Comments on: The Sunday Paper (Neo-Retro Photo Edition)

By: Blake

Blake — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:12:41 +0000

DC Good Point.
I was thinking more in line of its natural RCS or lack there of. Although I would like to see a static display, the show it puts on is RFG.
Back to the intent of this DT post: I forgot to include that my office mate has the same picture but with an A-4. (Albeit a Navy experience) So the F22 joining the ranks is indeed an historic event. Put a smile on his face.

By: DC2 Jennings

DC2 Jennings — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:15:51 +0000

Blake,
I have seen the F-22 on static display at an airshow.
I seriously doubt, contrary to opinions here, that the Bear had any sort of air to air radar. It may have had measures for detecting radar energy and such, but I doubt the F-22 radiated. It was more likely directed by ground radar.
DC2

By: Blake

Blake — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:46:25 +0000

Cat or Mouse?
The B2/F22 cannot fly in US airspace without RCS enhancements. I watched a piece on the B2 and each time the plane enters our airspace it puts the curtain up for air traffic controllers. Much like a sailboat so that they are seen by others. Additionally, I’d like to believe if they won’t land the F22 at air shows as to make the technology more difficult to study then it could be assumed that they are not spoon feeding this technology to our esteemed competitors. Although, there was a post from some dude having a meltdown about how stupid the DOD is so maybe I am wrong.

By: DC2 Jennings

DC2 Jennings — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:28:09 +0000

I stand corrected. DOE takes care of maintaining the warheads. However, all other equipment is maintained by the individual services (SSBNs, B-2s, ICBMs, etc.).
DC2

By: DC2 Jennings

DC2 Jennings — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:23:21 +0000

I read this occurred around Thanksgiving. That would mean the F-15s were grounded at the time. So that would explain the use of drop tanks for additional loiter/escort time instead of having another two F-22s show up an relieve this set. They had to keep some F-22s on the ground in case more Bears showed up.
Which just reinforces the fact we need more F-22s. It’s kind of like having two armored divisions. That would be enough to take on any potential enemy (and then some if we are talking about insurgencies AKA the long war), but that would be about it and with no reserve capacity just in case.
DC2

By: DC2 Jennings

DC2 Jennings — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:35:04 +0000

Cole,
You bring up a good point regarding nuclear weapons that directly reflects on the defence budget allocations:
How many nukes does the US Army have? These things aren’t cheap to maintain and the Air Force and Navy have all of them, which they take care of out of their budget.
Of course I guess we should get rid of all of these too since nuclear war will never occur.
DC2

By: antherion

antherion — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:49:51 +0000

Hell I worked on this in the late ‘60s. I guess Russian paranoia will never cease. Great picture too. I’ll add it to the collection I have of NATO escorts through the years.
Posted by: Tony von Krag at February 3, 2008 05:38 PM
Paranoia?! When the world bully encircles us with milbases, bristling with more and more weapons, funding regime change in our country, always trying to teach us how to live, what’s the option, but showing teeth?
Mongols, French, German .… do you want to add Americans to this list? Yes, we are weak now… but I assure you we’ll take you to hell with us if we are forced too. So continue your efforts … to feed our “paranoia”.
I just can’t beleive that you are so dumb to accuse others of your our sins. Who is the world most armed nations… do I need to remind you?

By: NTV

NTV — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:54:47 +0000

Cole,
The USAF continued flying “Chrome Dome” missions for a few years after the Palomares incident. I dont know if they still flew into the Med after that, but they definately continued the northern chrome dome flights until the Thule incident in 1968.

By: Roy Smith

Roy Smith — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:04:49 +0000

& if anybody disputes my argument that IEDs & snipers are defeating us,then why are our troops buttoned up like turtle in a shell & unable to freely walk up & down roads & ally ways in Iraq? Oh,I forgot,the surge is WORKING.

By: Roy Smith

Roy Smith — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 21:02:27 +0000

If anybody wants a lesson in how arrogance & believing your own hype that you are the greatest in the world can come back to bite you in the ass,you need to look no further than the New England Patriots.When they had a simple 3 point field goal to make,they blew it by deciding to throw another pass instead.Also,when they ONLY NEEDED to get close enough for a 3 point field goal,they had to keep throw long bomb incomplete passes.
What does this have to do with our national defense? Everything,because that is our attitude about national defense.Instead of paying for unglamorous things like capable lift aircraft & tankers,we have to have the big glamorous F-22s.Like the Patriots stupidly thinking they need to throw another bomb when a simple field goal will do,we have to design our battle tactics around the F-22 & literally everything else be damned.The New York Giants won with simple “low tech” stuff,& the enemy is beating us with low tech IEDs & snipers…AND there ain’t nothin’ an F-22 can do to counter that(because they don’t drop bombs yet).Maybe we should call our battle tactics & National Defense Plan the “F-22 Defense”.