How could I EVER forget that!!!

 

Great thread, so true!

 

Interesting caricature and stereotype. None of it true.

 

Fixed it for you, there bud.

Either you have no idea what you are talking about, or your squadron was full of d-bags, or both. The original post is both funny and very true. (It also applies to squids, mostly)

Have a nice day- Hawk

 

I definitely share your sentiments here. While the fighter pilot lifestyle is glamorized and celebrated, the memories of flying non-stop aerial refuel medevac missions in the C-141 from Baghdad to the burn center in San Antonio, TX or resupply missions for Operation Deep Freeze down to the Antarctic seem to have more significant and meaningful to me than the concept of pulling 7 G's.

Having said that, I've always wanted to get an F-16 incentive ride in a fighter plane and almost got one back in my enlisted days when I was "Airman of the Quarter" but missed out on making "Airman of the Year"

 

Topper:

I have to agree with Hawk. It seems to transcend the three services, although it is more pronounced in the Air Force. And take it in jest---it is a semi-self-deprecating spot of humor done with hyperbole.

I've even seen evidence of it in ally countrys' air forces.

Hacker:

I've often wondered where/when "Deceased Insect" originated. My hunch is Vietnam, which must have been rife with critters in the hooches, but it could have been Korea, or even WWII. Anyone know?

I also wonder when HEFOE was invented. My guess is Korea. I suspect the "basic jet approach speed" of 130 kts (which doesn't work for much of anything today, except a really light F-16, F-15, or F-18), was based on the No-Flap approach speed of an F-86.

I once read a story in a flying magazine that explained the origin of "Sierra Hotel." In this explanation, a bunch of fighter guys were somewhere on R&R in Southeast Asia. One of the guys had eaten particularly spicy food. The evening got late, and our hero, now realizing an urgent need to relieve himself, was trying to flag a taxi to get back to quarters.

He was repeatedly yelling "Hotel, Sierra, Hotel, Sierra!!", not Sierra, hotel, but he said it with such regular frequency, it was hard to tell where the cadence started.

The article gave his name (I wish I remembered it), and sadly said he was KIA a few months later.

BTW: the origin of the term "Balls to the wall" is a flying term, and not a sexual innuendo. It refers to old prop aircraft of yore. In a B-17/24/29/etc, if you needed maximum power, you had to push 4 throttles, 4 prop controls, and 4 mixture levers full forward.

Each lever had a wooden ball on top. You pushed them towards the firewall.

And there you have it.

 

In my Fighter/Attack community - I found it incredibly significant and very meaningful to be the demise of many of my country's enemies so even more of my fellow military members didn't end up in the burn centers or morgues.
Each community has a role to play in today's environment.

USMCFLYR

 

Not trying to undermine or draw any distinctions between the different flying communities USMCFLYR...just articulating my personal preference in the type of flying. We are all part of "one team-one fight" and each of us have a role to play in the pursuit of maintaining a strong national defense posture.

Sorry about the typo in the boldface you highlighted...meant to say "seemed to be more significant and meaningful to me..."

Nevertheless, I thank you for your service to our country.

 

I understand what you mean about satisfying missions. I would have liked to have been a USCG pilot for the SAR and Law Enforcement missions, but your comment about "concept of pulling 7 G's" seemed to portray a certain disdain for the mission validity of AAW and OAS.
I was taught that there are 6 functions of Marine Aviation - and each is as important as the next when it comes to employing the MAGTF to its' fullest potential. I thank you for your service too.

USMCFLYR

 

I’m not trying to start a big debate and I mean no disrespect. I think I get what you’re trying to say, but I’m not sure I completely agree with your first statement.

Being a fighter pilot does mean you actually fly something by yourself or maybe with a GIB that has forward firing ordnance and drops bombs. It is more than just a “state of mind”.

I agree that you need a specific skill set and attitude or “state of mind” to be successful as a fighter pilot – but you also need the actual position operating the aircraft too. Having the natural skills and the right attitude but choosing to become a car salesman doesn’t mean you’re a fighter pilot because of your state of mind. You’re probably a SH car salesman though.

All that said, I think it’s likely that someone with the skills and attitude required to fly high altitude recon or ranch hand missions would probably be a great fighter pilot. As you said, probably the same state of mind or attitude required to do the job well.