Official Aviation Thread...

[bimmerboy08]

never saw this thread before....so friday I get my first assignment (I will be getting navigator wings in February), and it's down to these three:

1. C-130 to yokota AB, Japan
2. EC-130 to Davis Monthan AFB, AZ
3. RC-135 to Offit AFB, NE

Does anyone have any experience with any of those assignments?

[M-technik-3]

http://propilotnews.com/2009/07/high-flight-really-high-flight.html

TopGear goes for a ride in the U2.

I was stationed in Misawa, needless to say C130's run the Pacaf deliveries from Yokota hub to rest of the spokes.

[bimmerboy08]

^ very cool vid. I've been to Beale and ridden in the chase cars, but didn't go in the jet. Just being in the chase car was a cool experience. I have videos of it somewhere I'll have to look for them.

M-technik, I went to misawa in the summer of 2006 for three weeks, it was great! Are you an f-16 driver?

edit: here's the video, real similar to the beginning of that top gear:

[bimmerboy08]

Well I'm headed to Offutt AFB in NE to fly as a navigator on the RC-135. Not my first choice but I'm still excited about it!

[Maluco]

beautiful. Brasilian manufactured Embraer 190.

[triggrhaapi]

Never was a big fan of commercial airliners as beauty objects.

I have always been partial to the Cirrus myself.

[M-technik-3]

M-technik, I went to misawa in the summer of 2006 for three weeks, it was great! Are you an f-16 driver?

I was CLSS when I was at Misawa. I was a ground guy. Been a Loadmaster since 96.

[Mtriple]

MSP Field Maintenance staying on top of the Christmas 09 blizzard.



United flight about to get de-iced at the gate.

[jeff_b]

Well I'm headed to Offutt AFB in NE to fly as a navigator on the RC-135. Not my first choice but I'm still excited about it!

Congrats. The RC-135 has a great mission. We used to get the RC "Snoop" aircraft when I was working on Electronic Combat radars in the USAF. They're filled with surveillance gear to collect ELINT (ELectronic INTelligence) on the Soviet threat radar systems. Those guys would run orbits at the outer range of our threat simulator radar, (~150 Kyds) and call out radar signals for us to transit for them to analyze. They would take our spectrums, compare them to the Soviet actual RF spectrums, and notify our software depot if our database needed to be changed to reflect current Soviet radar configuration. The Snoop (call sign) crews always sounded really relaxed compared to the bomber and refueler guys. We always said those guys are flying around with Hawaiian shirts on, sipping cocktails as they fly. BTW, my first AF radar simulated the Soviet "Fire Can" AAA guidance radar. The Cold War was soooooo much fun.

Good Luck!!

[mtechnik]

[Mtriple]

Sorry for the crappy pic but this is from one of my monitors at work. Delta had a pilot retire last weekend and the fire department went out to give him a water gun salute for his last flight. This was right as they were pulling in to the gate.

[ldsbeaker]

I was CLSS when I was at Misawa. I was a ground guy. Been a Loadmaster since 96.

OORAH!
Thanks for the ride!

[SLUCK]

im leaving on monday for the air force, ill be a crew chief for an F-15. Almost was gunna be a maintainer for a AC 130 but i think this will be better.

[george graves]

did anyone watch this - was it good?

http://www.hulu.com/watch/118168/one-six-right?c=News-and-Information/Documentary-and-Biography

[Ral]

^^ heard about it, heard it was really good. Never seen it firsthand though.