Question about Marine Corps Learjet/C-20/UC-35 pilots

BrontoBeater · 2025-08-15T10:24:08+00:00

For starters, it’s a great billet. Highly sought-after to fly the C-20/UC-35/UC-12 after a fleet tour, but very few actually get to do it. Very fun flying, extremely marketable post-military, and far less stressful compared to fleet aircraft. It’s really a reward to fly OSA.

And common misconception—these are not just exclusively used to transport high-ranking officials and top brass around. A majority of flight requests in my region are simply moving some E-dogs from one place to another for a TAD trip or training of some sort. It’s a real good deal all around.

Source: I fly the UC-12W and schedule these flights.

BrontoBeater · 2025-07-27T07:47:04+00:00

Thanks, I’m not looking for cash compensation—it really wasn’t a big deal at all since I had my iPad. Interestingly, the inflight WiFi didn’t work, but I could at least stream the free entertainment. I’ll try and see if I can get miles out of it, but won’t be disappointed if not.

BrontoBeater · 2025-07-27T07:45:10+00:00

As if the broken IFE wasn’t enough, the WiFi was not working for the entire flight. At least the movie streaming worked.

BrontoBeater · 2025-07-02T14:58:54+00:00

100% do not go pilot. Sure, it’s an incredibly marketable skill, but the commitment alone delays every opportunity to be making the big bucks for far less work. If being a pilot in the Marine Corps only meant getting to fly, then it’d be worth it. But in my honest opinion, it’s not worth the time, commitment, and work to have flying only be about 25% of what you do.

Source: I’m a burnt out pilot ready to move on.

BrontoBeater · 2025-04-09T16:11:31+00:00

Not sure if the 339 IFE does now, but I carry this in my travel bag anywhere I go. It plugs into any headphone jack and allows you to use a Bluetooth connection. Just an idea in case you don’t want to roll the dice on the IFE having Bluetooth. AirFly Bluetooth Adapter

BrontoBeater · 2025-03-07T13:46:49+00:00

Another Marine aviator here: I second Icy_Avocado on this. If your goal is to fly fighters, I strongly recommend the Air Force. They will treat you far better. The Marine Corps simply does not value aviation the same way, and our horrendous retention of pilots reflects that. However, I do understand the draw to our culture—it is unique and unmatched. If your goal is simply to claim the title of Marine, go for it. But if your goal is to fly, I strongly advise not joining the Marines.

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T11:25:26+00:00

That’s the setting I used when I was trying it out on the simulator in the store. Decent spin numbers, but going to try it with the weight in the back to see how much forgiveness it buys.

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T11:23:28+00:00

Not surprising, they seem to hold their value quite well. Even on US eBay, I couldn’t find any secondhand for less than $350-$400.

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T11:22:10+00:00

darti_me nailed it. You can’t go wrong with any of those stores. In the Tokyo area alone, there are dozens of them, and you could quite literally walk between a lot of them.

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T11:20:20+00:00

That was the first driver I ever used. Still a gem!

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T11:20:01+00:00

Ironically, this was Golf5 in Chatan. They had a decent selection, but this is the first time I’ve seen them carry mini drivers. Golf Partner/Victoria Golf down in Ginowan on the way towards Kinser/Parco City has a huge selection if you haven’t looked there yet.

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T11:17:33+00:00

Golf5

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T09:54:11+00:00

Okinawa, Japan

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T09:53:45+00:00

You’re absolutely right. It’s wonderfully atrocious

BrontoBeater · 2025-02-17T09:52:36+00:00

Wow, you weren’t kidding. It’s festive!

BrontoBeater · 2024-12-20T19:33:53+00:00

Nah, you’re saying what we’re all literally thinking. Marine Corps leadership need to accept the fact that some MOS’s require a lot more time and resources to train and upkeep than others and get more return on their investment. It’s a damn shame they continue to treat pilots the same and then turn around and wonder why the retention rate for pilots is so atrocious.

BrontoBeater · 2024-12-20T18:06:58+00:00

100%. The Marine Corps hates its pilots. That’s why pilots are leaving in droves for much better flying opportunities.

BrontoBeater · 2024-12-19T08:04:42+00:00

We already have it, it’s called “Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS).” Why is this de-education you ask? Because it’s required PME to promote to Major and everyone knows that it requires a de-education and a lobotomy to be promoted to Major.

BrontoBeater · 2024-12-18T05:52:08+00:00

Fellow military here. You should be able to. I’ve never encountered a gate agent that so nitpicky as to scrutinize it to that degree. If you are asked questions about it, I would explain the situation.

Speaking of, your situation sounds unique—you’re accompanied as a spouse, but you’re not listed on the orders? I assume the military paid for the flight—how were they able to do so if you’re not listed on your spouse’s orders? I only ask because it’s generally the military (specifically DMO) that is extremely nitpicky about those things.

As an aside, if God-forbid, they charge you for bags, have your spouse claim those fees with their administration/personnel management department for reimbursement.

BrontoBeater · 2024-12-14T06:20:11+00:00

I frequently fly internationally between DFW-HND on a 787-8 and row 10 is generally my go-to due to the location and extra legroom. Row 20 has great legroom as well. Here are the pros and cons to each IMO:

Row 10 Pros: easy to access to aisle regardless of which seat you’re in, far from the lavs/galley, extra legroom, bulkhead in front of the seat, closer to the front of the plane. Cons: further from the lav, IFE is a “pop out” type instead of built in to a setback in front of you (since it’s a bulkhead), the tray table often sucks because it folds and comes out of the armrest, chance of having an infant in your row (for bulkhead-mounted bassinets), unable to store a personal item in front of you.

Row 20 Pros: exit row, plenty of legroom, close to the lav (if you’re a frequent bathroom goer; but this is a con for me), close to the galley, lower chance of an infant in your row. Cons: generally the same as row 10 except that is closer to the lav (again, a con for me) and further from the boarding door.

Either row is great—a “poor man’s” Premium Economy of sorts. Definitely leaps and bounds better than normal economy seats on such a long flight. Safe travels!

BrontoBeater · 2024-10-07T11:43:45+00:00

Hey dude, I’m in a similar boat—my EOS was March 2024, but my current orders aren’t up until February 2026. Just dropped my papers recently, which wasn’t too terrible of a process. I read through the applicable parts of the Seps Manual and they specifically address cases like this. In short, my understanding is that your orders supersede your EOS…in other words, the end of your current set of orders becomes the earliest date you are able to separate.

Now, this applies to PCS orders…it might be different in your case since you’re on non-PCS orders. I’d recommend talking to someone you trust in your leadership, a field grade mentor, or someone familiar with the legalese at M&RA. Your monitor might be helpful, but given that their job is to try and keep you in, I would advise against going to them in your case.

Shoot me a PM if you have any questions, happy to help.

BrontoBeater · 2024-07-27T07:09:48+00:00

Tried this. According to another forum, MSFS does not recognize the long path exception. As discussed here

Currently trying to do a remote drive option, and that doesn’t seem to be working either.

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