There are always a couple hundred foreign military pilots in the US undergoing training. We have more consistent flying weather and lots of empty spaces, including deserts, so to save money and improve interoperability, we train NATO pilots here. Just Google "Euro Nato Joint Jet Pilot Training", which is conducted in Wichita Falls, Texas. Their typical class is about half US Air Force and half NATO. NATO countries also use our various advanced fighter training facilities and missile ranges. Since we most certainly would've had several squadrons worth of European fighter pilots, and in many cases their aircraft, here anyway, it would be kind of silly not to let them fly.
Did Italian Jets Patrol the American Border after 9/11?
- Thread starter Ro_Laren
- Start date
Knight Templar
Commodore
There is at least one British Air Force pilot now certified to fly the B-2A Spirit (Stealth) bomber even though we only have 20 of them.
The Swiss also fly U.S. built F/A-18 Hornets and at least one Swiss pilot is carrier qualified. Even though Switzerland is a landlocked country with no navy.
The Swiss also fly U.S. built F/A-18 Hornets and at least one Swiss pilot is carrier qualified. Even though Switzerland is a landlocked country with no navy.
Here's why I think this is all BS. FPAlpha apologized for his misunderstanding (which I don't think was a misunderstanding at all, but I digress) and deescalated the situation. And how do you respond? By ramping up the criticism of him and making sarcastic remarks. So no, I don't think you had any intention of being serious with your initial question in this thread, and I don't think you have any intention of engaging in serious or friendly discussion here, despite your claims to the contrary. I think you're playing games, and you're right, people aren't going to be friendly if that's the case.
I'm going to assume that as an internet user who was capable of registering for this forum, that you also have the bare minimum of technical know-how to allow you to run a Google Search for Italian Air Force if you were really that curious about it. It takes about the same amount of time as asking the question in a post here.
I'm also going to assume that as a person who is not aware that a NATO member and one of the world's largest economies would have an air force, that you would then defer to the knowledge of other people in the thread, none of whom seemed baffled by the idea that Italy might have an air force. So, the logical thing to do would be to again, take ten seconds to look it up or wait for someone else to say "hey, what are you guys talking about? Italy doesn't have an air force."
The question you asked is a pretty standard tactic to get a rise out of people, much like asking "France has an army?" Now, if that wasn't your intent, so be it, but you should also realize that you made a mistake and should therefore not react with hostility when someone apologizes to you and tries to resolve the situation. That's something a person who is again looking to get a reaction would do.
If you want to have a positive experience here, you are more than welcome to and you will be treated in a friendly manner and with respect if respect is given to others. If you're here to play games though, then yeah, maybe this isn't the right place for you.
But Switzerland does have a lake, so in theory...
The Australia, UK, and I think Canada have lots of US carrier qualified pilots. Aside from interoperability and the ability to give them a ride or a mobile basing option, I'm not sure that we don't do it just because we like to show off how cool it is to operate from a postage stamp. Of course it's also a benefit to have US allies familiar with carrier operations, especially for odd contigencies. A few weeks ago it came out that Reagan offered Thatcher the USS Midway during the Falklands War.
That's a real compliment to their pilots though, being able to start and land on that carrier. 
It's dudette.
It was a serious question. A dumb one at best. But when you get jumped for making a silly error, it puts one on the defensive. Maybe this place isn't as friendly as I hoped.
Mea culpa.
We are very friendly.. it's just that we assume a level of education by being Star Trek or SF fans and therefore also assume that we know a bit about other stuff than our own country and interests.
So, you assume a certain level of education because we're all Trek fans? What's your minimum standard then? BA, BS, or Masters level?
Do you think because I'm a vet tech I don't qualify? Do you know what my career was before I was a vet tech? No? Don't presume as well as assume. It makes you seem not friendly at all.
Fine.
Thank you for that pearl of wisdom. I'll make sure to google first before I post something on the off chance I'm about to ask another stupid question.Well.. i apologize for my assumption and comments. As to your admitted lack of general knowledge.. you might want to do something about it (it's no shame to admit a lack of knowledge.. it's a shame not to correct it
Just like your presumptions and assuming in my case, check your facts before you jump. You never know just who the other person is you're slamming. What they did, where they've been and seen, why they moved on.
Fine.. have it that way
You yourself admitted it was a real question and a dumb one so who am i to argue with your own assessment? I'll let your statement stand for all to see and make up their own mind as to your intellectual level and judging from the posts here i think i'm in good company.
Have a nice time here.
That's a real compliment to their pilots though, being able to start and land on that carrier.
Yes, it is, and I'll bet that's a big element of it. Naval aviators always give shit to Air Force pilots, because who can't hit a 9,000 foot runway? Due to US inter-service rivalry, not many Air Force pilots get to touch down on a carrier. Their hand-eye coordination isn't good enough, their balls are way too small, they're claustrophobic, they get sea sick, and their planes are too delicate and effeminant for the hard landings and salt air.
So for any F-18 pilot, getting cleared for operations on the Nimitz, Reagan, Ford, or other carrier puts them in another category, as a pilot who can drop a bomb on your a** no matter what continent you try to hide in.
BTW, and unrelated: A few months ago I got in a debate with a vicious girl who was a backseater in an F-18 Growler, who demanded to know what the approach speed of an F-18 is. I said it was usually about 130 knots and she denounced me as a fool. Given that the approach speed is usually around 129 knots and varies with weapons load (they fly a 9.1 degree angle of attack and let the airspeed be what may), along with lots of other clues, some of us think she's didn't make the front seat for a reason, while some think she's an Internet persona of a guy with serious psychological issues whose made up an entire pretend family.
