IFS in Destin

[Swmtb]

Hey kids,

If you are one of the lucky ones to get Destin for IFS, I have a question... Even though the IFS office has provided us with a van and duty driver, it seems the van's schedule will not work out well with MSA's class schedule. Also, this coming Monday will only be a quick inprocessing/orientation; so, in the interest of not wasting time in Destin waiting for the van, would anyone like to carpool out there? Go ahead and contact me if you are interested, and we'll set something up!

/Phil

 

[TheBubba]

Speaking of IFS in Destin, how are the instructors, learning pace and such? Starting there on Monday and am curious.

 

[Fly Navy]

You're going to love it. I did IFS there 2 years ago. George, if he's still there, is the SH!T. Awesome man. Good instructors, beautiful scenery. You'll have fun. And the airspace is retarded there, it's a good prep for anyone going to Whiting. Good radio practice.

 

[Swmtb]

It is sweet. Fly Navy: Yes, George is there, he only instructed us the first day, but we got plenty of good flying stories + other random tangents.
Bubba: In reference to your questions...The guy who had the rest of ground school (it's about a straight week of classroom stuff for us FO's), was a pretty young guy, but he knew his stuff and is a cool guy too, incidentally he is very knowledgeable about the NFO pipeline (his two best friends went through it apparently). As far as the material goes, it's not tough, it is pretty fast paced, however, but I think it'll be a pretty good warmup for API. One tip, for the radio nav stuff, I practiced it in MS Flight Simulator, and that helped me: (a) figure out how it worked, (b) practice it a bit so I don't look like an idiot in the cockpit (hopefully).

As far as the flying goes, I have yet to find out how it is...first flight is on Friday! I've met some of the instructors and they all seem really cool, and in keeping with the general atmosphere at the school, they appear to be laid-back as well.

Also, the drive out there pretty much sucks. We (myself and the other three SNFOs) just carpooled out there together everyday, since the duty van's schedule did not fit well at all with MSA's.

Hope all that helped out, if not, feel free to PM me.
/Phil

 

[Fly Navy]

Word of advice... avoid Destin at all costs on Friday and Sunday afternoons.

This is very good advice.

Also, I think every single King Air ever made makes a visit at Destin. I lost count of how many different ones I saw.

 

[Swmtb]

Word of advice... avoid Destin at all costs on Friday and Sunday afternoons.

Yes, I'll second...uh, third that. I wish all the neat Destin stuff was in Pensacola instead, especially the airport.

As noted above, George has some interesting stories... that guy seems to have done some real flying, that's for sure. [this of course is stated in relation to my own quite limited experience with flying; which, up to this point has mostly involved deciding between chicken or beef on flights...back in the day when they actually served "food" on airlines.]

 

[Swmtb]

First flight today - freaking awesome. It sure beats flippin' burgers or going to law school, that's for sure.

 

[Fly Navy]

"Eglin Clearance Delivery, Miracle Strip 18E, on the ground at Destin for the East Training Area."

I still remember that. Weird airspace over there.

 

[Swmtb]

Yeah, it's in like the twilight zone of airspace classifications.

 

[Steve Wilkins]

Please don't hit the skydivers (parachutists). They are people too.

 

[theduke]

haha, i've got some time in ol' 18E.

my instructor there called it "**** Stain Echo".

is that the one with the bubble side windows? i can't remember.

 

[theduke]

haha, remember how much drag those bubble windows create on 87E?

i took off in 87E once from DTS with my instructor (who's like 6'6", although kinda lanky) and another students in the back. it must've been close to 100 degrees outside, too. we BARELY cleared those condos at the end of the runway.