You don?t see this very often

[Maxrate]

Jim,
Both of them tippers?

[JordanGrant]

Guys,
I've been qualified in the F-15E, F-15C, and F-16. I'm currently not flying, but I work every day on the F-35 program and hangar fly with the F-22 guys that sit in the same office. While all those jets have some amazing technology, it is all focused on shooting bad guys. When it comes to just plain flying, our RVs actually have some significant technology advantages over those machines.

Would you like to guess how many USAF fighter jets get ADS-B in or out, how many get in-flight weather, TFR, and NOTAM updates, or how many have synthetic vision on their glass cockpits? Or how many can dial up a GPS precision approach just by typing in the name? You guessed it - zero. There are a lot of pilots on this forum that take those features for granted as modern glass cockpit technology, but your average fighter pilot would be legitimately impressed.

Cheers,

[erich weaver]

Originally Posted by JordanGrant

Would you like to guess how many USAF fighter jets get ADS-B in or out, how many get in-flight weather, TFR, and NOTAM updates, or how many have synthetic vision on their glass cockpits?

Hate to drift from the original thread cuz the pic is killer, but are you saying the military gets a pass on the 2020 adsb requirement? Just wondering.

E

[Tankerpilot75]

Going a little with thread drift, my experience with both military and state budgets has taught me that no matter what one agency directs it will only happen in the military procurement process when congress authorizes and appropriates the resources. Every dollar given to the military is always significantly less than the need. Research & development, procurement, logistics support, and operations are constantly in competition for limited resources. What can take 5 to 10 years in the private sector to accomplish will often takes 20 years for the military and then will be superseded or made obsolete by advancing technologies. Look at the cockpit of the E3 air command and control and you’ll see analog gauges & instruments, and older technologies throughout. Yet somehow they continue to get the job done.

I was talking to a young KC135 crewman this week about the new KC46 tanker. In that aircraft the boom operator’s position is up front with the pilot and copilot. The aircraft doesn’t have a window for the boomer to look out for air refueling but instead uses computer screens and goggles. I’m told, only one USAF aircraft is certified for refueling with the new tanker. It appears this might be another case of corporate and government leaders setting their “advanced technologies” and “procurement” desires ahead of true operational needs and military environment realities. There are time restrictions on how long the boomer can refuel because of eye stresses and others physiological issues. Lack of redundancy issues with the “required” two viewing screens and goggle systems makes the aircraft susceptible to mission critical failures. I can only imagine resources to address these concerns will also be competing with other military needs. And let’s not discuss the pilot shortages all the military services are facing and the cost to address that issue. And so the story continues.

[smokyray]

Originally Posted by Tankerpilot75

My RV7A was sitting static display at the Tinker AFB Airshow today and they moved it in a hangar due to weather. Nice hangar partner!

Great Photo Jim!
I too was blessed to fly an amazing Jet for nearly 25 years (F16C), survive numerous trips and patrols over Bad Guy land and fly alongside some of the greatest aviators on the planet. I am alive today as the result of a brave and selfless Tanker Crew who violated protocall and their own personal safety by entering Iraqi airspace (while the SAM sites were still up and at night) to refuel myself and my wingman after a TIC (Troops In Contact) engagement.
Grateful is an understatement.


Additionally I also have a huge respect for the B17 crews who lost more personnel over Europe than the entire Marine Corps in WW2.
I was honored to "escort" my F14 bro "Ozzie" flying the Collings Foundation B17 many years ago in my RV4, a great moment...


V/R
Smokey

[Capt]

Great photo
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder they say, there's only one beautiful plane in that hangar!

[Snowflake]

Just make sure you get in the right one when it's time to leave. :P