This will stir-up a hornet’s nest…

[MountainGoat]

I wonder if they'll start making navy officers learn sextant again,  and maybe retrofit the P8 with a sextant port like  my P3 had.   As a former nfo, I'm bothered by how much I just use gps,  it wasn't allowed in flight school. (Also bothered by my paltry system knowledge and weak checklist disciple compared to then,  but it isn't my full time job anymore) 

[Pinecone]

16 hours ago, dkkim73 said:

I think it might be the most under-appreciated (modern) platform in the AF, from the outsider's viewpoint. All single-seat, so I have no more direct knowledge as weight and balance type airman. But I loved watching them fly alongside (MH-47G) or in airshows. The wing and robust design and "skin in the game" mission were so compelling post-2001. Hats off to you for serving in one. The few warthog drivers I met were all-in. 

The Eagle is howeverthe best airplane *ever*, just to be clear, just in case you were thinking I was getting all soft and whatnot....  

 

WEEELLL, let me tell you about air to air Eagle versus Hog sometime over a beer.  You buy.

But remember, don't wrestle with a Hog, you will both get dirty, but the Hog loves that.
 

[Pinecone]

12 hours ago, MountainGoat said:

I wonder if they'll start making navy officers learn sextant again,  and maybe retrofit the P8 with a sextant port like  my P3 had.   As a former nfo, I'm bothered by how much I just use gps,  it wasn't allowed in flight school. (Also bothered by my paltry system knowledge and weak checklist disciple compared to then,  but it isn't my full time job anymore) 

They reinstated celestial nav at the USNA.  It had been removed from the syllabus, but a few years ago the added it back.

I was on a bridge tour on a cruise ship and saw a sextant, so asked if they actually used it.  They take sights daily to keep in practice.

[Pinecone]

12 hours ago, MikeOH said:

LOL! I had the same thought.

Imagine 'only' 65 of the round on the left (the one on the right is a 30-06 round) hitting you per SECOND...

Pretty sure you wouldn't care too much about the last 64

 1.0 to 1.2 POUND projectile with a muzzle velocity of 3600 FPS (plus the speed of the plane).

We practiced strafing ground targets from 1 nm slant range.   It would kill a tank at that range.

FYI, A-10 carries 1174 rounds.  The F-35A, IF it actually has a gun, carries 184 rounds.  Which one do YOU want supporting you if you are on the ground in a gun fight???