Aviation BS and Photo Thread

Been inside those a few times. It's a little weird to see the 1950's technology in the belly of that bird, but then again, it's all shit that would survive a nuclear war.

Those birds are OLD. I was a kid at Offutt when they showed up in the early 80s. Still the same birds.

 

Unfortunately, I believe you're over the age limit. The Navy likes pulling guys pretty much straight out of college so that they have time to get trained up and out to the fleet. Yes, it absolutely takes a significant amount of time to get comfortable flying a $70m+ aircraft down low and fast, but it's just like anything else, if you do it enough you get comfortable with it. Something else I like to mention is flying an F/A-18 doesn't make you a good pilot. In fact, with the exception of landing on an aircraft carrier, my general skills as a stick and rudder pilot have deteriorated significantly. The fly by wire controls system, the incredible nose authority, and ridiculous thrust available make pretty much anything you want to do in the aircraft possible. I wouldn't trust myself to land safety in a Cessna right now.

 

Army takes civilians up to 33 and older with waivers. The Army is short on pilots just like everyone else so the selection rates recently have been pretty high. You're definitely more of an all around office bitch than strictly a pilot like the other services but it's an option.

http://www.usarec.army.mil/hq/warrant/prerequ/woft.shtml

 

Chemtrails! I actually had no idea the Air Force did this.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...130s-to-texas-in-response-to-hurricane-harvey

 

See @Mtnflyer - you're not the only one giving everyone their medicine. GO USAF!!

 

We've now got 2 of them parked over here at the hangar. Another one is at PHX for make-ready.

@Gaunt596 one of them should be headed your way this week or next for the proving runs, so get ready. Ha!

 

...debatable haha

Is this at the dropzone?

 

Paraclete XP in NC

 

gotcha...I did a few jumps at Raeford and got the fly the Otter once or twice haha

 

I assume age max also applies for National Guard units?

 

And they wonder why they can't retain people.

 

...^^^... Good find. Ha ha

 

...^^^... Stick time in a biplane is great for basic skills too.

If you come by ATL, let me know.

Can't promise airtime, but sometimes it's available.

 

Doing pattern work at COS

 

Yep. We did some math the other day and it was depressing. If we only meet flight minimums we spend about 5% of our yearly work hours actually flying. Adding in some extra hours, pre/post flight, pilot briefs, classes and studying while at work nets about a 20% total time actually doing any pilot or aircraft related shit. No surprise that no one wants to stay in flying for the Army.

 

Yep. Minimums are 8 hours a month for Hawks, but can be reduced to 6 hours, making up the other 2 hours with the sim. I've been in a duty location where all junior Warrants got 6 hours a month because they always did dual PC training missions. So fly an average of 1.5 hours a week out of the 40+ hour work week.

Your "additional duties" like physical security, COMSEC, supply, etc are your primary duties in reality and flying becomes your additional duty. Then you have to go on numerous FTXs, Pinyon Canyon trips, NTC, whatever else they come up with, so when you're home you're really not home. And in some units if you don't do 12 hour days you're a shitbag. Then on top of that, there's that little thing called a deployment.

Plus all the other BS you get in the Army.

But with all that said, I appreciate the training and experience I have gained from the Army. If I were to do it again, I'd go Air Force. But for someone who only has a choice of the Army, educate yourself on what you're really getting into. Despite the suck, I'd do it again still. Just know you'll have to deal with lots of BS.


Oh, if you can get fixed-wing out of Rucker, life will be pretty good. Then you stay in hotels and actually get to do cool stuff, at least from what I hear from guys who went fixed-wing after I went through (back then it wasn't an option for airframe selection).

 

Anybody in the SoCal area planning to attend the Miramar Air Show?

 

Thank you! I'd love to get in a bi-plane. I got a ride in a Pitts once and that blew my mind. I'd love to do it again.

 

I might be going to.