Are the Tweets all gone?

[whalefat]

I'm glad I didn't touch a T37 during the summer months in Mississippi. No thanks. The T6 is not built well at all, they were having gear problems on a regular basis...

 

[Tweetdrvr]

Apparently, the Flag Officers are lining up and trying to be the last one to fly the Tweet. Sounds like 3- and 4- star officers are in the mix. Could be fun to watch how this plays out! I know I'd want to do it.
Last flights probably in August, is what I'm hearing.

Last one to fly it on a local, or is someone actually going to try to take the last one from SPS to DM on it's cross country ferry flight?

 

[michael707767]

Apparently, the Flag Officers are lining up and trying to be the last one to fly the Tweet. Sounds like 3- and 4- star officers are in the mix. Could be fun to watch how this plays out! I know I'd want to do it.
Last flights probably in August, is what I'm hearing.

The last pilot to fly the T-2 was an O-5, the commander of the reserve unit that was still flying the T-2. That's how it should be with the Tweet. Not some 4 star who hasn't set foot in one for 20 years.

 

[Big Wave]

The last pilot to fly the T-37 should be either the youngest FAIP on base, on a student sortie; or, even better, a student on his or her initial solo.

 

[ExAF]

Not Feelin the Love

Don't be so bitter toward a jet you have ~70 hours in, and probably was the first jet you solo'd.
You might not want to fly it again, but it got you where you are.

More than 70, we didn't have the new fancy sims when I went through. We flew the jet for instrument sorties. Not bitter at all, just won't miss it and didn't have a deep seated love affair with the little bugger. It was without a doubt the second most uncomfortable seat in the AF (the A-37 was the most uncomfortable). It was sturdy and forgiving. It was also unpressurized, un airconditioned, slow, crappy ejection seat, no range for x-country, engines that took a month to spool and did I mention uncomfortable. I also flew the A-37 for a bunch of hours as well. Yes it got me started in the AF, and as I said before it was good for what is was supposed to do. I'm just saying I agree that it is time to move on and I certainly won't miss it or shed a tear at it's retirement. Let me guess Huggy....tweet faip in your former life?

 

[LearLove]

exaf,

where/when did you fly the A-37? I remember my dad telling me the same thing about the seat in the A-37. Another A-37 guy once told me if life support wanted to get back at you for something they could position the flashlight in the seat pack so it would press into your tailbone or something like that. Is that true?

 

[ExAF]

CO2 Cylinder

exaf,

where/when did you fly the A-37? I remember my dad telling me the same thing about the seat in the A-37. Another A-37 guy once told me if life support wanted to get back at you for something they could position the flashlight in the seat pack so it would press into your tailbone or something like that. Is that true?

I flew them in Panama 88-90. Not a flashlight. The CO2 cylinder for the life raft in the seat pack was always a pain in the azz regardless of life supports wishes. We used to buy inflatable camping pillows and put them on top of the seat kit with about a 1/4 in of air in it. As you would climb the expansion would provide a modicum of relief. Just had to be sure to deflate in case of ejection.

 

[Huggyu2]

I hear ya, exAF! Just trying to stick up for the aircraft! I'm a sucker for "classic jets".
And was the Super Tweet ejections seat different? Or just the survival kit in the seat pan?
I know a couple of guys in Miami that are finishing up their A-37's and will have them flying within a year, hopefully.

Hey, if you flew the Super Tweet (which I wish I'd have gotten a flight in before Edwards quickly retired the fleet), you must know Tripp Stallings and Coconut Grove.

Finally: nope, I wasn't a Tweet FAIP. Close though,... T-38 FAIP. Hand-picked, you know (yeah right,... "hand picked" like a booger!).

 

[ExAF]

And was the Super Tweet ejections seat different? Or just the survival kit in the seat pan?

Same seat. No seat pan...just a canvas bag around the survival kit and raft. Think lumpy hard cushion instead of padded seat pan.:crying:

Hey, if you flew the Super Tweet (which I wish I'd have gotten a flight in before Edwards quickly retired the fleet), you must know Tripp Stallings and Coconut Grove.

I know them both very well. Ask them about "Gator."

Finally: nope, I wasn't a Tweet FAIP. Close though,... T-38 FAIP. Hand-picked, you know (yeah right,... "hand picked" like a booger!).

My last gig in the AF was T-38 grey beard. Probably adds a little to my disdain for the venerable tweet!:laugh:

I don't hate the tweet. I just won't miss it and I'm glad to see the next gen get something a little more advanced and COMFORTABLE. Cheers.

 

[Huggyu2]

I got an orientation sortie in the new T-6. Great performance,... it just sips the JP-8,... flies like a jet,... lots of fun,... way better air conditioner.
Other than the cost and the fact it won't last 50 years, I love it.