Rocker

My old man has told me stories about being chased down (in a recce Herk) by a MiG 17 on a few occasions and some of the defensive tactics they'd have to use. Namely going from FL320 down to 500A "as fast as God or Lockheed would allow." Nose down, full power initially, spiral to point the heat makers away from anything seeking same and then hope like hell he either screws up his recovery towards the ground or doesn't have the gas to stay and go after you. Pretty crazy at times, that recce business.

Now all you need to do is scrape up those knee sliders! I saw 170 indicated (probably around 160 actual with speedo error) on a ZX-9R back in '97 on (I THINK) PR 4 in the hill country on one of those several mile straight-aways. Looking back, fairly unintelligent on a public road. It doesn't seem crazy when the machine is built for it, but to some who've never ridden, it seems ridiculous. And Bender, yeah 50 feet cutting over the ridges, and pretty much 2-300 or so down into the valleys. I know the little T-44's don't have the legs to make it all the way up to the hill country low-level...and instead of the BIGMAC they just do the BIC and call it good. So I heard.

I wear the issue sunglasses in the airplane, and they are comfortable because they sit nice and flat on the sides of your noggin. I do not wear them elsewhere (for reasons Toro illustrated), though admittedly, I remember wearing them around back in the very early days. But I quickly learned the goofiness of my ways. I still think they look cool though - just me. My dad bought me a pair of standard RayBan aviators when I graduated - just like the ones above, and just like the ones he's worn on his face since Vietnam. I can't quite pull them off yet, but when I start looking cool and people don't question me quite as often (like maybe when I make major), I'll start wearing them regularly.

I'm pretty sure you'll just be issued the HGU-55/P like everyone else when you first in process to wear during tweets/T-6s and again in 38s. I personally have not seen anyone from any of the AF UPT bases wearing a different helmet. If you don't go the 38 route, you'll either give it back or be sneaky (probably to use again later in your career or at parties). [ 13. September 2005, 19:12: Message edited by: Rocker ]

That reminds me...160-240 KIAS anywhere from 50-500 AGL as 2 in fluid trail through the hill country NW of San Antonio on a LL/TF checkride in the C-12. Yeah, sure it was a UPT sortie (last one), and though not the fastest it was BY FAR the coolest flying I've ever done. First time I've looked up at land right off my wing tip. It didn't even seem real to me when we first got onto the route. There is lots to be said for flying low. Can't imagine M1.6 at 1000 AGL.

Could someone please write something interesting on this topic? Anything. I'd really like to learn something. Just please don't write anything about flightsuits, hats, or ROTC, and try not to turn it into a pissing match. Or you could also write about how important the FE is...(just beginning to realize that myself) Not a Herk guy? Feel free to write something cool about your airframe. Thanks! Just trying to swing General Discussion back towards intelligent commentary. [ 14. September 2005, 18:26: Message edited by: Rocker ]

Looking at pictures from when my dad went through pilot training back in '67 (Willy), everyone wore the crush. Even without wings. I used to giggle to myself seeing some FAIPs with it, but you know (and I haven't been around very long) I've had the same hat for well over a year and after a while the thing just separates as she gets more loose (if you will) and sets itself up for the crush. I'd feel like a tool if I wore it without having ever done anything important. My point? Don't have one because it doesn't f-ing matter. It's a freaking hat.

My dad lives out there and was in a Walmart there a couple of weeks ago, when he heard screaming coming from up near the front, followed by a couple of gunshots and more screaming. He laid low for a few minutes, then as he started to sneak up to the front, he found out that some crazed guy had gone to the deli counter with a knife, hopped the counter, and started stabbing his ex-significant other. It so happened that a 70-something year old man carrying a concealed firearm was at or near the counter right then and shot the man dead. Moral: South Albuquerque (with west apparently being slightly better than east) is the place not to be. And good guys with guns are a good thing! That's about all the gouge I have on ABQ.

Good call. I bet they were suprised and got a little warm all of a sudden.

I wonder what the fish sitting right there were thinking.

That was a hell of a first post! Welcome to the board, you'll fit in well.

Stand up and the checkride ground eval EP process has almost nothing to do with EPs or training for EPs. It has ONLY to do with gamesmanship and being graceful while being harassed. I used to get timed occassionally also, and if I described what I was doing at a certain time (in excruciating detail), the response (from select IPs) was, "do you really think you have time to be doing all that?" The answer is "hell no." You fly the plane, figure out WTF is wrong, fix it if you can (and do your applicable BF properly), talk if you have time, and get on the ground. But that's not what they want. And Air Force UPT EP "training" is all about doing what "they" want you to do. Learn the game, and play it. I've obviously never been an IP, so I don't know, maybe it is more than just part of the Student Harassment Program and is a valuable training tool. But I don't think so.

When we got our drops here at Corpus a month ago, they actually told us that Elmendorf was not an option. Just like failure. A C-12, maybe once in a blue moon, but no more Herks from UPT. I don't know about going there from another assignment. [ 17. August 2005, 22:11: Message edited by: Rocker ]

consequences

Why do you say that? They drop all the time.

You should make it so every time I come to baseops.net, money and hot babes appear out of nowhere in my apartment. Probably have to use the .bab script for that one. And to be constructive, I might not be understanding the .cgi thing or have any idea what PHP is, but I think the aviation pic thing would be cool. There is already so much out there, but seeing peoples' own photos from their jobs is way cooler. You'd probably have to have some kind of approval process to limit potential buffoonery with what some people might try to put up there. [ 11. August 2005, 20:58: Message edited by: Rocker ]

Thanks for the information guys.

I don't advocate that children start smoking, but for those who already do smoke - boy, it's good, isn't it?

Yeah I already shook him down for info. They stopped by a place near there and it seems like a decent area, so we'll see. And thanks for the post, Jetjock.

Seriously! You sound like a staff-weenie...did you ORM that post, too? At least you knocked yourself off (uh...sts) before it became too cleansing.

Anyone here live there currently or recently while at the Rock?

Come back, post!

haha, OK. Nuff said. If anyone has any Disney Channel answers they can give to those questions, I'll take 'em. If no, then I'll figure it out when I get there.

Big picture, what are the physical differences between these two? I understand that the HC-130P and MC-130P both do helicopter refueling, but are the only major differences between the actual aircraft the MC's AR (receiver) capability? Other questions: -Any big differences in countermeasures? -Does the MC-P do CSAR at all? -What about infil/exfil? -Can any HC guys give me an idea of what to expect in the ops world (I'm headed to the 79th)? -Finally, what are the big differences in the syllabi for each aircraft Kirtland? I know, lots of questions so thanks for any help - I was search function complete prior to posting.

I agree with Hacker. It's unfortunate that they're so sick, but no amount of reason or rationality will change them and bring them back to the light. So as long as they stay out of the garden, they are free to do what they do in peace and like it or not, it's up to us to make sure they have that right. ...and then we can appreciate all our own hard work when they come protest at our own funeral...on second thought - F_CK IT - maybe one of those B-2 pilots out there could sort of put their career on hold for awhile and accidentally plug in the "wrong" coordinates to one of five or so JDAMs in a drop and carbonize 'em for all of us. Sorry, that's just my immaturity talking. I understand, but I hate it.