Category Archives: Fighter Pilot

Sailors, Cadets, Midshipmen Discharged for Using “Spice”

There are often long discussions on the military’s ability to influence or govern the private conduct of its members — whether over issues of alcohol, chewing tobacco, smoking, divorce, sexuality, or other aspects of what many people consider behavior unrelated to “official” conduct.  As has been shown in many cases, the military can (and does) regulate the behavior of its troops, even when potential restrictions may be entirely legal and permissible in civilian life.

The use of “spice,” which is reportedly unregulated and commonly available in smoke shops and related retail outlets, is one such example.  While it may be entirely legal for a civilian to purchase and “use” spice, which is described as a “synthetic marijuana” with components difficult to detect with normal drug tests, most military Read more

Air Force to Reduce Officers, USAFA Cadets

The Air Force has announced it is “overstrength” (exceeding its authorized and funded size) and will reduce its officer corps by approximately 2300 personnel. Some will be encouraged to leave with voluntary separation pay; others will be involuntarily separated.  In addition, the Air Force intends to reduce its promotion rates.

To reduce the number of upcoming officers, subsequent US Air Force Academy class sizes will be reduced to bring the USAFA Cadet Wing size down to 4,000 from its current 4,400.

The changes will likely make many career opportunities in the Air Force — including admissions to the Academy — far more “lean,” making them both challenging and competitive.

Some have noted an apparent contradiction, however, in the Air Force’s simultaneous decision to continue the pilot bonus and its NASCAR sponsorship.

Air Force Pilot, UAV Bonus Continues in 2011

The Air Force announced it would continue the “pilot bonus,” formally known as Aviator Continuation Pay (ACP), in 2011.  The program gives a bonus to pilots and now UAV pilots for a commitment extending beyond their initial service requirement.  For most pilots, this occurs 10 years after they graduate from pilot training.

As in past years, these aircrew can accept a $25,000 per year bonus for an additional commitment of five years.  A second (lower) level is offered for those who did not take the bonus the first time they were eligible.

For the first time, Air Battle Managers and Combat System Operators (formerly known as WSOs or Navs) are not eligible, because their “career field has stabilized.”

Iraq Buys F-16s…or Not

The Stars and Stripes notes the inadvertent release of a draft announcement that Iraq had agreed to purchase 18 F-16s, something it has wanted for years.  As it turns out, the Iraqi government has not yet approved the purchase, making the release premature.

F-16s aren’t the only things Iraq wants.

“They’d like F-16s and, you know, Polaris submarines and aircraft carriers and a whole bunch of other things,” then-Lt. Gen. David Petraeus told reporters in 2005.

X-47B Takes Off on Successful First Flight

The X-47B (previously noted) executed a successful first flight at Edwards AFB, California last week.

The X-47 is a Navy/Northrop technology demonstrator intended to test (and demonstrate) the ability of an unmanned aircraft to land on an aircraft carrier.  The aircraft somewhat resembles a miniature B-2, and is ultimately intended to portend the UCAV, or Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle — the ability to conduct autonomous deep strike missions.

The Navy Times has an article and a video of the flight.

Fired Navy Captain Honors Not Retiring, or Backing Down

US Navy CAPT Owen Honors, recently fired skipper of the USS Enterprise due to videos he produced and starred in several years ago, has indicated he will not retire from the Navy.

According to reports, Admiral John Harvey has recommended Honors be “discharged for cause.”

In terms of what lies ahead for Honors, [attorney Charles] Gittins said the two-year statute of limitations for a captain’s mast has passed, so the Navy’s only options for further formal punishment would be to take Honors to court-martial or to hold a board Read more

Air Force Chief of Staff Reading List Includes Fighter Pilot Tome

Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz recently continued the annual tradition of publishing a recommended “reading list.”  The service’s first non-fighter/bomber pilot chief included a fighter pilot memoir in the “military heritage” section:  Fighter Pilot: The Memoirs of Legendary Ace Robin Olds, which was previously reviewed here.

Another interesting recommendation is Red Eagles: America’s Secret MiGs, which reportedly details the stories of the top secret US acquisition of foreign fighters, and their clandestine use in training US fighter pilots.

Most Air Force bases stock the Chief’s reading list in a special section of the base library.

Cadet Amputee Still Dreams of Flying

ROTC Cadet Matt Pirrello lost his leg in a jump accident at the US Air Force Academy last year. He has been making a fairly rapid recovery at Brooke Army Medical Center, and still has hopes of flying, though he remains open to both possibilities and restrictions:

Pirrello had hoped to become a fighter pilot; now, he just wants to be a pilot. He’s even open to flying a remotely piloted aircraft.

The Air Force recently announced that a pilot training student who lost part of his leg in a boating accident had been reinstated into training — the first amputee ever to continue pilot training.  Pirrello’s injuries were more severe, and he has yet to be commissioned, but with his determination to serve, he may yet see his dreams fulfilled.

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