25 February 2003,

It’s journal time again, considering that I am falling down on the job of keeping anyone informed.  It is really kinda tough to keep writing these things because a lot of what I can talk about, most people won’t understand or it will be boring to them anyway.   Either way, here is an update.

            We went on Cross-country last weekend.  It was interesting considering I almost had big bad problems in the air.  My IP and I took off (1^st ones) in bad weather to go north for our first leg of a seven-leg weekend.  We were supposed to spend the night In Albuquerque, NM.  We never made it.   About halfway through our first sortie, we lost all ability to pick up any NAVAIDS (things that help you fly the plane to an airport).  We were in the clouds with no real good way to get to the next field.  Then as we were coordinating with “center” (radio communication with someone who has radar), we lost our radios.   So basically we were in the clouds, directionless, and unable to tell anyone or have them help us.   FUN!  Not really so much.

Well, eventually we got the radio to work again, and we were able to barely make it back to base.  Then we spent the better part of 4 hours trying to get out again.  After we called it off and were about to go home, another field opened up and we were able to take off.   We made it into San Angelo and met up with some other students and IP’s.  Not much to report, there are a lot of things to learn on x-country, so it’s not quite as laid back as everyone makes it seem to be.  

A cool thing happened though, as we were showing up to leave Alliance Airport in Ft Worth, Texas, I ran into a guy from Vance that I went to OTS with.  It was cool to see how his training was going and how he liked UPT.  On a sad note, however, a gal we both went to OTS with and thought was going to do really well, dropped out of UPT very early on in the program.  It was a decision that I guess was right for her, so I am glad for her, but, man, it must suck to spend 3 months in Alabama puttin’ up with OTS crap just to get out.  She was a reservist, like me, so the good news for her is that she doesn’t have a residual commitment to the USAF.   I wish her all the best.

Anyway, the guy I ran into talked about how training was at Vance.  It all seems pretty much the same although, you’d probably like anywhere that you were and didn’t know any better, right?  That Lt. was worried because the # of T-38’s that people are getting (each class) has been getting lower and lower.  The USAF just doesn’t need as many fighter pilots anymore.  Some estimates are extremely low for the next few years,  which brings me to my next point.

If you are only in the USAF for one of 2 reasons, either to get a “Fighter” or to get to the Airlines, then you suck!  It’s okay to want both of those, but if that is your sole reason for being here then you are just plain wrong.  Hell, I wouldn’t mind flying for the airlines at all, but I also wouldn’t mind spending the rest of my time flying for the USAF.  We are getting close to Track Select (Where active duty students find out whether or not they go to a T-38, T-1, T-44, or Helicopter).   Yes, what you get will affect your whole life.  You can never ever get to a fighter from a T-1 or T-44 and have a lot of trouble getting to a plane from a Helicopter. But I am so sick of the stigmatism here in UPT that T-38’s are #1.  If you want a fighter, great, do well and put it as your first choice, but you MUST understand that ALL planes are cool to fly and there are good and bad things to each and every aircraft.  DO NOT COME HERE THINKING “T-38 OR DIE”, you will be disappointed.

It is so disgusting here, right about now.  We have a bunch of guys (tools) here that are so damn worried about what they get and how good/bad someone else did just so they think (mistakenly) that they will get a T-38.  My advice to you is, do the best that YOU can and the rest will fall into place.  I’m not even a factor because I already know where I am going but damn, it gets annoying all the little pissin’ and moanin’ that some of these dudes are doing.  I, and others in my class, can fly just as well or BETTER than some of the pointy-nose freaks (the ones that just HAVE to fly T-38’s or they will cry) and it gets on my nerves that some little fucker is gonna sit there and act like he/she is hot shit because they WANT a T-38.   More advice…………. Be happy to be a pilot, don’t get caught up in “The Race”.  The guys who are, no shit, doing the best are the ones who don’t look at it as a race.  They look at it as learning to be the best pilot that they can be!

Enough said.  Aside from the negative, everyone is getting excited about track select, since we will all be going to a new airplane, with a new mission and a new challenge.  “Tweets”, while near and dear, are a pain in the arse to fly.  I want something stable, with lots & lots of gas, and someone to chat with.  Crew concept flying is definitely “My Style”.   I just think, trying to land a C-5 in piss-poor weather, at 500,000 pounds sounds pretty cool.  Lawn darts don’t fly in bad weather unless they have to.  Another thing that strikes me as cool is being instrumental in bringing something to someone that they desperately need.  For example, let’s say in 5 years that someone, somewhere is being starved, killed, persecuted, or whatever, and that I, ME, bring the supplies that are going to keep them alive, safe, or healthy.  Killing things with bombs, while entertaining, is the last resort, I like the idea of helping more.   PS- yes, I know, I will also carry guns, missiles, cannons, mines, etc, but if that stuff helps protect the “good guy” or the guy that can’t protect himself, then good on me.

I’m not trying to talk anyone out of a fighter.  We need those too, and we need good, strong pilots to fly them.  I have much respect.  Just don’t be a freakin’ Ramrod-Straight-ToolBag* about it.  Enjoy your time and make the most out of UPT.  The IP’s work their ass off to teach us, and they deserve your effort, always.

            Sheesh, enough soapbox speaking.  I am loving it here, and look forward to the new challenges and experiences coming up.  I will try to write more often, but HAHA, it probably won’t happen.  The wife needs my time too, ya know.

 * Thanks for the word, Tango Charlie