U-2

[GVFlyer]

U2

I used to fly film for you guys back when Akrotiri was a classified location and Steve P. was commanding the unit and Delise D. and Troy D. were flying in it. We'd hit the Med., drop down and "Due Regard" the islands on the way to Cyprus. On the way back to Rhein Main we'd low level to Nice then pop up in France where we could use standing diplomatic clearances and request an IFR to Germany. Cool mission and you guys had a cool job.

GV

 

[psysicx]

How come your looking for a T-38 pilot?Don't have enough people to go around.And what does 5 below the zone to Colonel mean?And what are considered good schools and staff jobs?

 

[Huggyu2]

Physicx: give me call on the phone. We'll discuss everything in more detail. It appears you do not have a military background, so it would take me WAY too much typing to explain. However, I'm more than happy to discuss the U-2 program with anyone, whether they are looking for a job, or just information. Hey, that's part of what they pay me for! Checkout beale.af.mil for contact info. Little known fact: we haven't been 100% manned in the 15 years I've been in the U-2 program. We're always looking for pilots that we think will take a National Asset, employ it, and return it Code 1. Some caveats have been added to that (seniority, promotability, etc...), but, hey, it's 2004 and we're in the USAF.

 

[Huggyu2]

GV Flyer: Ah yes, 'the rock' is a good place. But not as good as it was. Seems that the USAF discovered it during the war last year. Delise D? Don't know who you mean, but Troy retired just a few months ago, after deciding that the fast track was not the way to go for quality of life. Great pilot, and smart too. She will be missed.

 

[psysicx]

You can come from any service to the U-2 program.I think that you have to convert over to Blue.There was a guy on here who was a Corbra pilot in the Marines who is now a U-2 pilot.

 

[Huggyu2]

Physicx is correct: we take Interservice Transfers. We've got Marines, Navy, and even 1 Coast Guard. Army pilots are currently not being accepted by the USAF, unless they went through an actual military fixed-wing qual, as opposed to a corporate contract qual.
We will probably look to interview up to 3 Interservice-types over the next 6 months. There is a lot of interest, especially with the situation in the S-3, P-3, and F-14 communities.

 

[jobear]

One of the nicest take-offs I've ever seen was when I was standing on the ramp at Howard and the U2 took-off, it was also when I witnessed one(*) of the ugliest landings too. Those u2's don't like a x-wind do they,beautiful airplane though.

* at the time I was just a mech and jeered the pilot along with my maintenance brethren


Jobear

 

[psysicx]

HuggyU2 you are right I am not in the military.Definitly looking towards that way after college.I just really like the U-2 and there doesn't seem to be much info about it.

 

[stadik_kling]

Huggy and 10 at the T,

Just curious - 10 at the T noted that you guys fly the T-38 as a proficiency trainer. What kind of T-38 sorties do you have the opportunity to fly (x country, low-level, form, etc.)?

Thanks!

 

[Huggyu2]

Everyone gets a basic checkout before they start U-2 training. It consists of instrument training and contact (VFR patterns, emergency patterns/landings, aerobatics, flight characteristics, traffic pattern stalls, etc...). Once checked out, you can go on cross-countries to improve skills, work on various nav events, etc... The cross-countries leave on Friday and return Monday. We can go to most any airfield that has a gov't contract, tower, and 8000 feet. Most pilots get a basic low-level checkout, which allows you to fly VFR point-to-point at 1000', or to fly on a Military Training Route at up to 420 KIAS at 500' (actually, we have restricted ourselves to 1000' AGL).
Finally, you can get a formation checkout. This is difficult, since the average line pilot is only home for 2-3 months, and there is a lot to do during that time. Finding the time to work hard on the formation training can be tough. If you have formation time from a previous aircraft, that helps a lot.
About half the pilots here didn't fly the T-38 in UPT, so when they come back from a 70 day TDY, they just like to focus on getting their single-ship skills honed back to the way they were before they left.
As a T-38 IP, it's a great deal. I get to fly the full spectrum, and a great deal of two- and four-ship formations. Our depot is at Holloman AFB, so we go back and forth to there to pick up jets that have been overhauled or painted.
Does that cover your ??? If not, drop me a follow up.

 

[psysicx]

Can one just become a T-38 IP at Beale?If so how hard is it?

 

[stadik_kling]

Thanks for the reply, Huggy. Cool of you to take the time to answer questions from twerps like me!

 

[Vandal]

What about USAF Guard/Reserve transfers?

 

[Huggyu2]

Yes, we take them on a limited basis. We have a new guy one who's been here about 18 months, plus some requal reservists. Only one guardsman has applied, and though we offered him an interview, he declined after giving it some thought.

Call me at DSN 368-4447 if you want to discuss it.
Maj Huggins