Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Watch how USAF pilots find out what aircraft they will fly
X ^ | 10/14/2024 | Aviation on Twitter

Posted on 10/17/2024 1:07:33 PM PDT by thefactor

This is a fun video I saw on X. The Air Force calls this "Drop Night" where pilots find out what planes they are going to be flying during their career. I saw this video and think many here will appreciate it. Perhaps some former pilots can recall their "Drop Nights."


TOPICS: Military/Veterans; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: airforce; military; planes; usaf
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last
From the looks of it, the F-22 and F-16 are the preferred aircraft. The others look kind of disappointed, but I'm just an Army grunt so what do I know??? IMHO, the A-10 is the best and they should have chosen that!
1 posted on 10/17/2024 1:07:33 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: thefactor
IMHO, the A-10 is the best and they should have chosen that!

Me too. I was only ever offered a Nav slot, but then I was a Music Major with a Minor in Harpsichord Performance. Understandable.

2 posted on 10/17/2024 1:11:42 PM PDT by Sirius Lee (Trump/Vance 2024 or GFY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

“..IMHO, the A-10 is the best and they should have chosen that!...”

Probably the last thing any of em would ever want to fly...
A good friend of mine, long since passed, was an A-10 flight instructor for quite awhile. He was a good guy, just don’t ever let him at the controls of an airplane. He was something else....crazy.


3 posted on 10/17/2024 1:14:27 PM PDT by lgjhn23 ("On the 8th day, Satan created the progressive liberal to destroy all the good that God created..." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

The link: https://twitter.com/webflite/status/1845993019616473437


4 posted on 10/17/2024 1:15:06 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

Something for everyone. FAIP T-6 can be a real downer. FAIP T-38 is like going back home. 15E drops or fires just about everything but there are only 3 basing locations so if you like Goldsboro, NC, Lakenheath, England or Mountain Home, Idaho you should be happy. B-2 lots of TDY and home to Missouri in between.


5 posted on 10/17/2024 1:15:31 PM PDT by Sequoyah101 (More important than why there was nobody protecting the AGR roof, how did Crooks know that?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: lgjhn23

Have to be a bit loony to want to fly that low and slow while things are shooting back at you, I guess.


6 posted on 10/17/2024 1:17:40 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: thefactor
I judge those things solely on the height those AF pilots obtain, not from flying their planes but from their actual personal lift off the ground when their plane is announced. It was somewhat close between the first dude and the woman but by my calculations, she exceeded his lift and thus she wins. He bent his knees to make it appear as though he went higher but she actually achieved more vertical.

Don't lose your minds, freepers, it's just my personal observation. I could be wrong in my assessment.

Go, USAF!

Make America Great Again!

7 posted on 10/17/2024 1:20:07 PM PDT by gw-ington (My Preferred Pronouns: kommie, kamaLa, taempon, tim, potato46, soros, stolen, election.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

Maybe so but when the grunts hear that “BRRRRP” coming over the horizon you’re the most popular guy in the world! I miss getting to hear that sound, nothing like it.


8 posted on 10/17/2024 1:21:49 PM PDT by Spacetrucker ("You Missed,BI*CH" Tom MacDonald )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Spacetrucker

In the Infantry world, A-10 pilots never have to buy a drink.


9 posted on 10/17/2024 1:23:34 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

i flew the A10 tank killer for years and virtually killed thousands of tanks... i miss that game...


10 posted on 10/17/2024 1:24:23 PM PDT by teeman8r (Armageddon won't be pretty, but it's not like it's the end of the world or something )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: teeman8r

Check out DCS World.


11 posted on 10/17/2024 1:32:19 PM PDT by jdt1138 (Where ever you go, there you are.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

Interesting video, but a commenter was surprised that the first AND last names of all these pilots were displayed. So was I.


12 posted on 10/17/2024 1:34:23 PM PDT by TChad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

I would think when graduating from training you’d get the least popular aircraft and then,as you prove your worth,you work your way up to the F-22 or F-35.


13 posted on 10/17/2024 1:39:14 PM PDT by Gay State Conservative (Import The Third World,Become The Third World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TChad

A little more dramatic than how those of us who got commissioned in the Army received our branch assignments.


14 posted on 10/17/2024 1:42:23 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Gay State Conservative

I THINK this is considered graduating from the first part of flight school where they assign you an aircraft based on your performance. Then you move on to the next phase of training, which is specific to these aircraft. But I’m not sure.


15 posted on 10/17/2024 1:42:55 PM PDT by thefactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

I’m HillbillyBeast on X. As I said there:

Retired Air Force here. ALL those birds are badass. anyone remember B-52’s doing ARC-LIGHT or clearing Iraqi trenches? Bees fell out of the sky a mile away.

Also, no one got C-130’s, 17’s or 5’s. No KC-135’s or KC-46’s. So no bus drivers.


16 posted on 10/17/2024 1:48:22 PM PDT by Alas Babylon! (Repeal the Patriot Act; Abolish the DHS; reform FBI top to bottom!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

The Air force could have fun with that. As a joke they could assign some guy to a WW2 Prop plane.


17 posted on 10/17/2024 1:49:34 PM PDT by Revel
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

>>>>
I THINK this is considered graduating from the first part of flight school where they assign you an aircraft based on your performance. Then you move on to the next phase of training, which is specific to these aircraft. But I’m not sure.
<<<<

That is how Army Aviation works. Everyone takes basic flying course in trainer helicopters. Then after graduating that class student pilots submit their airframe preferences and they are assigned based on preferences in view of class rank. Then the pilots take another extended course dedicated to their assigned airframe. The whole training program is around two-years.

National Guard pilots have their airframe determined based on their home unit. Since they are already in a NG unit before they go to flight school. And their airframe choice is limited to airframes at their unit.


18 posted on 10/17/2024 1:54:54 PM PDT by 13foxtrot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Joe 6-pack
I was thinking that the information might be valuable to an enemy.

Maybe not.

19 posted on 10/17/2024 1:57:08 PM PDT by TChad
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: thefactor

One got the A10 and a couple got the B52....awesome plane..I’m surprised there are any still around.


20 posted on 10/17/2024 1:57:30 PM PDT by Thank You Rush
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-44 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson