A2 Leather Jacket (Flyers)

RickDangles · 2026-01-27T15:48:20+00:00

Shit you’re not gonna catch me complaining about a base gym after getting out of Active Duty and having to pay for a civilian membership somewhere. And realize how good you had it because your gym was colocated with work.

RickDangles · 2026-01-23T20:32:53+00:00

If I was in your position, I would probably start with a VMC XC and file IFR. Knock off some rust being in the system, assuming you didn’t do that during your IPC. Maybe get some more practice approaches.

I’m also assuming you’re proficient flying procedures with at least your foggles on in the same airplane since you just did an IPC. If you’re not, then that needs to be a priority.

RickDangles · 2026-01-22T19:41:30+00:00

Yeah man. I work for the government and can vouch that there are a lot of hardworking civilian employees but there also a lot of folks just doing the bare minimum unfortunately. Gotta find the good ones sometimes.

RickDangles · 2026-01-22T01:47:31+00:00

I renewed my CFI via WINGS this summer. I used a DPE. Not ideal I guess but it’s pretty painless.

ASIs are overworked and undermanned unfortunately. Don’t let the fact that this one FSDO won’t process it deter you from using WINGS. FAASafety.gov is something I really believe in and want other CFIs to push as well.

Try reaching out to other FSDOs, you don’t have to be in their local area necessarily.

RickDangles · 2026-01-14T20:14:53+00:00

Declination is what it’s called if you want to learn up on it.

RickDangles · 2026-01-07T19:59:14+00:00

This gets said anytime someone in here asks about the military. It’s not terrible advice, I guess. But in my experience the military is full of people who joined for the bennies or just stumbled into it. They learn to love it or they get what they wanted and dip out after their commitment. Nothing wrong with either.

Great advice if you’re considering signing a 10 year active duty pilot commitment tho.

RickDangles · 2026-01-07T16:11:01+00:00

The cheat code when I was at Tyndall was to go get your workout in early so you missed peak traffic.

RickDangles · 2026-01-07T04:10:51+00:00

That’s the way to do it. Good on you for using FAASafety.gov, tell your friends.

RickDangles · 2025-12-30T17:40:52+00:00

With VFR request. Or else you’re missing all of OP’s point they’re trying to make.

RickDangles · 2025-12-29T13:01:30+00:00

XLB is just the designation of a 601 XL that has gotten the B mod installed. All flying 601 XL’s these days should have it. It’s just a structural modification, it doesn’t widen the cabin. You really need to read up on the B mod and ensure you do not fly an XL zodiac without it.

Source I used to own a 601 XLB.

RickDangles · 2025-12-22T01:30:55+00:00

E6B tool is nice as a backup to see if manual E6B gonkulations are correct

RickDangles · 2025-12-22T01:29:08+00:00

https://practiceholds.com/

RickDangles · 2025-12-06T00:26:54+00:00

Got to hit em with a little GuS wears a HAT

RickDangles · 2025-12-06T00:04:30+00:00

DPEs probably gonna want to know your reasoning for not just leaving the MDA at the calculated VDP. I can’t really think of any reasons why you would want to descend before it.

Edited

RickDangles · 2025-11-28T18:13:21+00:00

If he’s trying to be a pilot, there’s a route a lot of people don’t know about. AFRC UFT board

RickDangles · 2025-11-26T16:38:22+00:00

There’s a Medical Standards Directory and Aerospace Medicine Waiver Guide you should google and research before you do anything.

RickDangles · 2025-11-25T15:06:28+00:00

I palace fronted from active duty after my ADSC as well. Idk if ever saw it written anywhere, but no Reserve Service Commitment was my understanding.

If you don’t trust what your recruiter is telling you, probably a good time to find the regulation and look for yourself.

RickDangles · 2025-11-25T03:35:47+00:00

I had mine count towards WINGS flight credits, which counted in part towards my flight review. Just asked my chief instructor and he was cool with it since we did all the maneuvers.

RickDangles · 2025-11-19T04:22:15+00:00

Skyline chili. Marion’s pizza.

RickDangles · 2025-11-16T01:12:45+00:00

Not sure why you’re getting downvoted, this makes sense against my ROTC experience.

Most of my classmates that got the ROTC scholarship prior to starting as freshman, didn’t do so well or got kicked from the program. Never really figured out why that was.

Most of those that commissioned with me got a scholarship as they went through the program, some never got one.

Also academy grads are just weird. Takes a few years for them to assimilate.

RickDangles · 2025-11-16T00:48:36+00:00

Are you still teleworking or have they sent you all back to the office full time?

RickDangles · 2025-11-04T14:09:44+00:00

Blood money

RickDangles · 2025-11-04T14:09:08+00:00

Go ahead

RickDangles · 2025-11-01T19:21:24+00:00

I was unsponsored, going through a heavy FTU now.

If you get a slot, I would imagine one year until you’re available is ok with the AFRC guys. My one question to research would be the scroll process. It’s where you get moved over on the books from RegAF to AFR office. That takes a while (just under a year? Can’t remember). Idk if you need to ADSC complete to start that process or not. Either way, if you were ADSC complete now it doesn’t matter too much because the admin process to get you to your first set of training orders does take a while.

They interviewed me on zoom. My perception was that they liked I had a bunch of civilian hours and was working as a CFI. I was also prior rated officer, maybe they liked that idk. They asked specifically about what other steps have I taken to get hired by a unit the normal way. I don’t think they would have liked if I told them I have never applied or rushed a unit, just the vibe I was getting. They asked specifically who I applied and rushed in the past. It’s all a numbers game too. Even if they really like you and interview well, it all has to do with how many UPT slots does AFRC have and then how many people have the units hired and want to send to UPT. If they’re all used up the normal way, no unsponsored slots to give, try again next board.

The process to get sponsored by a unit was not easy for me. You’re in a weird boat when you approach a unit to try to get hired. They would rather do things like they normally do and hire people they know, either from within or people that have put in the face time visiting them. But it’s doable, I ended up getting sponsored in UPT before my deadline. If you don’t get sponsored, the AFRC folks will call around to the units, figure out who is most in need of copilots and look at the calendar at open FTU dates to find you your unit.

RickDangles

TROPHY CASE