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January 15th, 2005, 22:20
| #1 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop
Posts: 7,026
|  Track Select
So last night was Track Select for a couple peeps I know in AF SUPT, one got the fighter/attack/recon/bomber (FARB) track and is headed for T-38s. The other, well, I don't know what to call what he got, other than maybe "screwed": he's headed to T-44s (military King Air 90), then to C-130s. His primary training was in the T-6 Texan II, essentially a Pilatus PC7. Go figure: he'll be a U.S. Air Force pilot who will never have flown a jet. Not exactly what they said was in store for him while slaving away at the Zoo. I can't believe he hasn't slashed his wrists yet. |
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January 16th, 2005, 00:35
| #2 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bermuda Triangle
Posts: 459
| Re: Track Select
are C-130's normally that least desirable airframe in the Air Force?
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January 16th, 2005, 04:12
| #3 |
| Administrator  Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Pinal Airpark
Posts: 6,897
| Re: Track Select
[ QUOTE ] So last night was Track Select for a couple peeps I know in AF SUPT, one got the fighter/attack/recon/bomber (FARB) track and is headed for T-38s. The other, well, I don't know what to call what he got, other than maybe "screwed": he's headed to T-44s (military King Air 90), then to C-130s. His primary training was in the T-6 Texan II, essentially a Pilatus PC7. Go figure: he'll be a U.S. Air Force pilot who will never have flown a jet. Not exactly what they said was in store for him while slaving away at the Zoo. I can't believe he hasn't slashed his wrists yet. [/ QUOTE ] PC-7 to T-44 is the path to 130s. Actually one of the more logical things the AF does. |
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January 16th, 2005, 12:00
| #4 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bossier City, Louisiana
Posts: 591
| Re: Track Select
[ QUOTE ] are C-130's normally that least desirable airframe in the Air Force? [/ QUOTE ] If there was ever a case of, "One man's trash is another's treasure" the choice of airplanes taken by pilot training graduates is the best example. Everyone has reasons for why they choose what they do. Sure there are those who want one thing and can't get it. But it's amazing how much preferences differ. Or even more amazing how much as time moves on that choice made in pilot training becomes often meaningless. Case in point. When I graduated (Oct '67) choices depended on class rank. Also there was not FAR vs TTB dual track thing. Everybody could choose anything that was available. Top guy in my class took a T38! Spent his entire career in ATC, retired a Colonel. Now works in pilot recruitment for Mesa out in New Mexico, Farmington, I think. Was happy as a clam throughout his entire career. Some ended up in the back seat of an F4. Wasn't long after they stopped putting pilots in the back and put navigators in their place. Suddenly a "bottom-of-the-class" back seat F4 guy ended up in the front seat, often an F4. Go figure. Personally I wanted a C141 but we had none in our block of assignments. I passed up a F100, and F105 and took a KC135! Why? Base assignments went by class standing too! Look out Miami...here I come. (Homstead AFB) But...they closed it while I was in KC135 training...so I got sent to Barksdale. So much for gaming the system! A guy next to last got a C130 in Japan. They closed the base and sent him to C141's. He was next to last, I was 6th! So much for class rank! In short, the "needs of the Air Force come first". Yes, you get some choice, but what happens later on may not have a thing to do with that choice. All in all I don't regret any career decision I made. The Good Lord blessed me with a life flying airplanes. Doesn't get any better than that. Besides, you can't go back and change things that happen due to your decisions, so why worry about it? |
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January 16th, 2005, 17:51
| #5 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hockey Town, MI,USA
Posts: 839
| Re: Track Select
[ QUOTE ] So last night was Track Select for a couple peeps I know in AF SUPT, one got the fighter/attack/recon/bomber (FARB) track and is headed for T-38s. The other, well, I don't know what to call what he got, other than maybe "screwed": he's headed to T-44s (military King Air 90), then to C-130s. His primary training was in the T-6 Texan II, essentially a Pilatus PC7. Go figure: he'll be a U.S. Air Force pilot who will never have flown a jet. Not exactly what they said was in store for him while slaving away at the Zoo. I can't believe he hasn't slashed his wrists yet. [/ QUOTE ] I wouldnt say he got screwed. It sounds like he rad a low class ranking. |
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January 16th, 2005, 18:47
| #6 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: da' Bayou
Posts: 1,687
| Re: Track Select
I agree, I wouldn't consider that getting screwed either. If it were possible, I would gladly take his place for the chance to serve my country as a pilot and have all my training paid for.  We all know there are worse jobs in the military. Getting screwed is joining the Navy "undesignated" and getting sent to a ship as a deck seaman.  And, no, that did not happen to me.
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January 16th, 2005, 19:09
| #7 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: CVG
Posts: 4,339
| Re: Track Select
Ooooh undesignated!  Most are those unfortunate individuals who got screwed by their recruiters. I don't like how those paths work. Most get sucked into working that particular job, due to the chain of command not letting them explore other ratings. That happened to a few of my airmen. Most I kept on them to go for the ratings they wanted to strike for no matter what the upper chain said.  |
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January 16th, 2005, 19:52
| #8 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hockey Town, MI,USA
Posts: 839
| Re: Track Select
Not a bad deal flying C-130's He will most likely get to alot of NVG, and low level flying. Probably alot more fun then flying 135's, or E-3's
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January 17th, 2005, 17:09
| #9 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: NSW Australia
Posts: 225
| Re: Track Select
"Screwed" is what happened to an old army mate of mine. He applied for Air Force aircrew (ie pilot) training and had made it through the program, was told what his first tour would be (B200 Super King Air) and with less than a fortnight to go before graduation and 'wings' he was scrubbed. That was "screwed". I've flown with this bloke and he was easily the most precise and smooth low time pilot I've flown with. He loves aerobatics, he's intelligent, and he always has a great mental picture of what's going on around him. So I don't know why he was scrubbed. Another bloke I know, this time an Academy graduate, was airsick throughout his training and was found to have an asthma-like respiratory illness. A candidate for scrubbing? Not on your life. The taxpayer had spent too much money educating this bloke so he went off to fly C-130s and then Falcon 900s. I haven't flown with him so I can't speak for his abilities as a pilot, but he has had a few flying tours, so he's probably not a dud. So there ya go .... your buddy's lucky. A career flying Hercs and then who knows what? Better than being scrubbed, that's for sure. Cheers folks |
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January 17th, 2005, 17:29
| #10 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bermuda Triangle
Posts: 459
| Re: Track Select
Well it's just a matter of perspective. I'm sure if you had your heart set on something, as this gentleman did before getting the C-130; that can be conceived as being screwed. And being an undesignated seaman in the navy might be getting screwed to him, but to a slavic refugee who had his testicles zapped with a car battery, being an undesignated seaman would be a great thing. |
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January 17th, 2005, 17:55
| #11 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hockey Town, MI,USA
Posts: 839
| Re: Track Select
[ QUOTE ] Well it's just a matter of perspective. I'm sure if you had your heart set on something, as this gentleman did before getting the C-130; that can be conceived as being screwed. And being an undesignated seaman in the navy might be getting screwed to him, but to a slavic refugee who had his testicles zapped with a car battery, being an undesignated seaman would be a great thing. [/ QUOTE ] I wanted to play for the NFL, but I was only good enough to play NAIA college football for a Juco. I dont consider myself getting screwed, i chalk it up to genetics.... If someone cant finish high on the Class ranking, then they probably didnt have the skills to pay the bills, or they pissed off the flight commander. If he feels sorry for himself, then he shoudl think about how much money was spent on his training, and how many other 350 hour pilots in the world are making 2LT base pay, BAQ, BAS, and flightpay |
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January 17th, 2005, 19:12
| #12 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bermuda Triangle
Posts: 459
| Re: Track Select
I see what you mean. His "screwness" is a dream for many, many people. Including myself.
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January 17th, 2005, 20:00
| #13 |
| Old Skool  Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Mid-Atlantic, KMRB
Posts: 1,925
 | Re: Track Select
As they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure. If my unit wasn't converting to the C-5 (which is awesome because I may fly the same planes I grew up watching fly around Dover, DE) ... ... I would LOVE to fly our C-130s. |
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January 18th, 2005, 00:08
| #14 |
| Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop
Posts: 7,026
| Re: Track Select
[ QUOTE ] Well it's just a matter of perspective. I'm sure if you had your heart set on something, as this gentleman did before getting the C-130; that can be conceived as being screwed. [/ QUOTE ] "Screwed" is my perspective, not his. He is 4th in his class, but there were only 3 T-38s awarded, so he was damn close. He did want to fly F-15s, but says he's happier going to Hercs than being at the bottom of the T-38 track, which almost guarantees a B-52 or FAIP assignment. With T-44s, at least there's no question where you're headed after you get your wings. Moreover, he's always been rather keen on special operations stuff, and getting on an AC-130 or MC-130 at some point is now a definite possibility for him. It just seems like getting into USAFA, then UPT, but not getting to fly T-37s, T-38s or T-1s would just sorta tarnish the experience for me. |
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January 18th, 2005, 13:54
| #15 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Zona
Posts: 1,182
| Re: Track Select
Wow, I saw this and had to go find my password sign in and pipe up. I'd rather track to t44's and know Im getting a c130 and relax than have to worry about getting stuck flying something I didn't really want (fred or tankers). The c130 is so versatile. But that is just my opinion, there are so many variables including location, lifestyle, mission as have already been stated that it comes down to the individual. Jets are for gucci boys I want a huge prop.
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January 18th, 2005, 18:57
| #16 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Hockey Town, MI,USA
Posts: 839
| Re: Track Select
[ QUOTE ] Wow, I saw this and had to go find my password sign in and pipe up. I'd rather track to t44's and know Im getting a c130 and relax than have to worry about getting stuck flying something I didn't really want (fred or tankers). The c130 is so versatile. But that is just my opinion, there are so many variables including location, lifestyle, mission as have already been stated that it comes down to the individual. Jets are for gucci boys I want a huge prop. [/ QUOTE ] Damn u dont like fred. WTF? LOL |
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January 21st, 2005, 12:06
| #17 |
| Junior Member  Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 33
| Re: Track Select
By the way, the worst assignments right now are the E-3 and the E-8. (not to mention being a FAIP). The C-130 is a great airframe with a very versitile mission. I never flew it as I was a tanker toad and a tweet IP. But my buds said it was the next best thing to a fighter, with its tactical mission. Oh, being a FAIP is not a bad assignment. Those guys get a ton of PIC time right away, and when they get to their "real" airplane, they usually skip the whole copilot thing, thus, more PIC time. |
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