Posted on 01/24/2012 6:18:34 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
Click on pic for past Navair pings.
Post or FReepmail me if you wish to be enlisted in or discharged from the Navair Pinglist.
The only requirement for inclusion in the Navair Pinglist is an interest in Naval Aviation.
This is a medium to low volume pinglist.
The SR-71 program was killed under Billy Jeff Bent-one. Cheney had nothing to do with it.
Plus, the risk of losing pilot to either death or capture has impacts on decisions on when and how to employ. Sometimes the risks are accepted, sometimes they are not. Depends on a lot of factors.
An unmanned or even better yet unmanned autonomous machine has tremendous flexibility. If it crashes you throw a JDAM or cruise missile or anything handy at it to destroy the wreckage. (Have no idea why this did not happen in Iran...so I assume there is more to the story than has leaked.)
Well...Well...Well...As an ancient leatherneck I am mighty glad that the BAMs are back...
My core point is that manned recon is expensive and as soon as technology is there, the better. Plus a low observable gives the option of surveillance and not just reconnaissance.
Here is a fact about Northrop. That company is a bloated, insanely politically correct and horribly mismanaged leviathan that is sucking America dry. If any of you hold their stock, dump it post-haste.
That company is now a government sponsored social experiment gone wrong. Northrop Grumman divisions all over the planet are reducing their work forces by 40-50%. Women and minorities are last to go—at any cost—and they make no secret of it. I fully support women and minority hiring-if they can do the job. Sadly, many cannot.
Anyone know what the phrase “lass pass sic mont” means?
Sad state of affairs at that place.
I’ve seen it first hand. Their MANAGEMENT can’t read or write, but if they are in a protected class they have lifelong job guarantees.
Wasn’t aware of all that. Thanks.
You may be right about the F-104 connection, but the first gen U-2 was built with basic sailplane technology (example: ailerons mounted on piano hinge stock). I have read that they were only expected to have 20 hours operational life. Of course, the later gen TR-1s were much more advanced.
The Global Hawk was very inflexible, couldn’t carry some of the latest sensor technologies that the U2 can, less capable (lower payload than U2) and had a lower operating altitude than the U2. It could only reach its maximum ceiling at the end of its mission profile when it was essentially out of fuel.
This is why the U2 program was kept beyond its initial retirement date. The USAF kept the GH on life support, giving Northrop an extreme amount of latitude and time in getting the aircraft up to its claimed capability.
Northrop couldn’t do it.
The GH just didn’t meet expectations.
Thanks for the info.
JJ
So does losing an intact drone, complete with sensors and all software and firmware.
Don't tell me what "we're gonna do" if one goes down. One went down, we lost it, they've got it, end of story.
You can't fix treason with a sneakier camera. Rome had the mightiest walls in the world (except for Constantinople) in 410 A.D. ..... then some Billy Jeff Obozo type gave the Ostrogoths the key to the back door. Swell.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.