5 of the last 10 people to join my unit here in Phoenix came from California because houses were to expensive for them I there.

... and they're still commuting to their California jobs!

You laugh, but one of them does. He’s a part time Air Guard mechanic with a house here but full time he’s a cargo pilot based out of LA.

That's just crazy. I work too many hours a day to add any more with a commute. 30-45 minutes each way is my limit. (and in LA that's not far away!)

That's not unusual at all for a pilot. I have a friend that used to fly for United who lived in Orlando and was based out of NYC, a couple of the Delta drivers I knew were living in Orlando and based out of Atlanta and I also know a UPS capitán here in Vero who is based out of Miami. What's up with a cargo pilot wrenching for the Air Guard anyway? I thought most often those folks were pilots straight across the board.
_______________________

Nice place Spiff! The blue on your walls is darn near identical to the same color we have in our den and master bedroom, good luck with getting it sold. Your prices seem to be very competitive with similar real estate here in Florida.

This guy was a C-130 crew chief on active duty but got out before making it to retirement. After becoming a civilian pilot he decided it was worthwhile to come in the guard to finish out his military retirement but was too old to become a military pilot. So he came back as a KC-135 crew chief because his prior experience meant he could OJT instead of going to a formal school.

We also have two crew chiefs in situations similar to the friends you mentioned. However, in their cases they joined the guard as mechanics to help pay for their collage degrees and flight school. They are flying as civilians to build up their hours and get guard pilot jobs. One of them is based in Chicago IL. And the other is in Newark NJ. But they actually live where they are based and commute back here to Phoenix once a month for their guard drills. They keep their guard jobs or they would have to pay back their education benefits and also being in the unit gives them an inside track to getting a slot as a guard pilot.

I see now Grunt, several years ago I tried joining the Army Guard to fly the OH-58 helicopter but I was just past the age limit for pilots and they wouldn't give me a waiver even with my prior service. I'm talking a matter of just a couple of months.

KC-135, that is one cool machine!


Sorry Spiff, we got a little off track.

Same thing happened to me except it would have been the UH-60.


I like it since except for the avionics it’s 1950s technology which makes it fairly easy to work on. One of the coolest things you can do with it is a boom pod takeoff. Well it’s against the rules but it still happens. It’s where you go to the back and lay down in the boom pod from where the boom operator refuels other planes. When the aircraft rotates at takeoff your face is about 4 feet from the runway.

Also sorry for taking this off topic.

Ecch, those prices are nuts.
For 500k here in the 'Peg you could buy a 3500 sq ft house with about 2 acres just south of the city by 10 min.

Chess...I hate you.