Great quote

[Roger Long]

From Avweb's Kevin Garrison in this week's column:

"Using the B-52 as our main bomber is the same thing -- in terms of years --
as using a three-masted schooner to battle the Japanese fleet in World War
II."

If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.

--

Roger Long

[Jay Honeck]

> If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.

That IS amazing.

This truly illustrates how evolutionary (rather than revolutionary) aircraft
design has become. It also highlights America's unprecedented world
dominance. Imagine: world competition is so inconsequential that the United
States can rule the skies while flying the equivalent of a 3-masted
schooner...

Of course, look at the F-15 Eagle, which was developed 32 years ago.

In World War II, that would have been like going to war in a Wright Model B
Flyer!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[john smith]

I am not certain I agree with that assessment.
The B-52 has become more of a standoff launch platform than an actual
bomber. The advent of cruise missles and precision guide munitions has
changed the philosophy of how war is conducted.

Roger Long wrote:
> From Avweb's Kevin Garrison in this week's column:
> "Using the B-52 as our main bomber is the same thing -- in terms of years --
> as using a three-masted schooner to battle the Japanese fleet in World War
> II."
> If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.

[C J Campbell]

The B-52 of today may look the same as the B-52 of 50 years ago, but it is
not the same airplane. It has outlasted several designs specifically built
to replace it, including the B-1.

[C J Campbell]

"Martin Hotze" > wrote in message
...
> "Jay Honeck" > wrote:
>
> > It also highlights America's unprecedented world
> > dominance.
>
>
> :-))
>
> > Imagine: world competition is so inconsequential that the United
> > States can rule the skies while flying the equivalent of a 3-masted
> > schooner...
>
> or imagine how all the other countries invest their money in more useful
things
> and let the war playing to others. :-)
>

I wonder what would happen if we stopped paying for everybody's defense.
Perhaps Europe could no longer afford to subsidize Airbus any more.

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"C J Campbell" > wrote in message
...
>
> The B-52 of today may look the same as the B-52 of 50 years ago, but it is
> not the same airplane. It has outlasted several designs specifically built
> to replace it, including the B-1.
>

The B-1 is still in service.

[C J Campbell]

"Steven P. McNicoll" > wrote in message
ink.net...
>
> "C J Campbell" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > The B-52 of today may look the same as the B-52 of 50 years ago, but it
is
> > not the same airplane. It has outlasted several designs specifically
built
> > to replace it, including the B-1.
> >
>
> The B-1 is still in service.

I think they plan to retire it, though. Even the B-1 is still like using
Dewey's fleet against the Japanese.

[C J Campbell]

"Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
news:TJU5d.60013$wV.52840@attbi_s54...
> > If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.
>
> That IS amazing.
>
> This truly illustrates how evolutionary (rather than revolutionary)
aircraft
> design has become. It also highlights America's unprecedented world
> dominance. Imagine: world competition is so inconsequential that the
United
> States can rule the skies while flying the equivalent of a 3-masted
> schooner...
>
> Of course, look at the F-15 Eagle, which was developed 32 years ago.
>
> In World War II, that would have been like going to war in a Wright Model
B
> Flyer!

According to that issue of AVweb, the Army wants to use blimps.

Ha! Not only can we beat 'em with one hand tied behind our back, but we can
do it with both hands and feet tied and blindfolded, too!

[William W. Plummer]

C J Campbell wrote:

> "Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
> news:TJU5d.60013$wV.52840@attbi_s54...
>
>>>If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.
>>
>>That IS amazing.
>>
>>This truly illustrates how evolutionary (rather than revolutionary)
>
> aircraft
>
>>design has become. It also highlights America's unprecedented world
>>dominance. Imagine: world competition is so inconsequential that the
>
> United
>
>>States can rule the skies while flying the equivalent of a 3-masted
>>schooner...
>>
>>Of course, look at the F-15 Eagle, which was developed 32 years ago.
>>
>>In World War II, that would have been like going to war in a Wright Model
>
> B
>
>>Flyer!
>
>
> According to that issue of AVweb, the Army wants to use blimps.
>
> Ha! Not only can we beat 'em with one hand tied behind our back, but we can
> do it with both hands and feet tied and blindfolded, too!
>
>
Hold it. Are you knocking blimps (air ships)? They can lift heavy
loads such as a tank and delive it right to the front. They are
reasonable cool (IR-wise) and have a low radar crossection. They can
take many shots and still fly. And, they are cheap! And pilot training
is minimal because, although they typically have more than one engine, a
multi engine ticket isn't required because the engines are not involved
in producing lift.

[Dan Luke]

"Roger Long" wrote:
> "Using the B-52 as our main bomber is the same thing -- in terms of
years --
> as using a three-masted schooner to battle the Japanese fleet in World War
> II."
>
> If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.

How does he figure that? Sail-less, steam-powered warships appeared more
than 50 years before WW II.
http://www.gwpda.org/naval/scnavdes.htm

It's a misleading comparison, anyway. Technological progress is not linear,
but proceeds in spurts separated by periods of little fundamental change.
Other than its stealthiness, the B-2 offers little operational advantage
over a modernized B-52 for most missions, and even has some disadvantages
vs. the BUFF in terms of its logistical requirements, not to mention its
absurd cost.
--
Dan
C-172RG at BFM

[C J Campbell]

"William W. Plummer" > wrote in message
news:kmX5d.268948$mD.191874@attbi_s02...
> C J Campbell wrote:
>
> > "Jay Honeck" > wrote in message
> > news:TJU5d.60013$wV.52840@attbi_s54...
> >
> >>>If you do the math, it's true. Amazing.
> >>
> >>That IS amazing.
> >>
> >>This truly illustrates how evolutionary (rather than revolutionary)
> >
> > aircraft
> >
> >>design has become. It also highlights America's unprecedented world
> >>dominance. Imagine: world competition is so inconsequential that the
> >
> > United
> >
> >>States can rule the skies while flying the equivalent of a 3-masted
> >>schooner...
> >>
> >>Of course, look at the F-15 Eagle, which was developed 32 years ago.
> >>
> >>In World War II, that would have been like going to war in a Wright
Model
> >
> > B
> >
> >>Flyer!
> >
> >
> > According to that issue of AVweb, the Army wants to use blimps.
> >
> > Ha! Not only can we beat 'em with one hand tied behind our back, but we
can
> > do it with both hands and feet tied and blindfolded, too!
> >
> >
> Hold it. Are you knocking blimps (air ships)?

Blast it, forgot the smiley.

[Montblack]

("C J Campbell" wrote)
> Ha! Not only can we beat 'em with one hand tied behind our back, but we
can
> do it with both hands and feet tied and blindfolded, too!


Blindfold is made in China - along with EVERYTHING else at Wal-Mart, Target,
K-Mart, NAPA Auto Parts, etc, etc, etc.

I'm not sure we've beat'em. I think the game has changed.

Just as the US took the long view (a.k.a. The Cold War) in dealing with the
former Soviet Union, I think China is taking the long view in dealing,
economically, with the US.

As we discovered post WWI - with economic clout, comes world power.

Heck, The Dutch, with their economic advantage - great ships, were a world
power at one time!!!

Yes, we've got B-52's, but the Chinese have an unlimited peasant labor
force. The game is world power, who's got the better team on the field?


Arthur: Look, you stupid *******. You've got no arms left!
Black Knight: Yes I have.

Arthur: Look!
Black Knight: Just a flesh wound!

ARTHUR: Now stand aside, worthy adversary.
BLACK KNIGHT: 'Tis but a scratch.

ARTHUR: A scratch? Your arm's off!
BLACK KNIGHT: No, it isn't.

(...many limbs later)

ARTHUR: What are you going to do, bleed on me?
BLACK KNIGHT: I'm invincible!

ARTHUR: You're a looney.
BLACK KNIGHT: The Black Knight always triumphs! Have at you! Come on, then.

[whop]
[ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's last leg off]

BLACK KNIGHT: Oh? All right, we'll call it a draw.


Montblack

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"C J Campbell" > wrote in message
...
>>
>> The B-1 is still in service.
>>
>
> I think they plan to retire it, though.
>

All aircraft retire eventually. USAF plans are to fly the current bomber
fleet of B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers into the mid 2030s.


>
> Even the B-1 is still like using Dewey's fleet against the Japanese.
>

?

[William W. Plummer]

Steven P. McNicoll wrote:
> "C J Campbell" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>>The B-1 is still in service.
>>>
>>
>>I think they plan to retire it, though.
>>
>
>
> All aircraft retire eventually. USAF plans are to fly the current bomber
> fleet of B-1, B-2, and B-52 bombers into the mid 2030s.
>
>
>
>>Even the B-1 is still like using Dewey's fleet against the Japanese.
>>
>
>
> ?
>
>
And the last I heard was that AWACS is funded through 2040.

[C Kingsbury]

"john smith" > wrote in message
...
> I am not certain I agree with that assessment.
> The B-52 has become more of a standoff launch platform than an actual
> bomber. The advent of cruise missles and precision guide munitions has
> changed the philosophy of how war is conducted.

Great point. Airframe-wise the B-52 may be a 3-masted schooner, but it's got
2000lb cannons that can hit a target over the horizon with nearly perfect
accuracy. Of course the Yamato could sink it with one shot but it'd never
get close enough to try.

-cwk.

[bryan chaisone]

I love Monty Python, thanks for the memory.

Bryan "The Monk" Chaisone

P.S. Let's not forget that we bombed the sh*t out of Vietnam
(actually we bombed Laos) with B52s and other jets and still did not
win. It takes more than a bigger gun to win a fight. Best bet is not
to get into a fight, or if you do, destroy your enemy to the last man
with no mercy, rewrite history to hide the fact that that particular
enemy ever existed and you might have a chance of not getting a
retaliation from sympathizers.

Bryan "The Monk" Chaison

"Montblack" > wrote in message >...
> ("C J Campbell" wrote)
> > Ha! Not only can we beat 'em with one hand tied behind our back, but we
> can
> > do it with both hands and feet tied and blindfolded, too!
>
>
> Blindfold is made in China - along with EVERYTHING else at Wal-Mart, Target,
> K-Mart, NAPA Auto Parts, etc, etc, etc.
>
> I'm not sure we've beat'em. I think the game has changed.
>
> Just as the US took the long view (a.k.a. The Cold War) in dealing with the
> former Soviet Union, I think China is taking the long view in dealing,
> economically, with the US.
>
> As we discovered post WWI - with economic clout, comes world power.
>
> Heck, The Dutch, with their economic advantage - great ships, were a world
> power at one time!!!
>
> Yes, we've got B-52's, but the Chinese have an unlimited peasant labor
> force. The game is world power, who's got the better team on the field?
>
>
> Arthur: Look, you stupid *******. You've got no arms left!
> Black Knight: Yes I have.
>
> Arthur: Look!
> Black Knight: Just a flesh wound!
>
> ARTHUR: Now stand aside, worthy adversary.
> BLACK KNIGHT: 'Tis but a scratch.
>
> ARTHUR: A scratch? Your arm's off!
> BLACK KNIGHT: No, it isn't.
>
> (...many limbs later)
>
> ARTHUR: What are you going to do, bleed on me?
> BLACK KNIGHT: I'm invincible!
>
> ARTHUR: You're a looney.
> BLACK KNIGHT: The Black Knight always triumphs! Have at you! Come on, then.
>
> [whop]
> [ARTHUR chops the BLACK KNIGHT's last leg off]
>
> BLACK KNIGHT: Oh? All right, we'll call it a draw.
>
>
> Montblack

[bryan chaisone]

"Steven P. McNicoll" > wrote in message et>...
> "C J Campbell" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > The B-52 of today may look the same as the B-52 of 50 years ago, but it is
> > not the same airplane. It has outlasted several designs specifically built
> > to replace it, including the B-1.
> >
>
> The B-1 is still in service.

Was it used in the Gulf war and Iraq? I haven't see any news on it lately.

Bryan "The Monk" Chaison

[Steven P. McNicoll]

"bryan chaisone" > wrote in message
om...
>
> Was it used in the Gulf war and Iraq? I haven't see any news on it
> lately.
>

The B-1 made it's combat debut in operation Desert Fox in 1999. It was also
used in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and the most recent unpleasantness in Iraq.

[Jay Honeck]

> P.S. Let's not forget that we bombed the sh*t out of Vietnam
> (actually we bombed Laos) with B52s and other jets and still did not
> win.

Only due to the utmost restraint.

But that's another thread!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

[Jack Allison]

(Mont)Black Knight:

Thanks for that blast from the past...Monty Python was great, once you
figured out it was funny :-)

[C J Campbell]

Ni!

[Montblack]

("Jack Allison" wrote)
> Thanks for that blast from the past...Monty Python was great, once you
> figured out it was funny :-)


I was shooting for allegory, but I'll take funny :-)

Montblack