Copters recalled from boneyard

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/v-printer/story/2741511p-9179104c.html ^ | Aug 21, 2005 | JAY PRICE

[aspiring.hillbilly]

If one of the props, or the shaft between them gets shot they are unsurvivable, cant autrotate down, and glide like a paving brick. $13 billions and 25 years just to get a flying truck that is a tad faster than a helicopter... sounds foolhardy to me...!

[Kozak]

Old 52s bays were set up to drop 40 500 lb bombs with another 12 under the wings. those flying todayare setup for cruise missles and and a small munber of prescision weapons. They can't carpet bomb. The B2 bay was never designed for large numbers of ordnance and is cramped compared to a 52 in the interest of stealth.

Why can't they modify a big cargo plane, say a 747, with a bombbay? We don't need these to be fancy, no need for electronic countermeasures, or other defensive systems, just the ability to haul large amounts of ordinance and be able to stay on station for long duration. Should be a great way to get lots of bang for the buck in these wars against third world morons eager to meet Allah.

[devane617]

"...We will be damn lucky to be ready for China...

My thoughts exactly. What is stopping China, and it's allies from seizing the opportunity to grab Taiwan or anything they want? What the heck could we do George? We have successfully depleted what little Clinton left us with, and lost over 1800, brave military, and for what? I see Iraq in absolute chaos as soon as we leave, which may destabilize the area even more than it was before or action.

[A.A. Cunningham]

sounds foolhardy to me...!

That's an appropriate description of your ill-informed rants on this thread.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The big belly D models have all been scrapped.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Old 52s bays were set up to drop 40 500 lb bombs with another 12 under the wings.

Big Belly Ds, which have all been scrapped, could carry 84 Mk 82s internally and 24 externally.

The B2 bay was never designed for large numbers of ordnance and is cramped compared to a 52 in the interest of stealth.

Guess again. The B-2 can carry 80 Mk 82s internally.

[A.A. Cunningham]

The Marines squandered a lot of money on this pig.

Nope. The Navy had control of the purse strings. If the Marine Corps had managed the project from day one it would have been in the fleet a long time ago.

Under the right circumstances, and with a little luck, you could down it with a $5.00 slingshot.

Anything that flies can be brought down with a little luck, including the $1,000,000,000 per copy B-2.

[wildcatf4f3]

great, thank you. but what do we have--a dozen maybe--they'd all be lost in two weeks of a real war.

[editor-surveyor]

"Are those 300 missing ships now razorblades?"

Or perhaps weapons pointed back at us?

[Doohickey]

I was riding in a CH-53 once that emergency landed on Vieques after an engine flameout.

[A.A. Cunningham]

~16 operational.

they'd all be lost in two weeks of a real war.

No they wouldn't. Most of them would be down for maintenance after a week.

[wildcatf4f3]

ya got me to smile---thanks

[aspiring.hillbilly]

The Osprey should have in combat for the past 10 years given the time and billions thrown at it. If 'that" isn't the case, the project was foolhardy by any sane measure.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Instead of simply flapping your gums try getting an education. You know not of what you rant about.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"Under the right circumstances, and with a little luck, you could down it with a $5.00 slingshot."

In other words, it's like any other helicopter.

Once upon a time, the Marine Corps rode H-46s in Vietnam. Those birds often had THE ENTIRE BACK END FALL OFF during an approach to a landing zone.

Now, the replacement aircraft's had problems. It looks like the Marine Corps fixed the big ones.