Day in the Life: Fighters and Heavies
12-18-2007, 09:24 AM
#31
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: B-767
Posts: 222
Training command life is pretty sweet. 1-2 flights, done by lunch. Off the the golf course to get 18 in, home by dinner. Repeat Tuesday-Friday, pending the weather. Do the occassional cross country just to get out the house for a weekend. You can fly as much or as little as you want, usually flew 400-500 hrs a year.
12-18-2007, 10:37 AM
#32
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2007
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 1,531
Or be the Snacko, and since the Commissary doesn't carry all of the Frappuccino varieties or may be out of Diet Mt. Dew, make your Snacko run at Costco...100 miles away, using a GOV.
12-18-2007, 10:49 AM
#33
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Dismayed
Posts: 1,598
12-18-2007, 11:09 AM
#34
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 2,889
I'm still up because I can't go to bed early. I have night pit and go tomorrow. No sh*t. Two sorties with a hot pit refuel at night. I might get home at 0200. At least they put a "show" time on the schedule for me to make sure I don't come in too early.
And for all the dumba** heavy drivers who think I'm bitc*ing about night flyin, save it. I've done as many night AAR's as Deuce has and have never hit a mountain. But the idea of hot pit refueling at night is stupid. The last time we did this the Ops and MX got in a fight because 1) we can't taxi without beacons on and 2) we can't roll into the hot pits without beacons off. No kidding. This is what ACC spends it's time on...F-22s taxing 30' with or without beacons. We spent 30 minutes on this at a pilot meeting. Many "experienced" 500 hr IPs offered their opinions while several 2000 hr+ guard guys were thinking about F-16s at Richmond.
I love the Air Force, I love the Air Force, I love the Air Force, this is better than hub-turning, this is better than hub-turning, this is better than hub-turning, lalalalalalalallalala
And for all the dumba** heavy drivers who think I'm bitc*ing about night flyin, save it. I've done as many night AAR's as Deuce has and have never hit a mountain. But the idea of hot pit refueling at night is stupid. The last time we did this the Ops and MX got in a fight because 1) we can't taxi without beacons on and 2) we can't roll into the hot pits without beacons off. No kidding. This is what ACC spends it's time on...F-22s taxing 30' with or without beacons. We spent 30 minutes on this at a pilot meeting. Many "experienced" 500 hr IPs offered their opinions while several 2000 hr+ guard guys were thinking about F-16s at Richmond.
I love the Air Force, I love the Air Force, I love the Air Force, this is better than hub-turning, this is better than hub-turning, this is better than hub-turning, lalalalalalalallalala
That's okay. I'm sure when you are at Langley things will be muuuuuch more laid back and low stress, and the emphasis will be on tactical employent and not queep and appearances...
However--if you bat$hit crazy and did the Alaska thing...it will still have its headaches. But Dozer and Corky will both be great guys to work for--superior drivers and even though they are probably under a microscrope those dudes are fighter pilots first.
Good luck. Hour and half late out of Indy last night and had to de-ice, so if that helps keep your perspective I hope it helps. Also couldn't move/drop any trips this month--also an @ss pain. Pick your poison...
12-18-2007, 06:09 PM
#35
Libertarian Resistance
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: 757 FO
Posts: 1,057
Extra credit if you know what CBPO really means.
WW
12-18-2007, 06:22 PM
#36
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: I pilot
Posts: 2,049
Anacronyms.freedictionary.com even had it!
CBPO Commissary, BX, Post Office (military slang for goof-off destinations)
CBPO Consolidated Base Personnel Office (USAF; now military personnel flight, MPF
CBPO Commissary, BX, Post Office (military slang for goof-off destinations)
CBPO Consolidated Base Personnel Office (USAF; now military personnel flight, MPF
12-18-2007, 09:12 PM
#37
Guest
Posts: n/a
Yep. I remember and feel your pain. Ain't it great to be on the cutting edge?
That's okay. I'm sure when you are at Langley things will be muuuuuch more laid back and low stress, and the emphasis will be on tactical employent and not queep and appearances...
However--if you bat$hit crazy and did the Alaska thing...it will still have its headaches. But Dozer and Corky will both be great guys to work for--superior drivers and even though they are probably under a microscrope those dudes are fighter pilots first.
Good luck. Hour and half late out of Indy last night and had to de-ice, so if that helps keep your perspective I hope it helps. Also couldn't move/drop any trips this month--also an @ss pain. Pick your poison...
That's okay. I'm sure when you are at Langley things will be muuuuuch more laid back and low stress, and the emphasis will be on tactical employent and not queep and appearances...
However--if you bat$hit crazy and did the Alaska thing...it will still have its headaches. But Dozer and Corky will both be great guys to work for--superior drivers and even though they are probably under a microscrope those dudes are fighter pilots first.
Good luck. Hour and half late out of Indy last night and had to de-ice, so if that helps keep your perspective I hope it helps. Also couldn't move/drop any trips this month--also an @ss pain. Pick your poison...
AK will be a great deal for some FDX MD-11 F/O. I'd kill to have my Guard job at my domicile. My wife would never go for it. The Reserve honchos are solid up there, too, and they've learned alot from our integration here at LFI. Growing pains, but it'll all work out.
Especially when the brand new 71st FS building says "149th FS" on it and 18 of those Raptors have VA on the tail!
12-18-2007, 10:03 PM
#38
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: 737 FO/Capt/FO
Posts: 427
You are showing your age. I haven't heard CBPO in years.
What was it, mid-early 80s when this went away?
Lifter
PS: off to IMA duty today
12-19-2007, 12:05 AM
#39
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Left Seat, Toyota Tacoma
Posts: 593
Here's a video that illustrate a typical USAF day:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...63754616231366
Hopefully the link comes through. In addition to the duties show in the video, most heavy pilots spend a few hours per sortie waiting on a crew bus. Fortunately there's not too much flying to get in the way of important stuff like making sure that we have the correct finance codes listed on our Defense Travel System orders, showing the maintainers that we're all on the same team and uploading new nav databases on all the jets, and keeping our warrior skills sharp by completing our electonic records management, information assurance, and suicide awareness training ahead of time.
Riddler
(edited video link hopefully it's the right one now)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...63754616231366
Hopefully the link comes through. In addition to the duties show in the video, most heavy pilots spend a few hours per sortie waiting on a crew bus. Fortunately there's not too much flying to get in the way of important stuff like making sure that we have the correct finance codes listed on our Defense Travel System orders, showing the maintainers that we're all on the same team and uploading new nav databases on all the jets, and keeping our warrior skills sharp by completing our electonic records management, information assurance, and suicide awareness training ahead of time.
Riddler
(edited video link hopefully it's the right one now)
12-19-2007, 04:48 AM
#40
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Left and Right of Whatever
Posts: 406
Wow, your pilot lives, well, kind of suck. I guess that's what you get for being a LT!
Ours: Brief 1.5 prior to cranking, show up 10 minutes prior to the brief with the electric razor still going and the flight suit halfway zipped up to hide the AC/DC shirt you're wearing underneath that technically isn't regulation. Listen to the LT brief the flight that he isn't going on because he's got a desk job and needs the block checked on his flight folder that he can do a briefing. Once the LT starts, defer to listening to the CW4 who eventually takes over the briefing because the LT can't read a TAF or FA.
Prior to heading out to the line, check the weather again, don't forget your boots...tie them too. Once out to the airplane a quick walk-around with the FE to have him explain everything that is effed up with the airframe but how it is still "flyable". Crank, hover check, 65% torque to the objective, pick-up, or drop off. Check the time to see how fast you will have to go to get back in time to not miss too much of the game on TV.
Mock Debrief back at base so it looks like you know what you are doing. Actual debrief at the bar or Starbucks depending on what time of day it is.
There is a reason that Warrant's are the best damn flyers out there, period. No need to worry about the staff jobs, etc., just fly and go home.
Just like Sam Adams....Army flying, ALWAYS a good decision!
Ours: Brief 1.5 prior to cranking, show up 10 minutes prior to the brief with the electric razor still going and the flight suit halfway zipped up to hide the AC/DC shirt you're wearing underneath that technically isn't regulation. Listen to the LT brief the flight that he isn't going on because he's got a desk job and needs the block checked on his flight folder that he can do a briefing. Once the LT starts, defer to listening to the CW4 who eventually takes over the briefing because the LT can't read a TAF or FA.
Prior to heading out to the line, check the weather again, don't forget your boots...tie them too. Once out to the airplane a quick walk-around with the FE to have him explain everything that is effed up with the airframe but how it is still "flyable". Crank, hover check, 65% torque to the objective, pick-up, or drop off. Check the time to see how fast you will have to go to get back in time to not miss too much of the game on TV.
Mock Debrief back at base so it looks like you know what you are doing. Actual debrief at the bar or Starbucks depending on what time of day it is.
There is a reason that Warrant's are the best damn flyers out there, period. No need to worry about the staff jobs, etc., just fly and go home.
Just like Sam Adams....Army flying, ALWAYS a good decision!
