Alpharatz

Some of the scariest words in aviation "Let's go visual" (not insinuating...I wasn't there...didn't burn..was he out of gas?) ..........."I got vertigo" is right up there too.........

At one time if you had butch looking guyz with perfect grooming and impeccable duds hanging around restrooms and showers especially if they were making up excuses to contact the patrons.....eventually someone would call the Vice Squad and they would assign some officers to FRUIT PATROL (not my terminology) and that would soon be the end to that. ......................."roll down them sleeves you blue eyed devil".............

Perhaps I didn't express myself clearly. In any case probably not to be debated here. .......Dammit, hike your a## out of that casino and get that drone headed my way, I'm surrounded......by experts......

First I am assuming that "you" are a single seat fighter pilot. Then I am expanding my association concerning 200 or even 50#'s of fuel to TRY and justify including YOUR 200 lb carcass much less a second guy. Sort of jumping from the "I don't need no help" attitude to the RAPIDLY solidifying "maybe we don't need YOU either" attitude. I personally think that we DO need "YOU" (see assumptions above) but we also need WSO's. As for the Navy...I think they are worried and should be when Ron Paul and Barney Frank are prancing hand in hand to budget meetings. But to be honest; If I was Barry I would use the Navy to defend the Straits of Mollucca (Mollusca?) before Formosa....Korea? who knows? They also chase pirates and have fired more shots in anger recently than any F-22 (a good thing). I hesitate to add this last but as far as a "notional Army General" He could be your CO sooner than you think. SOOOO... to do a quick 180 back into WTF thread territory (jeez I love that talk).....WTF do I tell my Senator and Congressman when I call them after the latest budget threat? They want to close all the bases in Europe. See? It's sort of like a free associating conversation only in writing...no choking and kicking

You may be getting more silence than you are hoping for sitting on the ramp in your multi-mega buck ride waiting for an increasingly unlikely mission to occur. That is, if the ride gets bought at all. If I was an army General I would be looking at an F-22 pilot and then at my own Captains and Majors and asking what the pilot is doing that begins to match what those guys are doing. And i'm commenting as a fairly robust supporter. I believe in the value of air support...my Senator barely knows what it is

The sad part is that it's not just the "defense" industry but just about every industry...cooking the books..gold-plating products...."me too..me-too" drug copies that might work or might not. Defense is just especially good at munching on the Federal grand tetons..Meanwhile what the whole DOD needs (a new tanker) lounges in acquisition hell....now I forgot the topic....oh yeah, once saw an SR puke a fuel line mid-air...stream of fuel 3-4 miles long and a dash for the ground. ...........excuse me, is that petroleum surging out of there or are you just glad to see me?...

Well, you have to remember that "some of our people" are operating on the "skills" and "training" and "experience" of your average mid-level lawyer....which is to say no engineering, math, science, military, industrial etc. etc. experience at all. Good at basketball I hear.... .....Maybe NASA can make some use of those flying carpets"

Ah, yes...once was hiking an old beat up 12 Ga riot gun up to my shoulder when it went off.....The old finger on the trigger ploy combined with a worn out action. (I didn't own it) Knocked my glasses sideways and gave me a nice boo boo. Fortunately it was pointed in a safe direction. Never trusted one again and re-trained the trigger finger. And I agree...nice discipline with the rifle. Also favor revolvers like that Bulldog....just a little extra decision time. "any shootin iron used for real is likely to end up in perpetual evidence..so use something cheap"

I could never keep it straight whether the DEFCON 1 was really good or really bad...then THREATCON came along and I think it was reversed...1 is good (I think)....I suggest a new one....."STUPIDCON" only use ALFA thru FOX..like grades easy to remember A is good at being stupid....F is bad at being stupid, which I guess would be good except..Oh, forget it... Anyway, feel free to use this idea and note it on an OER if you need the gong. "Attention on deck..STUPIDCON ALFA..all non-essential dumbos leave the area..essential dumbos sign in with the quartermaster"

Not one foot below minimums. Period. 250 below 10. Period Etc. Etc. Period Thou, wench, shall never utter the name of a sacred wingman. Period. Raindude, have you ever seen a talk by a Naval Flight Surgeon called "Sex and the Aviator"? "Let's keep the peckers pointed North boys.....er...and girls (sts)

I once observed an herbivore outrunning a Thunderbolt II.....Can't name the species for obvious reasons. "I'd like you guys to meet my new girlfriend Penicilina"

Many, many moons ago senor...and yes, the Caliente Hospital was completely destroyed Also...I apologize for Annex C. Is "New Thunderdome" a re-make? "I wonder how a couple of hostile fighters loose in the airspace would change things"

It's been a while but I can't ever remember any of this airborne bickering and snorting between tankers and receivers. Sometimes they just showed up...no one said a word and off they went; side lights aglow...Unless you count the Egyptian F-16's rolling in from who knows where jabbering loudly in Hindoo or some such. But If they were complaining I couldn't understand the lingo anyway. So, what's up guys? Annex A. My pal did have a missile cook off thru the the formation at Red Flag Annex B. Probably get more ionizing radiation from being at high altitude than a radar unless you ask an E-3 to heat your flight snack Annex C. you can do anything to an A-10 and they can't catch you.

If this is accurate you have to instantly get the politically connected heavy hitters in your flying squadron on the case. They should know what to do re: Governor...US Senator etc. Any well placed retirees? Is this so called "Commander" an active duty type who was air-dropped in as I hear is happening? "Time to hit the club for some debauchery and a sacrifice or two"

I hate the word "tarmac" quite a skoshi da*n bit....tarmac this tarmac that....especially when I hear a sentence like "I think we just parked on some soft tarmac" "That crazy O-6 in personnel haS ORDERED his staff to start wearing cris-crossed reflector belts. They ran out to watch us sinking into the tarmac. Looked like the Mexican Army in "Viva Zapata" only glowing. One got squished by a tug"

https://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article6917297.ece A little more backup down the tubes "She didn't believe me" She said "If you are really the Base Commander take that blue reflector belt off and wrap it around your weasel and wave it at me" "So, what'd you do Sir?" " well Sarge, all I had was red"

Since I have no current knowledge of USAF leadership other than what I read in Baseops, I do kind of wonder if there is a certain amount of excess complaining/whining which of course would be normal. What I see in my kids current AF Magazine really has me wondering. I like to look over the nice color pictures of the senior leaders and the first thing that leapt to mind was.....Why are these men smiling? Other than Chandler, Deptula, Hoffman, North and the Historian for Christ sake they look like a convention of prosperous dentists who happen to have the same tailor. So I thumb back a few pages to a picture of Billy Mitchell who I must say looks pretty bummed. Ever see a picture of Gen Lemay where he DIDN'T look like he wanted to kick somebody in the nuts? At the back of the mag they have pictures of some real heavy hitters most of whom look like they have just...SURPRISE...been through a war. Maybe this whole screed is a cheap shot but I fail to see under current conditions what is making Schwartz the Chief of staff so happy. Prozac in the water at the Pentagon? Denial? Too much puss......Ooop's sorry... ....."To lure the wily dentist out of his lair we built a crude driving range".........

Having had some fairly recent experience with the Coast Guard and just today reading about a retired Coastie who apparently is kicking ass and taking names in the civilian world. I would suggest considering the Coast Guard. Cons: No Fighters Attached to the Godless homeland security Very small Pros: Daily operational mission On scene decision making is expected Very small No fighters Did I mention fun?

Islands in The Stream........ Hemingway (does reference a Spitfire; booze; mentionable style love) Shadow Divers........... Kurson (sort of peripherally military, nothing G.I. though) ................."This is a very bad moment for both of us"......................

"Touch and go's with the runways of the past" ???!!!! Jeez, now i'll be up all night....

It is obvious that I am hopelessly out of the loop....but WHY would a Marine Col. hesitate to order a Lance Corporal into instant physical restraint for not only DISOBEYING him....but threatening HIM with arrest at the scene of a fatal military crash no less? Herr Gott!!!!! ...........................................Peckers pointed North? Apparently not.....................

My Uncle flew P-38's with 94th Pursuit prior to Pearl Harbor...then out of Long Beach...for gunnery practice they shot clay pigeons except "no one really wanted to spend the extra money for shotgun shells". From time to time he would get a little feisty and snort that " I never want to see the U.S. military that un-prepared again". He isn't around to ask BUT I have to believe that .... He would be happy with F-22's OR F-35's He would believe that "stealth is life" He would not be happy with 50 y.o. tankers; and fighters falling apart mid-air Now my thoughts.... How do you SNEAK UP on a target with an airplane that is twice as noisy as an F-16? How do you train with it when even neighbors who are obviously noise tolerant don't want it around? All stealth all the time If I was the CNO I would be mighty nervous about those Carrier Battle Groups. MORE B-2's and the F-35 should be a two seater............. ................."Pilots man your cubbies......Away all Alert Drones....Coffee to Hot Battery Bus"........

After "a long time" I am really beginning to wonder about USAA. In fact I hesitated for quite a while to add to the discussion until today. I struggled through the highly irritating computer lady menu. Finally got an explanation of why my car insurance has increased over 10 Percent in one year; asked for a phone number to some (any) USAA executive to complain about the borderline usable automation; and was given a phone number that's out of service..My USAA financial guy wants me to switch everything to USAA. I don't have the heart to tell him that it takes me two minutes to get in touch with the locals and with USAA it takes dealing with the computer lady.....rowing thru multiple menus...maybe getting the correct shop..it took me literally uncounted phone calls...discussions etc. to e-mail some files. It took my lawyers office one phone call and about two minutes to get multiple files from them to me. Soooooo.....what's up with USAA?

I simply must have one of those T-shirts........... .........."Depending on where you are, that swish-swish sound isn't something you want to be making".......

"You're the only crew available"