B-1b

[hindsight2020]

Needs of the Force, bottom line.

I spent 7 years in AETC (the training command). Deciding who gets fighters because they are number 1 in their class is much like deciding who should be a law firm partner based on their freshman gradepoint average.

I'm glad a senior guy said this, I think that provides INCREDIBLE perspective to the argument. I'll hold on to that one until I can spout it myself

Question to steer back this thread a little bit...Do the B-X(x) folks get recurrent training on the -38 or is it a scenario where the next time they'll ever see -38 time is if they go IP with AETC?

 

[HoursHore]

B-2 Guys get to fly 38's all over the place, since I don't think they do much transition in the B-2. Not sure about the other bombers, But all AMC ACE programs have gone bye-bye.

U-2 guys do to.

 

[psysicx]

Huggy what kind of limits is there of where you get to fly T-38's?

 

[Huggyu2]

Psysicx,
Minimal restrictions. We've got a mature group of aviators (well, sort of) here, and they use the T-38 to augment their lack of U-2 flying in the CONUS. We fly the T-38 pretty much "by the book" as far as the Training Command would be concerned. Most local sorties entail the following: instrument approach training, IMC and VMC unusual attitudes, stalls/slow flight, aerobatics, emergency patterns/landings (no flap and single engine), plus strange field procedures (we've got a number of towered airports that we can do approaches at nearby).
We've got other programs too, like formation flying, but you've got the idea.
When we go cross-country or out-and-back, we need towered airports, with 8000' of runway, and gov't fuel contract if it's a civilian field. However, due to T-38 performance data, in summer, we often need more than 8000' to be on the safe side.

The old "ACE" program (Accelerated Copilot Enrichment) that used the T-37 and T-38 for tanker, recce, and bomber copilots, went away around 1995. Now, Air Combat Command has 41 T-38A's that are used for the "Companion Trainer Program" (CTP). Beale has 13 that they use for the U-2 program; Whiteman has 14 for B-2 support (very similar to the U-2 CTP system); and Holloman has 14 they use for F-117 support: there are no 2-seat F-117's, so the Stealth IP's use the T-38 to chase the new -117 pilots.
From what I've seen, Gen Loh (or was it Ralston?) made a big mistake taking away the ACE program. It paid huge dividends for minimal cost, IMHO. But, Loh/Ralston were fighter pilots and probably "didn't get it" when they cancelled the ACE program for the drivers of crew aircraft.

 

[hindsight2020]

So the B-1 and B-52 folks don't see any of this T-38 recurrent training?

 

[Huggyu2]

Correct. No T-38's for the B-1 and B-52 pilots.

 

[psysicx]

Huggy when your deployed in the U-2 do you just show up and fly? And how often do you fly. On the website it says 4-6 days a week.

 

[HoursHore]

Psysicx,

How old are you? Obviously you know how to use the Internet, so have you ever heard of google? I hate to sound like a D!ck if you are a middle school kid (as I was led by a previous post to believe), but you ask the same questions over and over. Anyway, if you are a young kid looking at the mil as a viable Flying job, more power to you. You might want to let us know, though, the dashes in your profile scream "I wanna stay hidden."

Flying for the mil is a great choice. If your a 30 yr old with man-breasts, however, the ship has sailed.

 

[psysicx]

Nope not in middle school. Actually finishing up college in a year. I work security so I sit at a computer for ten hours. That means lots of free time to post.

 

[English]

Hey psysicx, in one of your previous posts you said you were a janitor.

So which is it, janitor or security?

 

[Flechas]

I work security so I sit at a computer for ten hours.

What's the pay and QOL? Do you work all nighters or during the day? How long till you can hold left seat? How long is reserve, and do you have long and short call or just short? Do you get paid during training? What about hotel?

 

[English]

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=51840&page=2&pp=15

Go to post #17

 

[psysicx]

I work both. On friday and saturdays I do security form 3:00 pm to 1:00 AM. On tues-thursday I work as a janitor for the same company from 4:00pm to 11:30pm. It works well with school even though 15 credits and working full time is not easy. But I don't have a social life so it really doesn't matter. Any more info about me just ask.

 

[English]

When do you have time to fly airplanes?

 

[psysicx]

I don't really anymore. Just enough to maintain currency. I'm trying to get the cash to get my glider rating.