Is Spooky safe to take downtown?

http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

-HJC

"Henry J Cobb" wrote in message
...
http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

Probably so.
Since the AC-130 shoots and looks out the side rather than
straight ahead they can spend a lot of time getting a good
look and sorting out targets.
The explosive power of individual rounds from the 105mm is
considerably smaller than that of a most bombs, so -barring
secondaries- the blast radius (read as collateral damage area)
is also much smaller.
The AC-130 and laser guided bombs are both extremely accurate.
The only question I would have is how often do they experience
some kind of guidance/pointing failure.

Last week I saw a C-17 Globemaster III making some strange low-altitude
maneuvers around Morristown, Tennessee (which I've noticed has been used as a
practice visual target area before).

I'm wondering if the Air Force has already developed a gunship version of the
C-17. Those quieter fan engines are probably an advantage to the C-130's props,
which can often be heard from miles away.

Stephen "FPilot" Bierce/IPMS #35922
{Sig Quotes Removed on Request}

"Stephen "FPilot" Bierce" wrote in message
...
Last week I saw a C-17 Globemaster III making some strange low-altitude
maneuvers around Morristown, Tennessee (which I've noticed has been used
as a
practice visual target area before).

I'm wondering if the Air Force has already developed a gunship version of
the
C-17. Those quieter fan engines are probably an advantage to the C-130's
props,
which can often be heard from miles away.

Not likely. The C-17 is just plain too big and too useful
moving freight around.
More likely the C-17 you saw was just practicing some
kind of low level stuff.

"Henry J Cobb" wrote in message
...
http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

Look at this morning's footage of the AC-130 strikes against that truck and
arms storage building in Fallujah, and then ask yourself this question
again.

Brooks


-HJC

I think the opposite question should be asked. Is the crew of the
ac130 safe given the amount of SA gear floating around Iraq. Can the
AC130 maintain a safe distance from the weapons of the resistance?

Henry J Cobb wrote in message ...
http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

-HJC

"miso" wrote in message
om...
I think the opposite question should be asked. Is the crew of the
ac130 safe given the amount of SA gear floating around Iraq. Can the
AC130 maintain a safe distance from the weapons of the resistance?

Henry J Cobb wrote in message
...
http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated
sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

-HJC


Spooky flies at night, which makes visual targeting more difficult. In
addition, the most visible thing Spooky does is put out a long line of
tracer fire, which appears to curve as you're watching it. That throws off
visual targeting too. Finally, if you shoot at Spooky, you'd better hit it
quick, because it shoots back and is accurate enough to ruin your whole day.

As far as MANPADS go, Spooky has a decent slant range and effective
countermeasures. MANPADS are not terribly effective under those
circumstances..


KB

"miso" wrote in message
om...
I think the opposite question should be asked. Is the crew of the
ac130 safe given the amount of SA gear floating around Iraq. Can the
AC130 maintain a safe distance from the weapons of the resistance?

Going to war is not safe.
That being said, given how they are used I'ld say they have a real
good chance of coming back from their missions.

Henry J Cobb wrote in message
...
http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated
sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

-HJC

No tracers these days. Only in training. With all the high tech sensors
you don't need the tracers to aim with (went out with the AC-47), and as you
say, "tracers work both ways."

--
Les
F-4C(WW),D,E,G(WW)/AC-130A/MC-130E EWO (ret)


"Kyle Boatright" wrote in message
...

"miso" wrote in message
om...
I think the opposite question should be asked. Is the crew of the
ac130 safe given the amount of SA gear floating around Iraq. Can the
AC130 maintain a safe distance from the weapons of the resistance?

Henry J Cobb wrote in message
...
http://globalsecurity.org/military/s...ft/ac-130u.htm
The newest addition to the command fleet, this heavily armed
aircraft
incorporates side-firing weapons integrated with sophisticated
sensor,
navigation and fire control systems to provide surgical firepower
or
area saturation during extended loiter periods, at night and in
adverse weather.

Is Spooky safer for the surrounding civilians than laser guided bombs
or
hellfire missiles for attacks on point targets in urban areas?

-HJC


Spooky flies at night, which makes visual targeting more difficult. In
addition, the most visible thing Spooky does is put out a long line of
tracer fire, which appears to curve as you're watching it. That throws
off
visual targeting too. Finally, if you shoot at Spooky, you'd better hit
it
quick, because it shoots back and is accurate enough to ruin your whole
day.

As far as MANPADS go, Spooky has a decent slant range and effective
countermeasures. MANPADS are not terribly effective under those
circumstances..


KB




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"John Keeney" wrote in message
...
Going to war is not safe.
That being said, given how they are used I'ld say they have a real
good chance of coming back from their missions.


For whoever originated the thread...sure these aircraft aren't AC-130
gunships, callsign 'Spectre' rather than the 'Spooky in the title? AC-47
'Spooky' aircraft might indeed have a little trouble downtown.

Tex Houston