Article

2017-03-18 Government

USAF Plans To Massively Increase Red Air Contracts

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Posted by Besoeker 2017-03-18 07:52|| || Front Page|| [6 views ] Top

#1 So who is the actual training audience, the USAF or the contractors ?

Posted by Besoeker 2017-03-18 08:15|| 2017-03-18 08:15|| Front Page Top

#2 Wait for it ... H-1B visas for Chinese pilots.

Posted by Gomez Wholuth7254 2017-03-18 08:39|| 2017-03-18 08:39|| Front Page Top

#3 The contract costs must be absolutely unimaginable.

Posted by Besoeker 2017-03-18 08:41|| 2017-03-18 08:41|| Front Page Top

#4 Still cheaper than having USAF fly Red Air. The contract pilots are flying 3rd and soon 4th gen aircraft (including foreign) that are cheaper to operate. In addition, as the US converts to 5th gen aircraft, finding enough older aircraft in the US inventory will become increasingly difficult.

Posted by Gomez Wholuth7254 2017-03-18 08:47|| 2017-03-18 08:47|| Front Page Top

#5 In addition, as the US converts to 5th gen aircraft, finding enough older aircraft in the US inventory will become increasingly difficult.

This is the real money line here. The USAF and USN simply will not be able to afford to keep single-point logistics open forever for their Red Air units flying F-16s. (The F-5s held on as long as they did because so much of the rest of the world flew them that parts and support were reasonably cheap)

There will almost certainly be a small F-35 Aggressor flight at Nellis, and it is my understanding that F-22 units have already quietly started flying as aggressors on a TDY basis both at Nellis and...other places. But the days of the Aggressors as a permanent unit are numbered. At least though they won't go out because of petty politics (see also Merill McPeak).

Mike

Posted by Mike Kozlowski 2017-03-18 08:56|| 2017-03-18 08:56|| Front Page Top

#6 I know a guy who can get you a couple of M-29s or a Sukhoi or two in pretty good shape with spare engines pretty cheap.

Posted by Sock Puppet of Doom 2017-03-18 19:36|| 2017-03-18 19:36|| Front Page Top

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