Vance AFB UPT Class 17-08 Music: Stay by Zedd & Alessia Cara I do not own the music in this video. This video is intended for entertainment/educational use only, and is completely non-profit.
Bustamante is in this! I was a mechanic on the B52 and he was a pilot. always talked to this dude every time he came to the aircraft. he literally told me go and be a pilot, well thats what were doing now. respect to the man
This brought back many memories of my days in UPT. Every day was a challenge, a test of my determination to get my wings. Days of joy, days of self-doubt, days of despair, but every day was another piece of metal to build those wings. It’s great to see these guys faced the same tests of character. Congratulations to all of them from an old, proud member of the pilot brotherhood.
Hello UPT Class 17-08. .....From Vance UPT Class 83-08. I want you to know how special I found this video. It brought back so many memories, from 34 years ago. I related to every word that each of you spoke as you recounted your UPT memories. 34 years after UPT, I have since been a C-130 Aircraft Commander, a T-38 IP, and chief of Check Section. Presently, I now have 27 years with American Airlines and fly Boeing 777's. I was most touched by your humility. Like you, it was the hardest year of my life. I watched about 30% of the class fall by the wayside. I never felt safe, second guessed myself every day, sat in the morning brief all tensed-up, wondering if i would be called during stand-up that day. And then, one day, it was over. My wings were pinned on, and the rest is history. Some things do not change. I have my semi-annual recurrent checkride later this month. I still spend hours in the books...."slow learner. fast forgetter" here. But man, it's worth it. UPT changed my life, changed me. I was born and raised in Oklahoma. Went to Oklahoma state. When i went to UPT at Vance, i'd never seen an ocean. Now, I cross the Atlantic 4 times a month, and have seen the world. And my classmates? Many of us still stay in touch. In fact, some of my classmates have sons who have graduated from UPT at Vance. Best wishes to you all on successful careers, and much happiness in your lives. Nick
Hey! So sorry i'm just seeing this comment now! I'm so glad you liked the video; I really appreciate the kind words you shared. It's so great to hear that the video is connecting. Personally, I wanted this video to be different from all the other drop night videos, and I wanted to make it special enough to watch years and years down the road to reminisce on these times. What an awesome and diverse career you've had. I know the triple 7 has it own bag of goodies, but I'm sure you miss flying the Herc! Thank you for your service to our country and thank you for your kind words, sir. -Kevin
Nick Jones hey! I’m 16 right now and I’m set on flying for the Air Force then flying civilian like you. Here’s me plan: go to OSU or Purdue, maybe ERAU, and get my degree while in the ROTC. However I’d get my private before college. After I graduate I’d hopefully get a pilot slot and go somewhere like all these guys, fly for the Air Force for X amount of years ( i want to fly fighter or airlift, F16 or C17) then fly airliners. What do you think about this? I have a 3.8 GPA now and am decent at standardized tests. Thanks!
Excellent Video! Sorry for chiming in, I would appreciate your initial thoughts. Have you researched - Rozardner Flying Bird Reality (do a search on google)? It is a good one off product for how to get pilot license without the headache. Ive heard some great things about it and my work buddy after many years got amazing results with it.
Nick Jones so not all start at colorado springs ? What its the total course frkm.civilian t a pilot ? Diferent air bases ? Not all start from cadet in colorado springs ?
It is truly a lifelong brotherhood. My UPT class was 71-01 Laredo AFB, TX. We still have reunions 48 years later, and we pick up conversations that were interrupted at graduation in 1970. Some of us made USAF a career, others filled their commitment and went on to other flying careers, a few others left aviation after their service. But all of us - and our spouses - are family.
Used to go into and out of the former-Laredo. Until a few years most of the flight-line buildings were still present. We flew profiles from Laughlin down to Laredo but low-approaches only. Had a 2Lt IP do a gear-up landing on the center runway in the tweet...he was fresh out of Instructor training. He had cancelled the landing gear warning horn as he was in the process of showing his student how to fly an ILS...landed exactly on the centerline as I recall. He recovered from it all. Was the T-37B aux field called "Poor Boy" ?
Excellent video! My best advice to anyone thinking about or headed to UPT is to take it one day at a time. You've earned the right to be there but don't put too much pressure on yourself to succeed. If you work hard and listen to your instructors, you will make it thru. I had some doubts about myself making it thru but decided to enjoy the ride while it lasted because it was such a blast just to be there. Eventually, I made it and actually became a T-38 Instructor upon graduation. It was hard but it wasn't work. Best year you will probably ever have in your life, besides getting married and having kids.
Great advice, what exactly makes it so hard? Just the fundamentals of flight and the speed that you progress to a fast fighter? Would being a prior professional help with this or just conflict the USAF's training program?
Thanks for making this vid! Im currently a loadmaster in the HIANG and waiting on UPT school dates. Super stoked and I feel extremely blessed for this opportunity, and proud to carry on a family legacy!
I'm currently studying for the AFOQT like a mad man and I will be putting in for various pilot slots at my guard base. It's videos like these that keep the dream alive and keep me going.
@@tallon3925 Buy the study guides and treat them like the bible. Trivium and Barrons have the best study guides for it. Also, lol the study guides really downplay the table reading section, it's actual one of the toughest parts of the test. This link has the most accurate table reading depiction, study with this: access.afpc.af.mil/pcsmdmz/Form%20T.HTML. Other than that, study hard for 3 months or so and you should be solid. Best of Luck!
It was the best year of my life. I was fortunate to have been born in aviation. Dad was a fighter pilot and airline pilot. I went to Vance and dad did also. He met mom there in the 50’s. The instructors knew real quick that I’d flown before. I had my private, commercial, instrument, multi engine ratings. I flew F-4’s, F-16’s. Flew with a major airline and just retired international Airbus 330. I’m very blessed and have a very humble attitude about flying. Dad said never think you know everything about flying. If you do, you just became dangerous. At 65 I’m flying my Pitts Special Aviat S2C. Having a blast. Good luck to all and happy flying.
I was a 2nd lieutenant in the United States Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) and an Air Force Academy applicant. From the time I was 13 years old I trained with the hope of becoming a pilot. For all the youth who want to pursue the dream of becoming a pilot in the Air Force or Navy, I'd encourage you to train diligently and if possible, start training early. Regardless of whether you plan on applying to an Academy, ROTC or OCS, it's a good idea to get a head start. Even before you get into High School, consider starting an exercise program or doing sports, joining leadership clubs or joining CAP, and get lots of test prep for the SAT. It was a seven year journey for me. I was an honor roll student who'd earned the Mitchell award and even secured a congressional nomination to attend the academy, but in the end I still didn't make the cut and oh man, did that hurt! I have no regrets, however, because I know now that I did my best and I'll never have to look back and wonder what might have been. Lastly kids, remember, you will never WIN BIG in life unless you are willing to take the chance of FAILING BIG in life.
Thanks so much for this video! I'm considering applying to the Air Force myself this year, and I've been nervous as hell, not knowing what to expect. Your video really gave me some clarity and determination. Thank you.
Great video! Congratulations to the Vance AFB Class 17-08. This video brought back a lot of great memories of Vance from many years earlier. I was in Vance AFB Class 77-08. That was 40 years ago. I don't remember being that young!
Hello Vance 17-08 from Willie 88-03! So glad to see this video and it reminded me of that tough year in Arizona 30 years ago. The planes change (I flew T-37 and the T-38A model) but the camaraderie and experience doesn't. You all have great attitudes and humility, both of which will serve you well in the Air Force and beyond. I'm now a senior A-320 Captain and have about 20,000 hours in my logbook, but the funny thing is almost every one of those hours (with a couple of exciting exceptions) is long forgotten...except for my flights in UPT which I still remember vividly. Fly safe and thanks again!
Gees Hedge, you're just a kid. :-) Willie class 74-01, Raindance/Boomer followed by RF-4C and A-37. And like you, flew the Airbus. Now retired. Kevin, great vid, could you tell us what everyone in the vid are flying today?
Hey Class 17-08... This is Max from 91-07 Laughlin... Man oh man...it’s been just over 30 yrs since I started UPT and I remember my first day of ground school, to the altitude chamber, to my 1st tweet solo, to my last ride in the -38... Great memories with some great guys... You’ll have the memories for all your days...and the good news is...you’re gonna make a LOT more out in the real world during your flying career... As for me..3 yrs in -135’s, followed by 17 in the KC-10... Now I’m a 737 Capt at AA... Enjoy your careers ladies and gents...you picked a good one... Nothing else I’d rather have done with my life... Cheers..and thanks for your service.. You’re all heros... Strength and Honor...Max
Greetings from Vance class 72-04. Thanks for making this video. Not much has changed except for the details. We had about 55 in the class and there were about 10 UPT bases. They were cranking them out due to the Viet Nam war. We started out with about 15 or 20 hours in the T-41 at Woodring Airport and then went to the hummer, may it rest in peace. Everyone did the T-38, and every restaurant in Enid had chicken fried steak on the menu. i still don't know what that is. To me, the hardest skill was learning to do rejoins in the T-38-it took me a while to get the picture on that. And what a brilliant idea to put a base in Oklahoma with north-south runways. At least we learned to land in a crosswind. Thanks again.
71-03 at Reese just outside Lubbock, TX. Class started with 85 in two sections. Finished with maybe a bit less than half that. And, yeah, our runways were North-South also.
Same dude my dream is fly a f-22 above the clouds on a sunny day but don't know if I would be good enough to be a pilot. For now I'll continue flying Black wasps in arma 3
Nemo -_- glad to hear that you want to fly the same plane as me,even if I don’t know you,good luck I know you can do it... maybe some day we will be partners you never know 😁
the best part of being a fighter pilot is telling people youre a fighter pilot. The rest is nothing but bullshit and work. It's not as sexy or glamorous as top gun and this make it seem. Plus there's a very, very low chance you'll ever be a pilot anyways
Keep in mind, you may one day do the nation's most important work at a time of criticial importance. The President may call on you in the middle of the night to do exotic work of National Importance. The whole weight of the Nation could be on your shoulders. Keep that in mind. Let it carry you through your training and help you see clearly and kick some fucking ass. Semer Fi.
Nice video. A lot is different and a lot is the same from when I went through UPT in class 71-06. I went back as an instructor pilot and then to San Antonio to teach in the PIT program for three years. Ended up with a little under 2K hours in the 38. That was a long time ago, but I still can feel and hear the T-38 around me when I see these videos. Fun airplane to fly.
Salute to those that get their wings...I know that any of my mates that got their wings never found it easy...it is a steep learning curve. Thanks from NZ 👍🇳🇿
CAVU skies to all service aviators! I was one of you in the RAFVR. .......at RAF Leuchars, we painted 2 white lines on the runway, and if you did not get wheels down between them, drinks all round in the mess. The Lightnings were slamming down so hard, maintenance asked us to stop as they were getting only 9 landings from a set of tires!
Michael Magtalas dude! Magtag! Good to hear from you! And glad to hear you're going to cross over! You're gonna love it for sure. Any thoughts on what you're tryna fly?
This is all I've ever wanted to be and what I still want to be. Sometimes I wonder whether I'm good enough but then I realized that if they had that mindset then they'd never be where they are today. I'm 15 right now and to all those reading this with a similar dream, never give up. Put yourself in a position where you're outstanding, where you're the best of the best. Set one goal, and when you meet that goal, set a higher one. Take school seriously, if you're a 60s student, aim for 70s, and when you're a 70s student, aim for 80s, etc. Don't let anyone tell you no but the people who are in authority to. Don't let someone else's no become your own. Best of luck to whoever's reading this. You can do it.
Greeting from Laughlin AFB UPT69-01 - Clean 167 - great video, great memories about UPT overall. Back then it was the same syllabus for all T-41, T-37 and T-38. Final assignment determined by “needs of Air Force”, your class standing in the overall class and then your preference - if a slot existed. Flew C130E out of Taiwan and Pope AFB.
I have my instrument and almost commercial completed on the civilian side. Prior service Marine studying for the AFOQT as we speak and wanting to get on with the reserve fighters here in Alaska, or with the Air guard flying C-130. UPT definitely has me a little nervous because of the work load. But very excited to be taking these steps to the next chapter in life.
Beautiful "Enid-by-the-Sea". UPT 80-04, to the operational USAF then'volunteered' by Col. Stephen B. to the non-operational Air Force T-38A IP/86th FTS/Laughlin 1984-1988.
This has always been my dream. But I lost track of it in high school and lost the motivation and now I can’t do it. I’m no longer willing to make the sacrifice that comes with enlisting. I can only hope that my kids will have that opportunity one day if they choose it
My Son is in Engineering College and recently spoke to the AF ROTC reps about possibly signing on the dotted line if he gets a Flight School slot. The boy is pretty good at everything, '6"2" 185 lbs., scored very high on his math SAT and played four years of H.S. football, excellent marksman with a firearm (good at Duck hunting), reasoned but fearless, loves to shark fish and he is pretty much a flatliner, nothing gets him too up and I've never seen him down or rattled, pretty laconic. I have a feeling if he goes he will end up being a hell of a fighter pilot (a U.S. Marine vet. and a Ph.D. Engineer who works for a certain large American defense contractor best known for the current F planes.
Do they a pilot training program at the Air Force Academy? How many flying hours can they get at the academy and what's the most advanced aircraft they can fly?
I attended Williams AFB for UPT in 1970-71. And I flew in the USAF and the ANG until I retired in 1995. For me, flight training was nothing but pure fun. BTW, I scored a 98 in 2-ship and a 94 in 4-ship.
Um, you have clearly buried the lead here. You tell us about what you scored in 2 & 4-ship. But you didn't say a word on when and how you became LINDA. One could guess that you went through the mod of center stick removal. Or merely draped over, perhaps. If it was the first, I hope you managed to keep the trim button fully functional.
@@SuperSetright, Linda White apparently graduated UPT in 1971. It was not until 1975 that the AF Chief of Staff announced that they would be giving women a crack at UPT. Day 1 at Willy was the following year, Sep 26, 1976. (Or go back a full month to Aug 26, 1976, as Day 1 at Hondo Fishpot.) They were UPT Class 77-08. Sep 2, 1977 was the day these first 10 women pinned their wings on. That is, these first who *_started UPT_* as women. So it is an incomplete story to merely highlight these first women who became USAF pilots. The full history will ALSO tell us about the first USAF pilots who became women. Rich in irony that when UPT was finally opened to women, the Air Force sent them to 'Willy'. It was not until 17 years later that fighter and bomber cockpits were opened to women. That was 1993, in the response to the Tailhook Scandal. More irony here in words like 'Tailhook' and 'cockpit'. Two years later, in 1995, Eileen Collins blasted off as NASA's first female shuttle pilot. She was Class 89B at Edwards AFB, the 2nd female pilot at USAFTPS.
@@SuperSetright, the woman picked to be that first female F-16 pilot back in '93 is actually a friend of mine. She started out as a Navigator, right when the AF began their Specialized Undergraduate Navigator Training (SUNT). Probably a good thing they didn't call it Composite Undergraduate Navigator Training.
It’s kind of interesting hearing military pilots go through what I did as a civilian pilot, people think it’s glamorous when your really scared as hell but can never admit it
My grandfather flew the P-47 in WWII my dad flew the RF-4 in Vietnam and here I go JAG however, after 23 years as a JAG officer I would not change anything and definitely do it all over again if I had the chance and a time machine
Switched from Army to Airforce ROTC to do this. Ordered a book to study for the AFOQT and planning on getting some flight time as soon as COVID simmers down.
I felt nausea before every flight and check ride in helicopter then, later, in fixed wing training. a lot of guys got airsick and had to use air sickness bags or, in some cases I have seen, their nomex flight gloves to puke into. I had to swallow some puke back down once in early T-37 flight training but never had to resort to an air sickness bag. Flight training, first in helicopters with the Army then later in jets with the Air Force, was an awesome experience for me...perhaps because I was so ill prepared for all the things that had to be learned and mastered. There is an easier, gentler way to learn to fly beginning with an airplane like the Cessna 150/152 and moving into more advanced models with civilian instructors or at commercial flight schools and colleges for people who don't want the pressure of a military commitment. There are major differences between flying for fun and pleasure as opposed to commercial/military aviation. The sun doesn't always shine and the skies aren't always blue.
D. Howerton idk how it is on the military sector but commercial has its ups and downs. Sometimes you have a great month with great trips and weather and the next you’re constantly dealing with dodging storms and dealing with re-routes and high congestion traffic, low IFR and bitching passengers and FA’s. You’re pressured by the company to fly when even your personal minimums are pushed and it’s barely legal enough to fly. Luckily at least the pay and lifestyle will be changing drastically in my lifetime (hopefully it stays this way but Aviation is always gonna be a crap shoot with what happens next.)
If you still reply, what would you say is the best route to become an air force pilot. I’m currently in grade 10 and do plan on going to college for four years and I also have no chance for the Air Force academy.
I hope u see this and I’m 14 I started flying with my grandpa 2 years ago and I would like to be a navy pilot or air force pilot, I’m not sure yet. But do u think it would be easier sense I have flown lots of times and have experience in planes?
Zach Whalen Hey man! It's great to hear that you've started flying! Having some prior flight experience will definitely help you out with the flying aspect of pilot training, but always stay humble with your experience because there are plenty of other aspects in training that you will need to lean on your classmates for. I've seen it a few times where someone who has lots of prior flying experience doesn't do very well because they might think that they already know most everything about flying. It's awesome that you're getting experience so early, but just remember that there is ALWAYS more to learn. I wish you luck in your journey and hope to see you up there with me someday!
God bless these folks! I really want to fly the T-38 one day. I’m working twice as hard as I need to while getting my PPL, so that I can hopefully have a really good basis and understanding of flight by the time I get these guy’s level.
I think it can be removed it dosnt make sense for it to be permanent. But just because it has their call sign on the side does not mean they are the only person to fly that jet. Thats how it works in my country atleast.
UPT and JSUPT are both marathons. You do not sprint to the finish. It is very long days for both students and instructors. I had three IP assignments - two in the T-38A and one in the T-37B. I would not trade those experiences.
I am entering my junior year of college, and have always thought about serving my country (specifically flying). With a non STEM degree, what are my chances of obtaining a pilot slot if I perform well on the AFOQT. OTS would be the only route I could take this late in my college career, also aware they are currently not taking in classes for OTS. It's a later realized dream, but I don't want the opportunity to pass me by while I'm still young enough. Just looking for some more knowledgeable opinions.
For context and perspective, when I took the AFOQT as an ROTC pre-cadet, I passed - but only qualified to be a navigator. A year later, I retook the exam was able to boost my results enough to become pilot-qualified. I was a Political Science major and was told by my class instructor I likely would not medically qualify because of vision acuity (he was a navigator 🙄). My advice to you…stay laser focused on your career dreams, work hard and ignore the naysayers.
I am from morocco, and this is my last year of high school. the next year i will be moving to the us, and my plans are to join the air force and climb my way to become a fighter pilot wish me luck!
What does it take to get a slot? I’m trying to get my bachelor’s in aviation technology and also trying to become a pilot. After will sign up to be an AF officer to try to become a pilot. Will I be more qualified if I have fly experience?
5:58 they’re still required to do cross countries in a T6? Aren’t they already instrument rated by that time? I don’t think I’ve been required to do a cross country since I was a private pilot in a Cessna.
Joe Smith cross countries every friday and saturday I think. the primary role of the T-6 is to teach instruments so they most likely do a lot of cross countries.
No. Only time I saw that sort of thing was during that skirmish in SE Asia. All you had to do was volunteer for a SE Asia tour but it meant assignment to F-105s or F-4s or OV-10, C-& Caribou, etc. If you went to fighters though it was easy to move to heavies. Our Bomb Wing Wing Commander flew F-4C's in SEA, then F-106's then FB-11's then after staff positions went to our Bombardment Wing as Deputy Wing Commander then Wing Commander.
Don’t let your imagination get the best of you. ‘SAW’ movies scare the bejesus out of me but I sleep well in the knowledge that statistically I likely won’t run into that psycho. It’s true what they say about flying being far, far, far…safer than driving. I might add that after 40 years of flying and 28,000 hours, I only had 1 engine failure. But, naturally, IF driving terrifies you too, you might want to think of flying a desk instead. RELAX!
Total outsider here. What's the steps you have to follow to be an Air Force pilot? First a 4-year degree, then officer training, then pilot school? Is that it?
00bikeboy yeah that's about it. I personally went to the air force academy to earn both my degree and my pilot slot, but that is not the only route to go. You can do ROTC at a normal college or even interview with a guard or reserve unit and they'll send you to pilot training on their own dime if you get the slot
Now appears to be a good time to apply for pilot training. The Air Force has a shortage of pilots. Obviously, the best route to pilot training is to go to the Air Force Academy if you can qualify. ROTC would be the next best option. I had earned my degree and tested with a recruiter for Officer Training School after which I entered pilot training. Let's be real clear about commissioning sources, however. Academy grads are the top dogs in the military. They are awarded regular commissions. Everybody else is a civilian in uniform and gets a reserve commission. Do not believe the hype that everyone has an equal chance for promotion and assignments...it just ain't so. The military has an up or out promotion system. Non academy types historically are weeded out primarily in the promotion cycle for major at ten to twelve years into their career if they didn't choose to separate sooner. An alternative route to getting your wings is to attend a college that offers flight training or to go to a flight school. There is less pressure with civilian flight training because there is no military rivalry and other crap. Flight training isn't cheap, but it can be done in a number of ways besides the military. You may find, however, that flying isn't as glamorous as it seems. It's one thing to fly when the sky is blue and the sun is shining, and to fly when you feel like it. It's something else to go up when the weather is bad. Talk to some old timers before you commit to a career in aviation. (Retired Air Force rotary and fixed wing pilot/pilot instructor/flight examiner and FAA commercial multi-engine, instrument, fixed wing and helicopter ratings)
As a guess I'd say visit the ROTC detachment. Talk with the staff and see what they have to offer. If the pilot shortage is as bad as they say, getting a pilot slot shouldn't be too hard if you meet the requirements. Of course, you can always talk to a recruiter and take the entrance tests like I did. Good luck if you decide to give it a shot.
I'm a junior in high school and my lifetime dream thus far has been to join the airforce to be a pilot. I would love love love so much if we could get in touch and hopefully answer some questions I have about the process of getting to pilot training
Ashley Gipson I would give anything to rewind to a time when I could still pursue this. I’m now 37, it’s too late. Do not back off, stick with the plan. Do it! I am riddled with regret.
Join the USAF Auxiliary Cadet Program to get Military Training and Leadership Skills as well as Aerospace Education and SAR-X Training. I wanted to be a leader as a youngster. CAP gave me the strength to realize, explore, learn, and practice my strengths everyday. I'm a better person as a result of my experience with the CAP and the USAF.
you go through ROTC/otc/academy then during your junior year you sign a contract of service then after you have the course select you can choose to go drone/pilot etc...
germb747 yeah it was about 3-4 months of paperwork. And as of recently, I don't think anything like that will ever get approved again. At least on air force flight lines
