contraildash

At ~130,000ft or 24.6 miles, he'd be able to see approximately 430 miles. The closest body of water to Roswell is the Sea of Cortez, slightly over 500 miles. So no....no water. Maths.

Screen grab from the Viper West Demo up in Sacramento:

I don't think it matters much, you don't see much more than someone's nugget and shoulders when they are in the water.

Terrible waste of money. On the same note, why do we have to change the company that makes flight suits every 6-9 days? (or so it seems) Watch out for the recent batch made by Carter Industries. The stitching falls out after one wash. Two brand new bags, both are falling apart at the seams. Litterally! I have several from two years ago made by Equa Industries. Still going rock solid.

Video from folks driving down the highway shows the crossover...no contact between jets. Rather close impact to them as well. https://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ee1_1348112130

I had an AE crew recently loading large pelican cases that felt like they were full of lead. I asked what they had inside...."pubs". In a jet where space is an extreme premium, that shit has got to go. I carry my paper pubs per to stay legal, but use an iPad in the cockpit because it's practical, fast, and safe (kicked off AP in cruise more than once with my pub kit). But just like anything else in the AF, this change requires money, time, and some poor sap to run the program in your SQ. I don't see it happening anytime soon...or quickly for that matter.

It was Glenn Smith on the team. Godspeed. HopperFlight Team Page

Bring the truck. The pro's (too many to list) outweigh the cons (small roads, parking). I only know one person that has ever reached their fuel ration, and they were basically driving laps around Germany. Plus... The German train/subway/bus system is legit. We use it all the time. Why worry about drinking and driving when I can take the train and pre/post-game on the train? Genau.

FIFY

back on subject....

CO ANG F-16 did attempted to at Lamar Colorado couple years back after his engine shit the bed. Punched when the jet went off the runway. fvck no!

Here's a new one, hot of the press: OCONUS - CONUS PCS with x2 TDY en-route. 1st TDY, 142 days. 2nd TDY is 122 days. RNLT is after 2nd TDY. Each TDY is short enough that they are un-accompanied, but they are back to back. Thinking I can have the wife and HHG sent to HOR while I'm in training, kinda like what happens to guys going to the RoK for a year remote. Ideas?

Not sure where they base these things, but woulda been interesting if the pilot got picked up by one.

That's a long way out in the north Pacific.

9 News in Denver is reporting 14 confirmed dead, 40+ wounded, suspected gunman in custody. Witnesses stated that he kicked in the emergency exit to a theater, threw a flash-bang/something explosive, and then opened fire. Live news streaming here

Looking on Trulia, the majority of the homes listed have dropped in price significanly and been on the market a while. Wonder if developers/owners/ect expected more of a influx of folks to the 'western' AFSOC base. Just read an article about liberals/tree huggers/off the grid types bitching about low level routes through NM and southern CO, sounded like a pain in the ass for the AF to deal with. (not that F-111s, F-16s, B-1s, B-52s were and have been flying said routes for decades). I'll look at it next year until then, good luck!

What's the issue with the housing market out there? Same as everywhere else these days? I have some friends there that refuse to buy, will only rent in Clovis.

Heading out there in a year or so, and from what I've seen online so far the market looks pretty crappy. Where are most folks living around town (or trying to live). Married, no kids but planning on it.

I recently finished "Stuka Pilot" by Hans Ulrich Rudel. It was the version with the preface by Douglas Bader. Safe to say that while I don't agree with his ideology, his story is pretty epic. Stats alone: 2,530 combat missions claiming a total of 2,000 targets destroyed; including 800 vehicles, 519 tanks, 150 artillery pieces, a destroyer, two cruisers, one Soviet battleship, 70 landing craft, 4 armored trains, several bridges and nine aircraft which he shot down. What suprised me was how often Stuka crews landed and picked up their downed squadron mates, how he got stuck in the mud on one attempt and the ensuing escape from the Russians. He also flew FW-190s a lot towards the end of the war. Anyways, very interesting read. My list of books read recently: We Die Alone - story about a failed mission by Norwegian agents in WW2 and the sole survivor's escape. Lions of Kandahar - Battle for Sperwan Ghar Outlaw Platoon - great account of action in eastern Afghanistan Vulcan Test Pilot - very dry read (British test pilot) but neat insight on production/test flying back in the early years of jets Hauling Checks - life of a frieght dog Squawk 7700 - nothing like working your ass off to become a regional airline pilot then realizing it sucks. good book Fighting the Flying Circus - Rickenbacker's WW1 story. Low Level Hell - Loaches at treetop level + huge f'n balls The Rogue Aviator: In the Back Alleys of Aviation - dude leaves the AF and works for some sketchy airline operations American Sniper - seems everyone has read this one recently Sniper on the Easter Front - About an Austrian kid becoming a sniper by accident, I found the Axis' perspective on the retreat from the Russians intreguing. To Kingdom Come - B-17 raid on Stuttgart goes waaaaaay bad. If You Survive - 1Lt in the infantry's story. Starts soon after D-Day, up through Hurtgen forrest. O Face mentioned "By Any Means Necessary" I suggest anyone that's read that also check out two books by Col. Wolfgang Samuel "German Boy" and "Coming to Colorado". Both are about his story of fleeing the Russians in 1945, surviving and escaping eastern Germany, moving to Colorado, and eventually becoming one of the first Ravens to fly in the RB-47s. He has written several other books that I haven't read yet.

Next year for me, never been, always wanted to go. Missed out on my chance to hit up Flying Legends at Duxford a week ago. Anyone ever been to that?

aspec, I've been experiencing some lower back issues recently that sound like yours. About once a year, and it's bad enough to hit the emergency room. Mine are directly related to dehydration and tight hamstrings (happens when you run/bike alot). I've had to get into a very regular stretching regime including some yoga. It's helped wonders. My flight doc explained the anatomy of the lower back muscles, but it was beyond me. In short, everything is connected, needs to be stretched. Have a strong core (abs, ect). If you slack off and the lower back pain occurs more often, then you can end up with slipped dics, ect. That's just my experience.

I had a few close calls with USAF RPAs in the AOR....but far more close calls with Navy F-18s in a stack/transiting/ect.

Talk louder. Use your man voice.