brabus

That doesn’t directly reflect on your ability to be a good pilot, just the unique pressures and requirements of flying fighters isn’t your thing, and that’s OK. I’ve recommended to leadership twice in my career an individual needs to stop flying fighters, and they were removed without FEB (post-MQT mind you). They’re doing fine, including one flying for a major. I’ve flown with a lot of pilots (either outside the AF or as an observer in their mil aircraft) who are great pilots, and also with fighter pilots who would die in a GA airplane if I wasn’t with them. The aircraft type you fly doesn’t immediately define the quality of pilot you are (good or bad).

Gave the G43 to the wife for full time carry and picked up a G48 for $445 blue label and $200 for a JG trigger. $645 for a pistol with a glass rod break trigger and shooting tight cloverleafs with range ammo is unbeatable. Very happy with the new “summer carry” pistol.

If he wasn’t the politician he is, he’d be in a home, probably nearing hospice. Its insane people have propped that guy up to be the President. Its absolutely humiliating, for him and the country at large.

Apples and oranges. They don’t lack precision flying ability, they lack SA without all the data fed to them on a display (or make poor decisions as it pertains to safety of flight/general airmanship). VMFA and I are on the same page now - they need to be challenged so they learn how to maintain SA when toys go down and make good decisions without a FL/IP telling them what to do. This problem is a direct correlation to cutting air-under-ass time throughout the pipeline and letting them skate by with unchallenging/benign flying.

Gotcha. Well at least in my experience in the CAF, the guys are challenged well. And if that’s not happening at some squadrons, then the patch, DO, and CC need to fix that immediately.

Valid point on Iran/Taliban/Ukraine, but your slight about the “boogeyman” is ridiculous. The woke dipshits (or far left progressives, whatever you want to call them) are very real at all level of society. For you to dismiss that is either ludicrously dishonest or you’re a complete dumbass with zero SA (either for legit lack of awareness or you’ve allowed yourself to be completely gaslighted with zero free thinking/critical thought executed). Dismissing that makes you just as much part of the problem as them.

I understand your general point, and I’ve been seeing a lack of airmanship for years. But what exactly do you mean by “push students…to make them sweat?” Flying form is a non-issue for the tons of F-35 FNGs I’ve flown with, no need for them to do more “close work.” If your answer to “the link goes out” is visual form when doing anything more than CAS, you have a gap in knowledge/understanding of some things. I grew up in the “last world” of no link/helmet, green screens, pie-in-the-sky/geo ref to stay in the airspace (in the CAF mind you), stay visual at all costs even to detriment of mission accomplishment, and even did 10 timers with live CBU. I get it, but none of that is where we are today - all the old-minded guys (age agnostic) need to move on or get out. I think the new guys are “sweated” a ton more than we were at their age, just in different ways. I do however maintain general airmanship/SA when the toys go away is worse nowadays.

A buddy just had an $18K month on first year pay, not counting 401K contributions and future profit sharing. That is not your average month, but it can happen. I know lots of guys grossing $200K first year, but they live in base and have quickly learned a lot scheduling tricks. If you’re a QOL above $ guy, you’ll probably be around the pay x $1k WAG (excluding 401K, PS, etc.)

Best chance of success is probably rush Pease (you’re already on that plane). But, if you want to give it a shot at fighters, IN may be a good option. However keep in mind while everyone there needs a TX, you still need some sort of 38 course, IFF, and FTU…which is a much heavier lift than a TX course. They could love you, but aren’t able to get those courses all lined up in the timeline you need/desire. Go into this eyes wide open and expectations managed.

It’s not the plane, it’s us…but I DGAF, I shouldn’t see you from takeoff until RJ to tactical on RTB!

100% timing and effective networking/rushing. I’ve seen a great dude nail it on the rushing part, but the timing was bad for training slots. keep in mind a heavy guy needs 3 consecutive miracles of T-38 course of some flavor, IFF, and FTU - that is a tall order.

First I-check post FTU, I shit you not for the “formation” requirement the FE put me in close and did 90* wing work, unbriefed and not executed in several years. It was fine, but how retarded. First and last time I’ve ever seen or heard of that happening in the fighter community. Maybe there’s some confidence-building utility in it during UPT, but seems like we did WAY too much of it.

On a healthcare note, took Tricare a month to approve me to see a PT…after going to the ER and being unable to do much physical activity (including flying) this whole time. Govt healthcare is so great, why doesn’t everyone want it?! Also, SS is theft…there needs to be a completely new “social safety net” developed.

Hey everyone in AFSOC, Delta desires to hire 200/mo “for the foreseeable future” (AA and UAL probably have the same goal). GTFO if you can.

No Tumi bag? GTFO, hard pass.

But he always took his CAC out before waking away, which nullified needing to act on any of those other indicators.

Glad it’s officially out there. Share far and wide, because the MSM will do everything it can to suppress this

Some of the loudest proponents are the same ones who reverse course the second it walks through their front door…weird how that happens.

It shocks me the amount of things the Army has been given. I’ve worked with some phenomenal, intelligent Army bros who are empowered to lead and get shit done, the only problem is they’re in a category that makes up 0.0069% of the Army.

I don’t believe that’s remotely true. I believe that’s what has been jammed down your throat by your choice of media. “You’re just (fill in the blank) phobic!” is the battle cry of the ignorant. Put the media down, give people the benefit of the doubt and you’ll actually realize 90% of the country are reasonable people who aren’t super different from each other outside of some differing opinions. But those differing opinions do not make them bigots, phobic, hateful, etc. Those terms describe single digit percentages in this county, thought the media and the feds want you to believe they describe 50% or more.

Went to the ER 3 weeks ago due to the ol’ back. I hope to God the OHWS program stays for the duration of careers for the younger guys. They deserve to not end up with the necks and backs that most of us have after a career of fighters.

100%. Though it will still likely be geographically linked. Meaning, see something go down in a Dem state, turn around and walk away. See something go down in a conservative state, help out, because they’ll applaud you instead of charging you. The last shithole Dem state I lived in, a local guy was being charged with murder for killing the aggressor in a home invasion who attacked his wife. The DA said it was murder because the attacker didn’t have a weapon and the homeowner did. So lesson learned at the time was if you had a home invasion, kill the fucker, but then drop one of your firearms by him and get his prints on it…say he found the gun in a kitchen drawer. How fucked is it that thought process even had to exist for a violent event in your own fucking home.

Good point. What zoom level were you on in those pics? Let us know how you like it after some range time. I’m so torn amongst a few of these!

That’s one of those mistakes you only make once in life!

You haven’t lived until you’ve failed to convince a drunk bro that it’s a dude, he then “discovers” that fact on his own, and runs away screaming “it’s a dude!” back to your side of the bar. Pretty standard South Pacific TDY back in the day!