Clark Griswold

Dog riding monkey cowboy. 'Merica. https://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/07/25/yes-that-is-a-cowboy-monkey-riding-a-dog-and-herding-sheep/

Jack of all trades and master of none is not a bad thing.

Thanks Yep - just someone's concept drawing but close enough for a visual for the discussion Yeah - I think that 6 pallets is in a particular configuration, I think with passenger seating but from the AF website and fact sheet: A cargo deck above the refueling system can accommodate a mix load of passengers, patients and cargo. The KC-46A can carry up to 18 463L cargo pallets. Seat tracks and the onboard cargo handling system make it possible to simultaneously carry palletized cargo, seats, and patient support pallets in a variety of combinations. The new tanker aircraft offers significantly increased cargo and aeromedical evacuation capabilities. https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104537/kc-46a-pegasus.aspx I suppose the 6 pallets mentioned was in this configuration: JK I have a bit of practice with Sketch up (planning a remodel) but no where near enough for an aircraft project.

Copy that My druthers, the new strategic tanker would be a 747-8 tanker.

True but his argument was the total overall cost of flying a few KC-46's inefficiently to move cargo occasionally vice keeping older C-17s flying was probably cheaper, as we were discussing this over a cold beer at the end of the day neither of us did any math or research on this. We got on this subject as I was talking about how few KC-46s the AF was planning to acquire (at least officially) compared to the current fleet size of the KC-135s & KC-10s - he believes that more will have to purchased but my cynical hunch is that as the F-35 goes into full rate production, there will be no money for more 46s, just thinking positively... not...

Don't doubt that it is not its strong suit but his idea was that we would accept having less dedicated airlift / air delivery capability to have more modern full time tanker part time cargo hauler capability, his opinion and was just an interesting idea I thought. Basically to save hours on the remaining C-17s and have the dedicated regular airlift movements from CONUS to established OCONUS locations flown by less expensive per flight hour aircraft, etc... saving the C-17s, etc... for operations that specifically need that capability No doubt Minor edit.

Shocking but true... however as Azimuth said this is on Boeing to eat (sts) Question if anyone has heard this discussed or can comment on an open forum about it: has it been discussed to buy more 46s as the 17s are retired? A friend who flies the 135 seems to think that is the going to be be the case as the 17s reach the end of their service life. Seems reasonable but wondered if this idea is circulating...

Problems but still on track for a September first flight of the KC-46 https://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-faces-8-month-delay-on-3b-tanker-contracts/ https://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/07/21/first-air-force-tanker-flight-on-track-despite-cost-overruns.html Sexy beast...

Hipsters? Nah... But I see your point, there is plenty of chaff on their site but occasionally wheat also.

Wouldn't call them clueless but highly opinionated that sometimes keeps them from seeing the forest because the trees. I felt worthy of a repost for this august thread as it was a piece of good news for the besieged F-35 and while CMANO is a video game available to the public and only has publicly available knowledge on it, the simulation engine with the database it has available gives plausible results, just my opinion. Just my summary of the simulation results for those who want the spoiler.

Article from War is Boring on CMANO simulation of F-35B v Su-35 BLUF: shooting someone when they don't know you're there is a great tactic. https://medium.com/war-is-boring/don-t-think-the-f-35-can-fight-it-does-in-this-realistic-war-game-fc10706ba9f4

That may or may not be a big deal over there

True - the Canberra class is significantly smaller than the Kuznetsov class carrier with a ski jump but don't discount the ski jump concept because it can't put as heavy a jet as cat assisted launch. While the Canberra class probably could not handle a Super-duper bug it's the idea that you field what you can afford and work with those capabilities that I argue for. Not everyone can afford a nuclear powered carrier with a steam or EAL system but a lot countries that have or want carriers could afford a ski jump oil burner boat that could get probably 20-30 WOD. China is getting their Su-33 off (sts) with 4,000 lbs. of ordinance while a Superbug can launch with 12,000+ lbs. (no mention of fuel and take reference with salt but seems reasonable) Obviously the cat setup is mucho better but it's not like the ski jump is crap. Bring back weight is also a big problem with STOVL, the Harrier has been dropping ordinance into the drink for years because of vertical performance limits, SRVL will help with this but you are still limited in what can be brought back . Can't argue with the loss of parking for RW aircraft, google'd and seems no one has tried a variable ramp for a ski jump carrier, might as well get a catapult at that point I guess. Add-on now BO.net is Code 1: Found this simulation result on Hornet ski jump feasibility here.

Ski jump hornet - now make that the Advanced Capability Hornet and that is your F-35B alternative. Surprised the Rafale hasn't made any inroads with the Brits - Aussies - Spanish - Italians

Yup If we're not going to be friends then a "business" relationship is better Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Change in course? Dunford: Pentagon Reconsidering Planned Size of F-35 Fleet Pentagon Reconsidering Total F-35 Buy, Dunford Says

War is Boring has another F-35 article, now it's too slow and hot (not in the good way) to win https://medium.com/war-is-boring/no-the-f-35-can-t-fight-at-long-range-either-5508913252dd

Thanks!

Copy that - thanks

Excellent historical film - "There is a way" - about Thud drivers in Vietnam. Just interesting, showing personal interviews, 100 mission celebrations, good times at the club, and some great inflight footage with radio comms.

Anyone recently worked at the Pentagon and commuted from Bolling Green?

War is Boring is really on a tear for the F-35, another article this one saying it's the next 105 (which gets more abuse for its performance than it deserves IMO given what it was tasked to do, the restrictions on ROE and concentration of enemy AAA, SAMs and MiGs) but another for the pile: https://medium.com/war-is-boring/the-f-105-was-the-f-35-of-the-vietnam-era-51863811024a Respect the Thud, it was given a man's job

Is it likely the HUD tape would have survived the impact?

Moral hazard or just getting the break that you got after a big screw up? The case for a German write off of a shit ton of Greek debt. https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/08/business/economy/germanys-debt-history-echoed-in-greece.html?_r=0 Not convinced but cutting them a break may be the least bad move. Edit: grammar