Category Archives: UPT

“I Guess the Check Ride is Over?”

Posted on 30/10/2021 by Bobo

Years ago, at Vance AFB, OK, this kid was on a check ride in the T-37. As he and his check pilot completed the pre-flight walk around, it began to rain. They both quickly hopped in the jet and began … Continue reading →

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“Oh, Bewdy!”

Posted on 15/10/2021 by Bobo

One afternoon I was flying in a 4-ship of T-38s at Vance AFB, OK. It was a beautiful day and we were really enjoying ourselves. The mission was going quite well, the students all doing fine. At one point I … Continue reading →

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Take the Afternoon Off and Go…

Posted on 12/08/2021 by Bobo

I was talking with (callsign) Spongebob the other day. He currently a T-6 IP, on duty as a Lt. Col. Reserve officer on leave from the airlines. So, he’s having the time of his life! A couple-3 weeks ago he … Continue reading →

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Eating Up Runway

Posted on 14/02/2020 by Bobo

Jim was in his office one afternoon when a young IP came in and asked to speak to him.  Mike was relatively new and was somewhat ‘white’ in the face.  Of course, Jim told him to come in and have … Continue reading →

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“Judgement”

Posted on 07/01/2020 by Bobo

When we graded UPT (Undergraduate Pilot Training) students after a ride there was always a block called “Judgement” on the grade sheet ‘Judgement’ was a graded item in all the different phases of training: contact, formation, nav and instruments. The … Continue reading →

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The ‘Mexican Standoff’ in New Hampshire

Posted on 31/12/2019 by Bobo

In 1977 Col. Wilson C. Cooney was assigned to Vance AFB, OK as our Director of Operations (DO). As he was settling in to the operations he wanted to visit our ACE* (Accelerated Copilot Enrichment) bases. I was a T-38 … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, The Book, UPT, USAF | Leave a comment

‘Hardturn’

Posted on 30/12/2019 by Bobo

I just received notification of the passing of Colonel Tom Ardern, USAF/Ret. I met Tom when he came to “O” Flight at Vance AFB, OK in Oct 1977. I was his Flight Commander for about 6 weeks before moving on … Continue reading →

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“RSUs”

Posted on 30/12/2019 by Bobo

This is an “RSU,” a Runway Supervisory Unit: They typically sit at the approach ends of runways at Air Force pilot training bases. During student training operations they are usually manned by a crew of 4: a Senior Controller, an … Continue reading →

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“Two, stop hitting Lead…”

Posted on 30/12/2019 by Bobo

One day “PF” was the IP on a student two-ship (T-38s) training flight. The pilot on his wing was a solo student pilot. At some point during the mission, PF checked in on the SOF (Supervisor of Flying) frequency, callsign … Continue reading →

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Beauty!

Posted on 30/11/2019 by Bobo

In 1978 I was the Chief of Safety at Vance AFB, OK. One morning we received a call from the Command Post telling us that one of our T-37s (Tweets) had crashed. My first concern was for the condition of … Continue reading →

Posted in The Book, UPT, USAF | Leave a comment