I agree. War is HELL.

(Written on 08/11/2018)(Permalink)

One of the local Los Angles major TV stations commented about this, wondering if this was a Publicity Stunt to increase her You Tube following. I understand from that she has a quite large following.

(Written on 02/02/2018)(Permalink)

Orbital strike is a nogo. Retasking recon satellites to cover a tactical situation, takes too long, limited orbital resources that are oriented to Strategic intel, not Tactical. Have to have a Quick Response Capability for things that "Pop Up."

(Written on 01/19/2018)(Permalink)

For sure, the more expensive something is, the less there will be available. Shooting wars use up supplies and people, you sure can't plan an operation if they run out. Look at what happened to Patton in WWII in Europe when he out ran his supply train and his tanks were getting short of ammo and fuel.

(Written on 08/01/2016)(Permalink)

Aircraft larger in size then 737 are categorized as Large Aircraft by Air Traffic Control for Wake Turbulence. Requiring increased spacing for arrivals and departures. slowing down the traffic flow at terminals.

(Written on 07/31/2016)(Permalink)

737's can operate on a 5'000 foot runway. Also the tire load per square inch is lower. One of the major problems, which I experienced in P-3's was the tire load was so high that many runways, taxi ways and ramps couldn't support it. Left some deep tracks on a couple of ramps. Also the size of the 737 is right, without having airports spend mega dollars to rebuild the terminals.

(Written on 07/31/2016)(Permalink)

The 747 has been a HUGE part of my life, growing up in the Everett area in the 1960's. Watched the first flight, attended Everett Community College in 1969 - 1970 earning a Airframe Mechanic licence in a course structured to provide flight line mechanics for Boeing, went through the Boeing Layoff just before Christmas 1969, after which you couldn't find a job mowing grass, enlisted in the Navy Delayed Entry Program, after I WON the Draft Lotto. Dad and Mom both worked for Boeing, doing the standard "for a 30 year retirement, expect 15 years laid off, recalled, laid off. I said Hell With That, stayed in the Navy for 23 years. My office is located in Mojave, CA where I can see the "Boneyard". I've seen many 747's get scrapped over the last 12 years. Always wondered how many Mom and Dad help build.

(Written on 07/31/2016)(Permalink)

Russia does have a aircraft comparable to the A-10, the Frogfoot, in service at this time, and has had it for years. And in CAS having that 30mm cannon the A-10 carries is a Godsend for the guys on the ground. Taking down EVERYTHING shooting at YOU is GOOD!

(Written on 07/29/2016)(Permalink)

The F-4 was designed for the Navy as a Air Superiority fighter. At the time (1950's) it was believed guns on fighters was a thing of the past, as the fighters can fly faster then the bullets. And dogfighting was also a thing of the past. Then Viet Nam proved all those ideas in error. And though the F-4's systems didn't support air to ground, it did have a gunsight, and could do visual air to ground bomb missions, and did. Not as a Primary Mission, which was Air Superiority. The Air Force needed to replace the F-100 and F-105 in the Tac Air missions, and fast, in the late 1960's, so first the F-4 was picked as the F-105 replacement and after the A-7 was up engined with the TF41 they got the A-7 to fill the hole left by the retirement of the F-100 from front line duty. The A-7 was built a Light Attack aircraft as the replacement for the Navy's A-4. So, neither the F-4, or A-7 were designed as Joint Service aircraft.

(Written on 07/29/2016)(Permalink)

I'm also leery of Lockheed. Don't get me wrong, I have over 8000 hours in all models of the P-3. Aside from that BOTH the F-22 and F-35 are projects that have gone way over budget, and, schedule. When Lockheed moved from California to Maryland, I noticed that the quality of support for the P-3 fleet went south. I'm just glad I decided to stay in the Navy, and not take a position in Production Flight test when it was offered.

(Written on 07/16/2016)(Permalink)