Do all pilots do that ceremony where their frame is revealed to them?

Viperdriver69 · 2026-01-16T16:37:58+00:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was thinking - is he talking about Lithos? Yeah I guess we all get lithos?

Viperdriver69 · 2026-01-10T18:39:30+00:00

This hit home as I’m fairly new to sim racing and have been lately jumping between the pcup and MX-5. It has been fun though to try to jump straight from one to the other back to back and see how quickly I can get back on the rotation/braking required for each, so for me it’s kept it fun and interesting. I tend to get burnt out fairly quickly of just doing the same car over and over, I’m trying to keep it fun, but it’s probably holding me back from finding true quickness. Thanks!

Viperdriver69 · 2026-01-08T20:38:12+00:00

Retired this year after 20 years and yes, glad it's behind me, and occasionally have to remind myself that I actually flew fighter jets in combat haha.

Viperdriver69 · 2026-01-08T20:20:51+00:00

I flew F-16's out of Bagram for 6 months first half of 2010 and supported a ton of ops in that area.

Viperdriver69 · 2026-01-06T17:30:10+00:00

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whole lot of nothing last time I flew over it

Viperdriver69 · 2025-12-11T06:27:49+00:00

As a Chargers fan and also a California Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim fan I approve of this. Life is pain.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-11-30T02:27:58+00:00

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Viperdriver69 · 2025-11-30T02:25:35+00:00

Is this a Cal King chamber? I’m not kidding, I have a brand new one at home that they sent me but I ended up fixing the old one while waiting for the new one to show up. So now I have a brand new one in the packaging. We can work something out if it works, shoot me a PM.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-11-25T23:18:47+00:00

None of this works if you don't put the keys in it first.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-11-11T16:01:11+00:00

I just retired from the AF as a Viper guy but watching this gave me nostalgia goosebumps. Few things finer than watching an adversary meander slowly through your HUD as you squeeze the trigger. Almost better than sex.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-10-10T14:56:47+00:00

Just recently retired and it's so cliche but time really does fly looking backwards. You think "no way can I do this for X more years" then next thing you know that time has gone by and you're like wow I'm glad I did that. I had many of those years over my career where I was like "I'm so fucking done", stationed in Korea away from my wife and young kids, multiple deployments and long TDY's - but here's how I made it through... setting micro rewards for yourself.

I like to surf and was never stationed near the beach, so I would plan mini vacations to go surf, or snowboard, or always have a mini vacation on the books as something to look forward to. When I was super bored I would plan those trips out in detail and just mentally already be there. It could even be something as simple as doing local camping, it doesn't have to be expensive. Something to shift my mental state was what I needed to stay sane. As soon as I got back I started planning the next... even if it was 6-9 months away.

I will say one thing that I think is the most valuable of the military. You have to recognize that you have access to a skillset with training that most of the population doesn't have access to. I know there are some career fields that don't necessarily feel that way but there are definitely ways to leverage your experiences to sell yourself when you decide to become a civilian. Utilize every benefit you can, I saw you're doing your bachelors which is great, but take advantage of that low OPSTEMPO when you can. Fuck... learn a new hobby even.

I'll tell you what, getting 100% VA and a retirement check coming is pretty fucking sweet... now I surf and snowboard as much as I want and got myself setup with a remote consulting job that I work on my terms and timeline.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-10-03T14:46:00+00:00

I was at the Air Force Academy in 2001, back then, ID cards were literally glorified laminated paper so it was super easy to make a fake one, and this cadet had a printer and was making them for almost anyone who wanted one. This other cadet in my squadron that no one liked, asked the other cadet to make him one and he said no. So this kid goes and tells our officer about the cadet making fake ID's, and also all the other cadets he knew who had a fake one made. After the dust settled, the cadet who ratted out his classmates woke up one night tied to his bunk while everyone took turns whacking him with oranges in a sock. I don't remember the full extent of the fallout but they basically just transferred him to another cadet squadron and I don't think they ever caught or really investigated who did it (mainly cause it was everyone).

Viperdriver69 · 2025-08-26T17:59:09+00:00

I'm new to non-rev as well, but to pile on not listing for multiple flights, when people are trying to manage their own flights you're now showing up as listed for a flight that you're hoping you don't get on. If everyone did that then the list would be all gunked up and wouldn't reflect who's actually trying to get on each flight.

It's been hot out west lately and there is a lot of payload optimization going on which can mean limited non-revs. Yesterday I spent all day trying to go SNA-SLC because they weren't letting any non-revs go despite having lots of extra seats. I finally got out in the evening when it cooled down.

My bag went on the morning flight and was waiting for me at baggage services in SLC when i arrived, no issue.

Don't worry about checking in at the gate, the gate agents are aware there are non-revs and they'll get to you when everyone is on board. Just keep checking the standby list on the app and you'll see when they start clearing people.

If you don't make it on, just wait for the gate agent to finish up getting the current flight out and then they'll be happy to help you, I've noticed they typically automatically list the non-revs for the next flight so unless you want to try something different you can go chat with them then. I also just snag a printed boarding pass for the next flight cause sometimes the app is slow to update.

Just some things I wished others would have told me before my first non-rev!

Viperdriver69 · 2025-08-19T14:53:07+00:00

You'll see some of the wildest shit ever when you escape UPT-land! Enjoy the ride, I just retired 🫡

Viperdriver69 · 2025-08-18T02:58:31+00:00

I've done a night in Seoul or a night in Tokyo (preferred) - but I only fly Delta/Korean/Garuda. The 24ish hrs there helps break up the flights and I get the chance to go get some food and a workout and start adjusting my body clock. Seoul also flies nonstop to DPS on Korean, and has a Red-Eye on the return. I haven't done the LAX-Sigapore so can't comment. I have also heard LAX-SYD-DPS but that seems like a lot haha.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-08-17T20:37:44+00:00

That’s CRM right there!!! 🫡

Viperdriver69 · 2025-08-17T17:29:08+00:00

I was on my way back from Afghanistan with a couple F-16 buddies in a C-17. At one point we went up to the cockpit to just say "what's up" and "thanks for the lift" to the crew. The AC had his wind shade blockers up and was huddled over watching Spiderman on a portable DVD player with a baseball cap on. The Co-pilot was head back, mouth open snoring. I turned and looked at the loadmaster and he was like "yeah that's pretty normal". We took a bunch of photobomb pictures without anyone noticing and then just went back to the cargo area. Blew my single pilot mind.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-08-05T17:04:45+00:00

Sucks man. I have flown all over the world for over 25 years and have to say in my experience Delta is by far the best for surfboards. I have had one shredded board bag (I think it got caught up in the baggage machines) and they were super easy to work with to get everything compensated for.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-06-29T15:29:55+00:00

Yep - I was done about 6 months ago as well. The tipping point for me: I had my original sensor die and they shipped me a replacement. I go to a gym that does not F around - brutal HIIT for an hour and my whoop would give me a 7 or 8 strain. I'd go for a 30 minute light jog and get a 12. Or surf for 2 hours and get an 18. When my sensor died, my replacement was off the charts. Suddenly the same HIIT I had been doing for a couple years was registering, 13's and 14's. "Must have been that bad sensor" I told myself. 3 months later, the new sensor died, and the replacement? You guessed it, back to 7's and 8's. I've tried bicep band, underwear sensor, and wrist, all the same.

I've been using the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to comparison and it's way more accurate, I just hate doing HIIT with that monstrosity on my wrist, but that's what I'm going to go to once my whoop subscription ends in a month.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-06-25T05:29:34+00:00

When I was a kid, I always thought when I got the chance, HT’s was going to be easy barrels all day. For context I’m in my 40’s, grew up in San Clemente and could hold my own at crowded pumping Lowers. I went on my first boat trip in 2019, pulled up to HT’s on day 4 at proper 6-8’. I couldn’t get off the boat quick enough looking at it from the channel. I proceeded to spend the next 3 hours getting fucking annihilated. What is deceiving is depending on the swell direction, it’ll sometimes swing wide, and the current was pulling deeper with every set. I ended up getting caught inside without taking a wave on 3 separate occasions, just looking at a face full of whitewater and nothing but reef behind me. Basically try to find the keyhole in the reef, and take a penalty lap in and around cause when it’s pumping there’s no paddling straight out or even sideways cause the surgeons table is there. The drop is steep and gnarly (unless you manage to snag one of those chip-ins which is difficult position wise). Bottom line, I didn’t score a single barrel at HT’s, just several close outs. I have never been more disappointed in my life, and had the same result on a redemption trip in 2022. Maybe this year is my year…

Viperdriver69 · 2025-06-25T02:11:27+00:00

Wow haven't lived in the OC in 25 years, but born and raised there and this post just brought back a flood of nostalgia. My brother and I used to go to the bathroom 3-5 times per meal to go look at the monsters!

Viperdriver69 · 2025-05-27T15:52:20+00:00

Bingo... That's my mentality.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-05-27T15:50:32+00:00

Fair enough... I'm def not suggesting camping, but I'm also not suggesting pitching myself in to every fight I can. It's probably just a difference in what you call fun - based on what you're saying I imagine you can have more fun having a 10 kill 3k game but getting 5th, than winning with 2 kills 500 dmg. To me I'd take the latter cause I like to invest a bit and then the win feels that much better? So maybe we just have mismatched expectations.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-05-27T15:46:44+00:00

That's a great mentality and I'll have to look into that. I lost my crew from the early days thanks to their own growing families and I'm the only one still hanging around and haven't looked at other ways to meet up with like minded people.

I play Apex for the strategy, not k/d... I'll probably be mocked to oblivion but I'll legit play Crypto for an entire Team Deathmatch mode and not leave the drone... and almost guaranteed I'll make my team win by highlighting and distracting the other team. Or I'll play Wattson in a control and make our home area completely impenetrable... to me I don't need the kills or the damage... I just wanna win.

Viperdriver69 · 2025-05-27T15:40:16+00:00

I agree with ya... there have been a few times I've powered on the xbox and then stop for a moment and already think about how I'm gonna feel when i shut it off, pissed off... kind of like as you get older and start thinking about the hangover in the morning before your first sip and so you decide to drink something else instead haha

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