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1. Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 04:40:41 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

   • mullvad

   @Shlomo is this about that first one that blew up? I haven't heard any details about them, only that it "blew up on the ground while refueling" but nothing else

   I got to give the ukes credit, they have kept their falcons a lot longer than I expected. I thought they'd hurl them right against the wall and lose 90% within the first month of operation.

   Probably helps that they put their best and brightest through training.. Credit to those guys for sticking around, too. Most such programs have huge attrition because the students would rather live as illegals in the west than go back home

   • Cap'n Kong (slightretvrn) (kang_kong3@poa.st)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 04:45:09 JST Cap'n Kong (slightretvrn)

     in reply to

     • mullvad
     @WashedOutGundamPilot @Shlomo I'm sure that they're being flown by "Ukrainian pilots" just the the migs in 'nam had "Vietnamese pilots"
     Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks likes this.
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 04:46:37 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • mullvad
     • Cap'n Kong (slightretvrn)

     @Kang_Kong3 @Shlomo I don't have great reach but I put feelers out to get info on any offers like that. None of the retired falcon fags I know have heard of offers. I think they have a hard time finding bodies for it. AF can't keep them employed because delta's offering $300,000 to live on the road and get sucked off by chunky FA's

     Not really worth dying for $43,000 a year and "cool stories" in ukraine

   • Cap'n Kong (slightretvrn) (kang_kong3@poa.st)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 04:56:31 JST Cap'n Kong (slightretvrn)

     in reply to

     • mullvad
     @WashedOutGundamPilot @Shlomo I'm maybe letting my cynicism get the better of me. I suppose it was somewhat easier for kruschev and breznev to just order their guys to do it
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Thursday, 12-Sep-2024 04:56:31 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • mullvad
     • Cap'n Kong (slightretvrn)

     @Kang_Kong3 @Shlomo Well there's the lure of adventure, combat experience. You might get a FEW guys, but most of the fighter jocks are smart enough to be successful in better careers: After 3 years of grinding war, they understand that any yankee going to fight under the ukrainian flag will be in a constant state of stress and logistical underinvestment.

     US warfightin' boys are the prissy princesses of war today. They expect top-tier support treatment, intelligent leadership, and constant resupply. Their training is built around it. They're leery about going up against extremely experienced surviving russian pilots in an F-16 on its last 150 hours of airframe life, with half its instruments covered up with post-its to remind him they're non-functional.

     Ragged, broken down aircraft, constantly inoperable parts, feckless leadership ordering you into dangerous situations (and ignoring your expertise) are basically expected there. That's a bad deal if all you get is cool stories and some kill tallies on the resume. Delta Airlines offers a much better deal in every other way but bragging rights!

     In contrast, there ARE guys taking contracts to fly in iraq still. Know of one old guy back on the grind down there for half a year. Not a single pilot in ukraine in my extended circle