T45 status

[SynixMan]

So, hypothetically speaking, what sort of beer do you imagine that this so-called "class advisor" would like? Or might this mythical person prefer some Pappy?

Hypothetically of course.

Eh, whatever beer fine payments are available in the fridge. My fav beer is "Free", my second favorite is "Free Light". And who doesn't love Pappy?

As to @Treetop Flyer 's comments, that sucks and I remember similar types of folks from my SNA time. I think every squadron is a bit different and the quality/variation of instruction background is pretty good these days. We had/have tacair types from Blue and Green, AD and Reserves. I actively encourage my students to put in for Tailhook if it's their desire and they have the grades, and I do the best I can to relate Carrier Air Wing fleet life to them from my 150' perspective. If anything, I make fun of the VP dudes.

Realistically, we've been told, most VFA/VAQ types won't get a VT(P) slot due to the demand elsewhere for their skill sets in shore tours. It is what it is.

 

[mad dog]

...And I say that as a helicopter guy who had pretty shitty primary grades.

I'll bet $5 that I had shittier primary grades than you.

 

[mad dog]

I'll bet $5 that I had shittier primary grades than you.

OK...you win @Jim123...if I'm looking at the correct number of "40" in the standard scores [flight] box for primary. Dammit, Jim!

 

[Swanee]

D's get degrees!!!

 

[Ghunter]

Was curious if there is any updated status report on the T45 situation. I've heard rumors that training flights will be starting again?

 

[xmid]

There's also the fact that a VT tour is a real bad draw for a jet guy, so there's a decent chance (though absolutely not a guarantee) that the ones you do find there are either people who weren't well-regarded in the community or are good dudes who got screwed and are justifiably bitter. Either way, possibly not the best source of pointy- or pointy-ish-nose gouge.

We had jet dudes. And they weren't bitter. In fact they were pretty happy that they could get 1500 hours and go to the majors afterwards. Their on-wings usually wanted jets. I think I was pretty good about telling my on-wings that whatever they wanted was up to them and I supported it, if they put out the effort required to get it. I told countless SNA's that someone would potentially pay them later in life to fly a 737, or a four engine prop plane, or a helicopter, but no one would ever again pay them to fly an F-18.

In all honesty, and I don't understand it (even as a helo guy), we had to force guys to go jets. When I was STUCON we had several guys that didn't have jets anywhere on their selection sheet that we forced to go jets.

 

[nittany03]

We had jet dudes. And they weren't bitter. In fact they were pretty happy that they could get 1500 hours and go to the majors afterwards. Their on-wings usually wanted jets. I think I was pretty good about telling my on-wings that whatever they wanted was up to them and I supported it, if they put out the effort required to get it. I told countless SNA's that someone would potentially pay them later in life to fly a 737, or a four engine prop plane, or a helicopter, but no one would ever again pay them to fly an F-18.

In all honesty, and I don't understand it (even as a helo guy), we had to force guys to go jets. When I was STUCON we had several guys that didn't have jets anywhere on their selection sheet that we forced to go jets.

I saw that happen with the Marines when I showed up to Meridian. You need to want to be there to tolerate that syllabus. Or at least you did before the Four Horsemen got muzzled.

I know of one guy who DORed because he liked flying but hated aero, being upside down, being in a cramped cockpit, and so on. He picked KC-130s, got forced to go jets, and said "fuck it." What a waste of money.

 

[BACONATOR]

I saw that happen with the Marines when I showed up to Meridian. You need to want to be there to tolerate that syllabus. Or at least you did before the Four Horsemen got muzzled.

I know of one guy who DORed because he liked flying but hated aero, being upside down, being in a cramped cockpit, and so on. He picked KC-130s, got forced to go jets, and said "fuck it." What a waste of money.

Honestly, the same way I feel about guys who DOR if they don't get jets, I say the same about this guy. Fuck him. If he can't shut up and color in Jets, he can hit the bricks.

 

[HuggyU2]

The Four Horsemen?

BTW, I remember seeing guys at the bottom of their AF class get picked for F-16's... and the top guy taking a KC-10. That's been a few years, but I'm not surprised to see it happening again.

 

[sevenhelmet]

Are guys seriously requesting big wing platforms because that's what they want to fly, or because the airlines are hiring? Requesting a platform based on a job you won't even be able to have for 8-10 years doesn't seem very smart.

I honestly never thought I'd live to see the day that fighters are struggling to find and keep (and evidently, train) people. Yet here we are. Weird world.

 

[BACONATOR]

Are guys seriously requesting big wing platforms because that's what they want to fly, or because the airlines are hiring? Requesting a platform based on a job you won't even be able to have for 8-10 years doesn't seem very smart.

I honestly never thought I'd live to see the day that fighters are struggling to find and keep (and evidently, train) people. Yet here we are. Weird world.

That was EXACTLY my mindset and why I went helos. It's ironic, too, since many folks selected TACAMO/MPRF, and yet fighter guys seem to be the most or at least as competitive. I selected helos and got to fly some awesome missions/deployments and yet here I am in a big wing about to head to the airlines myself soon enough. I always told students the same thing: pick what you'll enjoy doing, NOT what may get you to something in the long run. Nothing is guaranteed.

 

[SynixMan]

Are guys seriously requesting big wing platforms because that's what they want to fly, or because the airlines are hiring? Requesting a platform based on a job you won't even be able to have for 8-10 years doesn't seem very smart.

I honestly never thought I'd live to see the day that fighters are struggling to find and keep (and evidently, train) people. Yet here we are. Weird world.

Ancecdotally, no. Mostly VT studs are picking off of (in no praticular order): where their friends/girlfriend/boyfriend are going, perceived lifestyle/composition of the community, platform "sexiness factor", and what's attainable (aka "I don't have jet grades, decision made"). The rare person with a Commmercial ME ticket or other one-offs are putting Maritime/Helos first, but they had odd priorities.

And I've said this before, but from the IP side, Eeyore motherfuckers bitching about their community or legit badmouthing jets isn't as much as I remember from T-34 days.

 

[Randy Daytona]

I'll bet $5 that I had shittier primary grades than you.

I want in on this bet...

Are guys seriously requesting big wing platforms because that's what they want to fly, or because the airlines are hiring? Requesting a platform based on a job you won't even be able to have for 8-10 years doesn't seem very smart.

I honestly never thought I'd live to see the day that fighters are struggling to find and keep (and evidently, train) people. Yet here we are. Weird world.

Moreso after Sept 11th, I saw quite a few SNA's who put helos first choice at South Field, in particular with the Marine lieutenants who wanted Cobras to get down, dirty and ugly with the enemy. One particular SNA already had his helmet taped up with the big orange emergency arrow and the words "Front Towards Enemy" - as an IP, it was a lot of fun working with them to make them better pilots.

 

[Python]

Are guys seriously requesting big wing platforms because that's what they want to fly, or because the airlines are hiring? Requesting a platform based on a job you won't even be able to have for 8-10 years doesn't seem very smart.

I honestly never thought I'd live to see the day that fighters are struggling to find and keep (and evidently, train) people. Yet here we are. Weird world.

That was EXACTLY my mindset and why I went helos. It's ironic, too, since many folks selected TACAMO/MPRF, and yet fighter guys seem to be the most or at least as competitive. I selected helos and got to fly some awesome missions/deployments and yet here I am in a big wing about to head to the airlines myself soon enough. I always told students the same thing: pick what you'll enjoy doing, NOT what may get you to something in the long run. Nothing is guaranteed.

What I've been hearing is that it is because fighter guys don't do a disassociated sea tour, while maritime guys do. That leaves jet guys in the game with the 100 hours in the past year for currency for the airlines, while the maritime guys were stuck on a boat with 0 hours for the past year. Kind of ironic, but shows you that picking maritime for the purposes of the airlines was a pretty stupid idea.

 

[BACONATOR]

What I've been hearing is that it is because fighter guys don't do a disassociated sea tour, while maritime guys do. That leaves jet guys in the game with the 100 hours in the past year for currency for the airlines, while the maritime guys were stuck on a boat with 0 hours for the past year. Kind of ironic, but shows you that picking maritime for the purposes of the airlines was a pretty stupid idea.

Absolutely true although on airlinepilotforums, I've been seeing more and more guys hired non-current, although those dudes seem to be more 20 year O-5 retirees coming off of staff, not O-3 dissociated guys.