Thread: Anyone else love their job?

I'll see your F/A-18 and raise you the best fighter ever created.



Those things kinda sound like tie fighters. So badass. Got to sit in it, but of course no cameras allowed.

In just one year on this base I've seen Air Force One, F-15s, F-16s, F-22s, F-4s, KC-10s, Harriers, Tornadoes (european jet fighter), KC-135s, RC-135s, mobile 747 military command post, B-1s, B-2s (got to go inside), F/A-18s, C-130s, tons of helicopters, etc and now the space shuttle and it's carrier 747. Also seen the Antonov (largest cargo jet in the world). I've been around enough nuclear ordinance to put a hole in the earth the size of Alaska and then some. And it's just getting started.

i've got to ask sabre what do you do exactly. I was an AT in the navy. Now I work for Raytheon on APG-79 Radar

I'm an Electronic Warfare technician. I work on bombers repairing and upgrading the electronic defense systems. We're considered experts in radar, jamming, deception, chaff, flare, and anything else used in the defense of the air craft or squadron of air craft.

Can't get any more detailed than that. I think I said somewhere else that I can render your cellphone useless from states away, burn out airport beacons and electronics from tens of miles away, deceive radars completely on position, direction, and velocity data, etc.

This is the beast I currently work on. Just let the entry go by until the Rob Zombie music starts and you'll see it at work. A lot of the ones in the video are the same planes I work on every day. It's old, but she's still mean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZMh-...eature=related

The black and white video from the F-15's cockpit during a Red Flag exercise show's my systems at work. Couldn't get a lock for **** because of a system we work on, and no not the flares.

Sounds like a kick*** job to have. I worked on all of the avionics in general including the radar, early warning, weapons, and jamming systems. I quite literally put my blood and sweat into both the F-14D and F/A18F while I was in.

Yeah, fighters have mostly passive systems and some low power jamming. The jamming systems I work on have hundreds of times the power. I remember listening to some F-16 pilots describe how a couple B-52s helped them out. "We were surrounded by AAA and SAM radar sites. Our warning systems kept going crazy with potential locks. Then two B-52s came diving in like a couple line backers blaring out RF interference. All we had to do was stay in their shadow."

Stuff like that makes the job worth it.

Yea I know how you feel sabre. Street no offense to but the F-14 is my favorite of all time.

Two Words: JSTAR or AWACS!!! (I have a couple of friends that work on AWACS and JSTARS) I actually had unescorted entry authority on the AWACS when I was deployed to a certain country in the middle east...all that with only a "Secret" clearance. Pretty Good for a regular old SF troop!!! (For the record: I don't think I "Should" have had that level access, and I certainly didn't abuse it. I just know the AC Commander approved the SF EAL giving all of us "Unescorted Access"...we were not stupid enough to try and bring cameras on board!)

Teaser info for those electronic nuts here (like me):

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/e3awacs/
http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/jstars/

Originally Posted by JEFFSGTP

Two Words: JSTAR or AWACS!!! (I have a couple of friends that work on AWACS and JSTARS)

Yep. Been aboard those. They're okay, but not really that cool in the way of my job. Just flying command centers. The mobile commander center 747 is much neater. Like something out of the movies. The entire US military can be commanded from there. Sort of like a flying Pentagon. They keep it mobile at all times, only stopped for a day or two at random bases.

Originally Posted by crshoveride

Street no offense to but the F-14 is my favorite of all time.

Doesn't matter what your favorite is. The F-22 could bring down over 15 F-14s without the F-14s ever knowing it was there. In other words "F-22 pwns all."

I did kinda like the F-14. Too bad they were all destroyed to prevent Iran from getting any spare parts for their broken F-14 fleet.

^^^ Yup I have heard of those, but never seen one...not a lot of public info on them...sort of like trying to find out what all countermeasures and attack measures Air Force One has....Good Luck!

Hind Sight 20/20 I almost regret not going into your career field it was an option for me (based on my asvab score) but I just had to have that "Blue Berret"...


umm...I know a few things those planes can do that would be lots of fun and destructive at the same time...but like you eluded too..."Thats all I will say about that" ;-)


Oh and for giggles...lets not forget to mention the British "Nimrod" (yes its a plane...for those that were like uh...HUH?)

Originally Posted by JEFFSGTP

^^^ Yup I have heard of those, but never seen one...not a lot of public info on them...

Even I don't know a lot of its details. Only that I got to get up close when it was here the last time. And that it shows up in the middle of the night, and disappears the next night.

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

Doesn't matter what your favorite is. The F-22 could bring down over 15 F-14s without the F-14s ever knowing it was there. In other words "F-22 pwns all."

I did kinda like the F-14. Too bad they were all destroyed to prevent Iran from getting any spare parts for their broken F-14 fleet.

I'll admit it too the F-22 could bring em down no problem. but it's something special about the F-14. No they weren't all destroyed in fact a bunch of em were mothballed and there's a few that went to museums.

Originally Posted by JEFFSGTP

My Favorite planes in order are: SR-71, F-22, F-15, F-14 and Last but not least: AC-130 GUNSHIP.

The SR-71 wins in my book cause you have to love a plane that is as old as that is and the top speed and top altitude of it are still Classified!....and for those that think they are all decommisioned they aren't.

All of those planes you just listed are on my list as well with the F-14 topping mine but that's probably cause i worked on it. I've always had a soft spot for the F-16 for some reason.

Originally Posted by crshoveride

I'll admit it too the F-22 could bring em down no problem. but it's something special about the F-14. No they weren't all destroyed in fact a bunch of em were mothballed and there's a few that went to museums.

I've never seen anywhere that any were mothballed. A hand full were given to preservation societies, some were stripped and gutted for museum display, and the rest were destroyed:

Deseret News | U.S. to shred F-14s, deny Iran any parts

Back on the subject of jobs... this is for anyone considering. Think long and hard about the military. There's a lot out there that you can work with and see. The government spends so much money on defense, why not reap some of the benefits and get some great experiences!

Originally Posted by Sabrewings

I've never seen anywhere that any were mothballed. A hand full were given to preservation societies, some were stripped and gutted for museum display, and the rest were destroyed:

Deseret News | U.S. to shred F-14s, deny Iran any parts

Back on the subject of jobs... this is for anyone considering. Think long and hard about the military. There's a lot out there that you can work with and see. The government spends so much money on defense, why not reap some of the benefits and get some great experiences!

yea by around the year 2000 or so the last of the Tomcat squadrons were all based out of NAS Oceana in Va. Beach. I read that article a while back and it brought a tear to my eye. I took a whole lot of pride in that jet. It was just a pleasure and awe inspiring experience to know that the blood and sweat and huge amount of work you put into it to see it fly.
Exactly they need to think long and hard about it. There are truly a huge amount of oppertunities for anyone. I only spent 5 years in decided it wasn't what i wanted in a career but the knowledge and experience i got gave me the tools for a great career. It was a great experience and I will never forget it.

I had originally planned on getting out after my first enlistment, but if the economy is still in the tank I won't be going anywhere. I make good money on a guaranteed job.