Quoted:
They are flying in snow, I can't see them.

Quoted:
New cloaking device! Russkies go nuttin fer dat!

Quoted:
I spy a MiG-29 in formation at 2:37 and some other spots

Indian Navy maybe? Germany?

Anyways, awesome stuff. Super bug FTW

Quoted:


[Advanced Super Hornet Intensifies]



http://www.airforcesmonthly.com/central/images/gallery/7125.jpg

Bob Norris is a former Naval aviator who also did a 3 year exchange tour flying the F-15 Eagle. He is now an accomplished author of entertaining books about US Naval Aviation including "Check Six" and "Fly-Off". Check out his web site at his web site. Click Here. In response to a letter from an aspiring fighter pilot on which military academy to attend, Bob replied with the following.

12 Feb 04

Young Man,

Congratulations on your selection to both the Naval and Air Force Academies. Your goal of becoming a fighter pilot is impressive and a fine way to serve your country. As you requested, I'd be happy to share some insight into which service would be the best choice. Each service has a distinctly different culture. You need to ask yourself "Which one am I more likely to thrive in?"

USAF Snapshot: The USAF is exceptionally well organized and well run. Their training programs are terrific. All pilots are groomed to meet high standards for knowledge and professionalism. Their aircraft are top-notch and extremely well maintained. Their facilities are excellent. Their enlisted personnel are the brightest and the best trained. The USAF is homogenous and macro. No matter where you go, you'll know what to expect, what is expected of you, and you'll be given the training & tools you need to meet those expectations. You will never be put in a situation over your head. Over a 20-year career, you will be home for most important family events. Your Mom would want you to be an Air Force pilot...so would your wife. Your Dad would want your sister to marry one.

Navy Snapshot: Aviators are part of the Navy, but so are Black shoes (surface warfare) and bubble heads (submariners). Furthermore, the Navy is split into two distinctly different Fleets (West and East Coast). The Navy is heterogeneous and micro. Your squadron is your home; it may be great, average, or awful. A squadron can go from one extreme to the other before you know it. You will spend months preparing for cruise and months on cruise. The quality of the aircraft varies directly with the availability of parts. Senior Navy enlisted are salt of the earth; you'll be proud if you earn their respect. Junior enlisted vary from terrific to the troubled kid the judge made join the service. You will be given the opportunity to lead these people during your career; you will be humbled and get your hands dirty. The quality of your training will vary and sometimes you will be over your head. You will miss many important family events. There will be long stretches of tedious duty aboard ship. You will fly in very bad weather and/or at night and you will be scared many times. You will fly with legends in the Navy and they will kick your ass until you become a lethal force. And some days - when the scheduling Gods have smiled upon you - your jet will catapult into a glorious morning over a far-away sea and you will be drop-jawed that someone would pay you to do it. The hottest girl in the bar wants to meet the Naval Aviator. That bar is in Singapore.

Bottom line, son, if you gotta ask...pack warm & good luck in Colorado.

Banzai

PS Air Force pilots wear scarves and iron their flight suits.

Quoted:


"I don't know but I've been told...

Quoted:
I refuse to play that "Let's bash one service in favor of the other" game that seems to be so popular among some arfcommers.


If you get paid to fly, you're one of the lucky ones.  Doesn't matter which service you're in.  If you're flying any fighter, you WON.
And you'll most likely have an interesting and enjoyable career that will write some great stories for you to tell to your buddies
and your descendants.


Naval Aviators have to learn one skill set that their Air Force brethren don't have to learn:  The fine art of the carefully executed
controlled crash on a moving ship in a moving ocean,  called a "trap".     But only a fool would think that any good AF pilot would
not be able to learn to do that if put through the same training.  

It's foolish in the extreme to say "This guy's better than that guy because he knows how to land on a carrier" when the second guy
was never even asked to learn that same skill,  but probably could do so as well as the first guy.

I have admiration and respect for both.  As you should, too.    

In either service,  if the pilot doesn't become an effective weapon within a reasonable period of time, he'll get washed out and
may end up flying non combat aircraft.   So you may assume that any seasoned fighter pilot in either service has done all right.  He's a warrior,
capable of bringing much pain and suffering to the enemy.   There's no need to think that one group  of pilots is going to be any better or worse
than their fellow aviators in the other service.  

Quoted:
If you're flying any fighter, you WON.

Quoted:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/F-18As_VFA-192_in_flight_1989.JPEG

Quoted:
I love naval aviation. They bring me my mail.

Quoted:
I'm sure that's what you do when on water hours.

Quoted:
I refuse to play that "Let's bash one service in favor of the other" game that seems to be so popular among some arfcommers.


If you get paid to fly, you're one of the lucky ones.  Doesn't matter which service you're in.  If you're flying any fighter, you WON.
And you'll most likely have an interesting and enjoyable career that will write some great stories for you to tell to your buddies
and your descendants.


Naval Aviators have to learn one skill set that their Air Force brethren don't have to learn:  The fine art of the carefully executed
controlled crash on a moving ship in a moving ocean,  called a "trap".     But only a fool would think that any good AF pilot would
not be able to learn to do that if put through the same training.  

It's foolish in the extreme to say "This guy's better than that guy because he knows how to land on a carrier" when the second guy
was never even asked to learn that same skill,  but probably could do so as well as the first guy.

I have admiration and respect for both.  As you should, too.    

In either service,  if the pilot doesn't become an effective weapon within a reasonable period of time, he'll get washed out and
may end up flying non combat aircraft.   So you may assume that any seasoned fighter pilot in either service has done all right.  He's a warrior,
capable of bringing much pain and suffering to the enemy.   There's no need to think that one group  of pilots is going to be any better or worse
than their fellow aviators in the other service.