Questions about 1/C Aviation Cruise

[MIDNJAC]

I would say, however, that if it's looking like a flight is not going to happen, and you're part of a wing (like a FITWING, or whatever you're called now), you might want to see your Mid coordinator. I did this on my cruise and the coordinator (a CDR and former VFC-12 CO) made some calls and got us a ride w/ -213 since -11 was broke dick. We certainly appreciated the effort.

good point....I was referring more to guys who have already flown 3 or 4 times and get an attitude when there aren't any more open seats (or when they have to wait their turn and let other less fortunate mids get a chance). I will say that it took those of us attached to fleet squadrons a good week to realize that we could show up to the FRS on our own if we werent already being scheduled for a flight. Once we started checking in over there too, flights began materializing much more quickly. I think there was one guy who flew 6 times w/ 125 this way.....and a mid from my unit who went 2nd phase to -122 claimed to have flown around 10 times (if I remember her story correctly).

Also, raptor is correct.....try to stay chill in social/drinking environments...esp at the O-club. You will see some of these people again....don't give them a bad reason to remember you. Don't pass out in front of the bar; don't start puking into a pitcher of beer in front of the bar; save your drunken "suave" passes for 18-22 yr old girls in other locales, not the ladies who work at the sim building (unless you really want to make a name for yourself).

 

[MIDNJAC]

I haven't seen the graphics in the legacy sims, but I assume they're like our Rhino sims. The sim does a good job of simulating dark and scary.

not that I have any idea what the real thing is like, but I certainly had a pretty annoying afternoon trying to shoot (even daytime) approaches to the boat in the Rhino dome sim. I was pretty much crossing the fantail before I could even distinguish the wake from the rest of the visual distortion on the display. Even worse was trying to fight another mid on the coupled mode that they have.....comms were pretty much like:

me: ummm I can't see you (to other mid)
him: yeah me either
sim guy: mid 1 should be passing your 2 oclock position, quarter mile mid 2
me: yeah, i cant see him
him: hmmmmm
sim guy: I have moved mid 1 to a perfect firing position....mid 2 should be right on your nose
him: should I shoot.....I can't see him
me: yeah just kill me please....

 

[Fly Navy]

not that I have any idea what the real thing is like, but I certainly had a pretty annoying afternoon trying to shoot (even daytime) approaches to the boat in the Rhino dome sim. I was pretty much crossing the fantail before I could even distinguish the wake from the rest of the visual distortion on the display. Even worse was trying to fight another mid on the coupled mode that they have.....comms were pretty much like:

me: ummm I can't see you (to other mid)
him: yeah me either
sim guy: mid 1 should be passing your 2 oclock position, quarter mile mid 2
me: yeah, i cant see him
him: hmmmmm
sim guy: I have moved mid 1 to a perfect firing position....mid 2 should be right on your nose
him: should I shoot.....I can't see him
me: yeah just kill me please....

The dome sims SUCK for graphics. The resolution in those sims are terrible and are completely useless for doing anything that requires sharp visuals. The TOFTs are another story, they've very sharp looking and work great, though you don't get a full 180 degree field of view.

 

[Ace_Austin]

I actually didn't like the TOFT a whole lot. The graphics where better sure, but it wasn't 360. I was in the Rhino dome and OFT3 most of the time. I was stoked when my first pass in the OFT was an OK 3 wire. Nobody wanted to come to the TOFT with me to fight except another Middy from my school over at 14, but they had a 4 ship run long so we got bumped.

Just curious, I was in the sim over B-20 at Fallon, whats a decent distance off the target for a hand CCIP delivery with 500 pounders slick?

 

[Fly Navy]

Just curious, I was in the sim over B-20 at Fallon, whats "OK" for a hand CCIP delivery with 500 punders slick?

That varies on your delivery altitude, but if you pulled off a 50 foot CEP or less, that's decent.

 

[Ace_Austin]

I was all over the place as far as delivery heights and styles. I got lucky once with a 3 footer. My biggest wiff was about 65 feet I think.

Thanks

 

[Gatordev]

good point....I was referring more to guys who have already flown 3 or 4 times and get an attitude when there aren't any more open seats (or when they have to wait their turn and let other less fortunate mids get a chance). I will say that it took those of us attached to fleet squadrons a good week to realize that we could show up to the FRS on our own if we werent already being scheduled for a flight. Once we started checking in over there too, flights began materializing much more quickly. I think there was one guy who flew 6 times w/ 125 this way.....and a mid from my unit who went 2nd phase to -122 claimed to have flown around 10 times (if I remember her story correctly).

Copy all. It's great you guys were able to get anything more than one flight. When I did my cruise, everyone got only one flight...except the chick, who got two. Yeah...

 

[MIDNJAC]

Copy all. It's great you guys were able to get anything more than one flight. When I did my cruise, everyone got only one flight...except the chick, who got two. Yeah...

yeah, I *only* flew 4 times and I was probably one of the guys who flew the least. They were pretty damn generous at Lemoore....

Also, I forgot to add the bit of advice that was passed to me by a pilot on my squadron...."when you get the stick, dont be a pus*y".....I had a
very generous IP flying when I rode in an F/T jet, and managed to get quite a bit of stick time (including a few minutes trying my hand at form w/ another jet in our flight on the way back from the China Lake range). Point being, if you are curteous and go in with an open mind (like dont start bugging the pilot about flying) you will more than likely be rewarded. Also, generally the T-34 flights were relatively easy to hop into, and were a good way to get out of the valley. One flight I had the stick almost the entire way to the range and back, and another one had me and another mid taking turns flying form off each other. GREAT times!

Another thing that you will notice is the relaxed atmosphere compared to normal ROTC life which is nice IMO. That said, I personally wouldn't walk into the ready room and start calling everyone by their callsigns right off the bat though. More than likely everyone will laugh at you, tell you to not ever call them sir again and "please just call me xxx-callsign". But still keep a bit of professionalism when you are meeting folks. And still always call the skipper/CAG/etc "sir"....and clean your flight suit regularly.....it will be stank even after a couple of days if you happen to go to Lemoore or anywhere else hot.

oh yeah...one more thing that just boggled my mind this summer. Don't show up on the first day in your khakis sporting MIDN ENS bars vice the correct 1/c collar insignia. You will look like a dumb @ss to everyone, and may even get called on it in front of everyone by an O-6 wing representative......not a good way to impress your new best middie friends

 

[iwishiwaseatin]

I went on a 1/C Cruise with an HSL. Since it was North Island, my money went quick. My recommendation is fiqure out all your stuff before you go there, and maybe more importantly save some money, you never know when a squadron will let you tag along with them to Vegas. Oh and be normal around the squadron, it greatly increases your chances of seeing and/or finding cool things in or around Naval Aviation. (dont be a tool)

 

[MIDNJAC]

Also, keep in mind that aviation ashore is EXPENSIVE in MIDN terms. I went out of town every weekend that I was in Lemoore and probably paid a minumum of $150-200 each time. If you get someplace like Oceana or North Island that actually has a town that you can do things in nearby, then its not quite as bad. Still, after paying for a rental car, hotel, food, bar tabs, etc you will likely spend more than you make on cruise. Just another thing to think about. I went into it for some reason thinking that I was gonna make a decent chunk of change after cruise which was most definitely NOT the case

 

[Fly Navy]

Rental Car? No need for that in North Island, there is an established Public Transport system as well as taxis. Don't waste your money.

 

[MIDNJAC]

Rental Car? No need for that in North Island, there is an established Public Transport system as well as taxis. Don't waste your money.

good point....I guess I was speaking more for those who end up out in the boonies (Lemoore, Whidbey, etc).

 

[lowflier03]

If you end up with a squadron on deployment, bring a book or two to read, check out the ship, and go see the other squadrons and politely ask about getting a ride. Generally helo squadrons do better at getting you flight time, as do the E-2 guys. Dont spend all your time sleeping and above all do not act like a dick to the enlisted guys...especially AW's. We had a middie last summer cruise that did that and was duly rewarded.

 

[zachary2777]

above all do not act like a dick to the enlisted guys...especially AW's. We had a middie last summer cruise that did that and was duly rewarded.

I'm glad to hear that, seriously. Midshipman apathy can be appaling sometimes. I found it easier to find "work" on the 2/C cruise but you should find things to do even ashore for your 1/C cruise without sleeping all day.

 

[es101js]

Rental Car? No need for that in North Island, there is an established Public Transport system as well as taxis. Don't waste your money.

Except the walk from the BOQ on North Island to the main gate for a taxi or the bus stop/ ferry that took 30-40 mins. get a rental car, its cheap and if you dont need it or are drinking, dont use it, have a few middies all chip in for a week and youre good to go.