Napoleon_Tanerite

I hope today's mishap reveals a systematic problem that can not be ignored, and results in the grounding of the ENTIRE KC-135 fleet. I know this sounds extreme, but hear me out. Perhaps the grounding of one of the AF's most prevalent aircraft (to include one flown by a LOT of Guard units) will finally highlight that we are LITERALLY flying our airplanes to the point of them falling out of the sky. We need to highlight that our fleet is DECADES past it's designed service life, highlight the botched replacement plan for the KC-135, highlight that even with the current KC-46 replacement plan we will at best replace tails one for three, and we need to highlight that budget cuts combined with no reduction in tasking has made the problem infinitely worse with literally ZERO ability to do anything about it. This is what NEEDS to be done, but I'm sure the Air Force is already desperately trying to find a way to pin this on the pilots to cover up the problems I am discussing, much like they pinned the Alaska F-22 crash on the pilot, despite the aircraft's faulty design.

Pics seem to support the in flight breakup, looks like the vertical stab, boom and maybe the right wing were well away from the "main" site. Terrifying to imagine being in that situation knowing that you are a passenger at that point.

I absolutely HATE this part of the job..... That sick feeling in the pit of my stomach and instantaneously thinking of who I know who flies the aircraft in question. I know quite a few bros in the MC-12, and a lot in the tanker too, so this sucks. Here's hoping for the best.

I know they're different aircraft, but the 707 has a stab brake that stops the trim from running if the yoke is pushed/pulled in the opposite direction that the trim is running. Given that Boeing likes design similarities where they are suitable, it wouldn't surprise me if the 747 was similarly equipped. Anyone with 747 time care to chime in?

I've got an Asus Transformer Prime. It's a 10.1" tablet, so it is not the best kneeboard type device, but the upshot is you can get the keyboard dock for it and double your battery life. I think my current model has been replaced by the Transformer Pad Infinity, which has a better screen and better GPS reception. If I were to get another tablet I would probably get the Nexus 7.

So have they actually quieted down in the past week, or is it just more proof that the media picks which stories are important. We were on the verge of nuclear war until some assholes bombed Boston. Now it's as if NK doesn't exist.

You're lucky you got ANY job. I know a LOT of guys who finished ROTC with multiple months to EAD who couldn't get a job AT ALL. Think of it from an employer's perspective-- do you want to hire a dude who is guaranteed to only be there 6-9 months before he leaves to EAD? I know a bunch of dudes who starved or moved back in with mom and dad until their EAD date. As for the tag on this thread-- every dollar counts, unless it comes from a "different pot of money". Until there is a singular focus on the budget there can be no real improvement in our current situation. You can take away every dime of a squadron's budget and it makes 0.0 impact on O&M because it's a "different pot of money". Same goes for TDYs, PCSs, etc. A SQ/CC should have the ability to roll his end-of-year budget into O&M or carry it over into next year with no penalty; however, this is not the case.

I get the "culture" argument, but the problem is that the ability to truly LEAD really has been taken back up to the highest possible level. There is a definite feeling of always having to ask "mother may I" for just about anything. This isn't just a "culture" thing either. If a guy sticks his neck out to change something, and it doesn't work the dude is HAMMERED for not getting "permission" first. The concept of centralized control/decentralized execution is dead. The strategic level of leadership is DEEP into the tactical level of execution, and I'm not just talking about combat ops. You just about need MAJCOM guidance just to figure out which cheek to lift when you have to fart. If you guess wrong, you're on the hook for "speeding" and not getting the thumbs up from the "appropriate" level of leadership. Your punishment can come in many forms, perhaps as simple as falling down the strat list, which sounds painless until you realize that the strat list is apparently the most important "leadership" tool out there. Most guys are content being a faceless middle third guy because taking a gamble and losing can drop you to the bottom third because the only thing the boss knows you for is your "bad" idea. THIS is what needs to change, but it is easier said than done. Until there truly is a "no harm/no foul" culture, guys will be content being graymen.

Aside from a few good [sounding] emails and speeches have there been any tangible changes from the CSAF?

The concern is that Korean Cartman grew up completely immersed in the NK propaganda machine, even more so than his father. If he genuinely believes their own bullshit every bit of "logic" that has been applied goes right out the window. Even if he believes HALF of the bullshit they spew that's a very bad thing. Furthermore I'm sure all the yes-men surrounding him don't tell him important things like how big of an ass whipping he's in for if he decides to go kinetic.

GOOD! I hope he enjoys his time in federal PMITA prison. Anyone who has been lased knows it's no fun. Yes this guy is "only" guilty of being a moron, but hopefully this gets publicized well and people realize that lasing aircraft is a BAD idea.

Hours vs position not withstanding, YGBSM. Unless there is more to this store (multiple fails, etc) this is supreme bullshit.

Being nominated for the Medal of Honor automatically hacks your short tour credit (BET ME it doesn't). Anyone willing to press-to-test nominating yourself for a MOH? If a BS if fair game to nominate yourself, where is the line?

This is turning out to be a REALLY bad deal. Anyone who believes that line of shit that "budget cuts will be taken into consideration" come time for promotion, and that they may be ok because of it are idiots. Sure they will be taken into account-- it adds another layer of ambiguous queepy nuance to the process. Now instead of simply having the box being checked, time will factor in. So Capt A got his masters done in 2012 before the budget cuts, and Capt B got a BAC+ prior to the budget cut, but didn't finish a masters? Capt A becomes the winner here, because he was a go-getter and got his degree done early! Now Capt C finished his degree in 2013, after the budget cut. This means that Capt C paid out of pocket a great deal for his degree, and has proven he is DEDICATED to the team! Capt C is out school select! Don't believe me? You should. Remember, the kind of "leaders" who are making these decisions are the same "leaders" who mandate everyone re-accomplish CBTs just before an inspection so everyone looks "more green".

Why would they do something like that with the unprecedented position of strength we are projecting to the world right now!

Keep in mind-- Television is about the commercials, not the programming. ALL content on television, no matter whether it's sitcoms, cartoons, reality shows, or even "news" is just the vehicle the owners of the channel feel will sell commercial space (or network subscriptions). For this reason I put 0.0 faith in TV news or anything else on TV for that matter, but it kind of scary to think of how many people actually do.

I'm not sure if it is just because they are two subjects I consider myself to know a lot about, but it seems whenever ANYTHING is reported on aviation or guns it is ALWAYS a forehead slapping display of stupidity. Like when it makes the news when a VIP jet goes around (and is reported as an "aborted landing") I cringe. When the term "high powered" is applied to an AR-15 I throw up in my mouth. In a slightly unrelated matter-- do the 89th guys actually have to answer any mail when they do an unplanned go around? The way it makes the news I wouldn't be surprised if "someone" thought it would be a "good idea" to "hold pilots accountable" for something like that.

I sat across the table from him at my UPT graduation dinner. A very humble gentleman and an honor for me to have met him.

Sounds like you're looking in the viscinity of Allen Rd/Hartley Bridge Rd. This isn't terrible, but there are some rough areas out there closer to 247. The further from 247 you are, the better, but the drive gets longer.

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, LIVE IN HUNTINGTON VILLAGE!! This is commonly (erroneously) referred to as "off base housing". It is managed by the same company that runs on base housing, but outside the gate is a completely different story. I have lived there for 4.5 years and watched it go from being fairly decent to an absolute SHITHOLE. Back in 08 when I moved in, it was mil-only and they ran it similarly to on-base housing. Each house cost the majority of your BAH, with a bit left over for utilities. Well, their occupancy was only around 70% or so, so they opened it up to civilian base personnel, law enforcement, and other public employees. This still didn't get the rate where they wanted, so they opened it up to everyone, and dropped the rent. A buddy of mine (military) was living in one half of the duplex, and was paying ~$1200/mo for rent, and the civilian living on the other side of the same structure was paying $950. Crime has also become a MAJOR problem in the neighborhood. In another move to up their occupancy rate, they opened up one portion of the development to section 8. This attracted the usual section 8 crowd, and as a result property crime is through the roof. Just about everyone I know in there (including me) has had their vehicle broken into at least once. I also had my 4 wheeler stolen from their RV lot. The company does everything they can do to sweep the problem under the rug, and their reply to me when I expressed concerns about security was "sorry about your luck". I now see it as my sworn duty to warn people to stay away from there. It used to be a good deal, but the last two years have been absolutely THE WORST living experience I have ever had.

Step 1 would be detecting it. Looks like this thing was completely undetected until it entered the atmosphere. The sooner it is detected and acted upon the easier (theoretically) it would be to prevent an impact. The amount of degree change required increases exponentially (along with the energy required to cause such a change) the closer it gets to Earth.

Checks. MX at all UPT bases and PIT are all civilian. There is no uniformed backfill, you can't just roll in uniformed dudes to fill the role-- there are no trained maintainers for the T jets AFIK.

I guess it depends. If they were able to break it into smaller pieces perhaps it would reduce the damage when it hit the ground? Looks like news today is backing off (or completely omitting) the previous claims of intercept.

Small, and that they probably had almost no prior warning that it was coming, unless the were already on the lookout due to the known asteroid that is supposed to pass Earth tomorrow.