contraildash

Try this one on for size: getting cheifed while stepping to the jet (it's a bit of a walk) because you are sanitized and have no hat...

Obviously you missed the whole point of that story, Brian

Historical comprehension. Operations in the Falklands didn't require STOVL. RN ops in the Falklands required carriers. The only carriers in the RN were the short decks w/ Harriers. As far as the Ark Royal, I was just stating that had it still been operational it probably would have been down there to fufill the operational requirement.

I have. It's a great read. The Falklands campaign is a bad counter example. The entire reason the British used Harriers: they were the only carrier fighter they had. And even then they didn't have enough. They supplemented the Sea Harrier squadrons with RAF Harriers / pilots. The British used two container ships to bring in extra Harriers to replace attrition losses. They didn't operate off them, but were in fact transported from Ascension Island along with a dozen or so helicopters. Once close enough, the Harriers were flown to the two carriers. Not sure if any were lost when the Atlantic Conveyor was sunk by Exocets. I'm pretty sure that if the RN still had the Ark Royal, they would have had a SQ or two of F-4s wreckin' havoc on the Argentinians. If anything, Surely's point is a more valid argument for retaining a VSTOL fighter capability within the USMC.

THIS Other than flying off the LHDs, when have AV-8Bs actually needed to use STOVL in a combat role? From what I've found, they've mostly operated from long runways (as they do now). I say scrap the F-35B, give them the F-35C, fly off CVNs / long runways. Save money.

How many of us, when we sit down to eat a meal while wearing bags, or any long sleeved top for that matter, push up our sleeves? Hell I do it every time. Why? I don't want my sleeves to get into my g-damn food. Apparently pushing up your sleeves whilst eating, is good enough reason for my previously mentioned chief to interrupt meals. UFB ....still waiting for this doucher to say something.

After hearing some of our enlisted aircrew were getting harassed by a Chief, in the middle of eating, I've been having my crews eat together. We've seen said chief, but he hasn't come over to play while us O's are around. We anxiously await.....

Repeat process in '38s, change bases, repeat again, quit. That'll teach em.

As far as which base is better...well I don't think it really matters. You don't have a choice, and just because you are going to one, doesn't mean you are actually going there. Even if you get boots on the ground. So in the end, make the best of what you get. Fly your ass off for 6 months. We laughed about Bagram going full retard recently. Then the Army and Air Force teamed up here and hit everyone (NATO, TCN, local nationals, ect) with reflective belt DEFCON 1. The Marines opt'd out. Words of a Gunny "we take pride in our uniforms, and look both ways when crossing the street". Made my night. Of course they enforced this on the boardwalk...where chances of getting run over are nil. Ever seen a MSgt tell a Canadian Colonel that he either has to buy a reflective belt or leave? Full retard.

Ok, question on 36-2110 interpretation in reference to the "300 days in a 18 month period" rule. I'm stationed in USAFE. When January 2012 rolls around, I'll have been TDY for 9+ months. Except for 9 days, that's all consecutive. That said, only 179 of those days will have been spent in the AOR. The rest were deployment training back in CONUS. Do the TDY days in CONUS count towards a short tour? If they count, I can more than enough make up the roughly 30 day differnece to meet the 300 days w/in 18 months requirement with all my TDYs around Europe and Africa. Actually now that I think about it, in this calendar year alone, I will have been TDY almost 280 days. edit spelling

I understand the situation that the British are in, but I made my comments based more on our own Marines Other than flying off the LHDs, have the Marines made use of VSTOL in combat operations? Not throwing spears at them, just curious on my part. If not, why not just give them the C model and fly off big carriers / long runways?

Spent yesterday afternoon up at Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma CA. Sample the full line, did the tour, finished with the "Undercover Investigation Ale". 8.5/10 9.7% ABV Nice smmoth ale, hint of pine with a little kick from the hopps at the end. If you ever see this beer on the shelf check out the label closely! Not an exact quote but here we go: "Dedicated to all the would be astronauts and in remembrance of the 2005 St Patrciks Day massacre in the brewery party grounds and the 20 day shutdown that followed. Did the crime, did the time, got the bragging rights!" The guy at the brewery told us: Basically they were investigated by undercover cops for employees smoking weed at the thursday 420 parties there (imagine that) after a few months they raided the place. The owner asked the agent who arrested him "is this what you want to do?" and the agent replied, "no I'd rather be an astronaut". After the legal proceedings ended they had to shut down for 20 days in January of 2006. Since then they've never looked back, demand has kept growing, the place is expanding, life is good.

Just a thought on that. I was under the impression that the whole point of the Harrier was to operate from austere forward airstrips to support the grunts. Have they ever really done that? Other than the small decks (LHDs) they fly off, why do they still need VSTOL capability? I read a book about flying the Harrier in Afghanistan (A Nightmare's Prayer, not a half bad read) and it gave me the impression that in our current wars the jet needed long runways and decent support infrastructure to operate with useful combat payloads. /sidetrack thought off edit: spell'n

Has anyone had the chance to put back some "Life and Limb" from Sierra Nevada? WOW. Tanilla Vanilla Porter by Knee Deep Brewing 8/10 Had it on tap at a local cigar bar. Simply put, it was good stuff. From the interwebs: "Made with only grade-A Tahitian vanilla beans, Tanilla carries a smooth chocolate flavor complemented by the delicate intensity of vanilla beans, and a rich aroma of coffee."

I was went through there back in 05/06 and recently retired F-14s were all over the place. Now there are like one or two. Apparently they have already scrapped the entire fleet at the boneyard. Pretty sad. F-14s Scrapped Edit: add link to the reason.

Free cheap entertainment. The Crazy Neighbor Show

Sounds like normal ops there...not on my list of favorite places I've been as far as airports.

Do those come standard with the 'chute? Never flown one, but heard they are nice planes.

Did you write such a paper? Actually makes sense.

When cadets go home for vacation, why can't they drink while traveling? Plus they never said he was drunk, just that he had a few beers. One article I read stated he was a senior at the time, so I'm guessing he was a few months away from commissioning. On that note: Sounds like he got the boot, and was forced to enlist (seen it happen to guys at USAFA). If he was booted for headaches and such, I doubt they would have made him enlist. Shitty deal all around for the guy. Get beat up with a concussion, miss out on spring break, get kicked out of West Point, and then forced to enlist. I hope he wins the lawsuit.

Looked liked a blown tire and/or brake fire. Either way, what caught my attention was the fact that numerous people were evacuating the jet with their luggage. WTF? I'm sorry, if I'm evacuating from a jet that's on fire...I'm not stopping to grab shit. Fox News Link

My cousin is escorting one of the guys home. Sad stuff. :beer:

definitely an interesting way to look at it It is kind of retarded to watch officers/enlisted artfully dodge having to give a salute in a parking lot or anywhere else. Really? I always try to acknowledge the rank when saluting...especially with other services.

You are hitting a good point, and it's not just the fighter community, a very high % of Class A mishaps involve experienced IPs and EPs. There's a multitude of factors that go into that discussion.

nasty