Article

2014-03-13 Government

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2014-03-13 11:43|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 Did they ever come up with a replacemtent refueling tanker? I thought the old ones were about worn out, and none of those fast-movers are worth a dime without go-juice.

Posted by Glenmore 2014-03-13 12:19|| 2014-03-13 12:19|| Front Page Top

#2 Once upon a time it had a clear purpose. Then the Clinton kids kept adding requirements on it till it looked like a Christmas tree. Then, to get costs down they started removing features until it couldn't fight a bumble bee. It still cost a lot though.

For the record, I was in favor of canceling the f-35 back when it was the Next Big Thing. I caught considerable heat on the 'Burg for suggesting the Superfighter had no clothes. Where are those great defenders of the F-35 now?

Al

Posted by Florida Al 2014-03-13 13:41|| 2014-03-13 13:41|| Front Page Top

#3 It was supposed to be a do all plane. Then the truth about modification costs for each role came up. The reality about a strike fighter being converted to a ground support aircraft went away with the breeze. The fighter community wants to fight planes not ground enemies. It is beneath them, pardon the pun.

Turn the A10 into a drone.

Posted by 49 Pan 2014-03-13 14:22|| 2014-03-13 14:22|| Front Page Top

#4 It's like a Super Hornet with More Super! and a super-sized price tag. The idea of a do-it-all plane is appealing, especially to bean counters, but more the roles you add, the worse it is at any of them.

It's like trying to take apart an engine with a crescent wrench instead of a set of sockets. Sure, it *should* work...

My advice to the Army: Unionize. Your President will support you. Then go on strike until they let you keep the A-10. Or bring back the Sandys.

Posted by SteveS 2014-03-13 16:10|| 2014-03-13 16:10|| Front Page Top

#5 What are the Sandys?

BTW In France they say: "Good for everything, good for nothing"

Posted by JFM 2014-03-13 16:13|| 2014-03-13 16:13|| Front Page Top

#6 What are the Sandys?

The old Douglas A-1 Skyraider. Called Sandy when used in a search & rescue / helicopter escort role in Viet Nam. Good at flying low and slow, and blowing stuff up. Things the A-10 does *very* well.

Posted by SteveS 2014-03-13 16:28|| 2014-03-13 16:28|| Front Page Top

#7 It's like trying to take apart an engine with a crescent wrench

Pliers - and needle nose ones to boot.

Posted by CrazyFool 2014-03-13 17:07|| 2014-03-13 17:07|| Front Page Top

#8 A Clear Purpose?
Part of the 'Bankrupt China' strategy.

Posted by Skidmark 2014-03-13 17:27|| 2014-03-13 17:27|| Front Page Top

#9 According by the end of the Vietnam war the Norty Vietnamese were making mince meat with the Sandys and that was forty years ago.

Posted by JFM 2014-03-13 17:58|| 2014-03-13 17:58|| Front Page Top

#10 Go watch Flight of the Intruder for some Sandy action.....
we damn near crashed one when he clipped a wing tip

Posted by USN, Ret. 2014-03-13 18:54|| 2014-03-13 18:54|| Front Page Top

#11 A-10s are heavily up armored, Sandys not so much if any armor.

Wasn't the F-4 supposed to be the fighter for all needs. And they forgot to put a gun on it.

Posted by Bugs Hitler6550 2014-03-13 20:03|| 2014-03-13 20:03|| Front Page Top

23:29 gorb
23:27 SteveS
23:26 gorb
23:19 Zenobia Floger6220
22:58 Frank G
22:55 Classical_Liberal
22:37 JosephMendiola
22:29 Glenmore
22:28 JosephMendiola
22:24 Frank G
22:22 Frank G
22:19 Don Vito
22:01 Frank G
21:42 Frank G
21:39 Barbara
21:37 Frank G
21:35 Barbara
21:24 Barbara
21:23 Barbara
20:40 Frank G
20:38 Beavis
20:06 Glenmore
20:05 Glenmore
20:03 Bugs Hitler6550