Posted on 07/25/2011 6:43:11 PM PDT by Free ThinkerNY
Two Chinese warplanes intercepted an American spy plane over the tense Taiwan Strait last month in China’s most aggressive challenge to U.S. surveillance flights since a 2001 collision that touched off an international crisis.
According to defense officials, the intercept took place June 29. The two Chinese jets flew from a base in China to head off an Air Force U-2 spy plane over the dividing line in the 100-mile wide Taiwan Strait.
“In general, these reconnaissance flights are conducted in international airspace, as are the PRC [Chinese] intercepts, which happen fairly routinely,” said a Pentagon official familiar with the incident.
“There is no ‘repel’ aspect to them,” he said of reports from Asia that the Chinese jets had “repelled” the U-2 flight during the intercept.
A Pacific Command spokesman declined to provide details of the incident other than to say it occurred June 29 as the Air Force was conducting a routine operation in international airspace in the area of the East China Sea.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
>>The Blackbird was the most awesome aircraft I ever saw!<<
So long as we are limited by the laws of physics as we know it within the Earth’s atmosphere, it will never be bested.
It was, quite simply, the most perfect flying craft humans will ever make until there is a fundamental change in physics and our use thereof.
If all their pilots are as capable as Wang, which I suspect they are, then they will lose half their planes and pilots to midair collisions.
Of course.
My point is that the average clueless American buying cheesy ChiCom patio furniture at WalMart doesn't have a clue about the military chess game that is going on off Taiwan.
But they will soon enough.
Many people do it almost reflexively. I think it’s an aversion to facing the emerging reality that we aren’t going to be the big dog in the meat house much longer. These people are forgetting that they are posting from computers and over network equipment built (and now often designed) in China. They may not yet have technical parity with us, but as the old saying goes “quantity has a quality all its own.” The Chinese are aiming for both. We’d be ill-advised to ignore that.
Friendly reminder:
That Asian nation had half our population.
And we had most of the world’s manufacturing capability.
We had best wake up. Soon. Our entire nation seems to be sleepwalking toward a disaster of biblical proportion.
Full of ourselves, right up until the moment it happens.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not bashing my own country.
I’m trying to say “WAKE THE ‘F’ UP!” What exactly about sending what was once referred to as the “Arsenal of Democracy” lock stock and barrel to a huge communist nation of 1.3 billion enterprising communists intent on replacing us, is somehow considered by (anyone) to be a good idea?
You think things will go hot?
It was, quite simply, the most perfect flying craft humans will ever make until there is a fundamental change in physics and our use thereof.
Kelly Johnson was an amazing designer, but he had to use a slide rule. We haven't been allowed to see what they have come up with since, but I'm doubtful the SR-71 had no actual successor.
Agreed. I'd love to see them back in the air!
We'd be well advised to remember that last Asian nation was an industrial midget in comparison, and had a much smaller population. Oh, it also had no nukes...
Yep. Flying on the edge of space!
I'll take that bet, what will you wager?
I want some of that action. But with modification: China will go for Taiwan in months vrs weeks, but this year.
This is about timing, possession being 9/10s of the law, and pride.
>> but I’m doubtful the SR-71 had no actual successor.<<
I think physics limits what could be next.
Just for the heck of it, I found this: http://www.strategypage.com/humor/articles/funny_flight_stories.asp
:)
The SR-71 was an amazing accomplishment. And yet... it was designed and built based on pretty much 1950’s technology. Part of me just ~has~ to believe that there is something newer, faster and higher that we don’t know about yet.
I sure hope so.
The ChiComs might be nice and wait until just before Thanksgiving or Christmas to take Taiwan, so 0bama can brush it off and have a big meal with the family in front of the cameras while it all goes down. You know 0bama doesn’t have the gonads to do squat about it.
Good lord people.....get a grip. Bing up RC-135's. This game has been played for decades.
What Chinese aircraft flies at 70,000 feet?
You presume that the Chinese think like you do. That is an old mistake that has proven costly throughout history.
Lemme see...
They can ID and "intercept" a P3 or a U2 (both of which are 1950's technology), and folks are supposed to be worried?
Get back to me when they intercept or down a F-16, F-15, F-22, F-35, B1B etc.
The US Defense industry, Pentagon, Chinese and innumerable blogs and "Intelligence" sites like to make a big huff and puff over Chinese capabilities.
It's total and complete BS.
They are decades away from being a threat to US forces in any theater, assuming we stand still.
I'll take that bet too. What are you willing to wager?
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