Forum: Air Force Life

xskyk1dx wrote:

If you fly for the Air Guard do you get a jet to call your own? (Do you always fly the same jet with the same tail code?) And if so can you "personalize" it by giving it a name of some sort. Not an entire paint job but a name sprayed in small letters under the canopy. Do you have you callsign sprayed on as well?

At my unit the pilots fly whatever is on the schedule. Since there are more pilots that aircraft seniority decides who get their name and callsign on the jet. No personalization beyond the pilot's name though.

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Regarding high viz, what TC said. USAF has a different mentality on the subject, that's for sure. Although high viz looks pretty, I wouldn't want to be in one in combat. It would be the first "target" I go after. Easy to see from a far too. Very Happy

TC wrote:

No! It's been said many times on this site, and I'll say it again...A pilot's jet is NEVER "HIS"! It is his Crew Chief's bird. Period. Dot. It doesn't matter if you're Active, Guard, Reserve, Cambodian Special Forces, Ukranian KGB, or French Friggin' Foreign Legion! It is NEVER THE PILOT'S PLANE!

That being said, the pilot is lucky enough to have his/her name on the right side of the canopy rail. If he or she has the occasional opportunity to fly the jet that has their name on it, well, that has a lot to do with MX and scheduling...i.e., the luck of the draw. If the jet that has your name on it happens to be the wh0re that stays on jacks, or the coronated Hangar Queen, well, unlucky Chucky. You just have to fly another Crew Chief's plane.

As far as personalization goes, that also has a lot to do with where you are, and what your CC likes/dislikes. If he or she does not want callsigns on the jet, then you don't get it. The Eagle squadron I used to be in, however, did allow it.

TC, the days of the DCC program are long gone. At least in the active F-15 world. There are many a jet on the ramp that dont have a DCC assigned. Its a shame.

That does suck. I've seen it in the C-17 community as well. No DCC means very little accountability. It's much easier to "pass the buck" when something happens. Pops always said that it was called the "This looks like a job for SWING SHIFT" mentality.

DCCs need to come back, as well as MX and Ops being one squadron again.

Quote:

TC wrote:
No! It's been said many times on this site, and I'll say it again...A pilot's jet is NEVER "HIS"! It is his Crew Chief's bird. Period. Dot. It doesn't matter if you're Active, Guard, Reserve, Cambodian Special Forces, Ukranian KGB, or French Friggin' Foreign Legion! It is NEVER THE PILOT'S PLANE!

TC, I agree, The jet belongs to the Crew chief. By the way I've got to get my new DCC and ACC their favorite liquid refreshment, since the jet with my name on it just showed up from depot and is new to the unit. I feel lucky and I take special pride in having my name on the side and I paid a minor monetary amount, unfortunately the money never made it to the crew chief as it stayed in the squadron for "morale" purposes.

But, I disagree to an extent on the plane never being mine.
What ever plane I'm flying, for the portion of the day that I fly it.......It is allllll mine. Twisted Evil

I always saw it this way, The aircraft was mine as long as the wheels were down and the engine was'nt running, any other time it belonged to the individual at the controls. Two Cents

I would "Share" her with any qualified, able body. As long as they treated her, and me with respect. Deny me either and I could find a way to ground abort her. I know its not a popular way of seeing it, but it was my way of seeing it. and after all, I was the one ultimately responsible for the airworthiness of aircraft.

Agree, and you are correct F16guy. When we're wheels up, my plane belongs to my AC. It's his or her decision on what we do, and when we do it. However, when we're back on the ground, and I (or MX) put in the chocks and pins, and the AC has signed off on the 781s, I know exactly who to hand the forms book over to.

Tim wrote:

I would "Share" her with any qualified, able body. As long as they treated her, and me with respect. Deny me either and I could find a way to ground abort her.

There we go talking about Fight Club. Just like QA can fail any jet if they look hard enough, a good DCC can down a jet at will. Especially if the Flightsuit insert has a habit of blaming the jet for lack of skill. "Bombs Missed Target" was always my favorite. "AB blowout in Region III" was good for a wasted trip to the trim pad.

Better I break it for something I can fix quick than spend the night chasing ghosts.

OTOH: When I lost my pilot in Germany, I went through a period when I wouldn't let leave the chocks unless it was A+ Perfect. (Thanks Maj KC for helping work that out)

Forum: Air Force Life

Why doesn't the USAF do this?