busdriver

More press about the CSAR guys in Helmand: Pedroes at Bastion

Your misconceptions are long but understandable: The 160th are not starting to arm their Blackhawks, they've been very well armed for a long time, just watch the damned movie to see some minigun action. The CV-22 is NOT a replacement for the MH-53. The mission of the MH-53 is now being handled by the MH-47, the Osprey's mission is different and emerging. SOCOM owns AFSOC and they want the CV-22. Will the Conventional Air Force be out of the tactical helo game is a big question that no one really knows the answer to at this stage as it's still on going. What you need to know as a young pup is that we are still very much in the fight, HH-60 guys are deploying their asses off performing CASEVAC and SOF support on a daily basis, and the H-1 guys are bearing the burden of helo FID. In short, if you end up helos, welcome to the war, I'll see you over there.

It's funny that the first I've seen of this has been been about the Vipers at Misawa. In the grand scheme of things, removing the Eagles from Okinawa has a much greater strategic impact.

over speced for the mission? Jesus! we're currently flying an aircraft that has NEVER met our need, we make due. Now if we can secure the funding, maybe we can reduce the weight of what we're currently flying, with no additional gain in capability, and build an aircraft that isn't very power/weight limited. The Pavehawk mod is basically 3000 pounds of weight that can currently be carried out by a laptop, I mean seriously our computer is a no shit 486. After spending however much money to SLEP what we've got now, we'll still be limited in internal space and range and ability to penetrate certain threats. Basically, what we have now can be fixed for the current fight, given enough money. BUT, for us to be REALLY be able to go into any area to get our downed airmen (our primary mission, yes it's kind of the same argument as the F-22) we need a lot more money. Picture this, you've got the LO guys penetrating a double digit IADS, and low and behold one of them has to bailout for whatever reason, how do you go and get them? Could we do it with what we have now? What would be required? The answers aren't for this forum, but the thought scares the shit out of me given what I'm flying now. I think I could do it circumstances permitting, but no small amount of luck would be involved. I just don't think we should be banking our guys' lives on luck.

uhhello, nothing too specific about the unit as I left there a year ago, but I know the squadron has a metric shit ton of experience on the senior enlisted side, both in CSAR and ex SOF guys from 53 land. If you're single, Valdosta gets old but if not, the cost of living is low and you can buy a great house for not much if you're a family guy. In any event, you'll be spending plenty of time overseas, see you there.

Pedros Pretty good article about the CASEVAC mission in Afghanistan

The 53K is a massive aircraft, much bigger than the Pavelow or the Chinook. Quite frankly, it's a huge dose of overkill for our mission. Basically, the Hawk is a bit too small in cabin size once you put in the aux fuel tanks, but just about right in cabin space without the tanks. The 47 is probably a bit too big all considered, the after action reports of Vietnam era claim the 53 was too big as well. What we really need is either the 92 or 101, depending on how much cabin you really think we need (it'll depend based on who you ask). The problem is both those aircraft are gonna require a lot of R&D to make them work, the 47 is ready to go right now, but with compromises. The other option is a Mike model hawk with a stretched cabin, but even that comes with trade offs. In the end, it's a matter of picking your poison. Any way it ends up though, we're gonna have to learn how to soldier on with what we have for the foreseeable future, and for what the current fight is, the present Hawk will work with a bit of money invested, it just means we're gonna have to learn to live with a pretty grueling ops tempo. For those thinking about helos as a career, get ready to be gone a lot, and don't expect a predictable deployment pattern, shit seems to change every couple months. Although, while ops tempo seems to be on the up swing, I think we're getting more and more into the fight in a more direct way.

Why do people insist on thinking the OA-X (whatever ends up getting the go ahead if ever) will be operating at low altitude?

While I think that's the direction that we need to go, I doubt it will happen unless someone outside the Air Force steps in to make it happen. I imagine nothing is remotely solid until OSD gets its joint rescue whatever study later this year.

The term Pave usually refers to the Pavelows, mainly by tradition more than anything. Most of us in Pavehawks refer to the birds as Hawks, or 60s.

It's the result of some dip-shit over thinking. Seriously, some asshole is worried about the fact that since it points backwards it must mean that anyone behind you is constantly being flagged. Yes folks, there are people that stupid in the military and in a position to make policy. Shouldn't surprise me, ever seen the shooting "talent" of most base cops?

Beerman, you touched very nicely on my problem with Blackstang's posts. I know your community wants many more F-22s, as you should as an advocate for air dominance. That said, He hasn't really touched on the ultimate course of his argument. For the sake of argument and to play devil's advocate: what would be the cost to dump the AF version of the F-35 and leverage the R&D to develop a multi-role version of the F-22? Would it be a net gain having less 5th gen fighters overall but a more robust air dominance fleet, possibly backed with less expensive OA-X type aircraft for the permissive environment? I'm not an expert in this realm, but playing who can beat who is dumb argument.

You know it's just a thing, but you think someone who worked so hard to get that title would appreciate hard work and reciprocate. Couldn't you just call him General....

The two piece is flight approved by Brooks, AFSOC wears them. Those of us who love them have to wear body armor while flying, the armor keeps stove pipe issues at bay, and if you're really worried, just tuck it in. They probably would be less comfortable if you had to wear a g-suit. That said, my understanding is that big blue looks at the two piece as an "Army uniform" and thus hates it. I don't really care stateside, since I'm not wearing armor and whatnot. Actually, if they just flight approved the new Air Force ground combat uniform, I'd be happy and wear that while deployed and stick to the one piece while home station. I really think it has less to do with utility and more to do with being "distinctive" afterall the AF selected our new ridiculous ABU based on that criteria.

If by sweet you mean freakishly covered in external armor, then sure. I do like the comments the french have made about what they want: "If they could just give one more ton of weight, I'd probably ask for two."

Natchez Shooters Supply has Blazer 9mm/.45 for $14/$22 respectively.

Oh really?

(re poaching Medevac missions) I think I have the prize for that, I was flying chase and landed first ("hot" LZ) our medic got off, the grunts loaded patients into the opposite door, my gunner ran and grabbed the medic and we took off. All this while our Dustoff was waiting behind a ridge for us to clear out the LZ. When we told them we had all the patients and we could RTB, the only response on the radio was "Cock Blockers."

Something else: The AF is not out shopping for missions to justify the cost of CSAR. Pete, based on your posts your experience with Pave guys is Afghanistan; we're there doing that mission because the Army put out an RFF, due to shortfalls of Medevac assets. The mission set in OIF is very much different. The crux of your argument is correct, we train for a different mission and it just so happens that the required skill set lends itself well to other missions.

For anyone curious about what a good survivor is, read the account of Dale Zelko (Vega 31) and compare it to O'Grady (Basher 52). Basically Zelko was close to perfect and O'Gradey was plain lucky. You facilitate your own rescue.

What would be the point of nuking the south? Chemical weapons? Sure. But nukes would destroy the industrial base, which is the real prize for the chonger. Besides all this saber rattling to get the DPRK back in the fore-front of US foreign efforts and garner aide to his population; the only way he invades the south IMHO is if he feels a threat to his seat of power. Talk of things like regime change and threats to his legitimacy as ruler could set him off.

Threadjack coming.. Sorry for you guys who hate the idea, but if the price to pay to get a two piece flight suit is the gay tiger stripe, I will happily play along. Hey, I have to take a dump, instead of ranger rolling my flight suit in the vain attempt to prevent shit water on the floor from staining my bag, I'll just take the top off and throw it over the wall. Hey, instead of basically getting naked in combat to take a dump, I'll just drop my pants. Instead of wearing a ridiculous shoulder holster that flops around, I'll wear a paddle holster that actually serves a useful purpose. That's just a pilot's input, ask your sweaties if they'd prefer a uniform where they could just take off their top and not become dangerously dehydrated while loading and pre-flighting the aircraft. Basically anyone I know who's flown with the two-piece flight suit universally prefers it in the AOR.

As to what Incompletepete said, even that SV650 will feel like a rocket coming off a 650 vStar. Go get you some test rides, then decide. Also keep in mind that the 600rr has so much power that you won't be able to touch even the 75% ability of the bike on a street, well at least without being insanely stupid.

Civilian outed him eh? A cranky ex?

A Toast... Some things never change. I went to school with Mark, he built a potato gun so large and powerful that to ignite the chamber reliably, he wired up a bank of capacitors to provide the spark. Damn thing would launch a honey bottle several hundred yards. During Saturday inspections he'd screw around constantly, run by your room (I was a freshman) and wing a handful of pennies into your room.