I too was a USAF Pilot, for 24 years. I overlapped
@BjornF16, I think for the whole time he was in. I flew C-130s, was a T-38 IP, then was a T-1 IP/EP. So I was qualified in a transport type aircraft, a fighter type trainer, and a business jet type aircraft.
I call the C-130 a transport "type" airplane because along with the occasional trash hauling missions, we flew low levels, formation, air drops, and assault takeoffs and assault landings. It was in the C-130 where the light came on for BFM--I guess in a C-130 it would be BCM. I learned how to defeat gun and missile shots from F-4s and A-7s in the mid 80s. Only a few of us got to do that. BTW, not sure what worked against F-4s and A-7s would work against F-15s or F-16s with modern missiles and guns.
As a T-38 IP I REALLY learned how to maneuver fast jets because of having to fix all the student errors. I had to teach fighter track students how to do wing landings, something that the current USAF doesn't do anymore. I even got to fly solo against a guy who flew F-15s prior to his T-38 tour--he didn't get me to overshoot.
Then I flew the T-1, a converted Beech 400 business jet. We flew it low-level, in formation, and did simulated aerial refueling and simulated airdrops in it.
My flying has been spotty since retiring form the USAF, but Indo have an opportunity that sounds fun after I get back from Africa in a couple of weeks. We leave this Monday.