2 things I didn't know you could do in a plane

[DoctorQuest]

they cancelled the demonstration teams flights.  when you see individual planes at air shows theyre usually part of a training flight.

If you're lucky. The Offutt AFB open house was completely cancelled this year due to sequestration. Nothing, dada, zilch.

[GDS_Starfury]

between Key West NAS, Eglin AFB, Avon Park and MacDill AFB Florida is kinda lucky.

[Centurion40]

I would even go as far as to say that the F-35 should be scrapped and F-22 production started again.

Would seem like the wise choice.

[GDS_Starfury]

and because its a wise choice the pentagon will never go for it.

[Centurion40]

If there is validity in the underlying point behind Kenny's story, then I wonder if it would make sense to have a bunch lower-tech aircraft, in reserve.  Perhaps flown by Air Reserve or National Air Guard squadrons.

[GDS_Starfury]

our F-16s and F-18s are now those lower tech aircraft.

[DoctorQuest]

^Don't forget the BUFFs!

[GDS_Starfury]

if it was up to me Id slowly phase out F-15s and F-16s and ramp up F-22 production.  Id also restart A-10 production after giving the design a few modern tweeks here and there but I would not want it to  become an electric/glass cockpit plane.  its awesome because its simple.  all tankers would be replaced with the 767 platform and would AWACS/JSTARS types.  the Navy and Marines would phase out F-18s and replace them with Super Hornets.  they get to suck it until UAVs replace almost all Naval Aviation.  scrap the F-35 and use its lessons in new F-22s.  ya want vertical take off, call a friking V-22 or helo.

[Centurion40]

Why not stick to Apaches?  Can the A-10 do something (apart from looking super cool and menacing) that the Apaches can't?

I saw a documentary about a private company that does mid-air refueling with refurbished 707s.

http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/vms/

Just doesn't seem right to me.

[Barthheart]

Why not stick to Apaches?  Can the A-10 do something (apart from looking super cool and menacing) that the Apaches can't?

I saw a documentary about a private company that does mid-air refueling with refurbished 707s.

http://www.omegaairrefueling.com/vms/

Just doesn't seem right to me.

A-10's can carry a crap load more ordinance in one go.

[GDS_Starfury]

besides carrying far more weapons it can loiter with intent  ;) for a far longer time and, IMHO, its far more survivable.  I dont think its cleared for use on the A-10 yet but the Small Diameter Bomb would increase an A-10s lethality by a few orders of magnitude.  I would imagine an A-10 could carry 50 of the things if the right racks are designed.

SDB: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_Diameter_Bomb

and what do ya know, it is cleared for A-10 use.  and Ill retract the 50, lets say 24 or so.

[Staggerwing]

A-10's can carry a crap load more ordinance in one go.

Not to mention the Mother of All BFGs...

[GDS_Starfury]

I dont recall any other aircraft that was built around the gun from day 1.  ;D

[LongBlade]

I dont recall any other aircraft that was built around the gun from day 1.  ;D

And yet...so obvious in retrospect.

[undercovergeek]

for the more flight savvy than me - why is there still a market for prop-engined military aircraft?

i thought it may be size but the A380 is parked here next to the AC130 and the commercial plane is much larger and obviously has jets - so why put props on AC130?

is it so it doesnt go too fast?