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Schnugg, Can you get that piece-of-FOD gnat off of my computer screen before I smash it!!!!!

It's almost always VMC at FL 700. What's the problem??

Now why are you guys staring at that part of my body? Are you looking at my schnuutz?? I think you've been off the boat so long, you're beginning to fantasize. Get back on a cruise, sailors boys. Rastafarion, huh? You should see my dreadlocks under the hat. Sort of a comb-over version...

The USAF uses JP-8 now. I know of no military units using JP-4 anymore. Most NAS/MCAS I've been have been use JP-8, but at least one (North Island) still gives JP-5. I don't know if it's being phased out, and they have the remaining stocks, or what. I thought going to JP-8 and its higher...

What would you like to know? For 3 years, I was the co-organizer of the annual POW Dining-In at Randolph AFB. It was primarily attended by the USAF POW's, but all were/are welcome. As A4s stated, there were a small number of POW's that did not attain the minimum standard expected. For obvious...

IWC watches did a 9 minute movie commercial a while back. If you're bored, check it out: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8213906177447697218&q=iwc+watches+malkovich&total=2&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0 Yep, that's John Malkovich, if you're wonderiing. Gotta love his...

Actually, even though they might not mention it, that would be the proper use of the terms "box" and "head". USN/USMC fighter pilots: what sort of stuff like this do y'all do? Has some of this permeated into your world? When do your pilots get their tac callsigns? Is it a "formal" process?

Look at the bright side (especially if you're a Safety Officer): they occured in different Fiscal Years.

Now THAT's pretty funny.

That was a close one! Thank goodness they didn't declare the Dept of Air Force or the Dept of Navy as a terrorist organization. I was concerned.

Good find. I've met Borg a couple of times. We have a mutual friend. I'll have to look this over in my free time.

What can I say? The "Nazi" had a very specific way of training, and it we didn't do it the way he wanted. But,...I've got very similar stories of AF guys that were not impressed with Navy tactical training. In many cases, I'm sure it's a lack of understanding of what "the other guy's"...

I didn't settle for second!! :thumbup_1 And, yes, I'm somewhat familiar with "Dick" Ferris. As for "joint", if we're going to fight together, we need to work more efficiently and powerfully together. There's lots of potential. Personally, I think every AF squadron should have a Navy/Marine...

A4s, It's a "joint world" now. Embrace it. :icon_mi_4 As a USAF pilot who's gotten to fly a whopping 1.6 hours in the T-6, and a massive 3.1 hours in the T-34C (at Corpus; did two-ship for the first half, single-ship for the second half of the flight), I appears the T-6 is a superior platform...

I like the Lightspeeds. But my experience is limited. http://www.anrheadsets.com/

USAF-specific stuff? Or just the usual training command stuff?

Once you get to the flightline, how long until you're off of formal release?

The SNA's that train at Vance are flying them now, right? If so, how's that working out.

HAL, Your points are very valid. Hence (I like that word), the reason I enjoy debating you. You know a great deal more on the subject than most pilots I know. I don't know how the FAA is going to implement this (I'm not sure they do either). I'm sure the FOI and CFI written will be required...

As I mentioned, they would not be as qualified, but this new method offers a very good alternative to getting the CFI. Again, everyone is different. No argument there. But having 2000 hours of flight time and no "hard core" instructional background usually trumps 275 hours and no instructional...

I disagree; this is a good idea. I don't need hundreds of hours in a Cessna to teach Joe Bag O'Doughnuts how to fly. The aircraft are simple, hence the reason it makes a good civilian trainer. So, now we take Mr 275-hour Pilot, who just passed his CFI checkride. Good on him! How much "practical...

Yes I did: three times! And in the T-38 all three times. Not as bad as it sounds, though. I didn't fail out. My second time through was when I checked out to be a T-38 IP in the schoolhouse there (we call it PIT; you call it IUT). A very enjoyable 3 year tour, and good flying. The public...

I've never been able to get down to this show, but I'll bet you made a good choice. I doubt your view will be that much better, but the whole "chalet environment" is definitely the way to go. As already mentioned, you'd be spending some $$ on food and drink anyways. Might as well get some shade...

Exactly. Welcome to San Francisco.

Same with us. Being a fixed wing guy, I have a lot less options for landing than my rotor-brethren, but in addition to the "normal" mission Bingo (getting back to the home-drome), we'll brief SARCAP Bingo's: should someone eject, the wingman will orbit overhead until no less than that number...

Finally! Speaking "terrorizing small children and pets", they have the audacity to try to ban the Blues, yet thoroughly encourage and endorse this: http://www.folsomstreetfair.com/fair-info.php And,yes, that's their way sick way of portraying Christ and the Last Supper. Deviants.

I see your point, however "minimum fuel" is a specific term that keeps you from having to go from "everything's ok" to "holy smokes, approach, I'm an emergency". It let's ATC know you can't accept any "undue delay". It's not just a USAF or airline thing: it's found in AIM, para 5-5-15, and in...

That explains the big difference. Am I to understand that when you call "Bingo", you are now an emergency? Like, "roll the fire trucks and I get priority over everyone else"? What do you call it in the Navy when you hit your prebriefed fuel state to knock it off and return home (equivalent of...

Since you will probably fly at some point with USAF squadrons, it appears we view it a touch differently,... or I just misunderstand what's been posted. "Bingo" for the USAF means the point at which the profile is terminated, and RTB is accomplished, via "prebriefed parameters". That leaves us...

Link doesn't work. Try this: http://in.news.yahoo.com/070920/139/6kzx0.html

Really? It's been years since I've seen one takeoff from a carrier without a cat launch,... and go vertical before end of the boat. ;)

MIDNJAC, Being out of the mainstream, I'm not "in" on the details of this drawdown of fighter pilots. But, yes,... it's apparently getting ugly. Word is that many fighter pilots are going to Predator/Reaper, and many are going to Special Ops Command. Do a google search on "TAMI 21": that's the...

Check out the link on page 2 of this thread. The U-2 program is sort of jokingly called "the land of misfit toys". No one comes here right out of pilot training, since you need 800-1300 hours of time, depending on your background. Most new guys have 7-8 years of flying experience when they show...

I guess that video dispels the rumor that all U-2 pilots are suave, debonaire, and good looking. At least I don't speak with a lisp,... ah,... nevermind. That high altitude radiation just can't be good for you over the long haul. And thanks to all for the welcome.

Nausea, that's what's bad. On deceleration, I felt like I was tumbling forward at a rate of 60 rpm. Granted, I hadn't pulled g's in an aircraft in 4 years when I went through it, but the spatial disorientation left me with a 'fuge hangover for the rest of the day. If you do it, just go home...

OK, I'll check it out.

You'd have to know Cabi, but, yes, he's sincere,... and a true aviation lover. Owns a Cub, is an A&P,... great pilot. As for the guy with the 1200 hours in the Sled and 1800 in the Deuce: yes, he's legit. I met him at the Oshkosh in previous years, and he was at the U-2 50th reunion, hanging...

Holy smokes, man, you're scaring me! Which one were you?? That's all I use: $2 bills. What else would a U-2 pilot buy drinks with?

Ha! You should be a recce guy! Yep, that's me at Oshkosh this year. Great time. It was a convertible because 1). it's what Ford gave us for the show, and 2) we figured "a convertible? Why not!" BTW, the guy driving the convertible was our very first Navy/Marine interservice transfer to the...

I better clarify. Most of the pics you're seeing are/will come from two of my friends: Stu Broce and Jeff Olesen. Both are high quality photographers with lots of experience and good gear. In fact, Stu was a 14 year Naval Aviator before we stole him over to the U-2 program 4 or 5 years ago...

With the light training fuel loads we takeoff with here at Beale, we're above FL 600 in 20 minutes, and FL 700 in about 20 more minutes. On a mission jet, and the associated heavier fuel loads, the time from 600 to 700 goes up quite a bit.

The climb profile settles down once you get above FL600. That's when most folks pull out the cameras. So some were probably above 600, and some above FL 700.

OK. I'll revise my statement to "oldest flying squadron in the United States military".

Schnugg's right: the camera really makes it look more "curvy" than it really is. But the dark blue/black sky overhead is pretty accurate. Sunset/sunrise can be spectacular.

Here's a few I found. I've got better ones around somewhere, and will post them when I get them. Left to right: Bay Bridge (twice), La Jolla (near San Diego), Lake Tahoe, central valley near NAS Lemoore

My alibi: my computer mort'd, and I bought a new one. I've got to download the pics from the old one to this one. I'll get to it soon. Huggy Update: here's a shot of the Bay Bridge. There's lots of work being done on it.

I think I'm going to cry.

According to 1 (F) Squadron's website, they formed 13 May 1912, but were a balloon squadron. It wasn't until 2 years later that they "re-equipped with aircraft". Balloons are silly. Balloons don't count. I win.

Steve Davies, I'm very unhappy with you!! Wouldn't you know I make a statement, and I've got a Brit saying I could be wrong. And Brits usually know their aviation. What are the chances I'd have someone reading this that knows RAF history. Actually, I believe the 1st Prov. Aero Sqdn started up...

A4s, Your memory is slipping,.. based on when you flew fighters, those were "Army Air Corps" aircraft you put in your gunsight! I keed!! I keed!!!!