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1. Royper (royper@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:37 JST Royper
   Why is it sparkly?
   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:34 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     Naval aviation and the submarines are about the only cool parts of the Navy. The SEALS are cool but overrated and other branches can do the same stuff, better too sometimes.
   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:34 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann
     I wish I'd have went Air Force and followed my childhood dreams to be a fighter pilot. If I had known the steps in the pipeline I could've made it but I was worried about getting stuck doing something else if it didn't work out.
     
     I learned a life lesson from it at least; if you really want to do something then give it 100% and don't quit until you make it.
   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:35 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     I figured it was to bounce them off in a certain way on purpose since the LO stuff usually isn't reflective at all.
     
     Makes sense though.
   • AWIVR (awivr@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:35 JST AWIVR

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • GabeLakmann
     @GabeLakmann @Royper @WashedOutGundamPilot I would bet that this has just come back from or is in the middle of a deployment, when the paint gets damaged by the ocean spray they probably scrape it off the rest of the panel to avoid reflections from the uneven chipped surfaces.
     
     being Air Force, I don't know what would compel anyone to try to land an airplane on a boat though.
   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:36 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     Looks like it is that way to bounce radar off of it at certain angles, most likely to obfuscate the size of it.
     
     @WashedOutGundamPilot @AWIVR What do you guys think?
   • AWIVR (awivr@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:49:36 JST AWIVR

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • GabeLakmann
     @GabeLakmann @Royper @WashedOutGundamPilot it's not painted with the RAM coating on those panels, probably just out of a phase maintenance or airframe inspection. LO paint is a pain in the ass to maintain.
     
     the sheet metal is cut triangular like that to avoid radar reflections on the individual panels of skin
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:50:00 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @GabeLakmann @AWIVR @Royper You can still do it, I think the limit is like, 32 yo for the guard. And that’s the smart way to go, you befriend a unit, join them, and they recommend you for their airframe, so you end up having actual control over your life. Gonna rely on networking and being the guy they want to deploy alongside though

   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:55:37 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @AWIVR @GabeLakmann @Royper Yeah, but it’s no cakewalk unless the unit sucks. Anyone flying cool AC w/ good command WILL have a line of guys jockeying for a slot just like you. They’re taking a bet on you when you head off to school, washing out looks very bad on them.

     But if you want to be smart AND be a fighter pilot (which…eh, take up aerobatics if you wanna dance, the fighter life isn’t nearly as glamourous as you’d think from the outside) going through a guard unit is the way to go. No chance of graduating and seeing a bunch of c130 slots go to the top 3/5 of your class and ending up as a crew chief for 8 years (kidding, but only somewhat)

   • AWIVR (awivr@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:55:38 JST AWIVR

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • GabeLakmann
     @WashedOutGundamPilot @GabeLakmann @Royper reserves is waiverable to 35. it helps to come in with some flight training under your belt already, PPL with instrument rating is desirable. they don't really care what your degree is in either everyone is hurting for pilots right now.
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:57:03 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @GabeLakmann @Royper @AWIVR I think there was a new generation of low-observable finish they’ve had in the works, vaguely recall some shiny looking demonstrators flying the canyon a year or two back. Wear is somewhat likely, or it may just be the next iteration of the somewhat unimpressive F35 gen I coating (as it may one day be known)

   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:59:26 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     I'm just barely closer to 35 than I am to 40. Or maybe I'm barely closer to 25 than 30. I can't remember these days.
     
     Either way I have maybe an hour of flight time hahaha. I do have a degree though but I'm sure I'd still be unwaiverable.
     
     I want to fly the badass jets and helos but I don't want to be a minion that projects jewish power across the world.
     
     Maybe I'll just buy a nice stunt plane someday or something to satisfy those desires.
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:59:26 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @GabeLakmann @AWIVR @Royper Lots of old guys dying off w/o an heir to continue. Sometimes it’s as easy as telling old timers man I wish I could do some aerobatic lessons, can’t afford them before you get a phone call offering some seat time in someone’s fancy aircraft. Lots of them are very generous, the only payment they require is genuine marvel and enthusiasm.

   • AWIVR (awivr@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 09:59:32 JST AWIVR

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • GabeLakmann
     @WashedOutGundamPilot @GabeLakmann @Royper go heavies.
     
     better yet, try to get in with a guard unit who is spinning up to fly this guy
     Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks likes this.
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:01:07 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     @Royper It’s probably not this, since I don’t think they have many F35 demonstrators to mess around with (1 aggressor unit? And, maybe 1 testing one at hill? Not my area of exp tho) but this is what I recalled

     https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/43938/f-35-and-f-117-spotted-flying-with-mysterious-mirror-like-skin

   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:05:36 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @GabeLakmann @AWIVR @Royper Having touched on that kind of stuff for years as on onlooker, I just don’t get it. It’s a lot of study and work to stay up on everything you need for all the combat aircraft, it monopolizes a lot of your time. I’d rather be a tanker guy or Awacs dude who just gets to kick back and take it easy when he’s off the clock. I would play DCS for my combat fix.

     No diapers, no SAM flash cards, and you get to fly some old ass, classic boeings. And your post-mil transition is a breeze, too. Fighter jockeys are all over the map, they take a long time to acclimate to being truck drivers after years in the sports car

   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:05:37 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     I'd love Air to Ground stuff if I couldn't do Air to Air.
     
     It'd be interesting to see it from the other side instead of being one of the guys on the ground talking to these pilots.
   • John Rando (john_rando@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:08:05 JST John Rando

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @WashedOutGundamPilot @AWIVR @GabeLakmann @Royper This reminds me of a funny story an old Air Force friend told me last time I visited him. After Hurricane Michael tore up Tyndall AFB and trashed those F-22s the enlisted airmen stuck there pretty much had the whole place to themselves. So they went over to the flight line side and looted all the Squadron’s “Heritage rooms” (Actually just well-stocked bars) of all the liquor.

     Because “Fuck those pilots!”

     Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks likes this.
   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:09:32 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • John Rando
     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @john_rando @AWIVR @GabeLakmann @Royper That’s why unit culture is so important. The few units w/ good guys are a closed group, just like any other bunch. If you want in, you’ll have to prove yourself.

     The good ones make sure to be on good terms with everybody helping them out, leaving the CCs out of the club bites your ass when you’re trying to do something fun off the clock w/ a gov plane

   • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks (washedoutgundampilot@poa.st)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:19:47 JST Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks

     in reply to

     • AWIVR
     • GabeLakmann

     @GabeLakmann @AWIVR @Royper just another in the long, long trophy case of batshit female ‘astronauts’

   • GabeLakmann (gabelakmann@nicecrew.digital)'s status on Monday, 03-Jul-2023 10:19:48 JST GabeLakmann

     in reply to

     • Woggy's Zeonic Frolicks
     • AWIVR
     Speaking of diapers and flying, do you all remember when that lady from NASA went nuts and wore diapers for a long drive from like Florida to Texas or something to confront her cheating boyfriend/husband?