43 NSS needed to get into Primary

Exactly, and because of that...instead of spending 2+ hours beating the EP's into your head the night before your brief, you can draw out your system, find some little golden NATOPS nuggets to impress your IP (if need be, or he calls you out with NATOPS jeopardy), or plan a flight ahead even...I've found knowing my EP's has afforded me more time to kill other alligators that are getting close to the canoe....

They are doing that, every NROTC MIDN in YG 11 is commissioning IRR, unless they already have a class up date at their respective schools. SO, every SNA/SNFO is commissioning IRR...I don't think there is a big back up at SWOS

They were sending guys from API when I went through and I am pretty certain that was a little bit before your time, I wonder what was going through the Navy's mind when they did that to you and your buddies.

Thanks for catching that. I meant to say that we were among the first to select Vance from the Academy without ever attending API. I'm not sure they even realized what an awful idea it was until they started to see the ridiculous washout rate for those several classes.

This isn't a knock on you, because you're in Corpus, but the problem with this is that you won't know if you're flying T-34s or T-6s at Whiting. The orange bathtubs are everywhere out here. Wing can give you a best guess as to the week, thus squadron, thus airplane that you'll be in, but it's pretty much wrong most of the time unless your wait is very short.

The point is...get a PCL, and get familiar with reading through one. Flipping from engines to systems, etc...seeing how one is laid out. Understand the difference between warnings, cautions, and notes. Be familiar with the start-up checklist...both of them if you have to. I could grab a PCL now, and without getting in a trainer, be able to give you a good idea of the troubleshooting process involved in using one...they aren't that different from aircraft to aircraft. And if you are one of those guys who really needs to see it to understand it, google it. There are cockpit photos available of the -34 and the -6.

I think thats excessive. Is a PCL really that difficult to figure out?

+1. I have never seen a PCL with systems diagrams on it, save maybe a matrix with operable vs inop equipment with battery power. Maybe helos are different, but that is outside the scope of the primary study discussion.

OVERKILL. The 60 PCL is a little larger and more complicated that the T-34 or TH-57 so I can see where your point is coming from. HOWEVER, if you don't know what you're going to fly you don't need to grab a checklist. You're just waisting your time. That would be like me grabbing a pointy nose PCL so that I can practice flipping to different pages. If that was your goal, go to a bar and flip through the beer list thing on the table. Enjoy your time off between commands.

With that said, if you do know what you're going to fly because you're in Corpus. Get into a static trainer and learn where switches are. It doesn't matter if you know your EPs cold, if you get in the plane and can't start the damn thing up because you don't know where the starter is.

If you're waiting in C-Pool you will be API complete and know what aircraft you will fly in Primary (unless something drastic happens). There are different survival requirements for the T-34 and the T-6 (ejection seat vs bailout, koch fittings vs unstrapping harness). At that point, you'll know what you're flying and can start studying. I would recommend getting ahold of a Natops and PCL. You can study systems (and everything else) in the Natops and use the PCL for Checklists and EP's. You don't need to sit through systems class to get a basic understanding of what "PCL-Off" or "Firewall Shutoff handle-Pull" means. The sooner you can rattle that stuff off, the easier the firehose will be when they front load you with info.

I'm that guy.

I think he's referring to the T-6 checklists... yeah you're that guy.

My bad...I'm not used to all that Gucci shit...I fly aluminum and duct tape.

Indeed you are "That Guy". I was talking Gucci T-6, sorry! :icon_smil We may even have a HUD by the time I get to RI's! (But I'm not holding my breath!)

Ya, and the Phrog is getting an ILS.

The Phrog DOES have an ILS.

YOUR Phrog doesn't.

They keep telling us that we're getting 'em. We'll see...

You probably don't think that the Phrog has HEFS, either. It does...yours doesn't.

Pepe, the Fleet Phrog is identical to the -164 Phrog, with the addition of ASE. There are non-Fleet Phrogs with some whiz-bang gear, but they are the exception, not the norm.

The money is there. It's just a matter of time for the ILS.

Is is broken? Or am I missing some sarcasm?

I get the feeling like they might not let some zero flight time marker sniffers use the gucci gear at first. I would be skeptical of the T-6 being a good primary trainer if the Air Force hadnt already shown its effectiveness.


On the original topic, I cease to be amazed at the number of mil aircraft without ILS. Oh wait that's not it....Studying before pri...dang what was this about again.

API dosen't matter! pass your exams and get out and who gives a damn!!!

Woooo!!!

I don't think I believe you sir. Mostly because I don't believe there really is a "Fleet." I think it's just flight school after flight school. It's a never ending cycle...

There most definitely is a Fleet.

Wait for it...

We can't use the HUD until later anyway (after we solo I believe, after C4405ish?? I'd have to look at the MPTS again), but the software for the HUD hasn't been brought up to speed in the planes yet.