Clark Griswold

Yup, I’ll close the loop on my opinions on UAS/guns saying some control but not over control. Arming all the countries we can and pulling them into our orbit to give them multiple problems? Yes More IRBMs in theater to give them pause? Yes

You’re right, it will impede some amount of freedom of the law abiding but overall the benefit IMO would be worth it Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup With the capes that non state actors have demonstrated lately and the level of support rogue states have been willing to give VEOs recently, we’re all three of lucky/blessed/well protected by professionals to not have this happen As with gun control, I’m for a certain amount, in relation to UAS, we probably need to expand the FARs and prohibit recreational flight in certain areas for that reason, require a UAS transponder always to tie back to an operator certificate, drone detection systems deployed, etc… Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No doubt, I think we believe it can’t/won’t happen to us but a novel attack is certainly on the bingo card Hard shelters, land setbacks, anti UAS systems, new Prohibited Areas around bases, jail time for violators, etc… nothing is 100% but you need to try to get there and overlapping defenses add up Not every base immediately but start now, this nation needs to get into a different place in terms of security mindset, it would give the enemy some insight into our sources and methods but declassifying some intel to tell the why for this shift to the public, like the Why We Fight movies in WW2, call them Why We Prepare, might shift the zeitgeist Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Concur but we have options if we are willing to / allowed to change force structure and fleet composition The -47 sounds like it will have the range needed to be less dependent on the tanker, if we think the priority fight is the Indo-Pacific then we prioritize systems for that theater and divest some of the older shorter range platforms to get more of what we need. Not immediately of course but soon. Off hand, more B-21s, unfornicate the -46 and certify for unrestricted ops, get a long range UCAV (not a CCA). The F-15EX probably mixes well into this too for its reported range (790 NM). That’s a relevant combat range with a tanking south of the PI to ingress to the Taiwan Strait.

Full frontal… https://www.twz.com/air/this-could-be-our-best-view-yet-of-chinas-j-36-very-heavy-stealth-tactical-jet

Seems like India achieved her objectives but the air to air losses over shadowed them in the news cycle https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/was-operation-sindoor-a-surprise-victory-for-india https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/india-had-clear-edge-in-military-strikes-on-pakistan-new-york-times-report/ar-AA1EMFni?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=9fe2e2165a9d484eabd9475848ee4146&ei=48

One more trainer Only two built, TF-86F

Advanced Japanese trainer https://theaviationist.com/2025/05/23/japan-t-x-jet-trainer-concept-dsei/

https://www.twz.com/air/russia-testing-shotgun-armed-yak-52-trainer-aircraft-to-down-ukrainian-drones

Only if POTUS can zip line thru the ramp from a 747 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Lockheed tanker proposal early 2000’s

Yup the beautiful L1011, just included as it was a concept / proposal when they started looking to replace the VC-137 during the Carter administration Not sure if it was in that article I posted but it was eliminated first in the draw down then the DC-10 v B-747 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

3 engine VIP concepts https://avgeekery.com/mcdonnell-douglas-once-proposed-a-dc-10-for-air-force-one/

Caveat emptor but seems a reasonable summary and theorizing on how the IAF lost a few jets Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

His and hers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Leave the Qatari jet as is plus security upgrades, give to First Lady for her official transportation He’ll win husband of the century and go up 15 points with soccer moms Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably that, 10+ hours in the air for 5000 NM. It was / is 5+30 for JFK to GEO and that’s about 2200 NM. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

737 MAX 8 concept

I hear ya Lawrence, flew the 73 several 5+ hour flights (if it was for premium I’d look back fondly on them) but looking at the future I think it possible the VIP planes in a contingency will need to get a loooong way on one tank of gas, gray T tails and tankers will be spoken for so giving the pinstripe suits a means to hop a pond in one jet with their entourage will be necessary Crew with a relief pilot and separate, private crew rest areas Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

@StoleIt Long range tanks for NGs or MAX https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/business-aviation/2014-12-09/versatile-aux-fuel-system-will-give-737s-longer-legs -9 with tanks might be as good as it gets without a true 757 MAX Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably right Flew the -8 MAX, it’s a good jet, not a Bus but good, good high hot takeoff performance, landing is ok, give the right seat a HUD and tiller if Big Blue buys Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah, for the survivability and other requirements i don’t know of exactly I can see the quad being preferable, might not be required but as 747s are available here we go… Split the mission double the bill and make several CODELs happy 😉 747s for overseas and 787s for domestic / near abroad

Too beaucoup gi?

Just switch to 777 Not cheap, not easy but if king for a day it would be part of a 777 mil variant project, tanker/mobility, VVIP, new NECAP platforms.