Yahtzee
Season Ticket Holder
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2002
- Posts
- 301
Old School
Agreed...there is certainly a differece. Having flown T-38s and instructed in T-1s for nearly four years, I'd say the difference is about 35 extra pilots per year for the USAF with the T-1.
The three bases using T-1s graduate approx 14 pilots from T-1s every three weeks. Over one year Columbus, Vance and Laughlin produce approx 700-750 pilots from T-1s.
There is no doubt in my mind the bottom 5% of T-1 students would wash out of T-38s. Some classes are better than others, some classes have a lot of catfish. Like I've mentioned several times, some studs simply can't process information fast enough to fly a T-38. Many studs struggle in the T-1 with all it's glass, and having an IP right next to them to do many tasks they would have to do on their own in a T-38 (ie, raise the gear & flaps, and talk on the radio.)
The T-1 was purchased to extend the service life of the T-38 and provide a better medium to train heavy pilots. It's doing both well, but Wing Commanders are pressured to produce pilots. That pressure flows downhill to the Flt Commanders and line IPs. Even when Flt CCs have told Squadron CCs some studs don't belong, Sq CC's know the CRB process and the likelihood of reinstatements. To washout a student, the line IP and Flt CC have to understand I-D-E.
Identify-Document-Eliminate.
Studs can and do washout in SUPT, but not nearly the rate they washed out in UPT. The facts are at Randolph AFB. This is by no means an endorsement to slack. I have helped several T-1 studs find other lines of work, because I don't believe anyone should wear USAF Wings for class attendance. UPT had teeth....Many T-1 IPs believe SUPT needs the same teeth.
Remember I'm talking about a small % of studs in the T-1 and this is in no way a slame on the majority of T-1 grads, especially those who excelled in the T-1 and would have excelled in the T-38 had they choosen to fly it.
Not everyone was meant to be a pilot. Unfortunately, the T-1 can blur the distinction, when T-38s kept it fairly black & white.
Yahtz
P.S. Which makes a better heavy pilot: the T-1 or the T-38? I can't say, but I do know the T-1 is far more comfortable and it can carry two sets of golf clubs, a surfboard (yes I've seen this), or snowboards and a lot of luggage.
talondriver said:
Agreed...there is certainly a differece. Having flown T-38s and instructed in T-1s for nearly four years, I'd say the difference is about 35 extra pilots per year for the USAF with the T-1.
The three bases using T-1s graduate approx 14 pilots from T-1s every three weeks. Over one year Columbus, Vance and Laughlin produce approx 700-750 pilots from T-1s.
There is no doubt in my mind the bottom 5% of T-1 students would wash out of T-38s. Some classes are better than others, some classes have a lot of catfish. Like I've mentioned several times, some studs simply can't process information fast enough to fly a T-38. Many studs struggle in the T-1 with all it's glass, and having an IP right next to them to do many tasks they would have to do on their own in a T-38 (ie, raise the gear & flaps, and talk on the radio.)
The T-1 was purchased to extend the service life of the T-38 and provide a better medium to train heavy pilots. It's doing both well, but Wing Commanders are pressured to produce pilots. That pressure flows downhill to the Flt Commanders and line IPs. Even when Flt CCs have told Squadron CCs some studs don't belong, Sq CC's know the CRB process and the likelihood of reinstatements. To washout a student, the line IP and Flt CC have to understand I-D-E.
Identify-Document-Eliminate.
Studs can and do washout in SUPT, but not nearly the rate they washed out in UPT. The facts are at Randolph AFB. This is by no means an endorsement to slack. I have helped several T-1 studs find other lines of work, because I don't believe anyone should wear USAF Wings for class attendance. UPT had teeth....Many T-1 IPs believe SUPT needs the same teeth.
Remember I'm talking about a small % of studs in the T-1 and this is in no way a slame on the majority of T-1 grads, especially those who excelled in the T-1 and would have excelled in the T-38 had they choosen to fly it.
Not everyone was meant to be a pilot. Unfortunately, the T-1 can blur the distinction, when T-38s kept it fairly black & white.
Yahtz
P.S. Which makes a better heavy pilot: the T-1 or the T-38? I can't say, but I do know the T-1 is far more comfortable and it can carry two sets of golf clubs, a surfboard (yes I've seen this), or snowboards and a lot of luggage.
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