Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
So where does that leave low-operating aircraft like the A-10? Could the availability of this new, better system be part of the reason for the imminent mothballing of this aircraft?
Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
- Start date
So where does that leave low-operating aircraft like the A-10? Could the availability of this new, better system be part of the reason for the imminent mothballing of this aircraft?
Verba is not the impetus for the long sought, often delayed, still undetermined demise of the A-10. Its just the latest example of increasingly unfriendly skies, if you will. The A-10 has been able to continue fighting in spite of threats like MANPADS because it is very tough (able to take punishment), very capable (able to operate with a wide variety of both dumb and smart munitions), and frankly, there is no viable replacement as yet.
These things are hideously expensive, only the Americans can afford them, but in very limited numbers. You just have to overwhelm them with simple technology.
Grizz
Just so we don't lose sight of this being a picture thread. This day in history, 100 years ago:
British Mark IV 'male' tank
24 April 1918: Tanks meet for the first time, at Villers-Bretonneux in France, where three British Mark IVs fought against three German A7Vs. Two of the three Mark IVs were 'females', armed only with machine guns, and were damaged and forced to withdraw. The 'male' Mark IV, armed with six pounders, hit and disabled the lead A7V and forced the two remaining enemy vehicles to withdraw.
British Mark IV 'male' tank
24 April 1918: Tanks meet for the first time, at Villers-Bretonneux in France, where three British Mark IVs fought against three German A7Vs. Two of the three Mark IVs were 'females', armed only with machine guns, and were damaged and forced to withdraw. The 'male' Mark IV, armed with six pounders, hit and disabled the lead A7V and forced the two remaining enemy vehicles to withdraw.
From February 8 1945 one of the luckiest men in the R.C.A.F. was Flying Officer R.M. Tegerdine of Oakland, California. The photograph shows what was left of his aircraft following its crash on the roof of a building in Belgium, and from which he crawled unhurt (RCAF photo)
View attachment 173117
View attachment 173117
The concept that an operating altitude of 12,000 feet or more is a safety zone is probably out dated.
Amateur rocket team launches rocket to 73.1 miles
https://rocketry.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/amateur-rocket-team-launches-rocket-to-73-1-miles/
Amateur rocket team launches rocket to 73.1 miles
https://rocketry.wordpress.com/2014/08/18/amateur-rocket-team-launches-rocket-to-73-1-miles/
The 12,000 ft figure is an approximation of the upper altitude envelope of most Manportable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). Most cannot reach that high, some will do somewhat better.
You're aware your 'amateur rocket' example is not a MANPADS, right?
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
He sure did a comprehensive job of it - he managed to take the nose, tail, and guts off her, but the carnage didn't extend to the cockpit. I hope he sent flowers and a good bottle of booze to R.J. Mitchell's widow for that.
When they weren't crashing them, they were giving them away:
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
Good lord, Sergei - what have you done?
https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/08/29/soviet-hawker-hurricane-specials/
https://defenceoftherealm.wordpress.com/2015/08/29/soviet-hawker-hurricane-specials/
The simple answer is yes the A10 is a lot more effective. The surviveability and pilot protection is second to none in a Warthog. Remember it was designed in consultation with the greatest ground attack pilot of all time. Rudel. Old aircraft designs have basically no chance of survival against even the limited AA capability of insurgent type forces. In addition the A10 can carry way more ordinance. Nostalgia is great, I love those old planes but they simply can't cut it in today's world.
Mosquito_magnet
CGN Regular
- Location
- Trenton, On
That's very cool, Magnet. Small world, huh?
What's 128 up to these days? Guarding a gate somewhere, or doing her regular job?
Actually, she's still flying with AETE in Cold Lake.
Dark Alley Dan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Darkest Edmonton
The T-35 was part of the "leviathan" movement in tank design in the 1930's. Absolute madness. When in doubt, make it bigger, heavier, slower, and start adding turrets like you're building a naval vessel.
The English gave it a go:
And the Germans.
And the Japanese.
The Poles had one on paper, but then got wise and stopped development. The concept never really worked that well.
The English gave it a go:
And the Germans.
And the Japanese.
The Poles had one on paper, but then got wise and stopped development. The concept never really worked that well.
- Location
- WMU247 near Edmonton
Just so we don't lose sight of this being a picture thread. This day in history, 100 years ago:
British Mark IV 'male' tank
24 April 1918: Tanks meet for the first time, at Villers-Bretonneux in France, where three British Mark IVs fought against three German A7Vs. Two of the three Mark IVs were 'females', armed only with machine guns, and were damaged and forced to withdraw. The 'male' Mark IV, armed with six pounders, hit and disabled the lead A7V and forced the two remaining enemy vehicles to withdraw.
after the skirmish the Crew of the Mk IV were heard shouting at the Hun WHO'S YOUR DADDY
FV4005 Stage II.
Great gun, in theory, but...
That turret was a giant target, and only 1/2" thick - a Garand firing AP could punch holes in it. It kept the crew out of the rain, but not much else. And unbalanced. Given the power of the gun, and how top heavy the design was, it was entirely possible for it to knock itself over if firing to the side.
