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It’s a stupid program! You don’t turn a strategic airlifter into a freaking gunship!clancyphile wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2023 4:40 pmYou think... but it gets in from fairy god-Congresscritters. They see the chance for more and bigger Dakka...
This is America, aka Team Hoc Habeo ("I've Got This").Wolfman wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2023 7:00 pmIt’s a stupid program! You don’t turn a strategic airlifter into a freaking gunship!clancyphile wrote: ↑Fri Nov 24, 2023 4:40 pmYou think... but it gets in from fairy god-Congresscritters. They see the chance for more and bigger Dakka...
So, instead of a 105mm, it gets a 155mm or two and dozens of missiles?Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:43 am That was my impression as well: unless some Congress-critters slipped the AF some money with the proviso that it go to an AC-17 prototype...
2 M61s, 2 GAU-8s, a 57mm, and a M777 155mm, plus sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM or two dozen AGM-176 Griffin. or eight 500-pound JDAMs, plus the ability to kick a MOAB or MOP out the back door.Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 12:09 pmSo, instead of a 105mm, it gets a 155mm or two and dozens of missiles?Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:43 am That was my impression as well: unless some Congress-critters slipped the AF some money with the proviso that it go to an AC-17 prototype...
clancyphile wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:38 pm2 M61s, 2 GAU-8s, a 57mm, and a M777 155mm, plus sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM or two dozen AGM-176 Griffin. or eight 500-pound JDAMs, plus the ability to kick a MOAB or MOP out the back door.Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 12:09 pmSo, instead of a 105mm, it gets a 155mm or two and dozens of missiles?Matt Wiser wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 3:43 am That was my impression as well: unless some Congress-critters slipped the AF some money with the proviso that it go to an AC-17 prototype...
Sounds a lot like somebody forgot you guys have B-52s and Bones and shit…I do not want to think about the M61/GAU-8 gun gas ingestion issues for the port engines during a pylon turn...Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:43 pmclancyphile wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:38 pm2 M61s, 2 GAU-8s, a 57mm, and a M777 155mm, plus sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM or two dozen AGM-176 Griffin. or eight 500-pound JDAMs, plus the ability to kick a MOAB or MOP out the back door.
Just because it is technically doable does not make it a good idea.
What‘s the use of the M61 and GAU-8 anyway? Not enough range. Better install another 57mm instead. The caliber at least allows for guided/programmable shells.Poohbah wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 5:05 pmI do not want to think about the M61/GAU-8 gun gas ingestion issues for the port engines during a pylon turn...Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:43 pmclancyphile wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:38 pm
2 M61s, 2 GAU-8s, a 57mm, and a M777 155mm, plus sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM or two dozen AGM-176 Griffin. or eight 500-pound JDAMs, plus the ability to kick a MOAB or MOP out the back door.
Just because it is technically doable does not make it a good idea.
Losing whatever brain cells you allegedly possessed is a prerequisite for election to Congress these days.Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:43 pmclancyphile wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:38 pm2 M61s, 2 GAU-8s, a 57mm, and a M777 155mm, plus sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM or two dozen AGM-176 Griffin. or eight 500-pound JDAMs, plus the ability to kick a MOAB or MOP out the back door.
Just because it is technically doable does not make it a good idea.
Point.Johnnie Lyle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 6:19 pmLosing whatever brain cells you allegedly possessed is a prerequisite for election to Congress these days.Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:43 pmclancyphile wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 1:38 pm
2 M61s, 2 GAU-8s, a 57mm, and a M777 155mm, plus sixteen AGM-114 Hellfire/AGM-179 JAGM or two dozen AGM-176 Griffin. or eight 500-pound JDAMs, plus the ability to kick a MOAB or MOP out the back door.
Just because it is technically doable does not make it a good idea.
Too true, I’m afraid.Jotun wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 7:14 pmPoint.Johnnie Lyle wrote: ↑Sat Nov 25, 2023 6:19 pmLosing whatever brain cells you allegedly possessed is a prerequisite for election to Congress these days.
Considering the paste eating fools currently in office, I hold no hope for any success…Poohbah wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 6:24 pm At my level, I have to testify in front of Congress about complex technical subjects. This is a problem because we have very few STEM majors going into politics; most go through pre-law to law school to running for office. A good chunk of the work done by the legislative affairs shop at HQ USAF is breaking things down Barney-style...
STEM majors like fixing problems and making systems work better. Politicians like making things more complicated to justify their existence.Poohbah wrote: ↑Sun Nov 26, 2023 6:24 pm At my level, I have to testify in front of Congress about complex technical subjects. This is a problem because we have very few STEM majors going into politics; most go through pre-law to law school to running for office. A good chunk of the work done by the legislative affairs shop at HQ USAF is breaking things down Barney-style...