Growing a VFW in 2017
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So not “brand-spankin’ new”… ramp start, take off, navigate (hit ToT), land, fire missiles, and drop bombs. Knowledge/appreciation of Rmax/Raero/etc and pop up tactics not required. Fair assessment?
Bingo!
Yeah we go through that during IQT/MQT, so if they know the DLZ on the HUD or some of the SAT type stuff ahead of time it’s a huge bonus, otherwise it is going to be hit during the course. I’d also say that while we try and hit as many details as we can we are NOT perfect, we mess up a tac turn from time to time, or miss a cue during BFM training or intercepts/timelines, the key is always trying to be better than the last flight.
When you get into this mindset you learn so much, it’s not about being the absolute best out there and any elitism type mindsets just being the best you can be. I always say since we are all going to fly this sim for an average of 5-10 years or sometimes up to 20 years in some people’s case may as well learn all you can and do it to the full.
Edit to add
Another big piece is hardware! While you can’t require people have things because of different lifestyles and situations, but it really is a must to have at least a decent system which I don’t think most here have that problem either, but additionally the goodies like a TrackIR and HOTAS ideally. Hopefully they’ve added more stuff like MFDs and rudder pedals, especially for switchology and setting good habits you need the good extra bits to become super effective in the air. Otherwise your switchology is going to be far slower, you’ll have less reaction time to changing situations or times when you can’t react at all because you’re reaching for a mouse instead of your hands on the throttle, less dead bandits and targets than if you have that equipment on your PC.
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Your description sounds much like an environment I’d really enjoy being part of, too bad about the timezone difference
All the best, Uwe
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Your description sounds much like an environment I’d really enjoy being part of, too bad about the timezone difference
All the best, Uwe
Hoover, your post has made me think twice about excluding Europe. I know European pilots comprise a fairly large sector of the BMS community. For us Americans it is impossible to fly during European evening hours during the weekday, but maybe we could move our training day to a weekend that would allow us to train in European evenings/American afternoon’s and maybe eventually combat ops. What days and times do you usually fly?
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So I would let that hold you back if I were you and give it a shot, what do you have to lose?
… plenty to be gained
Dear Redshift20,
thanks for your reply. If you guys can come up with in interesting alternative for European pilots (I am based in the Central Europe; UTC + 1 and late weekend evenings are fine for me) I don’t think that I have any other way to say no.
Nonetheless, allow me to wish you Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Cheers,
Andrej -
I live in Africa, ivory coast. European hours would suit me fine, but the job will make it almost impossible to hold a regular flying schedule in a virtual squadron. and during the days off i am dead tired …. especially around this time of the year. But i can make it work, one day.
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Hey Europeans, they are plenty of comparable VFW in Europe.
It’s already very hard to maintain and grow one VFW, why would the 8th do something comparable in Europe with timezones they can’t fly in?
The offer is already there - albeit with much less marketing , just look around. -
@Red:
Hey Europeans, they are plenty of comparable VFW in Europe.
It’s already very hard to maintain and grow one VFW, why would the 8th do something comparable in Europe with timezones they can’t fly in?
The offer is already there - albeit with much less marketing , just look around.Like the ViperDrivers! You guys do a very similar style of flying and anyone who flew with your wing should be very proud!
Please let me gush a little for my brothers at the VD, I’ve always admired your wing and the focus on mutual support and maximizing the roles, responsibilities and contracts of the wing men. That’s what tactical flying is all about!
So if there was a wing I would say was like mine it would be yours.
P.S. for the European pilots I will post here later about any possible training time alternatives.
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Where do I enlist?
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Where do I enlist?
Hey Romanoffski!
Accepting applications for class beginning Janurary 4, 2016 @ 0200z and will meet every Wednesday at 0200z (Tuesday evening North America). Once we receive the app, we will get back to you ASAP with more information on study materials and how to get started. Visit our website for more details!
Thank you very much for your time and interest!
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You’ll need a time machine to hit that date…
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You’ll need a time machine to hit that date…
Let me revise that to JANUARY 4, 2017
Too funny, thank you!
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Hey Romanoffski!
Accepting applications for class beginning Janurary 4, 2016 @ 0200z and will meet every Wednesday at 0200z (Tuesday evening North America). Once we receive the app, we will get back to you ASAP with more information on study materials and how to get started. Visit our website for more details!
Thank you very much for your time and interest!
X
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Good luck Redshift! I’m looking forward to flying again with you guys in the new year.
-Bullet, VFA-141
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This post is deleted! -
Just wanted to update everyone on the progress of 17-ABK as we received a lot of encouragement and great responses from many great people in the BMS community. We have reached the approximate halfway point in training, it has been a tremendous amount of fun and a lot of work, our students are progressing very nicely and learning so much about the airplane, the sim, and airmanship. We started with five pilots and the process has cut two, so I think we will see three go on to graduate the course!
We have just completed BFM training, so the guys now understand some pretty cool concepts, such as positional geometry, attack geometry, the WEZ, turn circle entry/arrival points, and ultimately how to accelerate (G) to make the kill. In the defensive we learned about recognition of the bandit pursuit course and how to effectively defend the threat (jinking, reversing at the correct time, or continuing the turn), including ways to fight their way out of the defensive such as high/low man stacking, rolling tuckunder, scissors, ect. In high aspect we learned about lead turn, two circle vs one circle fighting and the associated winning/losing cues. Ultimately how to go from the merge, gain the offensive advantage and then employ the correct offensive BFM for the kill.
All of these skills are critical as we venture into air combat tactics, ACM, and intercepts. BFM is the very foundation that will allow the students to learn to fight as an element, working together to minimize the TTK (time to kill) using roles and responsibilities or SOO (shot of opportunity). While training ACT they will learn both WVR (ACM) and BVR concepts, including the baseline and SSO intercepts and much more. These skills solidify the concept of mutual support and will finally make sense of all the hard work that leads up to it (learning fighter fundamentals such as tactical formation, ect. since about 1/3 of our IQT is non combat related training).
The hardest part to me is while training to this level, still remembering that it’s all just virtual and that people have real lives, which is the biggest challenge to overcome when you’re growing and running a VFW. It’s all good until somebody’s schedule doesn’t mesh, then you scramble to find an alternate time to train so guys stay caught up with the weekly schedule. Commitment is the biggest key to success and a good attitude toward learning.
Overall we are developing a group of pilots I can say that I’m truly proud of. We’re seeing commitment to the schedule, guys wanting to be here and be the best they can be, which is what it’s all about. I am really excited about graduating this class, which is scheduled for May 7, 2017 and attempting an even bigger class for 17-BBK. We’re going to start recruiting for it in April, we have two slots already filled by two long time BMS pilots who are patiently waiting for their turn and will have room for four to six more. Once these two classes are complete, we should have a total of approximately 20 pilots who are trained, which means will be able to have more and more regular weekend flying and activity for our members.
I look forward to the day when this thing sort of runs itself…. still many years in the making unfortunately lol :rofl:
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Awesome news bro!! I’m exponentially impressed how far you’ve come in terms of basically starting from scratch with like minded ppl and growing into what you have now. I commend you bro, and I wish you best of luck in continuing your wing to excellence.
-KT
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Awesome news and congratulations on all your hard work!
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Awesome news bro!! I’m exponentially impressed how far you’ve come in terms of basically starting from scratch with like minded ppl and growing into what you have now. I commend you bro, and I wish you best of luck in continuing your wing to excellence.
-KT
Thank you very much KT! Hope you’ve been doing well!
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It’s way cool that you guys are taking the time to help others to take their knowledge and skillset in this sim to another level where it gives – I’m guessing – about the closest experience to the real thing a person is going to be able to get from the comfort of his den.