AF announces RPA pilot training pipeline
07-09-2010, 07:31 AM
#62
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: B747 Driver
Posts: 198
I didn't read through all the pages but this may blow some of your minds. I had a zero time stub come through Air Force IFS and blew me away. PA'ed through two blocks of instruction. I visited a UPT base last year and he finished first in class phase 2 and his IP said he would have soloed him in the pattern in the T38 after about 5 rides if the books allowed it. He finished first in phase 3 and was offered some impressive weapons systems. He requested with the flight and squadron commander to be an RPA guy. He wanted to be in the action and pulling triggers instead of flying high and TAAP. Which as of my last hearing from him is exactly what he is doing.
07-09-2010, 07:34 AM
#63
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: B747 Driver
Posts: 198
Also the Army is working on setting up the AH-64 and UH-60 to have a switch were they can be operated manually and remotely. The UAV is here and has been proven more effective both on cost and mission. We have been using them in the Army for decades. Use to hand launch small RC airplanes from the top of M1 tanks back in the day to get better VIS over ridgelines and corners before exposing the fleet.
07-09-2010, 04:29 PM
#64
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Position: 777 FO
Posts: 931
I didn't read through all the pages but this may blow some of your minds. I had a zero time stub come through Air Force IFS and blew me away. PA'ed through two blocks of instruction. I visited a UPT base last year and he finished first in class phase 2 and his IP said he would have soloed him in the pattern in the T38 after about 5 rides if the books allowed it. He finished first in phase 3 and was offered some impressive weapons systems. He requested with the flight and squadron commander to be an RPA guy. He wanted to be in the action and pulling triggers instead of flying high and TAAP. Which as of my last hearing from him is exactly what he is doing.
07-10-2010, 02:29 AM
#66
China Visa Applicant
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Position: Midfield downwind
Posts: 1,930
To be fair, I've seen two students in the last year at Vance who have graduated in the top 1/2 of the T-38 class and put Preds very high on their dream sheet. They, too, just had a desire to be a trigger-puller and have direct impact on the war effort, and that was their rationale for putting RPAs that high.
The story seems strange (especially the 'I would have soloed him after the first 5 rides in the T-38' part -- you haven't even done a single no-flap pattern/landing after the first 5 rides, so there's no way a student COULD be sent solo even if he was Bob Hoover), but there might be a 10% truth root to it.
The story seems strange (especially the 'I would have soloed him after the first 5 rides in the T-38' part -- you haven't even done a single no-flap pattern/landing after the first 5 rides, so there's no way a student COULD be sent solo even if he was Bob Hoover), but there might be a 10% truth root to it.
07-16-2010, 05:06 PM
#67
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Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: B747 Driver
Posts: 198
I hear three or four times per IFS class from pilot candidates wondering if they can still go RPA.
It was a general comment from his IP that he was getting excellents out the gate. Not that there was any way that he could have really soloed.
There are pilot selects out there who are more interested in making a daily effort with Preds than flying Vipers and Raptors. Not many but the number surprises me.
A classic example is me in wanting to make an effort. I could be back at AMR right now, or with Connie or North American. I choose to fly the mighty DA20 everyday because I feel I make a better contribution to aviation and country as an IFS IP than from using my skills to fly from point A to point B.
I love how no one seems to trust any one elses comments on here.
It was a general comment from his IP that he was getting excellents out the gate. Not that there was any way that he could have really soloed.
There are pilot selects out there who are more interested in making a daily effort with Preds than flying Vipers and Raptors. Not many but the number surprises me.
A classic example is me in wanting to make an effort. I could be back at AMR right now, or with Connie or North American. I choose to fly the mighty DA20 everyday because I feel I make a better contribution to aviation and country as an IFS IP than from using my skills to fly from point A to point B.
I love how no one seems to trust any one elses comments on here.
07-16-2010, 11:42 PM
#68
Expert Jumpseater
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: KC-135
Posts: 101
Nope. ACC/A3 (forgot his name) just did a road show to remind us that isn't happening anytime soon too...he also mentioned the TAMI 21 dudes are equally screwed. Your only way out is the 365 to MC-12s or "staff", whatever that is.
07-19-2010, 02:20 PM
#70
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Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: USAF
Posts: 1,398
To be fair, I've seen two students in the last year at Vance who have graduated in the top 1/2 of the T-38 class and put Preds very high on their dream sheet. They, too, just had a desire to be a trigger-puller and have direct impact on the war effort, and that was their rationale for putting RPAs that high.
The story seems strange (especially the 'I would have soloed him after the first 5 rides in the T-38' part -- you haven't even done a single no-flap pattern/landing after the first 5 rides, so there's no way a student COULD be sent solo even if he was Bob Hoover), but there might be a 10% truth root to it.
The story seems strange (especially the 'I would have soloed him after the first 5 rides in the T-38' part -- you haven't even done a single no-flap pattern/landing after the first 5 rides, so there's no way a student COULD be sent solo even if he was Bob Hoover), but there might be a 10% truth root to it.
Not saying it isn't...but from talking to a few guys that want to fly preds...it seems like they want to ride the wave of the future.
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