Why do you love your airframe and why?
11-22-2009, 08:59 AM
#11
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Curator at Static Display
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Yup!
What Hacker said.
My two favorites have been the F-4 and T-38. I like flying fast! I like pulling 'g!' I like flying upside down, or "yankin' and bankin'." I like flying formation. I like flying low-levels.
In other words, the stuff I couldn't really do in the civil world.
Civil: my favorite airliners have been the A-320 (pilot-friendly and the stick), and the 747-400 (fairly pilot-friendly, but I would also call it 'majestic': amazing something so big could go so far, so fast, in comfort, and turn a profit).
My two favorites have been the F-4 and T-38. I like flying fast! I like pulling 'g!' I like flying upside down, or "yankin' and bankin'." I like flying formation. I like flying low-levels.
In other words, the stuff I couldn't really do in the civil world.
Civil: my favorite airliners have been the A-320 (pilot-friendly and the stick), and the 747-400 (fairly pilot-friendly, but I would also call it 'majestic': amazing something so big could go so far, so fast, in comfort, and turn a profit).
11-22-2009, 11:31 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: Student Pilot
Posts: 849
Originally Posted by Hacker15e
Kind of a dumb question to begin with, really: every military pilot's assigned aircraft is going to always hold a special place in their heart.
That is true, I've already heard that almost every military aviator is partial to their own aircraft. I was interested in reading the specific reasons why.
It's just like the first girl you kissed or the one you lost your virginity to.
It has nothing to do with "cool factor" -- in fact, I know a lot of pilots who were initially disappointed by the airplane they selected out of pilot training, but grew to love that airplane just as much as any member of their family.
That is true, I've already heard that almost every military aviator is partial to their own aircraft. I was interested in reading the specific reasons why.
It's just like the first girl you kissed or the one you lost your virginity to.
It has nothing to do with "cool factor" -- in fact, I know a lot of pilots who were initially disappointed by the airplane they selected out of pilot training, but grew to love that airplane just as much as any member of their family.
11-22-2009, 12:12 PM
#13
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Joined APC: Aug 2009
Posts: 62
I think it's a legitimate question. Sure, maybe everyone loves their airframe, but those of us on the outside still have no idea about the differences in day-to-day lifestyle and career path of different types of pilots. I'm curious too. Here's hoping more military aviators will sound off with what they fly and what makes it a good fit for them.
11-22-2009, 12:46 PM
#14
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Joined APC: Sep 2009
Posts: 596
Originally Posted by Adlerdriver
So, thinking about flying it while you're standing in church reading a bible passage might create some problems, eh? (either that or everyone would obviously think you really, really like the bible).
Either way, I guess you better be careful.......
Either way, I guess you better be careful.......
HA!
Oh boy...maybe I should elaborate.
Shortness of breath, Tight chest, and absolute dread when I realize nothing I fly again will be the same or live up to it.
11-22-2009, 01:19 PM
#15
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More Details
Originally Posted by runge
I think it's a legitimate question. Sure, maybe everyone loves their airframe, but those of us on the outside still have no idea about the differences in day-to-day lifestyle and career path of different types of pilots. I'm curious too. Here's hoping more military aviators will sound off with what they fly and what makes it a good fit for them.
The comraderie in a fighter squadron is amazing if you are in a good one. It was magnified by being overseas...an isolated piece of America that makes the comraderie even stronger. It is kind of a fraternity, including immature pranks, but it gives guys in their late 20s, thirties, or forties an excuse to clown around and have fun when not flying. It has a purpose: the emotional bonds of peace-time allow you to risk your life to save a friend in combat.
Flying the T-38 is the closest thing I can get to that now..kind of "Fighter-Pilot-Lite."
11-22-2009, 06:38 PM
#17
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Posts: 829
Since the military doesn't just buy airplanes to sit around (they buy them all for specific missions), every one who flies a military airplane contributes to the mission in his own way. As you get to see your contributions to the mission, you begin to see the positive side of the airframe you fly. Before you know it, you look back on 4 years of advancing the nation's interest and you appreciate the fact that your airframe gave you those opportunities.
11-22-2009, 06:54 PM
#18
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Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Left and Right of Whatever
Posts: 406
Why I love my airframe:
1: Blackhawks', and their sorry excuse for pilots (love you guys), have to ask me to slow down.
2: Apache's have to ask me to slow down.
3: I eat Kiowas for lunch; and they have to ask me slow down.
4: I can do the job of three Blackhawks, and still carry 20k lbs slung underneath...without slowing down.
5: No one says the airframe has to be pretty to get the job done.
6: None of my aircrafts' power is wasted on a stupid tail-rotor
7: Skids (and tailwheels) are for pilots with control issues.
......all without slowing down.
1: Blackhawks', and their sorry excuse for pilots (love you guys), have to ask me to slow down.
2: Apache's have to ask me to slow down.
3: I eat Kiowas for lunch; and they have to ask me slow down.
4: I can do the job of three Blackhawks, and still carry 20k lbs slung underneath...without slowing down.
5: No one says the airframe has to be pretty to get the job done.
6: None of my aircrafts' power is wasted on a stupid tail-rotor
7: Skids (and tailwheels) are for pilots with control issues.
......all without slowing down.
11-22-2009, 08:09 PM
#19
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Joined APC: Jul 2006
Position: Left Seat, Toyota Tacoma
Posts: 593
OK, I'll play... C-17
Likes:
- the jet is really fun to fly!
- 5 person crew = we tend to hang out when we're TDY. I couldn't imagine having to babysit a 20 person C-5 crew.
- wide variety of missions - airdrop, nvg, low level, formation, and the more typical strat airlift stuff
- Germany! Schnitzel and beer!
- While other airplanes only perform their combat missions only when deployed, C-17s do all kinds of stuff, from the combat sorties to medevac to humanitarian stuff, dv flying, and other oddball missions around the world.
- Don't typically deploy like other airplanes - typically fly 5-10 day trips. So even if you're not "deployed" for 120 days, you're still contributing to the war effort. (yes, C-17 squadrons do deploy, but most of my flying has been on the 5-10-20-30 day trips).
Dislikes:
- lots of time overseas, and the cool places like Germany tend to get replaced with middle eastern ****holes like Al Udeid.
- stage ops, which means that even though you might put a lot of pins on the map, you don't always get a lot of time to go see the sights. I miss the keeper jets/keeper missions.
- while I was on active duty- at any one time in an airlift squadron, 40% of the squadron is TDY, 25% just got back from a trip, and 25% is getting ready to leave. Very little office continuity, but unfortunately, the rest of AMC expects you to operate just like a fighter squadron in which everyone is on the same work/TDY schedule.
Likes:
- the jet is really fun to fly!
- 5 person crew = we tend to hang out when we're TDY. I couldn't imagine having to babysit a 20 person C-5 crew.
- wide variety of missions - airdrop, nvg, low level, formation, and the more typical strat airlift stuff
- Germany! Schnitzel and beer!
- While other airplanes only perform their combat missions only when deployed, C-17s do all kinds of stuff, from the combat sorties to medevac to humanitarian stuff, dv flying, and other oddball missions around the world.
- Don't typically deploy like other airplanes - typically fly 5-10 day trips. So even if you're not "deployed" for 120 days, you're still contributing to the war effort. (yes, C-17 squadrons do deploy, but most of my flying has been on the 5-10-20-30 day trips).
Dislikes:
- lots of time overseas, and the cool places like Germany tend to get replaced with middle eastern ****holes like Al Udeid.
- stage ops, which means that even though you might put a lot of pins on the map, you don't always get a lot of time to go see the sights. I miss the keeper jets/keeper missions.
- while I was on active duty- at any one time in an airlift squadron, 40% of the squadron is TDY, 25% just got back from a trip, and 25% is getting ready to leave. Very little office continuity, but unfortunately, the rest of AMC expects you to operate just like a fighter squadron in which everyone is on the same work/TDY schedule.
11-22-2009, 10:01 PM
#20
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Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Legacy FO
Posts: 4,096
This type of thread has a habit of coming up every few months or so... haha.
KC-10s and C-12Js
KC-10s
The Good:
Different types of missions: fighter/bomber ferry, air refueling (local training sortie, fly away "business efforts" at fighter bases, deployments, homeland security), cargo, formation, and DV/VIP missions.
Type rating
Receiver AR; Having fun on training missions doing tanker autopilot off triple limit while in a climb or descent air refueling, at night in the weather -- just because you could.
You always kept the same jet. Only once did I see a stage in my 8 years.
On the DV and ferry missions, you had long layovers at nice locations. Where else can you get a paid 4-day vacation to India complete with Travel Channel expert historian tour guide?
Having 3 times the flight time in other countries than in the US.
The Bad:
Deployments, love em or hate em.
Carrying over 90+ days of leave --- each year.
If you are deployed, you will be stuck in an eternal left hand turn and then you'll be told to consolidate 100K.
That saying, NKAWTG (nobody kicks ass without tanker gas) becomes a painful reality when you realize just how much TDY you're going to be. Why? Because NKAWTG and there aren't enough tankers.
The KC-135 autopilot ... enough said.
The AWACS crews who are trying to kill you, I mean keep you separated.
Sometimes large crews (4 pilots, 2 FEs, 3 Booms, 3 maintainers, 3 flight attendants, 1 pursor, 3 comm nav, 6 RAVENs)
And Riddler said it best, 40% of squadron is deployed, 25% is returning from a TDY, 25% is leaving, and the unlucky 10% are there to knock out important training like flight line driving, SABC, trafficking of persons, SATE ... on and on an on.
C-12J
The Good
Gives me something to throw in the faces of civilian guys who think only they've "paid their dues"
Only airplane I've flown that you can overfly your landing point at 10,000 feet, do one turn, and still have to pullup and add power because you're too low on final.
Ours had autopilots and a bathroom.
Doing a local just to go get lunch of your choice in Japan, Okinawa, or Korea.
The Bad
SLOW ... very very slow.
Props are for ships, jets are for airplanes.
Getting kicked out of the O'club while at an airshow because the WingCC only wanted fighter guys there.
KC-10s and C-12Js
KC-10s
The Good:
Different types of missions: fighter/bomber ferry, air refueling (local training sortie, fly away "business efforts" at fighter bases, deployments, homeland security), cargo, formation, and DV/VIP missions.
Type rating
Receiver AR; Having fun on training missions doing tanker autopilot off triple limit while in a climb or descent air refueling, at night in the weather -- just because you could.
You always kept the same jet. Only once did I see a stage in my 8 years.
On the DV and ferry missions, you had long layovers at nice locations. Where else can you get a paid 4-day vacation to India complete with Travel Channel expert historian tour guide?
Having 3 times the flight time in other countries than in the US.
The Bad:
Deployments, love em or hate em.
Carrying over 90+ days of leave --- each year.
If you are deployed, you will be stuck in an eternal left hand turn and then you'll be told to consolidate 100K.
That saying, NKAWTG (nobody kicks ass without tanker gas) becomes a painful reality when you realize just how much TDY you're going to be. Why? Because NKAWTG and there aren't enough tankers.
The KC-135 autopilot ... enough said.
The AWACS crews who are trying to kill you, I mean keep you separated.
Sometimes large crews (4 pilots, 2 FEs, 3 Booms, 3 maintainers, 3 flight attendants, 1 pursor, 3 comm nav, 6 RAVENs)
And Riddler said it best, 40% of squadron is deployed, 25% is returning from a TDY, 25% is leaving, and the unlucky 10% are there to knock out important training like flight line driving, SABC, trafficking of persons, SATE ... on and on an on.
C-12J
The Good
Gives me something to throw in the faces of civilian guys who think only they've "paid their dues"
Only airplane I've flown that you can overfly your landing point at 10,000 feet, do one turn, and still have to pullup and add power because you're too low on final.
Ours had autopilots and a bathroom.
Doing a local just to go get lunch of your choice in Japan, Okinawa, or Korea.
The Bad
SLOW ... very very slow.
Props are for ships, jets are for airplanes.
Getting kicked out of the O'club while at an airshow because the WingCC only wanted fighter guys there.
