Military News

[SnoKing]

Yesterday when I was out RC flying a KC-135 was making multiple pass over the field while doing landings and take offs at Gateway.

 

[HPSimpson]

You to realize if and when we fight will be fought with fighters, drones and missiles and whatever bombers we have inventory. To build new bomber will take twenty plus years do Congress dragging there feet.

 

[DHayden]

I'm amused (not even slightly) how Democrats are concerned with spending only when a Republican is in office. 2,000 dollars a month for everyone!

On another note, I'm not sure the day of the bomber could be over. Yes they have a purpose, yes they are expensive. With the missiles we have today, the bomber becomes more irrelevant. Missiles are expensive but when you take into consideration, Aircraft cost, maintenance, fuel, personnel from pilots to mechanics to supply to admin to everyone in between keeping everyone current on training flying day in and day out...you make up the cost of missiles quickly. Missiles come in all sizes, can bust bunkers, eliminate swaths of personnel in the open and are accurate enough to take out a toilet in any dictators mansion. I love bombers, but realistically their time has come except for maybe one Wing.

 

[SnoKing]

Nothing like a little carpet bombing to get ones attention however.

 

[DavidC]

Yesterday when I was out RC flying a KC-135 was making multiple pass over the field while doing landings and take offs at Gateway.

Another sad day when they closed what was Williams AFB and now Gateway. At least the base is being used, I guess.

 

[DavidC]

I'm amused (not even slightly) how Democrats are concerned with spending only when a Republican is in office. 2,000 dollars a month for everyone!

On another note, I'm not sure the day of the bomber could be over. Yes they have a purpose, yes they are expensive. With the missiles we have today, the bomber becomes more irrelevant. Missiles are expensive but when you take into consideration, Aircraft cost, maintenance, fuel, personnel from pilots to mechanics to supply to admin to everyone in between keeping everyone current on training flying day in and day out...you make up the cost of missiles quickly. Missiles come in all sizes, can bust bunkers, eliminate swaths of personnel in the open and are accurate enough to take out a toilet in any dictators mansion. I love bombers, but realistically their time has come except for maybe one Wing.

Being a Bomber guy I am a little partial, they are reusable. When a missle goes say bye bye, drones are reuasable but it had better be a small target. So there are still pluses for the Bomber.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Do you know the reason mccain put a halt to it ?

Because John McCain was a dirty rotten communist. May he rot in hell.

 

[SnoKing]

Because John McCain was a dirty rotten communist. May he rot in hell.

You mean because McCain was willing to work across the isle he was a dirty rotten communist???

 

[Tractorat]

You mean because McCain was willing to work across the isle he was a dirty rotten communist???

He made his decisions on how it would reward him or whether he liked someone or not. He didnt care about the good of the country. He was a slime ball.

 

[SnoKing]

Everyone has an opinion.

 

[Regcabguy]

They're baiting Donald. I hope he doesn't take it.

 

[DonFitzwater]

You mean because McCain was willing to work across the isle he was a dirty rotten communist???

“Work across the isle”...........I disagree 100% with this statement. I can’t remember him ever voting with the Republicans.

 

[brucejohnson]

Being a Bomber guy I am a little partial, they are reusable. When a missle goes say bye bye, drones are reuasable but it had better be a small target. So there are still pluses for the Bomber.

Bomber guy, too.
A bomber (BUFF in particular) is a great platform for stand-off launches of multiple weapons to multiple targets.
One such system: https://boeing.mediaroom.com/2016-0...ix-Enhanced-B-52-Bomber-Weapons-Bay-Launchers
Video info: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...AF223E9A30B821405D24AF2&view=detail&FORM=VIRE

And one for entertainment. Finish with a 9 cell MITO. Awesome is an understatement!

 

[HPSimpson]

Don't tell are those aircraft still using water-injection for take-off, is that why all the smoke?

 

[DavidC]

Don't tell are those aircraft still using water-injection for take-off, is that why all the smoke?

Yes they are, they could really smoke out a place.

 

[HPSimpson]

That's one big reason to replace engines on Buff newer engines don't use water-injection nor need to. Axial flow design on newer engines and maintenance costs are much lower.

 

[brucejohnson]

That's one big reason to replace engines on Buff newer engines don't use water-injection nor need to. Axial flow design on newer engines and maintenance costs are much lower.

The G model BUFFs and A model KCs used the J57 with water injection for additional boost on take-off. Today, the only BUFF used in the AF is the H model, which uses a Pratt & Whitney TF33-101 turbofans. Notice the thrust difference below. The A model KCs have been converted to the BIG engines...quiet and clean...and so much more powerful!

he B-52A models were equipped with Pratt & Whitney J57-P-1W turbojets, providing a dry thrust of 10,000 lbf (44.48 kN) which could be increased for short periods to 11,000 lbf (48.93 kN) with water injection. The water was carried in a 360-gallon tank in the rear fuselage.[121]

B-52B, C, D and E models were equipped with Pratt & Whitney J57-P-29W, J57-P-29WA, or J57-P-19W series engines all rated at 10,500 lbf (46.71 kN). The B-52F and G models were powered by Pratt & Whitney J57-P-43WB turbojets, each rated at 13,750 lbf (61.16 kN) static thrust with water injection.[121]

On 9 May 1961, B-52H started being delivered to the Air Force with cleaner burning and quieter Pratt & Whitney TF33-P-3 turbofans with a maximum thrust of 17,100 lbf (76.06 kN).[98]
​

During the Viet Nam era I remember watching the non-water injected D models "leaping off" Pati Point (Anderson AFB, Guam) with a full load of fuel and munitions...the flight path was not gaining altitude under certain atmospheric conditions as the engines were at max power. It looked like the aircraft came within 50 feet of the ocean (I'm sure it was probably 75 feet ) before beginning to gain altitude. The F & G models, loaded heavy, would have a fairly straight or "slight dip" passing over Pati Point.
When water injection was used on takeoff, the engines were almost as loud as an SR-71 taking off...and that is loud!

 

[jhenderson]

My uncle used to be a civilian aircraft mechanic at Loring. He used to tell of lying inside the wing setting the fuel trim on B52s while wearing a headset to communicate with someone in the cockpit running one engine at a time up to 110% . He said at a certain frequency the vibrations would untie your shoes. He also died deaf as a post.

 

[TFucili]

Just heard some heavy rotor chop and knew it wasn't the local medevac. We have seen quite a few Ospreys lately. Turned out to be a Chinook that went DIRECTLY over the house. Git-R-Dun!

 

[DHayden]

A Chinook will definitely let you know it there when its directly over the house