Bergman

Is skydiving worth a potentially disqualifying injury while in UPT? It would really suck to finally get to UPT, break an ankle jumping on the weekend, and wash back/out because of it. The leadership at your UPT base will probably hassle you about this as well (beyond just filling out the forms) - much like the motorcycle rider witch hunts. Keep your priorities straight. UPT is a year. You can jump out of airplanes after that.

Does the AF stock/use the .22 converter for the M-16? Years ago I was able to go to an Army Guard unit and spend an entire day with my buds going through .22 ammo like Sherman through Georgia. Good times if you can talk them into using their weapons and range.

No, most bases have a range - including most ANG bases I have visited. In your discussion with people at those bases, you might want to bring up the use of cadet-supplied ammunition and/or firearms. Most SF shops only get a set amount of ammo each year, so they're not willing to let just anyone use it. Years ago I was able to get quite a bit of range time at Lackland (Medina) by offering to bring my own 9mm and ammunition. I'd split it with the range guys and they'd run me through all sorts of firing quals (none of which counted "officially") Call the base SF number and ask for their CATM person. They will have all the info you need.

The rest of us appreciate it! :D

Letters to Penthouse doesn't count! "I was an instructor pilot at a small midwestern FBO. I never thought this kind of stuff really happened, but..." :D Have you talked with the reserve AWACS unit at Tinker? AFB. Also, there might be some intel opportunities at Kelly AFB (Air Intelligence Agency..aka "the hill"). [ 24. August 2005, 16:40: Message edited by: Bergman ]

That statement is only partially correct. While we (tankers) can get a mission accomplished, the training value of the sorties is almost zero with passgengers on board. We are prohibited from performing any touch and go landings, upgrade/requal training, or simulated emergency procedures with passengers on board. So, for training we'll get the sortie, A/R, and 1 to a full stop. We normally like to get 6-8 approaches, some 3 engine work, etc so having pax pretty much kills the sortie for us. It's good publicity for the USAF and fun for the pax...but the crew is basically taking one for the team. Since tanker units typically generate fewer sorties than fighter units, having 1-2 orientation rides a week can really f*ck up the training schedule.

There will be a small but drunk ANG contingent making the drive from Tennessee! Consider "You gotta be in the Guard to say..." as ON REQUEST! The first round is on me. [ 12. August 2005, 21:56: Message edited by: Bergman ]

And what an EXCELLENT technique it is! FNGs pay attention! I can't tell you how many dudes I've studied with who walk in with a 1" thick pile of papers strapped to their knee board...then wonder why they can't find anything once they're airborne and end up tanking the sortie because they spent what little free time they had making "cheat sheets" in Excel instead of STUDYING the shit! KISS; there is no substitute for chair flying. [ 07. August 2005, 18:20: Message edited by: Bergman ]

Holy sh1t! I guess there's a reason the 747 captains earn the big bucks. I read on another site that the main gear is 41.33' wide...leaves about 4' on each side for slop. No problem... :D

Which is really too bad. I almost feel guilty for orbiting in a -135 and getting the same medal dudes in F-105s and F-4s had to go "down town" and fend off SA-2s to get. [ 14. July 2005, 22:03: Message edited by: Bergman ]

Your answer lies here. Never underestimate the power of photo editing! CH - out-f*cking-standing quote.

Is he standing on a step stool in that picture? He's only like 5'1" or something! Maybe they found the shortest 1Lt on base just to stand next to him, or perhaps the LT is standing in a hole.

Yeah, I suspect the Strike Eagle IP and future t-bird could probably take the heat from our little groups of internet clowns. I also suspect most of us would crumble under the pressure of having our life-size, AF-posed cheesy picture posted on the WWW for all to see. I believe this is called "holier than thou" syndrome, but I could be wrong. :D

From www.af.mil

Good catch! :D Blazing Saddles and Dr. Strangelove are definitely Top 5 movies of all time, IMHO.

Headley Lamar: Chewing gum on-line, eh? I hope you brought enough for everyone! Cowboy: I didn't know there'd be so many! Headley shoots him in the gut. Jim: "Man, that guy is strict"

I'm screwed...

So what should we mail this assclown? I don't think my dog would mind parting with a few of her back yard land mines, if it were for a good cause. Any better ideas?

Life isn't about always getting what you want. It's about wanting what you've got. Have fun and make the most of it while you're there. It will all work out in the long run. Plus, you'll be in Deigo Garcia 1/2 the year anyway...that's pretty tropical. Don't tell you wife how warm or nice it is there, however. As far as she's concerned, it's another grueling hardship TDY to BFE.

Thanks, Hacker. That's the feedback I was really looking for. I'm glad to hear that someone deserving got the slot [first female T-bird slot, that is] vs. the AFs habit of just finding someone to fit their desired demographic and making it happen, regardless of skill. [ 07. July 2005, 18:34: Message edited by: Bergman ]

So did she get the job because she's sh*t-hot or because she's got tits? Becoming Thunderbird is dream come true for Nevada native by Verla D. Davis 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 7/6/2005 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFPN) -- She was only 5 years old when she saw an F-4 Phantom fighter jet soar and maneuver through the clouds during an air show. It was then she knew she would someday do the same. Now, 26 years later, Capt. Nicole Malachowski is getting her chance to do just that and enter the history book at the same time. The 494th Fighter Squadron flight commander and F-15E Strike Eagle instructor pilot here was recently selected to be the first female pilot to fly with the elite U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, better know as the Thunderbirds. The Las Vegas native said she never considered being a member of the Thunderbirds. “My husband was chatting with me one day, and he brought it up,” she said. “I thought, ‘Really? I qualify to apply? I could never be a Thunderbird.’” With reassurance from her husband, Captain Malachowski’s disbelief turned to motivation. “The Air Force has so many great opportunities out there, and all you have to do is apply,” she said. “It never hurts to try, does it?” And try she did. Only four to five applicants are selected to demonstrate their flying abilities and compete for one of the three demonstrations pilot positions which come open each year. Captain Malachowski secured one of the positions and her husband said he could not be more proud of her. “She earned this prestigious job with a great work ethic and a constant desire to do the best,” said Maj. Paul Malachowski, an F-15 weapons system officer evaluator with the 48th Operations Group here. Captain Malachowski credits her parents for her focus and courage to follow her dreams. “(My parents) would often ask me rhetorical questions to get me thinking,” she said. “Questions like, ‘So you’re going to be a fighter pilot? How does one become a fighter pilot?’” Though they never gave her answers to those questions, it was enough to get her interested in finding out the answers for herself and to increase her desire to fulfill her goals. While still in high school, her love of flying prompted her to take lessons. “At the end of the day, I would ride my bike down to North Las Vegas Airport, hang out and make friends with some of the more experienced pilots there,” she said. “They would take me up for lessons and take me flying.” As a member of the Nevada Civil Air Patrol, she received a scholarship that paid for flying lessons when most of her peers were learning how to drive. “(The Civil Air Patrol) paid for lessons all the way through to my solo flight, which happened just about the same time I got my driver’s license,” she said. “The Civil Air Patrol was fantastic to me.” After high school, she was accepted to the Naval and Coast Guard academies, but turned them down when she was accepted to the Air Force Academy, a desire she had since elementary school. Captain Malachowski continued her love for flying while at the Air Force Academy where she was a cadet glider and instructor pilot for three years. With more than 1,100 flying hours under her belt, mostly in the F-15E Strike Eagle, the captain will begin her Thunderbird training in November when she will train to fly the No. 3 right-wing position of the diamond formation. The formation consists of four aircraft -- one lead, two slightly behind on either side of the lead, and the final plane sitting in the rear slot. “We are going to be flying so close at such high speeds together; there is no margin for error at all,” she said. “We have to have that area of trust … I can’t believe that I am going to be a part of that.” Although Captain Malachowski is an accomplished pilot with more than 200 combat hours, she said her new challenge will be learning to fly the F-16 Fighting Falcon during training at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. “I am not a Thunderbird yet. I have a long road ahead of me,” she said. “I’m honored for the awesome opportunity they have provided me here with asking me to become a part of their team. I think I am living proof that … dreams do come true.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)

Highly doubtful. If AFPC works a special/good deal for 1 person, it will open the flood gates to everyone on God's green earth wanting to switch their assignment. I would at least ask, but don't be surprised when the answer is NO.

YGBSM! We just got a guy back from FWQ who had 3000+ fixed wing hours with the Army (C-12, G-III/IV) and our clowns had him do all of UPT. Guess they gave him the hook up, eh? HA! Is that in writing anywhere? I don't want to piss him off with a rumor, but I'm sure he'd be interested to read about it in a reg. The best part is he is just got back from Altus as a -135 COPILOT! A 3000 hour copilot. Again, YGBSM. From the stories he's told me, FWQ isn't nearly as bad as UPT. No standups. You can proficiency advance through the syllabus. Plus you'll already be a Major with wings, so you shouldn't get too much grief from the IPs. I'd say go for it, unless you have a compelling reason not to go to Vance AFB for a year. [ 06. July 2005, 22:07: Message edited by: Bergman ]

In keeping with the T-1 theme, I dusted off some pics from the Mission Fam phase. [ 28. June 2005, 19:45: Message edited by: Bergman ]