is awesome. If you have a heated corn deck, it actually gets better after an hour or so for the flavors to mix through the popcorn. Next goal: Salsa popcorn. Anyone tried using fresh peppers?

Simple answer, make Col Doctor so and so deploy and work the same schedule that we all do. 12 on 12 off for the whole deployment, no opportunity to leave the alert facility while "on" and tell him he can't use anything other than good food and good sleep to maintain the alert (ie zero caffeine and no Ambien) and he has to ride along on every flight on his shift. I bet he'd be a zombie by the end of a four month trip.

I like this, ask them to teach you about their job and how they do business. Then ask the why questions from a standpoint of a "student."

Wait, that's an option? So you're telling me that God/Allah/FSM isn't interested a Master's degree? I don't buy it, clearly you're trolling.

Actually, you can complete all the self paced courses before ever starting the first applied course, at least it let me do that.

If you're talking airliner, sure. If you plan to make silly money in the defense industry than it absolutely will.

It depends, some good (try to make a difference and do good shit), some bad (in it for the QOL and just coast), some just ornery (good guys but can't let go of "the way the Army does it") and there are of course there are plain old bad-apples (the first three examples would be good dudes overall) in any group as well. Those students also show up having already completed IFS and T-6s and if I understand it correctly the current syllabus introduces NVG low level formation flight at the end. But assuming Rucker hasn't changed all that much since my time, it was very much a big-boy program and there wasn't really anything "tactical" taught. Aren't there still a lot of Army guys flying out of Cairns? Like waaaay more Army helos than AF? Whatever, I flew out of Lowe, what do I know I guess I'm old now.

Daylight precision bombing failed in WW2, therefore the USAF is irrelevant. Questions? No I didn't think so.

Number of hours is a bit of a tangent. If all those hours are the same, it doesn't really do anything to help your progression as a pilot.

I think so, but nothing to back that up.

Sounds like you want into the fixed wing world? If that's the case, good luck, I can't help in any way. If you are interested in looking into the rotary wing world let me know, I can point you towards the functional manager at AFPC as well as some ex-Army Apache dudes flying the Hawk in the Air Force.

Nope, too expensive. It'll basically be a newer version of the G (or what the G is supposed to have by then) except better integrated and on a Mike airframe.

Damn, how does that happen?

Sure they'll be similarities, both will UH-60M based with a bunch of extra stuff added. My point was that this isn't a case of going and grabbing an MH-60M and making a couple tweaks.

Part of their RF countermeasure system. CRH will not be related to the 160th birds other than being based on the UH-60M.

Coco's fans read: I tried adding a chunk of S&B Golden Curry(Medium Spice, 1/10 of the package of curry roux in a 4oz kettle) to the oil after letting the Jalapenos(If I had Hot curry I wouldn't have bothered with the peppers) cook for half their time. Result: spicy curry popcorn and a bar that smells like a Japanese curry house. And I'm pretty sure for me, everything will smell like curry for the next couple days.

This idea keeps coming back over and over, while I think there's merit I think ACC is scared shitless of any acquisition program that might pull money and more importantly perceived importance away from the F-35. I officially love this thread now. Thanks for that, all the lame CAF/MAF non shit talking was boring.

Like you would imagine truckers would use on a CB radio. Like you would imagine the comm would be on a CB radio. Overly verbose when using plain English.