UAV's for UPT Grads

[BigPappa]

That would sooooo s#ck to finish UPT only to get an UAV. Wow, I don't know what to say other than F... that! That would be worth crashing one of those on your first SOLO flight.

 

[satpak77]

what could happen if you crash one? they "ground you?" (actually, a serious question)

 

[millhouse21]

I asked my boss that very question before I went off to Iraq. "What happens if (when) I crash one? Do I write an email asking you to send me another or do I convene a Mishap Investigation Board?" The answer was that it depends. When I did lose one it was pretty obvious what happened and the thing was about to be replaced so it fell into the email category. A friend of mine lost one and the Mishap Board was suggested. That fell through when somebody pointed out that although the mishap involved loss of the aircraft, there was no Naval Aircraft involved since the thing had no actual existence to the Navy.

P.S. I'm sure that the USAF has somewhat more structured procedures for the loss of a UAV.

 

[gcsass]

Any Guard units flying these things yet? I would love to sit home and drink beer while logging a double and let my kid play with daddy's new "Nintendo" system....

 

[SIG600]

just a comment from a non mil guy, but I personally would have preferred C17, KC10, or KC135 airframes due to amount of flying and international travel.

Its not a F-16, I admit, but I dont see why more young guys dont see that the whole world does not revolve around flying a single seat fighter

There are two types of aircraft in the world. Fighters and targets. Get it?

I visited 13 countries last year, flying a single seat fighter... so your point is, well, wrong.

This UAV out of UPT is a complete waste of money and human resources. Frankly I'm appalled at this program.

 

[satpak77]

There are two types of aircraft in the world. Fighters and targets. Get it?

I visited 13 countries last year, flying a single seat fighter... so your point is, well, wrong.

This UAV out of UPT is a complete waste of money and human resources. Frankly I'm appalled at this program.

Yeah clearly you can do that. Heck, I have visited 8 countries and I fly a King Air.

I guess my overall point was that of the types, I was under the impression that in civilian and wartime, the transport/tanker guy will fly more hours and see more places. But I don't know.

I agree with your UAV comments.

 

[michael707767]

Any Guard units flying these things yet? I would love to sit home and drink beer while logging a double and let my kid play with daddy's new "Nintendo" system....

actually, there is the answer. Give it to the Guard and Reserves. Would be a great way for an airline pilot who wants to finish out his time in the reserves. And since they are flying for an airline, they wouldn't care about the lack of flying job in the military.

 

[BeeVee]

satpack,

You are 100% correct.
I have been flying for the Air Force for almost 20 years now. On the one side, no one can deny that flying a fighter would be sweet - all my fighter bro's love "strapping it on" and kicking a$$. On the other side, as you mentioned, flying "heavies" has many opportunities of its own. We see the world. I have now been to over 70 countries and to every continent on this planet (yes, even Antarctica). If a person wants to travel and experience different cultures, flying heavies is where it's at. Also, heavy guys rack up a helluva lot more flying time than fighter guys. Classmates of mine from the Zoo that went straight to fighters all have in the neighborhood of 2000-3000 hours. You can see, I have double that.
It really just depends on your personality and what/how you want to contribute to our Mission.

 

[SIG600]

Yeah clearly you can do that. Heck, I have visited 8 countries and I fly a King Air.

I guess my overall point was that of the types, I was under the impression that in civilian and wartime, the transport/tanker guy will fly more hours and see more places. But I don't know.

I agree with your UAV comments.

KC-10 bud of mine doesn't see a lot of countries, just the same ones over and over. Nothing like hitting the UAE a dozen times. uke:

 

[Cobra17]

There are two types of aircraft in the world. Fighters and targets. Get it?

Soon there will be also be two types of aircraft in the world. Fighters (unmanned) and targets (manned). Everyone has their preference. The top guys in my class all took heavies, fighters went to the bottom.

 

[Caveman]

Give the UAV's to the enlisted guys

Better yet, let enlisted guys be military pilots too.

 

[AuburnRedneck9]

That's not true at all, half of my class put T1s first and they sent one person to T38s that didn't even want it. I only know the unfolding first hand because I was the SRO. I couldn't imagine having to strap into that little death trap every day....

That is because you are a civillian looking in...The fighter is where it is at for most. Now when you were a kid, you never dreamed of being a fighter pilot? Most kids have and still do. Once in the fighter track, you are tought/brainwashed that nothing else will due. When in reallity sometime heavies are better. You don't dropp bombs for the vast majority of heavies but you do go different places if you are in a C or K. If you are in an E, well you see a lot of the same place.

 

[satpak77]

good info, interesting discussion. A good college buddy (who I long lost contact with) went into UPT in the early 90's (91 or 92) when slots I believe were hard to come by. He was a very good pilot (had a Commercial/Multi w/800 hrs TT before UPT) and "got" the Learjet, what is it, the C-21? or something. He wanted fighters.

He then logged ****loads of jet time all over the world, flying generals around, etc, and now is at SWA.

By the way, thanks for the service you guys provide for keeping our country safe.

 

[Huggyu2]

We've been hearing rumors of UAS' dropping to UPT students for months now.
Wake me up when it becomes a reality.

 

[BigPappa]

Soon there will be also be two types of aircraft in the world. Fighters (unmanned) and targets (manned). Everyone has their preference. The top guys in my class all took heavies, fighters went to the bottom.

I would have to go ahead and call BS on that one. Unless of course those guys had an extremely wild party right before assignment night and could not see straight. We had one guy claim he would do the same; when the time came he followed us to RTU in Arizona.

 

[BeeVee]

Like I said to start off this Thread....listen to the Chief Tuesday/Wednesday this week.

 

[Cobra17]

I would have to go ahead and call BS on that one. Unless of course those guys had an extremely wild party right before assignment night and could not see straight. We had one guy claim he would do the same; when the time came he followed us to RTU in Arizona.

Well they did go last....but this was during the "banked" years...actual jets, then banked transports, tankers, and fighters, in that order. The logic was they would be the last to be "recalled". It was a hell of a post assignment party though. Great bunch of guys who all got along really well and zero backstabbers.

 

[navigatro]

just a comment from a non mil guy, but I personally would have preferred C17, KC10, or KC135 airframes due to amount of flying and international travel.

Its not a F-16, I admit, but I dont see why more young guys dont see that the whole world does not revolve around flying a single seat fighter

That's because the fighter lifestyle is appealing to gays, so it is kind of like a social club where you can hang out with the boys and wear a scarf, and not be judged.

 

[navigatro]

actually, there is the answer. Give it to the Guard and Reserves. Would be a great way for an airline pilot who wants to finish out his time in the reserves. And since they are flying for an airline, they wouldn't care about the lack of flying job in the military.

I think that the Guard unit at March AFB, CA (former KC-135) got UAV's.

The down side is that they do deploy a fair amount, because they have to have the "take-off and landing" pilots in theater.

 

[navigatro]

If only the UAV pilots get the leather jacket, then it will be everyone's top choice.