Re: KC-10 Retirement

Why would a pilot on oxygen have to defend to 10000 ft. I thought the oxygen mask was to enable higher flight. There's more to a depressurization (or rapid depressurization) than just losing breathing air. Your body reacts to the pressure and air composition changes with various signs and symptoms ...

Re: F35 Carrier Crash in South China Sea

I met one of the great Tomcat guys from that generation, Hoser, many moons ago at an airshow at Point Mugu or March. Everyone knew him (except me) and he just seemed larger than life. Imagine a guy like him teaching you how to fly...

Re: KC-10 Retirement

What's 'decompression fuel'? I'm just curious. Recover to an alternate in the event of depressurization—tanker or receivers. I thought if a fighter had a decompression, the pilot just breathed through the mask. Is this not so? I'm also curious what gets dragged accross the ocean thats not a fighter...

Re: A-10 reduction to begin soon.

Even a Stinger can fly Mach 2.2. I don't think an F-35 at low level gets even close to that speed. Also, one might shoot as it's approaching, not flying away. Remember, if it takes 100 MANPADS to shoot an F-35 that's a victory. Now an F-35 up high is unreachable by MANPAD, but it costs $30,000/hour...

Re: A-10 reduction to begin soon.

How the Taliban Came to Hate (And Fear) the B-1 Bomber https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/how-taliban-came-hate-and-fear-b-1-bomber-178526 The B-1 thus became a form of flying artillery orbiting overhead, on-call as ground troops ferreted out enemy positions and marked them for destruction. I...

Re: A-10 reduction to begin soon.

Words So the A-10 would make a great air superiority fighter in Ukraine, but sucked at providing CAS in Afghanistan??? Right… And I’m the one who regularly gets drug tested :roll: Hate to bruise your understanding, but the Taliban weren’t shaking in their sandals while looking up. Nor did they “gro...

Re: F35 Carrier Crash in South China Sea

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

The F-8 guys did the SHB right—deck level, at 600 indicated, fan break to downwind with as much G as you could stand.

Re: IL-76 Test Accident

What happens during a fuselage pressure test? What causes a catastrophic failure, and does the fuselage essentially explode outward? Just Google "The Aviation Geek Club kc-135 pressure test failure" for an example of a failed pressure test. Anything will fail if pushed far beyond its desi...

Re: A-10 reduction to begin soon.

Because the A-10 would start shooting down Russian fighters with AIM-9X. Things could quickly turn nuclear... As Maverick said: "The terrain will confuse his targeting system"...The A-10 radar warning receiver would provide great situational awareness... The A-10's would then be facing th...

Re: F35 Carrier Crash in South China Sea

A $1.3B B-2 got trashed because of a few bad sensors, the most expensive single plane crash ever. Worst part is the sensors were fine, they were just calibrated with moisture in the system - pitot heat wasn't applied, as that wasn't in the checklist for air data calibration - so when pitot heat was...

Re: C130H grounding

So you physically walk the routing requests from the weather officer to the pilots?

Great reference! Really, well done!

Re: KC-10 Retirement

2nd ADG? Yeah, a bit before my time. Had a few fighters go lost wingman during drags. Fun stuff but not too bad. Worst was a B-2 lose sight in contact. Gets the pucker factor up when the last you saw them they were moving in and knowing there’s nose-to-tail overlap with the receptacle 35 feet behind...

Re: Raquel Welch has Died

Her selfless assistance in the escape of a wrongfully imprisoned banker must rank high in her list of accomplishments.

However, whether her contribution was the result of conspiracy is debatable to some.

Re: Russian Invasion of Ukraine - *Discussion* Thread

In a way Milley is re-enforcing Putin's world view by suggesting that he as the most senior general of the world's biggest superpower is speaking for the entire globe. I see where you're coming from, but I think if Miley had offered Putin milk, cookies, and eternal friendship Putin would still thin...

Re: C130H grounding

Wonder if this might give more impetus to quickly replace the H’s. The Nav and FE unions will strenuously object, but this could tip the balance in favor. When the weather birds out of Keesler got the Js, the navs were programmed to go per Fogleman. The navs go ahold of Senator Trent Lott who chang...

Re: C-130 Production Question

A recently retired C-130 Loadmaster was telling me that when they transitioned to the J they were able to relocate from Pope AFB to Little Rock. The J's fuel savings allowed them to complete Fort Bragg 82nd missions from Little Rock all within the duty day. I don't really know any details, but I wo...

Re: KC-10 Retirement

How about instead of the US building it's own LMXT fleet, it helps the RAF and RAAF expand their own KC fleet? This keeps the logistics simple until the shooting starts and then they can swap capabilities as needed. bt Many Americans can't find the UK or Australia on a map, and right now one politi...

Re: KC-10 Retirement

LyleLanley pointed out the slow connection times with the KC-46 when using the boom. This is hinting that with fighters there wouldn't be enough time on the boom. That is why I pointed out there is twice as many booms with the KC-46. It's not a boom limitation, it's an RVS limitation which necessit...

Re: KC-10 Retirement

GalaxyFlyer wrote:

Heck, NAS stations don’t always have an ILS. I did a few PARs to mins because there was no other way in or divert.

Re: KC-10 Retirement

I believe the USMC baby hornets still lack ILS. It’s oftentimes a “boat thing” to not have it as they use some other system there but I don’t know if there’s a real reason not to.

Re: KC-10 Retirement

Heated debate topic, I think that RVS should be integrated to KC-135's for night/IFR operations, as a screen the boom operator can easily see/use if he so chooses. If done correctly with the right setup, it could increase efficiency. I could see it definitely being safer and probably more efficient...

Re: KC-10 Retirement

...the KC-46A... unreliable at BEST in adverse condition(IFR/night operations). Minor point, but I actually think night is the best time for the RVS. The scenery is stable because the sun isn't moving around, reflections are generally minimal, etc. Depth perception at night with the RVS is still mu...

Re: KC-10 Retirement

I'm well aware the KC-46 has only one drogue basket while the KC-10 has two. I'm sure you're equally "well aware" that a WARP'd KC-10 actually has three baskets. Those pesky details... Even in your cherry picked scenario...Why is a third KC-46 needed?...As soon as you originally said the ...

Re: Boeing E-4B Replacement News and Discussion Thread

With the accuracy of modern ICBMs and SLBMs all but assuring a direct hit on fixed installations by bringing the CEP from hundreds or thousands of meters to a handful, the usefulness of an airborne C2 is probably higher now than during the first Cold War.

Re: KC-10 Retirement

...I point out the clear corruption highlighted by the fact the USAF needs 240t of fuel to replace 165t of fuel... There is no way you could convince me that 240t is needed to replace 165t. In the RAAF we aren't controlled by the US military–industrial complex and we can also do basic math. You wro...