F16Driver

There are enough JDAM droppers!?!?

Tell that to the multiple Guard and Reserve hawg and viper units that have done MULTIPLE tours to the sandbox.

If the Eagle community would quit pounding their chests long enough to actually see how EASY a JDAM is to employ, they might actually get in to this war and help some brothers out. It isn't that big of a deal.

And for your last comment; you said it, not me.

TBoneF15

Yeah man, there are enough JDAM droppers. Let's see: B-1, B-2, B-52, A-10, F-15E, F-16, F-18, F-22...am I missing some? Literally the only fighter, attack, or bomber platform in the ENTIRE U.S. inventory without the JDAM is the rapidly depleting force of F-15Cs. And that's not my opinion...that's the opinion of the Air Staff, ACC, USAFE, PACAF, the ANG bureau, and all the other bubbas who control the money and priorities.

You seem to blame the Eagle bros for sitting this one out...like we're hanging around the bar on Friday night making airframe and budget decisions on behalf of the AF, then talking about how we're too good to help out while our country is at war. Do you think we're not there because we don't feel like it? Come on, man. Like we have any say in the matter. In case you didn't notice, some of our jets are falling apart. Literally. We cannot even afford to fix them all dude. We were just told we will likely close down squadrons over the next few years instead of fixing all the broken jets (including mine, and I'm a reservist so it sucks to be me). Do you think it's just a quick, free software upgrade and a Friday afternoon WATT and we'll be able to drop JDAM? Sorry dude, no matter how easy they are to employ, it's more than that and you know it. You said: "it's not a big deal"...actually it is. It's a big, EXPENSIVE deal. If we can't even afford to fix the structural problems we already have, how exactly is it that we can afford to make the hardware/software/training changes required to do an entirely new mission?

And while it must suck to go repeatedly to the sand container...believe it or not, we actually wish we were there with everyone else. It sucks to sit on the sidelines when there's a war going on. You have no idea how much. I'm just not sure how the few squadrons we have left would make much of a dent in your deployment schedule. Do you think the generals can make a budget justification to spend money to modify our jets because some squadrons have done "multiple" 120-day deployments in a five year war? Sorry man, the AF doesn't have a lot of budget credibilty right now at the wind tunnel as it is. Do you think we can make that argument with a straight face when the Army/Marines/National Guard have done multiple 15-month deployments in the same time?

And on your/my last point...why is it that Eagle dudes get accused of "chest thumping" and arrogance whenever we talk about being good at air-to-air. I'm not getting into a p--sing contest with you, but consider the facts: The Eagle has an extremely powerful radar, lots of missiles, tons of gas, and the pilots who fly it spend 100% of their time training to the air-to-air mission. If we aren't the best 4th gen fighter community in the world at air-to-air, there's a problem, don't you think? How much time do the other communities spend training to air-to-air...not BFM surge, not a 2v2 fight you way to the target, but a real, large force, outnumbered, heavy EA air-to-air scenario? Seriously...how much? Well that's our only job. That's all we do. We train to it non-stop! We aren't perfect at it and never will be, but it isn't chest thumping to say we do it pretty well. Like I said, if we aren't the best at it, there's a problem. AND IT'S NOT A SLAM ON EVERYONE ELSE TO SAY SO!

When I go back into another MDS's vault and look at all the stuff they have to be proficient at...SEAD, CAS, TST, regular strike missions, etc, AND they still have to be proficient at air to air, it looks overwhelming. I don't know how you possibly do it as well as you do. I spend all my time at one mission and will never be smart enough on it or proficient enough at it. Multi-role dudes have their hands full trying to be proficient at a lot of different missions and I give you all the credit in the world for that. But why do you always bow up and take it as a slam when we say we're the most proficient at our only mission?

Come on.

And just to put this thread on topic...if given a choice, I don't want to fly a UAV or a U-28 or a PC-12 or a desk. I'm selfish like that.

Hacker15e

Nope...pretty sure that guy had no intentions ever of flying a light gray, much less being disappointed that he didn't "get" one on assignment night.

Hacker15e

Now, if only there was a way the jets could magically get wired with 1760 busses.

Last I checked, though, that required a trip to Depot and some $$ to make happen -- even AFTER the pilots realized JDAMs were easy to employ.

I think your sarcasm detector is in the OFF position.

TBone, as for your two posts -- those are the most articulate and honest pieces I've ever seen from a light gray dude on the matter.

BDGERJMN

is the AIM-120 not a 1760 weapon?

4 Fan Trashcan

If "light gray" isn't your thing, there's at least one metallic red/white/blue U-28 with your name on it. Seriously, I've seen it and it's bad***.

PS. Is your UPT website still up??

F15Freak

TBone,

Amen brother!

c17heavy

I agree wholeheartedly to have fighter pilots who are EXPERTS solely in the air-air arena. They may not be in the fight now, but they will be, and history is the proof to back that up.

Before I troll my cargo through any airspace, I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the MiGs and Sukhois are d-e-a-d. We (as a nation and even in the military) take air supremacy for granted.

F16Driver

I agree with your response TBone. I will say your the FIRST light gray dude I've met that worded it right. I based my previous comment on what I've experienced from your community from my short 9 years in the Air Force. I realize that what I posted doesn't speak for all of the bros. We're all war fighters.

Let's just see if we can keep these old girls from breaking in half before our 20 years are up.

BTW, UAV's suck my white B***S!

Hacker15e

I got to play with the U-28s a little last summer in Afghanistan, and to be honest, I'd have no problem flying with those guys (if I couldn't turn and burn anymore). Those guys kick some serious ass. Unfortunately, I'm fatter than the 185 pound max, or whatever it is.

Had to take it down back circa '01. Got into a little trouble with it.