Forum: Future F-16 crew

I believe the UPT bases are Sheppard, Laughlin, Moody, Vance, and Columbus. Pilot training is a year long for every base and if you are on the bomber/heavy track, you do not go to IFF but you do specialized training at that base. As for fighter track, once you graduate from UPT, you go to IFF in T-38s at either Sheppard or Moody. It is a 6 week program where you learn, obviously, the fundamentals to fighting in the air. IFF is not part of UPT but is the advanced school that comes after UPT. Where Sheppard departs from other UPT bases is that it also hosts other pilots from NATO countries around the world. Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training teaches 2nd Lt.s and cadets from the U.S., England, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and a host of others. If at ENJJPT, you will actually be flying with cadets and officers from other nations in your flight, who are also students, as well as have instructors who are from other nations. Currently, the second in command at ENJJPT is an Italian. I received an incentive flight at ENJJPT where my pilot was in the Royal Danish Air Force flying F-16s. Also, being at ENJJPT means you can not get a heavy aircraft or helicopeter (C-5, C-17, KC-10, HH-60, etc) but they only specialize in fighters and bombers, though the other bases get more B-52 slots. That being said, it is a lot harder to get into ENJJPT because you are guaranteed (if you graduate) to get a fighter or bomber while at another base you may get something that ranges from F-16 to C-130. Also, the instruction and pace is ALOT faster, at other UPT bases you are doing academics for 2 months and then MAYBE you will start flying. At ENJJPT, academics is 6 weeks and then you're in the air. To get into ENJJPT, to be competetive you need AT LEAST a PCSM of 89 where other bases you might get in with a 75 or above.

Agilefalcon16: to answer your question, Yes, you list what you want to fly from #1 to #6. Depending on how well you did in your class, you may get your #1 pick and you may not. Obviously, the most competetive are F-15E, F-16, and F-15C. Also, because there's not many left, A-10s are popular but tough to get as well as all the bombers. UCAV assignments are not given out through UPT currently but they can be requested once out of UPT. A F-15E pilot I flew with at Mountain Home AFB was a UCAV pilot at Nellis before going to Mountain Home. Also, other options that some people pick and some are assigned to is FAIP, First Assignment Instructor Pilot. This is a great job if you want lots of flying hours but you may want to get to a F-16 or F-15 right after IFF and not want to be a new instructor pilot and nurse new pilots like myself.

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Hey Whiskey, they also do IFF at Holloman AFB in Alamogordo NM.

Agile: Go Guard, you will already know where you are going after UPT. You don't have to put up with the politics and competition to get that fighter slot. My old man knew he was going to fly the A-10 before he even went to UPT.

It's funny how times have changed since the late 70s early 80s. Back then, the C-130 program was the toughest to get into as everyone wanted to be an airline pilot.

I didn't know they still did IFF there, thanks swanee.

whiskeythud wrote:

I didn't know they still did IFF there, thanks swanee.

Yeah, its where 100% of f-117 guys go, but a few a-10 guys go there too, I am pretty sure (but it might be only f-117 guys at this point). Probably because the f-117 a2a training is purely evasive and the A-10 is 90% so.

Let's keep an eye on the gouge there, gentlemen (and ladies)...

IFF at Holloman...hmmm...in what, exactly? A T-38A?

To the best of my knowledge (unless Holloman has recently taken delivery of some new charlie mods), the T-38As at Holloman are used to keep flying proficiency (hours) up without putting a truckload of time on the -117s. Apparently, they also make a nice x-country bird...as I've been out quite a few times with those bubbas at one of my (former) old watering holes in Valdosta: Charlie O's. O'Corley's is a thing of the past, sadly. I'm still wondering why they would choose Moody over Tyndall to RON. They could have just sent me a damn post card. Anyway, moving on...

Other than Moody and Sheppard (unless Randolph is hustlin', which I doubt), I don't know of any other bases that are conducting IFF.

Does anyone else out there remember the ole ACE program? Shady J used to have T-38s too...and it wasn't a private IFF program for the Mudhen folks.
Whiteman used to have a small cast of -38s as well, if memory serves me correctly. Good ole Knob Noster...

Stay outta harm's way,
Twoop

Hey, by the way...

Congrats on Euro-Nato. You will definitely enjoy that. Wichita Falls may not be the greatest, but I don't think that will inhibit your ability to have an absolute <expletive, self-censored> blast. Good on ya!!!!!

I had a CC who was an IP at Euro-Nato. We didn't like him very much. Kidding.

Good luck. Fly safe!

Twoop

Two'sIn wrote:

Let's keep an eye on the gouge there, gentlemen (and ladies)...

IFF at Holloman...hmmm...in what, exactly? A T-38A?

To the best of my knowledge (unless Holloman has recently taken delivery of some new charlie mods), the T-38As at Holloman are used to keep flying proficiency (hours) up without putting a truckload of time on the -117s. Apparently, they also make a nice x-country bird...as I've been out quite a few times with those bubbas at one of my (former) old watering holes in Valdosta:

Stay outta harm's way,
Twoop

I remember bein told that when I was younger. I know the 7th CTS has the T-38s. At least that is what is published.

It was just described to me from one of the OPS and Training guys at ACC as a specialized squadron for the training of the F-117 drivers, as basically F-117 IFF.

So I was kinda full o sh*t. Part of the 7th CTS is training guys to fly the F-117 with T-38. there hasn't been an a-10 guy there in years.

So, this one is for me, becuase I deserve it.

Ain't nothin' but a chicken wing.

Speaking of -117s, and since there is no F-117.net, I'll post it here, they're apparently doing some testing with a new skin tone for the Nighthawk. Let's call it...the "Albino" version. They're doing tests with a light gray paint scheme for daytime ops (as a charcoal-colored aircraft is pretty easy to pick out against a blue/gray/hazy sky). I'm not going to start to question the value-add there...after all, those folks have to have SOMETHING to do these days, right??? Smile

basegearstopbuckone

Forum: Future F-16 crew

Info for future ROTC/current ROTC folks trying to be a pilot