Herkloadie

Larry, thanks so much for the encouragement. It's helpful to hear that kind of motivation through a trial such as this. I guess it's the long division by hand that worries me the most...never been very good at math but I'm gonna give it all I got...too late to fail now!

Brandon, that would be awesome, but most of our class is 1A2's and 1A0's! A couple 4's but no 3's. Looking forward to BLM with nothing but loads! Haha!

Thanks for the replies! Good to hear from the Herk community on this!

Alex

Well, how have you all been? Everythings pretty decent on this side of my world. Graduated from BMT on July 30 as an honor grad, and still at Lackland for Career Enlisted Aircrew (fundamentals) and BLM. They aren't kidding when they say CEA is a weeder course. The material isn't tough...just a LOT of it in very little time. Need a surplus of motivation! I look forward to completing the next couple months. Any tips/pointers to be had? Got my head in the books pretty deep over this stuff...two block test failures (84.9 or below) means an automatic discharge no questions asked. Definitely can't have that!

Hope everyone has been well!

Wow. A big salute to Lt. Zilberman. How many would have done the same given the same situation?

That's my future unit. As unfortunate as the spill is, I'm proud to be a future part of the unit helping. :)

It's pretty strange...first (only) one I heard was a USMC Herk "Otis 1-5" that came from Cherry Point to MFD to shoot approaches...I went outside and thought "well that sure as hell is a herk, but what is that noise?". :confused:

Oh well, it's better than Uncle Sam not wanting any more new Herks I guess. :(

It's a totally unique sound, and the J's (as cool and advanced as they are) don't have it. You can always tell when it's the 179th on a training flight and not just any other plane.

I think my favorite sound of the mighty herk is when they finally touch down, and you usually hear "squeak (mains) squeak (nose) ROAAAR (reversers)". Goes from silent to ROAR in no time...that roar is awesome. :cool:

Those are all tools that, when used properly, will remove more material off your project piece than you intended.

Wowzer... talk about "getting boomed" at 0:56. :eek:

That'd be a heck of a rumble.

I see. Thank you both. :)

I know I sound green as can be but for the sake of learning I have to ask: "What is a TOLD card?" My guess is Takeoff Load Diagram card but searching yields nothing. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. :confused:

Some powerful emotions.

RIP

Wow, did they really ground them because of the fly over?

Hell, they weren't even going very fast, I think they even had gear down on the fly-by.

If that's so, that really sucks!

Dan

From "what I read" (you know how that is), they are supposed to be at least 1000' over the stadium for flyovers. I think they were just a wee bit under 1k seeing as how their gear nearly clipped that building!

Gotta say though, you know for sure that'll be one of the best flyovers you'll ever see at a sports game. Loud and LOW!

I'd say give em a break...yeah we have to draw the line for what we let them do, but we've already spent a healthy amount of taxpayer money on training these two to be fighter jocks...I'd rather have them continue doing the job we trained them for, and I'm sure the pilots wouldn't argue.

Both Navy jet jocks lost their wings for this one:

More of a "flyover", but hey, six of one half dozen of the other.

Congratulations and the best of luck in the years to come:D

Oh, Fraulein is a sir-ette:rolleyes:, not a sir!!

Dan

:eek: Oh crap...flubbed that one eh?! I guess I have to plead ignorance. I'm terribly sorry Fraulein!

As always, thank you for your support, Dan.

This site truly adds a whole nother plate of knowledge for my chosen career...one that would only otherwise be gained by years on the flightline. Talk about a headstart!

Sir?

Don R.

PS -- Congrats, anyway!

Just a formality...rank doesn't view very well over forums.

Anyway thank you!

HOT-CHA! congrats.

Thank you, sir. Couldn't be more proud. :D

Well, I'm proud to announce that the Chief approved me, and on March 1, 2010, I enlisted.

Been a long time coming, but what a good feeling. NOW, the next trial is making it through the screening at Lackland without getting reclassified! I know the odds are low, but low doesn't mean zero.

All points considered, you're probably right. Oh well. :o

This is totally me just thinking out loud here (Risky, I know ), and keep in mind I haven't even gone to basic yet, so all of my ideas could be wrong all over, which is ok.

1. If the long wires keep getting chewed up, snapped, cut, etc, and they need to be replaced rather often, wouldn't a more permanent solution cost less eventually? I mean, one long wire might be cheaper than one wireless module, but if you have to keep buying long wires, that adds up.

2. The safety factor. What if a long wire finally gives out right at the worst moment? Potentially an exaggeration, potentially not: lives could be at risk, and mission efficiency and capability is reduced.

Obviously, I understand the long wires have been around for a long time, and obviously they were fairly consistently, but wouldn't it be nice to get a solution that works all the time without risking a big failure at the wrong time?

Let's all keep wishing then? :D

Check out this site: http://www.telephonics.com/

FY09 COMBINED UNFUNDED REQUIREMENTS LIST

C-130, C-5, C-17 LOADMASTER WIRELESS INTERPHONE

BACKGROUND

• Current intercom systems for short-range communications in and around airlift and tanker aircraft

utilize 50–100 ft cords that physically connect the maintainers and aircrew to the aircraft.

• These cords restrict user movement and become tangled with other cords and equipment.

• Maintenance must be conducted beyond the reach of the cords forcing maintainers to use hand signals

which can be misinterpreted.

REQUIREMENT

• Procure a wireless intercom system that provides hands-free, full duplex communication which allows 31

users on a single channel. Six personnel can speak simultaneously to aircraft ground crews during cargo

loading, aircraft maintenance, engine runs, refueling/defueling, pre- and post- ight checks and other

external operations faster and safer. The system is more economical than using current long cord wires.

IMPACT IF NOT FUNDED

• Continue using antiquated, troublesome and dangerous corded systems.

• Existing interphones cords get hung up on equipment or tangled with other cords. This restricts

movement and in extreme cases prevents the loadmaster or maintainer from performing critical duties

in a timely manner, thus reducing mission effectiveness.

UNITS IMPACTED

• 94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins ARB, GA

• 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson AFB, CO

• 908th Airlift Wing, Maxwell AFB, AL

• 910th Airlift Wing, Youngstown ARS, OH

• 911th Airlift Wing, Pittsburgh IAP, PA

• 440th Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, NC

• 914th Airlift Wing, Niagara Falls IAP, NY

• 934th Airlift Wing, Minn-St Paul ARS, MN

• 433rd Airlift Wing, Lackland AFB, TX

• 445th Airlift Wing, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH

• 452nd Air Mobility Wing, March ARB, CA

CONTRACTOR(S)

• Telephonics Corporation, Farmingdale, NY

C-130,

Sooo...does this mean it's set in stone?? ...wireless comms? That would be fantastic because I see my (future) unit on that list, and I hope they can get these installed in the 10-12 months I have before I'm working there. :D

Im sure you could do that but can you justify adding all that when there is already a proven efficent CHEAPER way of doing it? Even if you tear up a cord every 5 flights its still WAY cheaper then outfitting one plane with wireless headsets.

To make it really secure you would need something with codes, then thats one more set of codes needed on the plane.

Just a thought. :)

I also looked into it for my unit. Long wires suck! But I hit a roadblock with security. Keeping the secure coms inside the plane. Then youd need to justify only needing one on the plane for the load or who ever is in the back. If it was a whole aircrew thing it would be easier. It would be nice thought. Hell I even thought about making something that hung from the overhead to hold the cord up but figured it was easier to learn cable control...

Wouldn't it be easy to use a "scramble channel" like some PD's use when they're discussing things that shouldn't fall on public ears? Yes, they're regular UHF/VHF freqs or whatever PD's use, and anyone with a scanner can hear them, but the encoding/scrambling makes it sound like two drunk guys babbling back and forth.

Reminds me of sitting on the ramp during intercepts on the old Blackbirds at Rhein Main with the 7th.

:eek::eek:

Good Luck to you

Alles Gute und Herzlichen Glückwunsch

The "Chief" (E-9) you are to meet is most likely the Head Loadmaster for the squadron or he could be the squadron Chief.

Reserves and Guard units frequently interview prospective before dumping the money into schooling, that way they try to keep most of the deadwood out.

So after you meet the Chief you will most likely have another interview with the Commander and DO after you get the thumbs up from your prospective boss.

You seem pretty motivated and persistent, if you have that attitude in person I don't see any real problem in your interview.

Just answer the questions and don't BS, if you don't know an answer, then just say you don't know.

Keep us updated on your progress (gee guys, we get to raise us a baby loadmaster

Oh, once you get in and schooled and on your own then we can start working on your corruption:D Ya gotta have fun in life.

Dan

Thank you, Dan.

I kinda figured that's the objective for the interview, which I understand.

I think the fact that I kept spraying the figurative water on the figurative hornets nest that is AFRC/SG should attest to my persistence and motivation.

As for the "corruption" part, I've never objected to a little "fraternal bonding".

Will report back Monday night, likely!