MooseAg03

How are C-17s still 130% manned after all of us who were crossflowed to RPAs and those that were lost in the VSP/RIF last year? Are they generating that many new co-pilots every year? If so, it must be a ridiculously young pilot force. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I did a lot if research on this for my SOS paper. Nextant aerospace can refurbish the fleet by overhauling everything and replacing engines and avionics. When I spoke with their VP, he talked about how the airframe life limit on a standard Beechjet is unlimited with proper maintenance and that the AF chose to place an hour limit even though the T-1 airframe is beefier than a standard Beechjet, and for good reason. But when you can get a practically new jet with double the fuel economy for about $1M per copy, why would you not do that? The fuel savings alone would pay for it after just a few years of use. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Any approvals lately? Namely interested to see if anyone from RPA heaven has gotten a PC approval.

Figures, why would they do anything that might actually help retain people? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not sure if this belongs here or if we should start a Modernized Retirement thread... Anyone seen the particulars of the 5% TSP match and retention payments at 12 years of service? Payments are current base pay X 2.5 + base pay X a # of months determined by the secretary. This added to the pilot bonus may make me rethink future plans. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A toast...

Is there an AFI that defines 'hardship'? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Just heard back from Downtown Aviation, the first available date they had was at the end of June 2016. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The impact this would have on morale would be immeasurable. If I had the ability, I would take one of my days off to go brief/fly/debrief an actual flying sortie. It could mean opportunities for former MWS guys to instruct as well. Our risk averse leadership would never let this happen. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

SAPR large group, nothing more need be said. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually, the goal is to make it back to an actual airplane. Volunteering to teach at the FTU will all but guarantee that will never happen. While I may end up there anyway eventually, it will not be by choice. I will endure the constant suck of RPA Ops for an extra year or 2 just for the possibility. Getting back into a cockpit is the best QOL improvement I can think of. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome to the suck gents! For those that dropped RPAs, seriously this is probably the best time in your career to get that assignment. At least at this point senior leadership is promising you will have a manned aircraft follow on. Those guys at Charleston/McChord that just got them in the VML have no such promise and will probably never make it out of the RPA black hole. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Majestic #2 - I can second what everyone else is saying about the RPA lifestyle. It sucks when compared to my former C-17 life, rotating shifts and being tied to a work schedule- I joined the AF to have variety in my work and this is definitely ground hog day. The leadership will pressure you to re-cat permanently to RPAs. Last year during the force shaping debacle they tried to play on everyone's fear of being RIF'd by saying the only way to guarantee that wouldn't happen would be to re-cat. I told them no thanks and went for the VSP option instead, to no avail. I'm no dummy, they were going to pay me $60K to leave RPAs and active duty behind, I was all for it. Now I have a more realistic viewpoint, I know it is highly unlikely that I will ever sit in a C-17 again, or any manned AF aircraft for that matter. I'm hoping to sneak through after this assignment and be able to go teach UPT, but I'm not holding my breath. I'm fully expecting orders to Holloman next, where I will want to gouge out my eyeballs every day teaching the same boring syllabus rides in the same boring airspace. As soon as I get there, my new CC will receive Palace Chase paperwork, and when that is declined he will continue to receive new PC applications until I'm either allowed to leave active duty or my commitment is up. Then I'll go hate life for a few years in the right seat of a regional jet, but at least I'll be flying airplanes. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Edited for grammar

There was a nice look into the U-2 program on Mythbusters that aired a few days ago. They were testing the myth that the Dragonlady is the toughest airplane in the world to fly. Adam Savage has gotten to fly with the Blue Angels and now on the edge of space. Of all the cool things they've done on that show, he ranked his U-2 flight as the coolest by far. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I was in UPT at the time as well, maybe because the drops with RPAs had been happening for several months we never were briefed about possible consequences. I would find it tough to believe they could make some sort of UCMJ action stick. Razor, both of the guys from my class got manned follow ons. The T-38 bubba went to KC-135s. Other guys in my squadron who just went back got C-17s to nice locales, C-130s, B-52s, etc. An airplane is an airplane in my opinion. They are in a better position than a non-vol like myself who will probably never get back to an Air Force cockpit of any size or shape. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I could see that happening to make an example out of someone who tried to do that. Not sure what the regs are if you don't finish the training and obtain the wings and associated ADSC. What's the difference between SIE and hooking your mission fam check ride twice and washing out late in training? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also, the T-38 track UPT direct dudes were not allowed to be sent to fighters as their manned aircraft follow ons. That meant either heavies or bombers, and I know that's why at least several where I'm from chose to stay in RPAs. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You can read my posts in the Drone thread to get my opinion on RPAs. The honest truth is they will have the biggest impact on the mission in a shorter amount of time after they become CMR in an RPA squadron. However, the reality of never ending shift work and the poor manning suck away anything positive you might feel about the mission. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Or if you don't take the wings, choose to go 18X then you'll only have a 6 year commitment. It's one of the biggest gripes I have, going to work every day and doing the same job next to guys with a 40% shorter ADSC. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I can't see Big Blue guaranteeing manned aircraft follow ons like they did last time. The exodus of UPT directs over the past 2 years took a lot of experience out of RPAs, and I don't believe they would follow the same path this go round. That just creates another void to be filled 4-5 years from now. Anybody in this situation has to look at an RPA assignment out of UPT as a permanent RPA career. You may be able to sneak out and teach UPT later, but I don't believe they will pull these guys after one assignment and send them to a manned MWS. Each recipient of this shit sandwich will have to weigh all of their options and what is best for themselves and their family. I would have to say the time for Service Before Self has passed in this situation. How many times are we going to ask the young CGOs of our force to bear the burden of poor leadership and manning decisions? After spending 2+ years in the RPA world, if I was in that position right now of dropping an RPA, I would SIE as fast as I could and then retrain as finance/contracting/intel, serve my 4 years and peace out. You'll have a much better chance to fly real airplanes outside of the Air Force. Or you may open doors to other career options without incurring a 10 year commitment to rot inside a GCS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks. I know, I'm hoping to have a custom copy of it made whenever I settle and have a man cave. It must be a one-off because all of the airplane neons I've found are pretty generic.

No kidding, if I even had the slightest opportunity to stay in an actual cockpit, I would jump on it. RPAs are a black hole that you will probably never make it out of. Keep building your C-130 experience, and remember there are quite a few guard units available when you're ready to make the jump off active duty. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nothing concrete so far, but I've heard from several sources that a large portion of UPT students these days are Capts, has the average UPT student class actually changed that much? When I went through we only had 1LT and no Capts. Maybe that shows less willingness for young people to sign away 10 years with the good chance at least half of that will be spent in a GCS. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I didn't want to derail the Track Selects thread any more than it already has been. How many of you out there received the Career Decisions survey? I completed it last night and was surprised at how detailed the questions were about future plans regarding obtaining my ATP, etc. I thought their idea of a 15 year total commitment for UPT (8 active/7 reserve) was ridiculous.