Tag Archives: Fighter Pilot

Join the Air Force. See the Business End of a Toilet.

14 July 2011 JD

Not every Air Force (or military) job is glamorous. For example, some military members are deployed to combat areas for one purpose: To escort the third country nationals who drive the sewage truck that empties the latrines, otherwise known as the “sewage” sucker, though most people use another “s” word.

Along those lines, the Air Force Times notes the story of Senior Airman Michael Waite. His job? Aircraft lavatory service.

The job works like this: Waite drives up to an aircraft with his lavatory service truck, better known on base as the SWAT (S—, Water and Trash) truck. A hose is hooked up to a valve on the craft and the human waste Read more

Fighter Pilot

The Non-Flying Fighter Pilot

12 July 2011 JD

As noted here before, US Air Force pilots are not always found in airplane cockpits.

A US Air Force article documents the experience of F-16 pilot Capt Sarah Eccles — currently an Air Liaison Officer, or ALO.

Eccles apparently volunteered for the ALO tour because it got her near her husband, a C-17 pilot stationed at a base nearby.

Eccles was recently covered in a separate article on female fighter pilots.

Fighter Pilot

QF-4 Crashes in New Mexico

8 July 2011 JD

A US Air Force fighter pilot is safe after ejecting from his QF-4 near Roswell, New Mexico. The QF-4s fly out of Holloman AFB.

The QF-4 is an optionally manned aircraft often used as a target drone for weapons testing.

Fighter Pilot

Marines Issue Private Protective Gear. Literally.

6 July 2011 JD

So goes the legend, pilots in World War II used to sit on their body armor to protect the family jewels from fire from below.

Apparently, the military is thinking that way now as well. US Marines have been issued ballistic boxers in Afghanistan.

Fighter Pilot

US Marine Pilots-to-be Lead in Afghanistan

5 July 2011 JD

Due to training timelines, it is not uncommon for new officers to wait up to a year or more for their pilot training course to begin. Sometimes these officers are given other opportunities like the chance to obtain a Masters Degree or attend another professional course. In other instances, they are held in an “awaiting pilot training” status, filling a sometimes menial position in another unit.

Thirteen new Marines took another path:

Instead, 13 active-duty lieutenants commissioned with aviation contracts are on the ground in Afghanistan, Read more

Fighter Pilot

Update: Fighter Pilot Killed in F-16 Crash

1 July 2011 JD

As previously noted, an F-16C crashed during a training mission out of Nellis AFB, NV. As a commenter previously mentioned, the Air Force later said it had “conclusive evidence” the pilot went down with the aircraft.

The pilot has been identified as Capt Eric Ziegler, Read more

Fighter Pilot

Poland to Host US Fighters

1 July 2011 JD

Poland has reportedly agreed to a permanent US Air Force presence on its soil — a presence that would include US F-16s and C-130s.

According to the AirForceTimes, in 2013 an aviation detachment will reportedly be permanently assigned to Poland to provide support for US aircraft.

Fighter Pilot

F-16 Crashes at Nellis, Pilot Missing

30 June 2011 JD

The US Air Force reported that an F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed during combat training exercises near Caliente, Nevada, on Tuesday evening. The pilot was reported “missing.”

Unfortunately, that often means the pilot was lost with the aircraft.

No names or further status have been released. The Nellis AFB video media release can be seen here.

Fighter Pilot

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