B1B Question

[PA-44Typed]

Just a quick question; do pilots come out of the T-38 track or the T-1 track to end up flying the B-1B?
Thanks

 

[FastCargo]

To answer your question...

Currently, they come out of the T-38 track...that has not always been true however...

FastCargo

 

[talondriver]

There are two rumors, that I know of, for switching between the T-1 and T-38 track with both B-1 and B-52 assignments:

1) The bomber RTUs wanted their students to be trained in the
T-38

2) The AF was overloading the fighter community with too many young wingmen and needed to decrease the numbers coming out of SUPT. So, they moved the bomber track to T-38s.

The second rumor also gives a student ( and the AF) an option if the student is projected to struggle in the fighter community.

 

[T1bubba]

I agree with talondriver, but I think the biggest reason is that T-1's were running at max capacity and the T-38's had the room to take the bomber folks back. Shifting the bombers back to the T-38 opened up more slots for the heavies and allowed more students to be graduated overall.

 

[FastCargo]

Yet another interesting story...

For a while there, back in 99-00...T-1 students going to B-1/B-52s, after graduation from pilot training, would get to fly the T-38 in a limited familiarization program. They didn't solo, didn't have a checkride and did mostly 2 ship low level...talk about a good deal!

FastCargo

 

[talondriver]

Re: Yet another interesting story...

For a while there, back in 99-00...T-1 students going to B-1/B-52s, after graduation from pilot training, would get to fly the T-38 in a limited familiarization program. They didn't solo, didn't have a checkride and did mostly 2 ship low level...talk about a good deal!

It was a good deal. I flew some of the IBF sorties. All the guys I flew with wanted the bomber so they were motivated troops when we got them.

 

[stlpilot]

Im no B1B expert but I have a "SUPT Allocation" sheet from the guard showing that the units at Robins AFB and McConnell AFB use the T-1 as a training A/C. Of course these are guard units and the sheet is for FY02.

 

[HoursHore]

There are no more guard B-1B units, and all B-1 guys currently come from the 38 track.

 

[AH64driver]

True Hours, I know of a guy who went T-38s' to fly B-1s' at Robbins. They're now flying JSTARS. I think they're still sending guys through 38s'.

 

[luck4unme]

B-1 vs Fighter

I know a dewd who is a few weeks away from getting his wings from T-38 track and is leaning towards a B-1. He's pretty high up in his class and has a good chance of finishing at the top.

It seems virtually 100% of 38 grads desparately want fighters, even if it means doing a FAIP tour to get one. Which airframe do most of the grads who even have a choice select?

Does anyone have any thoughts on why a guy would want a B-1 over any fighter? What are the advantages of the bomber community, mission, bases etc?

Thanks in advance for any wisdom or experience.

 

[talondriver]

There's nothing wrong with wanting a bomber
Some people want the Bone because they've always wanted to fly it.
Some because they like the idea of flying with a crew and still being able to kill people and break their sh*t.
And some are smart enough to know that they didn't fair well in the single seat environment and/or high G arena and chose the bomber option.
It's easy for anyone to say they want to be a fighter pilot but these guys (bomber dudes) sampled a little of that environment (T-38 track) and made their choice...or the Air Force made it for them.

 

[AH64driver]

Here here Talondriver.........

 

[FastCargo]

One more thing...

One more thing I might throw in as for why someone would choose a bomber over a fighter...

Home life. Though bombers do deploy more now then they used to back in the N-word days (in the S-command)...it's still fairly rare by fighter standards. In the flying USAF of now, just about the only job where you are home more than a bomber guy is a AETC SUPT IP.

If the guy is married (or has a serious girlfriend ) that may be entering his crosscheck. I can tell you when I was young and single I wanted to fly fighters in the worst way, but hey, sometimes you just can't get there from here. Now, being married, and planning on kids in a year...fighters aren't really for me anymore...

I must admit a part of me misses dropping iron...9 miles a minute at 400 feet...flying one of the coolest looking airplanes ever...

Ah, yes, the good ol' days...oh wait, mobility, shots, ORI, NSI, generations, ALO...what? Okay, maybe not...

Fly Safe!

FastCargo