F-117A Nighthawk

FB-111's would have been an awesome job back in the day.....at least up until the point of having to use one in anger, which would have been a very bad day for all
 
///AMG said:
FB-111's would have been an awesome job back in the day.....at least up until the point of having to use one in anger, which would have been a very bad day for all
Click to expand...

Ack, clearly someone who's never worked in the nuke field before (fortunate for you, bud)! Couldn't pay me enough to do that job, knowing what I do now about flying fighters.

The thrill of flying low and fast would have been just as exciting in one of the plain old F-111s in TAC, and would have had the benefit of avoiding all of the SAC pain.
 
Mike - you think there is any chance they'll bring this thing back?? I was shocked when they retired it, seems even now, a little ahead of it's time....
 
Jamesrw2002 said:
I was shocked when they retired it, seems even now, a little ahead of it's time....
Click to expand...

1. It's, unfortunately, not 'ahead of it's time' given the current state of SAM and other detection systems for aircraft. It brings a certain set of capabilities to the fight, but given the similar capabilities in low observability that other aircraft like the Raptor bring to the fight, and some shifts in tactics and weaponry, it just meant that it wasn't worth the time/$/effort to keep the 117 in active service.

2. There's a reason the airplanes went into 'flyable storage' vs going to the scrapper, and although some of that has to do with still-classified capabilities and materials, some of it has to do with the fact that there could still be important utility for the airplane should the world security situation change.
 
Hacker15e said:
1. It's, unfortunately, not 'ahead of it's time' given the current state of SAM and other detection systems for aircraft. It brings a certain set of capabilities to the fight, but given the similar capabilities in low observability that other aircraft like the Raptor bring to the fight, and some shifts in tactics and weaponry, it just meant that it wasn't worth the time/$/effort to keep the 117 in active service.
Click to expand...

Being first generation stealth, it was still very capable, but had problems with servicability and maintainability; read: wasn't cost effective anymore. Plus, at the time, anything that took a dime away from potential F-22 funding or otherwise got in the way, was going to be toast.

2. There's a reason the airplanes went into 'flyable storage' vs going to the scrapper, and although some of that has to do with still-classified capabilities and materials, some of it has to do with the fact that there could still be important utility for the airplane should the world security situation change.
Click to expand...

Some were scrapped, the rest living their days dismantled up at KTNX. The Aussies wanted to by them, but we apparently didn't want to sell. :)
 
Hacker15e said:
Ack, clearly someone who's never worked in the nuke field before (fortunate for you, bud)! Couldn't pay me enough to do that job, knowing what I do now about flying fighters.

The thrill of flying low and fast would have been just as exciting in one of the plain old F-111s in TAC, and would have had the benefit of avoiding all of the SAC pain.
Click to expand...

Rog, yeah I can see what you are saying. Just finished reading Robin Old's book, and his accounts of SAC weren't exactly full of praise
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top