Clark Griswold

Can't argue with that, an FB-22 would just be much more capable in the A/G, at least from a load out perspective. But the development of updated software & avionics for an FB could / should have updates / improvements for the F-22, an indirect way of improving the tails we have. Honestly, the only thing that could get this started is a situation where double digit SAMs or 4+ gen fighters either block or severely impede operations for 'Merica or allies, the need will have to be demonstrated not just theorized before Congress will come around to it.

What are you crazy? Follow thru with a procurement and capability strategy and then revaluate at appropriate intervals when you have built out to program milestones that would allow you to have operationally relevant and logistically efficient fleet sizes? Put down that crack pipe of common sense and drink this blue kool-aid... Seriously, I agree but the AF does not like to play thru when the heat rises (in all fairness other branches curtail or cancel outright even after considerable development) but you would have thought with the recent memory of the B-2 when the ATF program was about to bear fruit there would have been either organizational resilience to resist rash moves or that more thought and contingency planning would have occurred for cost overruns, delays, technical issues, etc... True, but this flight of fancy is the hypothetical development of the FB-22 for the range of A/G missions. Like the Superbug to the classic hornet, this would have to be at most a second cousin the original Raptor with a lot of new customized systems, software, etc... to be a realistic A/G platform. Now about the money...

This should be on the CSAF reading list: https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Blue-Yonder-Politics-Bomber/dp/0691023069 On the subject of restarting the line for Raptors and how it has 0.69% chance of happening plus or minus 100%, if the new CSAF wants to chase a white whale that might be catchable, go after the FB-22. If the Navy can jedi mind trick Congress into buying that the Superbug was just an improved version of the classic hornet, the AF can do the same. Another article on restarting the Raptor line, basically the author's opinion is the technology is old well so is the technology of the A bomb but that's still effective too, my retort to that. He references an attempt to use the stored tools and recorded tool use videos, that didn't work so well, they couldn't find the materials and that happened several times, so this could all be moot but worth bullshitting over. Worth a two minute read: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/solution-americas-f-35-nightmare-why-not-build-more-f-22s-13858

True - that is the crux, we (the AF) are only advisory really to how or what we buy / operate, Congress with its causes, agendas, deals and priorities writes the appropriation. Still, the case has to be made we can't afford to support Congress Oinky who wants to keep shoveling slop to X constituent and his/her parochial economic interest that sucks money from legitimate requirements. I agree it is not impossible, Regan resurrected the B-1, but we need a revolutionary with multiple stars to take a risk and publicly call out divestiture of old systems for new ones - the move to divest the A-10 while promoting the F-35 being the bad example of this, don't have a good one but hey there's always a first.

Word. Ned, I want to avoid a personal attack, that's usually bullshit and not relevant but I do want to ask and if you don't want to answer ignore me or give me the one-finger salute, but... 1. Are you commissioned yet? 2. Rated? 3. Older than 27? I'd like to know your background and compare it in relation to mine when I woke up from the Matrix. I still am proud to serve and do so everyday but I am realistic about the Air Force, warts and all. Every year I have been in it has gotten worse: Leadership detached or indifferent to the actual mission Inordinate attention paid to social actions & policy at the Wing to Squadron Level Poorly executed onerous efforts to save minuscule amounts of money when the real elephants in the room continue to smash the furniture and walls No aggressive vision to create a modern force in terms of aircraft, systems, HR policies, force composition, pay & benefits or administration Rampant corruption, cronyism and ineptitude at the highest echelons of leadership The AF is an F-4, as long as it has plenty of gas and both motors it can fly the speed of heat but once that fuel runs out or we loose thrust on a motor, all that drag we covered up with thrust comes out. One motor is sputtering and the low fuel light is on...

The Air Force Boss Gave A Depressing Response When Asked About Building More F-22s I wouldn't say depressing (Tyler Ridgeway's article title) but honest, anyway the view from the top of the food chain on a restart of Raptors.

Blizzard 2016 over... finally.

Fascinating... I had not heard of that Herc variant before, very cool. Found this brochure on it from back in the day on it, 140k GW airplane into a 1500' strip over a 50' obstacle... very STOL capable....

Good Christmas list. Thanks, I did some google-fu but found just a the slide with the NG and the proposed C-130XL for Herc concepts, besides the past proposed amphibian Herc, which would be cool to the power of 10. One thing to add to your list, a new JATO system. Follow on to post: C-130.net article on a research C-130B in the 50's with boundary layer control over flaps, controllable down to 60 knots but just some lateral control concerns... https://www.c-130.net/g3/c-130-photos/North-American-C-130-Photos/USAF-C-130/2013_Spotlight_Web_C130B_C_130B_BoundaryLayerControl_001_1267828237_8045 and from NASA https://history.nasa.gov/SP-3300/ch8.htm

Herc will probably make it to 100... https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2016/01/14/new-pentagon-contract-signals-lockheed-martins-c-130-airlifter-is-headed-for-100-years-of-service/#2715e4857a0b41d77fdf71fc On that idea, is there talk in the Herc community of an Next Gen Herc? I've seen this concept and it looks like it was pulled from a Lockheed presentation: The article referenced above just made me curious if there was talk of another major update. Not that there is the money for that necessarily...

Foxtrot Alpha has a wrap up of the numbers and a short CBS interview with Sec. Powell https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/operation-desert-storm-by-the-numbers-on-its-25th-anniv-1753347671 25 years, probably 3+ trillion dollars spent, 6000+ KIAs & 250k+ WIAs, let's get to some point we can call it good (whatever that is) and only engage there when either Israel is about to be overrun or the oil supply is about to be cut off. Somehow Europe, Japan, China, etc... buy oil and don't have a huge military footprint there, we can do the same...

Seaplanes... Got way off topic in the China thread on seaplanes but thanks to that diversion I found this gem about some other seaplanes (British) I had not heard of, specifically: Sander-Roe SRA/1 Good historical film and documentary on the biggest seaplanes still operating: Sea Dart is still best idea in the opinion of this aviation nut...

Things might not be that bad: https://alert5.com/2016/01/13/north-korea-faked-the-video-of-slbm-launch-missile-exploded-a-few-seconds-into-the-test/ I am sure they are cursing the yankee imperialist scum for thwarting this triumph of the people but shit happens comrade.

Seamaster was awesome too but if we want to take this thread derailment to it's logical conclusion... On a serious note, it was interesting to see even back in the 50's there was an effort to merge more of the mobility missions into one platform, direct delivery into an austere / difficult AOR and AR for a support CAP

More dreams come true for NK... North Korea Shows Latest Submarine Missile Test LaunchDecember ejection test appears on state-run television days after nuclear test It's the raw excitement of the narrator that really brings out the victory of the worker's paradise...

Not full scale deflection from the subject of this thread but getting there... Historical video on the operational concept of the Tradewind... Basically, you get self deployment capability into an amphibious setting for about a rifle company sized unit and a couple of vehicles / artillery / supplies with a built in tanker capability for probe & drogue for a CAP to support about 600 nm from base. Not sure if the Chinese decided they want to do this with their seaplane (eventually) but for their artificial islands and any possible plans to seize other islands, atolls, reefs, platforms, etc... this could be viable, relevant and not that expensive a capability to build. They're making noise about expanding their outer chain of islands: China: We Can Seize More Islands In South China Sea. If you wanted to avoid the sub threat (assuming the air is permissible) you could keep the flag planted and defended in a lot of places way out there.

Ditto There is a cool factor and nostalgia that I love too. Not to stretch logic and credibility but there is an argument to be made (sorta) for a modern seaplane for Coast Guard missions (SAR, LR maritime patrol, etc.) but given to state of acquisition / development I imagine the requirements inflation monster would push it thru FL450 in development cost even if you took an old but proven design and adapted proven systems to it or vice versa, of course this is just me pontificating on what only appears to be be straightforward and easy... yeah, just slap some J model motors on, glass up front, it all work no problem... still as a taxpayer I'm for it...

Not bad but if Congress and the Navy get drunk and irresponsible, they should fund a modernized R3Y Tradewind Totally a valid requirement because if China gets cool new toys then damn it if we shouldn't also... but just another expeditionary capability to add to their mix.

New year, same problem... Military age males unaccompanied from the ME https://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2016/jan/05/stringers-threat-san-diego-southern-border/# Military level capabilities demonstrated by drug cartels https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2015/12/DHS-Drug-Traffickers-Spoofing-Border-Drones/124613/?oref=d-channelriver And the transnational connection to drug cartels and terrorists continue... https://freebeacon.com/national-security/investigation-collusion-between-terrorists-and-mexican-cartels-is-a-threat-to-u-s/

equivalent in the right circumstances Follow on, I hope this convinces libs of the foolishness of nuclear disarmament, not responsible, verifiable reductions to reasonable levels of nuclear weapons but the idea that you could ever trust that all nuclear weapons have been eliminated when a piss poor communist thugocracy can scrape enough together to have fission and now fusion weapons and the means to deliver them. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-missile-idUSKBN0UK02P20160106 The more things change the more they stay the same.

H bombs... https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/05/asia/north-korea-seismic-event/index.html

Another from pop sci - Chinese seaplane AG-600 https://www.popsci.com/blog-network/eastern-arsenal/china-building-worlds-largest-sea-plane and one from Defense News https://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/naval-aviation/2015/03/28/china-seaplane-islands-scs-claims-spratley-reef/70542218/

Unfortunately - this is very clever. ‘Call of Jihad’: ISIS Turns to Video Games, Hollywood to Reach Recruits