Vance AFB

drew09

drew09

Well-Known Member
Found out this morning I'll be going to Vance AFB for UPT! No dates yet but so excited! Has anyone here on JC gone to Vance or know anything about Enid, OK?

Thanks!
 
I'm at Vance at the moment about to start Phase III.

It's... uh... well if you consider...


There's no way around it, it's the part of Oklahoma so it's great for pilot training. OKC is about an hour away, Tulsa 2 hours, and Stillwater is nice (college town) and about an hour and a half away. Turnpikes suck, scenery sucks, and Enid sucks.

But it's all what you make of it, it's always windy so you'll be great at landing in crosswinds, and the base is small and full of pilot trainees so you're in good company. I definitely wouldn't want to be here longer than I have to (don't FAIP) but as far as UPT bases are concerned it's not that bad, no distractions.
 
I'm a couple months removed and an echo the statements above. Don't let anyone dog you either, all the UPT bases have suck and some have good points. You do get some cool interaction with the Navy/Marine there as well as some international studs. Go in with a positive outlook and get through. We had some Navy/Marine dudes that went in with a crappy attitude and didn't enjoy it as much as they should have...if you can enjoy UPT.
 
Every Navy pilot I know that went through Vance say they enjoyed the flying, but don't miss the area.
 
To bad Willie isn't open anymore for you guys. It was a fun place, insofar as UPT bases go.
 
MercFE said:
Every Navy pilot I know that went through Vance say they enjoyed the flying, but don't miss the area.
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They kept trying to do things the Navy way, which is not better, just different. The highly structured and fast paced nature got them when they fought it...also, they loathed standup.

I never went out to Stillwater, but I did fly in a couple times and it seemed fun. A few of my bros would go about once a month and they said it was fun.
 
It's hard to not want Navy flight training when the only time you have to be at the squadron is when you fly, have class or duty. Otherwise, you're on your on program. Not saying it's better but it's certainly more laid back from what I hear. I was all Navy and earned my wings back in 96 but we have Vance guys down here in Kingsville where I instruct.
 
bunk22 said:
It's hard to not want Navy flight training when the only time you have to be at the squadron is when you fly, have class or duty. Otherwise, you're on your on program. Not saying it's better but it's certainly more laid back from what I hear. I was all Navy and earned my wings back in 96 but we have Vance guys down here in Kingsville where I instruct.
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It would have been nice, but we had a couple people AF studs do primary at Whiting and there was one guy who had flights with a FAIP he graduated college with, kinda a kick to the nuts if you ask me.
 
lol from a Navy standpoint, this is the first time I've ever heard anyone say they were looking forward to Vance. That said, I'm sure it will be a good time, and congrats!
 
Superfly7XAF said:
I'm at Vance at the moment about to start Phase III.

It's... uh... well if you consider...


There's no way around it, it's the part of Oklahoma so it's great for pilot training. OKC is about an hour away, Tulsa 2 hours, and Stillwater is nice (college town) and about an hour and a half away. Turnpikes suck, scenery sucks, and Enid sucks.

But it's all what you make of it, it's always windy so you'll be great at landing in crosswinds, and the base is small and full of pilot trainees so you're in good company. I definitely wouldn't want to be here longer than I have to (don't FAIP) but as far as UPT bases are concerned it's not that bad, no distractions.
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are you going -38s or -1s?
 
Kinda off topic on my own thread here, but are there opportunities for AF pilots to cross train to Navy fighters? I've seen hornet guys go to the A-10. Just curious if they trust AF guys behind the boat haha
 
drew09 said:
Kinda off topic on my own thread here, but are there opportunities for AF pilots to cross train to Navy fighters? I've seen hornet guys go to the A-10. Just curious if they trust AF guys behind the boat haha
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Yes. F-15/16 guys do exchange to F/A-18s and F-5s commonly. A-10 is less common. And AF pilots used to do exchange to EA-6B, but that has ceased.
 
drew09 said:
Kinda off topic on my own thread here, but are there opportunities for AF pilots to cross train to Navy fighters? I've seen hornet guys go to the A-10. Just curious if they trust AF guys behind the boat haha
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They would need to qual in training just like the rest of us had to. Nothing inherently different about an AF guy taking traps with the required CQ training syllabus......those of us on the Navy side all took our first traps alone and unafraid, with no previous experience flying around the boat as well. I know an RAF Harrier guy who just earned his wings of gold and qual'd in the Hornet. We all had to start somewhere :)
 
I just found out my IFS date is March 2013 and UPT May 2013. I commission 3 May 2012. Is it possible that this is just a place holder date and that I could be called up for sooner dates?
 
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