"what if" fighter jet questions

[BeanFighter]

and any panel job is better than a furloughed job....count your blessings.

 

[AlbieF15]

Blessings counted...and I am VERY lucky to be where I am. My point wasn't that FDX is a bad job (its great...), but rather that flying ANY fighter or pointy jet is tremendously satisfying and challenging, and yes....fun.

Managing the panel is for a great company is a great JOB. I'm greatful. The airline lifestyle is awesome, but for those adrenalin junkies out there it certainly doesn't compare to your military flying. I'm glad I still get to do both, and for those of you out there still leaving active duty to chase other dreams, I encourage you to find a part-time ANG or Reserve slot if at all possible. Each job will make you appreciate the other job for all its pros and cons.

 

[ExAF]

You don't just PLAY war!

Albie's doing what I hope to be doing some day. Flying for a major (panel or not) making a some good money, then get to play war every now and then in something that can see 4 digit airspeeds, AND get paid for that too! Mmmmmmmmmmm.... talk about the good life.

In the mean time............. "Dou-ble time!.... march!"

One thing you had better ingrain in your brain is that WAR is a serious business and it is not something you PLAY every now and then. If you are in the Guard or Reserves, you WILL be called on to participate and it won't be PLAY. I wish I had a dollar for every guardsman or reservist that punched after Desert Storm saying, "this is more than what I signed up for." This is not a slam on ANG or AFRES; they served and served well. The fact is they are getting the call far more frequently and for longer durations than any time in history. It is to the point that it really stretches the idea of it being a "part-time" commitment. I have a lot of friends that left the AF for ANG and AFRES jobs while flying for an airline only to find out they were gone from home more than if they had stayed in active duty. Then they were activated for Desert Storm and endured hardships they thought would never happen. Many quit because their quality of life got worse, not better. You had better make sure you really know what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line and start "living the good life." You sound like you think it is all a big game.

 

[Hootie9750]

" I think I read somewhere that the majority of units that have enforced southern watch over Iraq have been Reserve and Gaurd Units, and they've been getting shot at for years. "

really? so you guys that fly fighters for the reserve and guard, where have you been deployed to in the world and for how long? and when you get shot at is it generally from the ground or air? and do you get to shoot back?

 

[Hootie9750]

any ang reserve guys want to answer my question about how long of deployment, where to and if youve been shot at?

 

[Toro]

so you guys that fly fighters for the reserve and guard, where have you been deployed to in the world and for how long? and when you get shot at is it generally from the ground or air? and do you get to shoot back?

I'm not guard or reserve, but they do enforce the no fly zones for OSW and ONW; the New Orleans F-15C model Guard unit was at ONW last time I was there. They do the standard AEF tour like everyone else, three months. As far as I know, nobody in either operation has been shot at from the air, but plenty of us have been shot at from the ground. ROE on when you can drop ordnance on hostile ground fire is very restrictive and doesn't happen as often as we'd like.

 

[cajun lurch]

back to the original question....

Real men kill the bad guy the old fashion way....with a gun, not a missile. When it comes to a turning fight you can't beat an A-10. I must admit, though, you guys do look really cool at 9 g's....especially through my HUD at 2.5 gs.

guns track kill,

lurch

 

[Toro]

Cajun lurch,
You should have been around on the student pilot network for this string-

SPN BFM discussion

The real fun starts 6-9 responses down when some "UPT dude" says that absolutely nothing will defeat a C model.

 

[CCDiscoB]

ANG Deployments

so you guys that fly fighters for the reserve and guard, where have you been deployed to in the world and for how long? and when you get shot at is it generally from the ground or air? and do you get to shoot back?

ANG and Reserve fighter units are deploying a lot more than the general public is aware of and much more than back in the "brown shoe days." The AF's concept of Total Force is alive and well. Total Force is the buzzword for ANG and Reserve integration with the active duty. In fact, if an ANG unit is not deployable, it is in danger of losing its mission (i.e. no alert only units any more). BTW, I'm talking strictly CAF units here.

As far as getting shot at. Sure, units get "shot at." My unit has been to both Northern and Southern watch, and we saw more "action" in the North, but saying we were shot as is a little paranoid and self centered. The Iraqis send AAA and unguided rockets into the sky hoping that someday they will get lucky and bring one of down. The F-16 guys tend to see more aimed AAA and get locked up by an occasional SAM, but when the Iraqis use their radars, they invite an air strike, so it’s a rare event. Can we shoot back you ask, yes but it’s a very coordinated and pre-planned event (Southern Watch). As far as how long we’re deployed. That’s a tough question because the ANG has strict rules about how long members can deploy. Aviation units, which is what we’re talking about, have been deployed anywhere from 1-4 months. Individuals can be deployed longer. Security forces, much longer I’m afraid.

 

[cajun lurch]

Yeah, there's some HUD footage around here I should send him. However, I know we just do that to make ourselves (hog drivers) feel better since the slammer would have gotten to the merge well before it's shooter did! That's probably the best tactic I've seen, extend and reengage. It's not like we're going anywere in a hurry.

ATTACK!

Lurch

Cajun lurch,
You should have been around on the student pilot network for this string-

SPN BFM discussion

The real fun starts 6-9 responses down when some "UPT dude" says that absolutely nothing will defeat a C model.