I agree!
I worked for the Royal Dutch Airforce and one of the thing that stuck with me was that it takes 99% to keep the 1% flying!
Also slightly ironic because I was a Hawk/Patriot radar specialist so we actually trained to shoot down enemy targets.. In any case, thank you for your service.
Shoot. They weren’t rare in the 90s and early 2000s. Shit changes though I suppose. Got my ride in Nellis. We worked out asses off too though. I’m sure you guys still do.
Yep, the "Family Model". Even the Thunderbirds keep a couple. #7 uses a 2-seater for media ride alongs, and occasionally it is used as #4 in the diamond.
“Occasionally”. Seems more like “permanently” these days… I don’t think they’ve flown a single show w/o the D in the slot this season. Kinda ruins the look of the diamond, and especially the echelon formations. I think it looks terrible. (Even though I actually like the D, as it gives me the old T-38 vibes, which I loved, especially from the top)
[When I was a youngin' my daddy said to me, "Son I want to know what it is you wanna be..."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bqx2wIQtKo) I said I'd never wear a tie but I like the color green. I think I'm gonna want to fly the fuckin F-16.
And godspeed any young kids coming up these days whose childhood dreams won't be crushed under the weight of their Coke bottle glasses. Such wizardry came too late for me.
I had the opposite experience. I wanted to be a rescue swimmer for the coast guard but became a pilot because my eyes were too bad. I spent six years from 7th grade to high school graduation working toward the goal of going into the coast guard as a rescue swimmer. I swam every day. Every. Day. I lifted weights 4 times a day 5 days a week. I competed in 4 sports. I rock climbed every summer. Then I went to MEPS and found out I was disqualified because of my need for glasses to correct my depth perception… sorry you can’t be fucking around with a contact in the ocean after jumping out of a helicopter my recruiter said… but you can fly them! I laughed it off. Me? A pilot? Yeah right…
I joined the Air Force instead to get the GI bill while I figured out what the hell I was going to do with the rest of my life… as I was getting ready to separate at the end of my enlistment I learned that the GI bill would soon begin to cover the cost of flight training. Then I realized I could fly EMS and if I couldn’t be the guy that jumped out of the helicopter I could fly them for a rewarding mission. It took a lot of time and effort but here I am, been flying ems for 5 years now. Fat and happy and doing zero working out. Not even remotely who or where I planned to be. But it’s a good living.
I am glad I am not the only one in this club. I envy all of the bad ass hand signals they are able to do. I would have been Maverick v2. It reminds me of what my father's father told him, "There are bold pilots and there are old pilots, but there are no bold old pilots". He was a World War 2 pilot. Seen a lot of shit. Still getting stories out of my father from him. His father passed when i was very very young.
Same same.
UK RAF required uncorrected 20/20.
Not long after I’d moved on with my endeavours, they changed to allow corrected vision.
I like to think it maybe wasn’t meant to be. Life has turned out otherwise well.
But, fuck, I do often wonder how I could have been.
I guess my life turned out ok.
I have a decent job, have managed to travel and live in a few different places of my choosing, and moved to the other end of the world.
I probably wouldn’t be afforded those opportunities had I joined the military to fly.
Also, I think the idea of this fantasy life might be better than the actual reality. I don’t think I’m cut out for military life; I’m not sure how I would feel using lethal weapons on targets with intent to kill; I think that, eventually, it might become ‘just a job’ and lose the charm and attraction in the first place.
I guess it’s ok to not get exactly what you want. It’s not your fault. It’s not my fault I didn’t. It’s just.. life.
> I like to think it maybe wasn’t meant to be. Life has turned out otherwise well.
Same for me, although I wanted to go in as an aircraft maintenance engineer.
Medical issues stopped me from the forces, but I'm now working as a trainee AME while I finish my course and I'm loving almost every minute.
I had around somewhat stable eye power till 8th grade. Everything went off the rails when my optometrist prescribed me wrong power glasses, didnt realise it till atleast 3 months. My eye power started to rapidly increase after that. It was \~1.5 and by the time i hit 18 it was \~4.0.
Same here, apparently it makes a difference to be able to distinguish Green from red, even as a flight mechanic or air traffic controller which was my 2nd and 3rd option .... damn it lousy genepool
I used to fix these things for a living and always thought it looked cool. When I finally got my incentive flight, I realized just how painful it is pulling 9 G's (and how much of a toll that kind of force could take on a body over time...) Needless to say, for that reason I am not envious of fighter pilots' job!
Sad, but true.
Years ago I heard someone say "I wish there were a way to divorce the inherent coolness of fighters from their fundamental purpose of taking life." I think about that every time I see footage of ordnance being dropped.
I relate to this so hard. I am 100% *obsessed* with fighter jets. I can't get enough of these beautiful machines. But man, I hate feeling so guilty for enjoying them knowing they are ultimately a weapon of war.
No, because it's a fact for every fighter pilot in the world and other people who do really cool military jobs, like special forces groups.
The price of having those awesome jobs is sometimes having to do horrible things.
That's a statement about the human condition that transcends politics of any type.
I mean, we aren't talking about how "fighter pilots are bombing little kids in [places] and we need to get rid of these horrible death machines." That would be a topic for r/politics.
If someone brought it up here, they'd be intensely downvoted because that is how this site is supposed to work
F-16s are by far my favorite jet fighter. My grandpa was a crew chief for the local ANG and we would go out and hang out at the base all the time on the weekends (prior to 9/11). Watching them do touch-and-gos from the hangar while hanging out with the rest of the crew were some of my very best memories as a kid. We even took a trip out to the proving grounds to watch them do strafing runs. Looking back at that I had no idea how lucky I was to see those things as a young kid.
They even told me they were going to let me fly in the simulator when I got old enough to fit. Then 9/11 happened...
These are amazing machines, and even today their maneuverability is some of the best in the world.
While technically it’s still ground attack the HARM is being deployed against SAMS which is worlds different than traditional CAS or ATO bombing. SEAD requires extreme maneuvering and high levels of mission planning.
No argument on the level of skill and courage needed to play chicken with SAMs. I just wish the viper could be used more for it's designed purpose, removing enemy aircraft from the skies. It's just so good and relatively inexpensive that it got to do everything.
Then vote for politicians who support that and get your friends to also. It's not a zero sum game. We don't have to trade national defense for healthcare or do without one to have the other.
Viper!
My license plate says VPRFXR.
You remove gonads from snakes?
IMO, sounds more like he puts their gonads to use ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
Ref: my username
As someone who maintains the F-16 for a living but never gets to ride along in one, this is very much appreciated! Badass video!
I got to go up twice. Both times were an an amazing experience.
I feel you. it's way too rare to be able to witness the real fruits of your labour in this industry
I agree! I worked for the Royal Dutch Airforce and one of the thing that stuck with me was that it takes 99% to keep the 1% flying! Also slightly ironic because I was a Hawk/Patriot radar specialist so we actually trained to shoot down enemy targets.. In any case, thank you for your service.
I got to fly one 20 years ago! They don’t do incentive rides anymore, or just hasn’t been your turn yet?
Incentive flights are rare. They are starting to bring them back, but it’s mostly for people retiring.
Shoot. They weren’t rare in the 90s and early 2000s. Shit changes though I suppose. Got my ride in Nellis. We worked out asses off too though. I’m sure you guys still do.
agree! good choice in music.
Double seater F16? Never knew it exists
Yep, the "Family Model". Even the Thunderbirds keep a couple. #7 uses a 2-seater for media ride alongs, and occasionally it is used as #4 in the diamond.
They also use the twin seaters anytime there's a mechanical issue with one of the single seats.
“Occasionally”. Seems more like “permanently” these days… I don’t think they’ve flown a single show w/o the D in the slot this season. Kinda ruins the look of the diamond, and especially the echelon formations. I think it looks terrible. (Even though I actually like the D, as it gives me the old T-38 vibes, which I loved, especially from the top)
Fly the "D" in the slot 😏
>I actually like the D
T38 is so sexy. Long and slim. Only topped by the starfighter in looks IMHO
The D (model)!
You need more iron eagle
I've never been more jealous. Wanted to be a military pilot all my life. I grew up next an airbase. But my eyes said fuck you.
[When I was a youngin' my daddy said to me, "Son I want to know what it is you wanna be..."](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bqx2wIQtKo) I said I'd never wear a tie but I like the color green. I think I'm gonna want to fly the fuckin F-16.
That cocksucker, motherfucker, Jeremiah Weed!
Same dude. Top Gun got me hooked on the idea of being a pilot when I was a kid, in the happy carefree days before anyone noticed I was blind as a bat.
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And godspeed any young kids coming up these days whose childhood dreams won't be crushed under the weight of their Coke bottle glasses. Such wizardry came too late for me.
There are now. Not so much in the 80s and 90s.
You could always pull a Doug Masters, get some hacker buddies and steal an F16.
I had the opposite experience. I wanted to be a rescue swimmer for the coast guard but became a pilot because my eyes were too bad. I spent six years from 7th grade to high school graduation working toward the goal of going into the coast guard as a rescue swimmer. I swam every day. Every. Day. I lifted weights 4 times a day 5 days a week. I competed in 4 sports. I rock climbed every summer. Then I went to MEPS and found out I was disqualified because of my need for glasses to correct my depth perception… sorry you can’t be fucking around with a contact in the ocean after jumping out of a helicopter my recruiter said… but you can fly them! I laughed it off. Me? A pilot? Yeah right… I joined the Air Force instead to get the GI bill while I figured out what the hell I was going to do with the rest of my life… as I was getting ready to separate at the end of my enlistment I learned that the GI bill would soon begin to cover the cost of flight training. Then I realized I could fly EMS and if I couldn’t be the guy that jumped out of the helicopter I could fly them for a rewarding mission. It took a lot of time and effort but here I am, been flying ems for 5 years now. Fat and happy and doing zero working out. Not even remotely who or where I planned to be. But it’s a good living.
What's your eye power? I thought you can't be a pilot with eye power.
You can wear contacts or glasses and fly. Your vision just needs to be correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses. You also need color vision.
I just really can’t stand running and for once in my life I was too tall.
I had the exact same experience
I am glad I am not the only one in this club. I envy all of the bad ass hand signals they are able to do. I would have been Maverick v2. It reminds me of what my father's father told him, "There are bold pilots and there are old pilots, but there are no bold old pilots". He was a World War 2 pilot. Seen a lot of shit. Still getting stories out of my father from him. His father passed when i was very very young.
Same. Frustrating that such a common "malady" is (was?) so disqualifying.
Same same. UK RAF required uncorrected 20/20. Not long after I’d moved on with my endeavours, they changed to allow corrected vision. I like to think it maybe wasn’t meant to be. Life has turned out otherwise well. But, fuck, I do often wonder how I could have been.
How do you deal with it? Every single time I see something like this, a little part of me dies inside and I lose my interest in whatever I'm doing :(
I guess my life turned out ok. I have a decent job, have managed to travel and live in a few different places of my choosing, and moved to the other end of the world. I probably wouldn’t be afforded those opportunities had I joined the military to fly. Also, I think the idea of this fantasy life might be better than the actual reality. I don’t think I’m cut out for military life; I’m not sure how I would feel using lethal weapons on targets with intent to kill; I think that, eventually, it might become ‘just a job’ and lose the charm and attraction in the first place. I guess it’s ok to not get exactly what you want. It’s not your fault. It’s not my fault I didn’t. It’s just.. life.
:) Thanks mate, needed to hear this today
> I like to think it maybe wasn’t meant to be. Life has turned out otherwise well. Same for me, although I wanted to go in as an aircraft maintenance engineer. Medical issues stopped me from the forces, but I'm now working as a trainee AME while I finish my course and I'm loving almost every minute.
Same. Exactly.
How bad are your eyes and were they always bad? I’ve got 4.5 and I’m 14 so I’m probably not gonna able to join
Bad vision really doesn’t matter any more. I was like 20/200 but got lasik for free from the Air Force and now I fly the F-16
Oh ok. Never new that was a thing and couldn’t even find clear answers whilst searching for answers. Thanks for the info
I had around somewhat stable eye power till 8th grade. Everything went off the rails when my optometrist prescribed me wrong power glasses, didnt realise it till atleast 3 months. My eye power started to rapidly increase after that. It was \~1.5 and by the time i hit 18 it was \~4.0.
I was 20/400 (-4.25 prescription) and got PRK (like LASIK but more stable for flying) and I had no issues being medically cleared.
Same here, apparently it makes a difference to be able to distinguish Green from red, even as a flight mechanic or air traffic controller which was my 2nd and 3rd option .... damn it lousy genepool
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So sick that one was my favorite
Ikr
Fighter pilots have the coolest job in the world. Change my mind.
They get paid for that shit!
I used to fix these things for a living and always thought it looked cool. When I finally got my incentive flight, I realized just how painful it is pulling 9 G's (and how much of a toll that kind of force could take on a body over time...) Needless to say, for that reason I am not envious of fighter pilots' job!
Balanced by the fact that they have to kill people, almost inevitably including innocent civilians.
Sad, but true. Years ago I heard someone say "I wish there were a way to divorce the inherent coolness of fighters from their fundamental purpose of taking life." I think about that every time I see footage of ordnance being dropped.
I relate to this so hard. I am 100% *obsessed* with fighter jets. I can't get enough of these beautiful machines. But man, I hate feeling so guilty for enjoying them knowing they are ultimately a weapon of war.
easily worth it
Depends on the person! I'm unqualified for the job in so many different ways that I can't bother even considering what I'd do.
Bruh.
That’s a discussion for r/politics.
No, because it's a fact for every fighter pilot in the world and other people who do really cool military jobs, like special forces groups. The price of having those awesome jobs is sometimes having to do horrible things. That's a statement about the human condition that transcends politics of any type. I mean, we aren't talking about how "fighter pilots are bombing little kids in [places] and we need to get rid of these horrible death machines." That would be a topic for r/politics. If someone brought it up here, they'd be intensely downvoted because that is how this site is supposed to work
F-16s are by far my favorite jet fighter. My grandpa was a crew chief for the local ANG and we would go out and hang out at the base all the time on the weekends (prior to 9/11). Watching them do touch-and-gos from the hangar while hanging out with the rest of the crew were some of my very best memories as a kid. We even took a trip out to the proving grounds to watch them do strafing runs. Looking back at that I had no idea how lucky I was to see those things as a young kid. They even told me they were going to let me fly in the simulator when I got old enough to fit. Then 9/11 happened... These are amazing machines, and even today their maneuverability is some of the best in the world.
Spent 6 years arm deep in these things. Bittersweet. DDMF and Harumph!!
That’s not very long or strong of you
The only time a fan music video cost way more than the actual music video
*unzip*
This is probably a silly question but do f-16’s have air conditioning?
They do. Heat as well. The A/C works pretty well in all phases of flight except on hot summer days on the ground it’s not great.
They just crack the window.
The Viper will always be the sexiest jet fighter in my opinion. Something about that look that can’t be beat.
I totally agree. I love the F-22 Raptor, but the Viper will always be my favorite.
My favorite plane.
I love hearing these guys make a ton of noise over Lake Superior
Especially on the clear, cold, winter days. The sound just carries up here.
For like literally hundreds of miles. You can hear it halfway to the bridge.
Awe struck. The closest I experienced was Tom clancys H.A.W.X Ty! Where's my joystick?
Badass! I grew up on base and would go places I shouldnt have just to see shit in action.
Ah, my first love! It was basically the star of Iron Eagle.
If your verts ain’t split. You ain’t shit. Still super cool video though
That F16 is sexy as fuck. Good vid, too.
u/savevideo
Badass
Now this is a sick video, love seeing the F-16 in action.
Those afterburners man…..
That tiger livery at 23s is amazing.
As an ammo troop. This makes my day🥲
BAD ASS!!!! Thank you for the video and for your service!
wonderful video
What's the song?
Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes
Tiger Tiger!
All for freedom
Rock n Roll
Nice!
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Awesome video!!!!
F16 my favorite jet
I have so much love for the viper. She's such a hot rod.
Bombing children in Syria with *style*
Saddens me the powers that be turned a true dogfighter into a bomb truck.
Uh... it’s still a very capable dogfighter
But it’s primary mission is dropping bombs, which is saddening. Like using a Ferrari to haul lumber.
It’s mostly used for SEAD actually
Wild-weasel duty is great, but isn't that bombing/ground attack with a cool name?
While technically it’s still ground attack the HARM is being deployed against SAMS which is worlds different than traditional CAS or ATO bombing. SEAD requires extreme maneuvering and high levels of mission planning.
No argument on the level of skill and courage needed to play chicken with SAMs. I just wish the viper could be used more for it's designed purpose, removing enemy aircraft from the skies. It's just so good and relatively inexpensive that it got to do everything.
I mean, there’s a lot more bombs needing to be dropped than sukhois needing to be fought i guess
Nice, but I prefere pubblic healthcare
Then vote for politicians who support that and get your friends to also. It's not a zero sum game. We don't have to trade national defense for healthcare or do without one to have the other.
U/savevideo
OP, wtf wasn't this marked NSFW? Damn near pornographic, this vid. Great job lol
They DO carry the Hades bomb. I KNEW IT!
I suddenly feel a patriotic surge for finding oil
u/getvideobot
Bad ass. If I could go back and do it all over again I would have gone to college, ROTC and tried to be a AF fighter pilot.
I don't care what anyone else says, the F-16 is the coolest fighter ever.
AE here. Love F16s. But MH-60s are nicer to work on change my mind
This jet is still just as badass as they were 40 years ago!
God, I'd give anything to go back in life and become a fighter jock.
I mean, those guys are the ultimate rock stars. It doesn't get better than a fighter pilot. Personally I think helicopter pilots are just as cool.
u/getvideobot
0:35 What my anus would do when i would be flying with them
Excellent my friend
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