[PAR35]

I agree. Lockheed should have put forth the C-130 as its proposal against the B-737 put up by Boeing. It would require some modification (installing a bomb bay would be the main modification).

[Phsstpok]

installing a bomb bay would be the main modification

They've got that big honking door on the back, why does it need a bomb bay? Anything that couldn't be dropped out of the back door (or from an add on put in place of the rear ramp with a bomb bay in THAT) could be slung under the wing, couldnt it?

And think of the added capabilities of carrying over some of the weapons already in the AC-130? I bet a battle group commander would love to have that kind of fast resonse weapons platform to command. And they've proved that they can land and take off from aircraft carriers. That offers some interesting capabilities.

Yo! Rumsfeld! Over here! We got your budget problems solved too!

[pabianice]

>>I agree. Lockheed should have put forth the C-130 as its proposal against the B-737 put up by Boeing. It would require some modification (installing a bomb bay would be the main modification).

No. Too darn slow at about 260K. The P-3 cruises at about 340K and even so it takes four hours each way to and from onsta. MMA would have cruised at 525K.

[Long Cut]

Lockheed put forth some nice drawings and posters of...a souped-up P-3. Boeing actually put together a flying prototype and began serious design work, with the finished product dates included.

They were much more enthusiastic about getting the contract, and the work they did proved that. Lockheed took a "ah, well, if we HAVE to..." approach.