B2 Bomber (Page 3): I believe most all the bridges I am thinking of were built by the railroad companies and not the government. The way it should be in my mind. And those bridges may...

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

I believe most all the bridges I am thinking of were built by the railroad companies and not the government. The way it should be in my mind. And those bridges may well last another 100 years.

foathog wrote:

And with our governmental leadership those bridges will have to last ANOTHER 100 years!

RRS Loc: Not sure

robertjerl wrote:

Between the U2, SR-71 and for decades the RF-101C followed by the RF-4 varients there were a lot of people who found out how much truth there is in "You can run, but you can't hide." Then add in satellites and of course eyes and boots on the ground it makes life rough for bad guys. They have to become cavemen or moles to stay out of sight.

True but for all they have done it only takes one dumb-assed politician in DC, one that's never been in the military, to neutralize all the effort and risk that the brave men and women of our armed forces take daily.

Beemerrt

Wasn't the SR-71 given up for some nuclear treaty with USSR? I know that the engines of several of them were destroyed. I don't know if there is one in operational status yet. There was one at FT Snelling Museum in St Paul, MN as a static display. The classified items were taken out and it was not flyable.

Notorious T.O.D. Loc: Harrisburg, North Carolina

Removed from service due to cost to maintain and operate and supposedly replaced by satellite coverage.

One or two came back briefly for NASA test flights. There are rumors of a possible SR-72 being developed as technology moves forward and satellites are not always the best answer in all cases.

Beemerrt wrote:

Wasn't the SR-71 given up for some nuclear treaty with USSR? I know that the engines of several of them were destroyed. I don't know if there is one in operational status yet. There was one at FT Snelling Museum in St Paul, MN as a static display. The classified items were taken out and it was not flyable.

ecommons

Sometimes you need stealth. Other times you need fear. A big BUFF coming at you, knowing it's firepower wiil scare the crap out of you.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

I recall watching these beautiful birds coming and going when I was stationed at Eglin AFB in 1970. You really appreciate the beauty of this Raptor when you see it up close.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

ORpilot wrote:

I flew the B52H from 1977-1982. Not a fun plane to fly. I have over 6000 hr and most flights were 18 to 20 hr long. Including one 42hr nonstop flight around the world during the 1st Iran Crises. One reason I left the AirForce is that the age of the aircraft it was approved to fly with 1/2 inch wing cracks, old $10000 vacuumed tubes for electronics, and gas guzzler no longer produced engines. They had a plane or two to “can” parts from

As I understand it, some mission-critical vacuum tube gear is still used by the military because of its resistance to EMP — the integrated circuit-destroying electromagnetic pulse that is generated by an atomic or hydrogen bomb explosion (especially at high altitude). That's one of the reasons the Russians still make a lot of fine tubes. They use lots of them in their military gear.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

dennis2146 wrote:

I may be mistaken but are you sure you are not thinking of the F35? I believe that is the aircraft that Congress is insisting we buy and use while nobody seems to want it.

Dennis

That one also in large part.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

RRS wrote:

True but for all they have done it only takes one dumb-assed politician in DC, one that's never been in the military, to neutralize all the effort and risk that the brave men and women of our armed forces take daily.

One of several reasons I believe we should have universal service like Israel, the Swiss and others. Everyone serves at least for a while, some then become pros and some become reserves. I also think the sci fi author Robert Heinlein had a good idea (read "Starship Troopers") when he imagined a society where only those who serve get to vote, run for office or hold certain jobs (some of those jobs, like cops etc counted as service) everyone else were citizens with rights - just not the vote or holding office. Then the Political Critters would have understanding of the consequences of what they do.
I read somewhere that some Israeli reserves are allowed to carry in everyday life and a lot of the "terrorists" stopped by "military personnel" are actually stopped by reservists just going about their daily lives.

woodweasel Loc: bellingham Wa

Thank you for sharing

foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

tschuler wrote:

Excuse me, Excuse me. I thought we were talking about bombers, not bridges.

Hey Bud, I didn't bring up the subject of bridges. I merely responded to a comment about them. I don't think you are able to follow the conversation too well. Take a reading class.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

ORpilot wrote:

I flew the B52H from 1977-1982. Not a fun plane to fly. I have over 6000 hr and most flights were 18 to 20 hr long. Including one 42hr nonstop flight around the world during the 1st Iran Crises. One reason I left the AirForce is that the age of the aircraft it was approved to fly with 1/2 inch wing cracks, old $10000 vacuumed tubes for electronics, and gas guzzler no longer produced engines. They had a plane or two to “can” parts from

Not a whole heckuva lot of room to move around, either, on those long flights, is there?

Dadmech Loc: Slippery Rock, PA

2060??
I must be stuck in a time warp! 😃🇺🇸

TheShoe Loc: Lacey, WA

jerryc41 wrote:

I saw a bit on TV about it, and they showed a father/son combo that piloted the B-52. I'd be concerned flying something that old and that big.

It keeps getting newer technology replacement parts.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

SteveR wrote:

Not a whole heckuva lot of room to move around, either, on those long flights, is there?

Yep, I was fortunate in that I am only 5'6'' tall in combat boots. The floor to ceiling height was 5'7'' and I could stand up with the helmet on without bending over. Now days when I fly commercial coast to coast I wonder how I ever could stand the 20hr flights. To this day, I can't sleep on a plane,,,,just too many flight hours in the BUFF.