A retired USAF pilot says

[sscates]

Originally Posted by ERH

I have posted this before, but it just seems right for this thread.

T-33 through the canyon:

Jetting Through the Grand Canyon | Airspacemag.com

Ed

Awesome video, never seen that before. Just imagine the video and the music back in 1959. Pretty far out.

[sscates]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

I have most of my flight time in high-performance fighters F/A-18 A,B,C,D. I have also flown Cessna, Piper, Aeronica and an RV4. I've also co-piloted a C-130 about 26 hours. Each plane and experience is different and challenging.

My Porsche will NEVER be driven at whatever its' top speed is by me and I'm just fine with it. Does it thrill me...absolutely. Is it the same as low-level in the Chocolate Mountains at .94 mach? Nope. Is it as fun as landing on a pitching deck? Nope. Do I spend more time thinking of my car than I do my former fighter plane? Yep.

Everything is subjective. I tend to not pay attention to USAF pilots by-the-way.

Great post, even though my son wants to be an USAF pilot.

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by sscates

Great post, even though my son wants to be an USAF pilot.

Dude, you live in Poway. USN and USMC and USGC everywhere, how in the world did your son decide to go USAF?

Oh, by-the-way, I do not dislike the USAF...those boys taught me how to fly Herks. If I had it to do all over again I would join the USCG or USAF specifically to fly A-10, the most badarse attack plane of the jet age. Flame suit on.

[KarlCarrera]

sscates,

Depending on your point of view, and his age,(?) have him look into the USAFA.

The brand new SIL (12-30-09) graduated in 2006 and is now flying C-17's. Granted not fighters. And to date, not low level. Unless you count Afghanistan.

Karl
88 Targa

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by KarlCarrera

Depending on your point of view, and his age,(?) have him look into the USAFA.

May I please suggest that if ANYONE wants to go to an academy, apply for all five and see what shakes out.

[sscates]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Dude, you live in Poway. USN and USMC and USGC everywhere, how in the world did you son decide to go USAF?

Oh, by-the-way, I do not dislike the USAF...those boys taught me how to fly Herks. If I had it to do all over again I would join the USCG or USAF specifically to fly A-10, the most badarse attack plane of the jet age. Flame suit on.

I grew up in San Diego and dreamed of flying F-14s. You know the skies over San Diego were filled with F-14s and A4s in the 70s & 80s. I tried to convince him, but he's wanted to go to the AF Academy since he knew what it was. He's an officer in CAP here in San Diego, working on the Spatz Award (highest in CAP). As you know, CAP is the AF Aux, so he's hooked (not literally). I've tried to tell him that the Navy has more planes, etc. The best pilots are in the Navy. Doesn't work, he's set on the AF. I think he can do it. He's got a 4.0 + gpa, CAP and working on his pilot's license, glider license and I know a place where he can fly King Airs and Citations prior to military flight training (my company), so, yep I'm stoked as you can see, sorry to hi jack the thread. He's 16 by the way.

Actually, I have trained and worked with both Navy and AF pilots and there is a distinct difference but that's a different discussion. I have the utmost respect for all of you. I am in aviation, but on the corporate side, not military. The Clinton era wasn't very forgiving on low gpa's trying to get into the military.

[sscates]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

May I please suggest that if ANYONE wants to go to an academy, apply for all five and see what shakes out.

He will be applying to West Point and Annapollis, but I believe you need a seperate appointment for each.

[Embraer]

Definitely apply to all of the service academies (but THEY really need to do it for themselves...not to impress the 'rents). I turned down my Appointment to the USNA back in 2000.,,,my heart wasn't in it, and I knew I was probably doing it for the wrong reasons. (BUT...had an academic full ride elsewhere). I ended up doing the Marine PLC (similar to ROTC) at the college I went to. My best friend in the program is now flying Harriers. Two of my other buds are Hog Drivers now in the AF. EACH one of them wishes they wouldn't have gone active, but instead went for a guard or a reserve slot.

[Embraer]

Originally Posted by sscates

He will be applying to West Point and Annapollis, but I believe you need a seperate appointment for each.

correct. I had a Congressional nomination, which led to my appointment. Be prepared to be heckled and prodded by what's called the "Blue and Gold Officer" for the Naval Academy. (he's the liaison between the Academy and you when you apply. he generally helps with the process, meets your family, interviews you, etc.) He distinctly asked me many times why I wanted to go the the Naval Academy over the others, etc.

[sscates]

I've heard that each of these acadamies are very interested in what color you truly want to wear, ie blue and gold, blue and silver, etc. I don't know why, but my son would rather go to West Point than Annapolis. Amazing to me, but he's a sharp kid and knows what he wants. There's more to it than flying for him. He studies military history (war generals, weapons and tactics), so he's in for the long run and wants to accomplish flying and more. I think that's the desire for West Point over Annapolis. He quotes Patton on his fb page, so you get the picture.

Your statement about your heart not being into it, was probably a tough decision knowing how hard it is to get an acceptance to any academy. Congrats and thanks for the info.

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by sscates

I've heard that each of these acadamies are very interested in what color you truly want to wear, ie blue and gold, blue and silver, etc. I don't know why, but my son would rather go to West Point than Annapolis. Amazing to me, but he's a sharp kid and knows what he wants. There's more to it than flying for him. He studies military history (war generals, weapons and tactics), so he's in for the long run and wants to accomplish flying and more. I think that's the desire for West Point over Annapolis. He quotes Patton on his fb page, so you get the picture.

Your statement about your heart not being into it, was probably a tough decision knowing how hard it is to get an acceptance to any academy. Congrats and thanks for the info.

It is also possible to graduate from a certain academy and serve in another service. In example: I flew in the USMC with pilots who graduated from the USAFA and then joined the USMC. I've served with Army officers that graduated from USCGA. Just to add to the confusion.........................

[Embraer]

Yep...it was a great process. Especially the panel interview in order to get the nomination. Imagine being 17 years old, sitting in a Congressman's office, sitting across the table from officers from each service academy, a CIA agent, and FBI agent, the Congressional aide, and a superintendent from a local school system. It was very cool. To be honest, I still feel honored to have even gotten the opportunity.

I have my appointment letter framed; it's that important to me. Do I have any regrets about not going? Not at all. My collegiate experience was second to none, with memories I'll never forget.

If he has a chance to spend a weekend at the school during the application, I HIGHLY recommend it. I went for two separate weekends at Annapolis, and to be honest, I was less then impressed with the school. This partially helped me decide to not go. Going into it, I had it in my head that everybody there was a cut above the rest, squared away, and shared the same moral views that I had.

That being said, both times that I visited, I was assigned to a midshipman that was being "punished" for jumping the wall when he wasn't supposed to. I was hoping to experience some classes, and see how it really was. Since I was their "punishment" they skipped class, and generally didn't give a crap about showing a potential student around. Make sure this situation doesn't happen to him if he visits.

As for not having my heart in it....my dad definitely took it harder than I did. ...That in itself told me that I made the right decision.

[sscates]

Thanks guys, that's all great info. I didn't know you could go to a different service after the academy.

Daniel will be going to "Summer Seminar" at the Air Force Academy. It's a week long stay and let's you see the academy for what it really is and the academy gets to see you for what you are. He's looking forward to it and knows it will be eye opening. He travels to different CAP activities all over California, so he's familiar with strict protocols and such. He's looking into the other acadamies and visits to the campus stuff, but won't be able to spend a week at each as next summer is full of activities for him (flying, CAP, etc.)

It's so much fun to watch all of this occur within "him". All of this motivation comes from within him, believe it or not. Although, I will take the credit, blame for starting the fire within...

[afterburn 549]

Try on a Huey (UHIH) dodging trees and green streaks coming up at ya.....There is No more ADRINALIN then that !
(Least not up to this point almost 40 years latter) LOL

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Dude, you live in Poway. USN and USMC and USGC everywhere, how in the world did your son decide to go USAF?

Oh, by-the-way, I do not dislike the USAF...those boys taught me how to fly Herks. If I had it to do all over again I would join the USCG or USAF specifically to fly A-10, the most badarse attack plane of the jet age. Flame suit on.

As the long time board admin of Warthog Territory - The A-10 Thunderbolt II, i am forced to agree with your conclusion wrt the A-10s uber prowess.

I saw a Stuppor Hornet (I think it was an E) orbiting my neighborhood yesterday. First time i've seen one in the sky.

[scottmandue]

For the last few decades my dad has been retired from his construction business and can afford any car he wants...

He still drove a pickup truck for years after his retirement.

He admired sports cars as they drove by but never bought one.

One day I asked him why... he said "after flying a P-47 everything else seems underpowered"

[KarlCarrera]

he said "after flying a P-47 everything else seems underpowered"

Wow, I hope his memories are good ones. His point of reference is one few can share, or understand.

Karl
88 Targa

[m21sniper]

I'm pretty sure there are a lot of cars on the market that will easily out-accelerate a P-47D (Maybe not an N).

Point taken though...dad had a good answer.