AF Fighter Rumors

[talondriver]

TalonDriver how did you like flying the Buff?It seems like it gets a bad rap but mostly from people who never flew it.

I loved it! I was a prior BUFF nav before going on the UPT and enjoyed the mission. I was operational when we moved from a full on nuke mission to the current conventional one...although the stench of SIOP still lingers.

I think it gets the bum rap because it's at the bottom of the food chain in the fighter/bomber track and because of it's age. Although there are a lot of training jets here that are just as old or older than the H model.

The BUFFs are doing the OEF CAS thing as we speak.

There's nothing like killing bad guys and eating your sandwich at the same time

 

[HoursHore]

Keep them coming,I love to hear about all of this.As far as 90-days to the desert then 90 days at home and then 90 days back to the desert is unture.Right now there changing it to a 20 month rotation where you will spend four months in the desert and then back home.

Right. As a heavy Guy if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you. expect 180 days plus until GWOT is concluded.

 

[psysicx]

I never said that for the heavy guys.The only guys that see there familys on the heavy side are C-5 and C-21's.But those usually go to the top of the class.

 

[psysicx]

TalonDriver are the Buffs still deploying out of Diego and are they doing 3 month deployments?Also I think that getting paid to fly any aircraft would be awesome.

 

[HoursHore]

all I am saying newbie is that you will be in less than desirable places for the majority of your AF career. No matter the platform, pointy nose or not. There is no safe haven these days. If you would like to join, by all means do. Just realize what you are getting into. More than half of AF JSUPT classes go heavies, antything from RC's to KC-10's. If you are serious about serving more power to you. We need some balls thruout the force. But be willing to serve in whatever you are assigned, Cause we may not all kill at the pointy end, but we are all in this thing together.
"just kidding missle weenies, you may be called soon enough to neuter IRAN."

 

[GasPasser]

chase YOUR dream

I had to put my $0.02 in from the heavy perspective. If you are deciding what path to follow, you should not be looking at lifestyle. Lifestyle changes as the military and missions change with the threat. Look at how much the military lifestyle has changed post-911. Well take it from me, it changed a lot in both the fighter and heavy world.

My advice would be to go ANG or Reserve if you can. At least you'll have some control over your aircraft and base. Their have been mission or location changes in the ANG/Reserve world, but it is pretty stable. And if you need to, you can always make a change later.

Personally, I'm real happy being in a tanker. Best thing that happened to me. I can't comment on the T-tails, or fighters, never been in those shoes. I think most are happy (eventually) with their assigment once they get qualified and start flying real-world missions. Make the most with the cards you are delt. Most of the guys I know that choose heavies, do so as the quickest route to the airlines. Above all, have fun!

 

[psysicx]

Wow didn't mean to ruffel any feather.I think that everyone who joins the AF knows they go to crappy locations,its just part of it.HoursHore I don't know where your post came from,I never asked about locations.

 

[HoursHore]

Wow didn't mean to ruffel any feather.I think that everyone who joins the AF knows they go to crappy locations,its just part of it.HoursHore I don't know where your post came from,I never asked about locations.

In retrospect my post comes off as cranky. I guess I wrote it after the Bears lost another to the Viqueens.

Any way my intent was to say Don't worry about 12 hour days and what you'll be flying and where, cause you can't control that. Just realize its a great job (for a while) and 99% of military aviators would do it again. And 12 hour days are a minimum, no matter the platform. 36 hour days for the B-2 guys.

 

[AA717driver]

Take this from someone who wanted to fly fighters since he was 5 years old. If you really want that, nothing else will ever satisfy you. I've been done the airline thing, been captain on the whole DC9 series, captain on a GV now and I still feel a pang of regret when the local F-16's go over.

I didn't have the eyesight to make it in the military. Tough luck. But don't pass this up if you have the desire and the opportunity.TC

 

[Stash]

Dos Gringos

JDAM may be the antichrist of the attack community, but it sure is impressive. Anyone heard the song by Dos Gringo's "JDAM Blues?"

Dos Gringos ROCKS!!!! Lots of humor, but lots of truth in their songs!! Cheers,