Alpharatz

Well, you got me there. Babysitting an airliner isn't the most exciting of jobs. However, I for one don't plan on hiring on to help manage and keep paying for the end game (at best) touched off by some long ago father son psychological SNIT aided and abetted by Rummie and Cheney. This is going to get really bad in my opinion. The British et. al. started this whole thing. We kept it going to support our thirst for petroleum. If the Europeans, Saudis, Turks and maybe even the Iranians can't or won't step up QUICKLY to put an end to this then good luck to them. I suggest that the Canadians, the USA, the Mexicans, the Central Americans, and Sud Americanos start doing some SERIOUS talking before it's too late. There is plenty of trade opportunity and POL supply from the Drake Passage to the Chukchi Sea to keep us all going. I hate to say it but the Israelis may have to go it alone on this one which will make it really really bad. Now this last reflection might be a little controversial. The only U.S. forces that should be threatening in this situation are in Maine and NoDak.

I would be more than happy to follow the ENTIRE graduating class of Haaa vad and Yale into the fray. With some Rummies and Cheney's and Bushettes leading the way of course. ......Oh, and some Saudi Royals, Qatari billionaires and a dozen "New York Super Bankers"....(they could bring their staffs)

My total knowledge of this is knowing one helo pilot and one crew chief. My impression is that any helicopter is considerably more fragile than an A-10. Considerably more maintenance intensive. In addition, it may be a pain in the ass but you can actually deploy an A-10 in a relative hurry. Does that apply to any helicopter? It would have to be mega-bucks less to do an expensive upgrade on the A-10 fleet than to screw with all of these helicopters and their rotors and collectives and shipping containers and days at sea getting somewhere. Admitted they can land "anywhere", but isn't an A-10 pretty good that way too? i.e. a stretch of road or a psp runway? .........I'll bet you could find some babes with a stolen 777 a LOT quicker in an A-10. And there are lots of places to land an A-10 in Burma too...........

Got some time on your hands there "Buddy"? .................If so, they're searching for that plane in Burma. You could be the "Ping" officer...................

It would be a nice change from the Battle Hags and Hogasauruses I deal with every day. .........................are the Huks still hanging around out there?....................

Actually not a bad idea depending on how you define "crew member". I think some of this is already in the works and could be modified for fighter types too. (If it isn't already in the F-35 and Pigasus) The next generation of airliners should have video throughout the hull; in the cabin, the cockpit and at various places outside on control surfaces etc. The avionics should be drone capable (remotely flyable). There should be video monitored stations throughout the plane like airborne fire alarms that anyone; pilot, passenger, flight attendant could activate if they sense something wrong. When activated a data link would open to ground based monitors who can evaluate and take over if necessary. All of this data could piggyback on the telemetry that already exists to monitor the engines etc. This would allow cost savings by eliminating one pilot on at least regional type airplanes that don't operate over water. .................................No more "snatched" airplanes for one thing"

Interesting article in Feb, 2014 Harper's magazine. "Tunnel Vision" Will the Air Force kill it's most effective weapon? https://harpers.org/archive/2014/02/tunnel-vision-2/ (for subscribers). I have no way of knowing how accurate it is. The author does stray off a bit but otherwise seems to play it pretty straight. The A-10 was always a friendly neighbor (to some people) and the F-16's aren't bad but the F-35's and F-22's are reportedly awfuly noisy for a local ANG unit . How anyone expects to take a 200 Million dollar? airplane down into the weeds is beyond me but the article covers all of that. .............I wonder if the Pegasus will be able to slow down enough...........Pegasus v.s. Hogasus

Sure "dude". Not one of you has made the decision I asked about. YOU are on the ambulance crew. An infant is half frozen. You have no idea who the infant is, thus you have no insurance information. Do you transport the child to the hospital or not? IF you refuse and a good samaritan transports to the local emergency department, should the child be adimtted and treated? "on call actuary to the emergency department" "stat".

Up in Iowa the other day an infant was found in a tote outside in subzero wx. Apparently not from Iowa so not covered by Iowa M.A. No one at the time knew who the kid was. Let's see.......HeloDude.....you get to make the decision.....hauled free by the local ambulance? Yes or No? seen in the local emergency dept? Yes or No? Admitted to Peds at U. of Iowa? Kid has no wallet and is a John Doe. Grandaddy shows up from Terra Haute and instantly has an asthma attack. M.A. thru Indiana (at least that is what admissions is told). Admit or out the door? Grandaddy will be getting a call from a personal injury mouthpiece in a few days Helo Fellow...hows YOUR insurance? Oh? It's free market and nothing written for "deliberate" harmful actions. ...........................I forgot one. "Dad...booted out of Rottcee for a heart murmur....since i'm a free market fellow like you i'll just pay cash if I can find coverage.....you got any? Cash I mean"........

Some of you might want to consider these three phrases that can quickly and painfully change your health insurance status. "Divorce decree" "your fired" or the ever popular " I quit" "pre-existing condition". A fully free market insurance industry would have all but the independently wealthy instantly bankrupt in the event of a medical disaster. Any ANG type flight surgeons or nurses care to chime in on this? ..................well boyz, the approach plate says it's 500 ft. wide Aaaaaaand looks like we're #2 behind that Cherokee........

You tend to forget about Compass Call, but that "might" be worth looking in to. Esp. if accurate concerning the female offspring part. RF emissions? How do they make it thru an aluminum fuselage? Isn't the manual full of radiation warnings? I know one guy who used to get rid of colds by warming his carcass up in ADA radar beam (do not attempt...closed course). Compass Call should be the first to launch after a "really big" disaster...like Katrina.

If I was the "SECDEF" (I love that talk) my reply would be " Is the system safe? Yes or NO?" answered in privacy of course. I have no idea what motivates your basic USAF general. But I am beginning to have grave doubts. I could care less if they want to chase some tail or get hooted up at a private party...but getting shined up and running your fat yap about serious "issues" with a major weapons system...in Moscow?? I get such a kick out of these hearings.....Four star...line of flunkies behind four star....flunkies behind flunkies ad infinitum...apparently not one of them willing to risk a straight answer. Anyway on with the show .......you have to be at least a two star to understand the stars and skirt reference....sorry

I got some jokes about all the various crew positions...but come to think of it, a lot of them aren't too funny. I think you guys might be a little too sensitive for those. My joke was right at the weather guy. Are you a weather guy? If so...sorry. What does the 10 dollars mean? Should I have tipped the weather shop?

Might want to stand by there Heathcliff. "I remember a time" we were headed into LPLA (that still Lajes?) at night when the approach control radios failed and we were on heading to a big dark patch on the radar.........anyway the whole night had been sporting SO to get a jump on depAture in two dayz I stomped upstairs to Navy Wx shop and ordered weather.."any wx of note between here and the East Coast? says I....."Nope" says he......."thank's bye" "thanks see ya" and off we go to billeting and the next day off to KGB central (George the Crook's) for hours of merriment with the crew chiefs. Next day badly hungover..back up to Wx shop....Navy guy (who I could of sworn I saw at the Crook's..it wasn't that big a plaCE") drops the wx in front of me including a satellite photo of a full blown hurricane blocking our route home. Well what can you say? Anyway, got a nice boot in the ass going back so that was good. .....................................................we promptly named it "Hurricane Numbnuts".........

Lately I've been musing about writing a little screed about how maybe the ANG can use it's political muscle to save the USAF from itself. But instead a question. Can an Air tech even ground another air tech? ....anybody remember the days when the AC was a high powered lawyer....the copilot was a college student...the Nav owned a milllion dollar business...the Boom was actually friends with his US Senator and maintenance was swarming with pro athletes....anybody? At one time there were units that could fly over Martha's Vineyard and somebody would look down and mention that a new pilot's dad owned that stretch of beachfront.......

Something HAS to happen to change the U.S. healthcare system (imagine that). As the billionaire level of management actively strips all of the spare cash out of the middle and lower levels of the economy they are ensuring (actively guaranteeing) that there will be nothing left for pensions, healthcare, vacation, full time jobs etc. Take Wally World as an example. We have a "Supercenter being built near here and the estimate is that one supercenter is worth about one million yearly in food stamp and health care pay out locally. They are busy hiring retirees who have Tri-Care so they can avoid the health care cost. What the big employers are really worried about is that if they do offer health insurance, they have you by the cojones. No matter how bad it gets you almost can't quit. Now why would anyone put up with the misery of such a job if they have health care through the national system. I could rant on about the HMO's and insurance co's salivating over the new biz. Sick people using the emergency Dept as urgent care at 10x the cost. I know that being a G.I. sucks now and I have stopped recommending it to young people unless they are desperate..Why get killed defending some billionaire's business interests. But believe me if you or your kids get out or need insurance or have a pre-existing, it will give you mondo peace of mind. Anybody know if "George the Crook's" in Pria is still open?

Some U.S. Senator probably gets a little baksheesh on the royalty from "The Three Stooges" ............................................Yikes!!! watch out for that pineapple..................

Don't miss Westminster Abbey....Poets corner.....RAF Chapel.......In a lot of ways the cornerstone of Western Civilization in one spot.. Then head up to Nelson's column....have fish and Chips w/ a pint on the way. London is expensive. Cost me 100 U.S. for a cab to Gatwick The driver was Afghani, but extremely helpful and friendly. LOOK RIGHT when you cross the street. I'm partial to Ben Truman bitters....yum

Well, thanks I guess.......What's an ellipse?

The unholy combination of sex...PR....24 hrs of news....the internet....cameras under every swinging pair....ruthless careerists....angry libbers..et.al. if it had sprung to life 20-30 years ago would have had a lot of personnel in prison...I was taking a leak in the locker room one thirsty evening when one of the air-babes strolled in...on the way past looked at my weasel and accused me of performance anxiety...I can only imagine the reaction today....you literally would HAVE to turn her in for your own safety..... I suggest that all present and future "high officials" be required to raise the old right hand and swear under oath that they have NEVER participated in such foolish activities...ever. ...BTW...never..never..never run your yap to any investigator (esp Feds) without a lawyer..and I don't mean daddy's real estate guy.....

I just pulled some cargo straps used on a commercial semi.......2 inches X about 1/16th material unknown rated at 1000lbs shackles are hefty....hooks 3/8th's steel...pretty sure the sewing would give first...web sling tie down assoc. rated (you've heard of them) .......I have never ever seen a cluster #### of a cargo load as in those pix...The DOT would pull a semi over and beat the driver (after they got done laughing) for "securing" a load like that.....my first question would be what if you had to really nose over? Would those straps stretch....let the MRAP float up? Loosen up? BUT...I admit total speculation.....leave it at that due to "third degree of separation" ........................................................Safe skies to all crew dogs.......................................

I thought he had an open topped Mercedes...........must have a lot of time on your hands baby sitting that drone

I suggest "Airwopersonordaughter" Wow, that puzzeled the spell checker This will undoubtedly advance me to "General Alpharatz" .........................order me some air shocks for my white topped staff car...and be sure and salute my driver, but "not too friendly" OK?....

There were a lot of orange ones at Wright-Pat somewhere......Ask one of the ancient mariners infesting that club, they'll probably know where. .........."three doors down from that freezer full of aliens" "Bar-wench!! another beer for my cyber friend and I".......... ....................."You in those ugly green coverall's, downstairs with ya"......................