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2007-07-02 Home Front: WoT

Jets shredded, kept away from 'bad guys'

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Posted by tu3031 2007-07-02 15:40|| || Front Page|| [11141 views ] Top

#1 Reminds me of earlier episodes in the DOD where B35/49 Northrop flying wings and P6M Martin Seamasters were destroyed; except here it is (ostensibly) to keep parts out of the hands of the bad guys. Why not just ensure the previous existing regs about the DeMil-ing of equipment got followed and if you violated the rules, you paid the price? Lots of the -D versions had little time on them, still good airframes for a reserve action......

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-07-02 16:15|| 2007-07-02 16:15|| Front Page Top

#2 Let me suggest that these F-14s are also being destroyed to keep them out of the hands of congressmen. That is, if they are destroyed, the congress can't order the Pentagon to "refurbish" them and keep using them, instead of getting new aircraft.

I think the navy is doing much the same thing, by scuttling old ships instead of mothballing them.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-07-02 16:25|| 2007-07-02 16:25|| Front Page Top

#3 'Moose, while there was at one time a rather strong lobby in DC to refurbish jets, the success of stealth technology and the 'Light Attack Mafia' made anything Grumman built obsolete (as in very un sexy) same for the EF-111 for the USAF. the A-6 is now listed in the Foreign Military Sales Catalog (with advanced weapons radar removed) as either a daylight visual bomber or tanker (only land based, so that presumes removal of the tailhook and launch mechanism as well as wing fold) and only the RAAF still flies the Aardvark, and I am not aware of any purchases by them of our old inventory. On a personal note, we had just comlpeted a rewing effort of the A-6 prior to its retirement and it would have been a wonderful refueling platform for the CAs, but that is where the Light Attack mafia stepped in and hung a buddy store on the Hornet. another story another time.
re scuttling ships: i was at Bremerton Naval Shipyard just yesterday and it was rather melancholy to see 3 CVs sitting there instead of launching jets, doubly so since I had been stationed on them. Future fish hatcheries???

Posted by USN, Ret. 2007-07-02 16:49|| 2007-07-02 16:49|| Front Page Top

#4 I think the old jets would make great UACVs or cruise missiles

Posted by 3dc 2007-07-02 22:54|| 2007-07-02 22:54|| Front Page Top

#5 For that you want fly by wire control systems. Too awkward to try to control hydraulics otherwise.

Posted by lotp 2007-07-02 23:21|| 2007-07-02 23:21|| Front Page Top

#6 lotp: they turned most of the F-4 Phantoms into SAM missile targets, without doing any conversion to fly-by-wire.

Posted by Abdominal Snowman 2007-07-02 23:40|| 2007-07-02 23:40|| Front Page Top

23:44 CrazyFool
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