Humor Random Comments Thread

[jedidia]

In the end you lie in bed like "Whoa, I'm still driving, dammit I fell asleep...no wait, that's my bed!"

That's exactly what happens. A one hand trip Switzerland-Bosnia, and in the evening I couldn't fall asleep (for longer than 2 seconds) because of this. Annyoed the hell out of me...

 

[PhantomCruiser]

From what I've observed, "multi-role" can be defined as "doesn't do any one particular thing, particularly well".

I look at the F-35 and have to facepalm. That poor plane, doomed forever to overpriced mediocrity.

The A-10, while aged, is particularly good for the mission. It's hard to argue with a string of closely-space 30mm HE. You can maybe try to argue, but ummm. Bad idea. You'll just wind up looking like an idiot.

She's not very fast (those same GE turbofans were on the S-3 Hoovers (I mean Vikings) and are 70% bypassed or something). She's not very pretty to look at, unless you happen to be a "good guy" pinned down by a lot of "bad guys" and she happens to waltz by and save your backside. Then I suppose she'd be gorgeous.

 

[Urwumpe]

She's not very fast (those same GE turbofans were on the S-3 Hoovers (I mean Vikings) and are 70% bypassed or something).

Actually, the same engine with some small modifications is the famous CF34-3 engine, used in many business jets.

Its rumored that its actually possible to turn a CF34 into a TF34 for the A-10C by simply using a screwdriver to change some configuration.

 

[Evil_Onyx]

But that's the paradox of the A-10. Its a specialist, a plain one-trick pony.

But its specialization is Close Air Support, (all though it can perform strike and other similar roles) Which is what is most needed at this time.

 

[Urwumpe]

But its specialization is Close Air Support, (all though it can perform strike and other similar roles) Which is what is most needed at this time.

The problem is: It is actually always mostly needed, since strategic bombing became less effective. the world has only few conflicts with enemies with serious air force.

And for conflicts against enemies with serious air force, air superiority fighters like the F-22 + A-10 aircraft would be a better combination than F-35s ...

 

[Ghostrider]

Specialization? Niche? The A-10 kills massive amounts of stuff, up close and personal, takes heaps of damage that would send fancier planes crying to mommy and helps your mud mover do what war is all about: taking and defending ground. It can operate from improvised airstrips, fly treetop level and gives a new meaning to "cross my heart and hope to die" (if you didn't get it, imagine seeing it from below).
It's what a combat aircraft is meant to be. Nothing more and nothing less. Sure, it can't put a bomb into your enemy's HQ the other side of the world, but that's what DHL is for...

 

[MaverickSawyer]

Specialization? Niche? The A-10 kills massive amounts of stuff, up close and personal, takes heaps of damage that would send fancier planes crying to mommy and helps your mud mover do what war is all about: taking and defending ground. It can operate from improvised airstrips, fly treetop level and gives a new meaning to "cross my heart and hope to die" (if you didn't get it, imagine seeing it from below).
It's what a combat aircraft is meant to be. Nothing more and nothing less. Sure, it can't put a bomb into your enemy's HQ the other side of the world, but that's what DHL is for...

About that last part... they HAVE added PGM abilities to it... it just rarely needs to use them! :lol:

 

[Urwumpe]

About that last part... they HAVE added PGM abilities to it... it just rarely needs to use them! :lol:

Oh... in DCS, it is pretty cool to have GPS-guided cluster bombs with smart projectiles... In other games, it would be called cheating...

 

[ISProgram]

Specialization? Niche? The A-10 kills massive amounts of stuff, up close and personal, takes heaps of damage that would send fancier planes crying to mommy and helps your mud mover do what war is all about: taking and defending ground.

Exactly. Who needs much of a niche when you're basically a flying tank, can blow up those crappy ground-based ones, and can take a helluva lotta damage. The A-10 is effectively a "boss", since it doesn't need stealth to do its job. It's bullish, gets hands on dirty. I would love to see one of these up close, though preferably not on its business end.

In a serious note, I don't really see why it (A-10) would be considered for retirement. It's the only airplane type of its class in the entire military. It's invaluable to infantry as well and it's a tank-buster. I mean, look at dat gun.

 

[astrosammy]

:drool: Those things always look smaller than they are without a proper comparison.

 

[Urwumpe]

In a serious note, I don't really see why it (A-10) would be considered for retirement.

No pointy nose. (According to the book about the A-10 in the Gulf War)

 

[ISProgram]

Such a beautiful machine, isn't it?

EDIT: who needs a pointy nose when you have dat gun?

 

[orbitingpluto]

In a serious note, I don't really see why it (A-10) would be considered for retirement. It's the only airplane type of its class in the entire military.

There lies the rub, the higher ups have logistics guys and bean counters around to advise them, and to those guys dedicated, specialized equipment is something to be avoided. They have the kind of mindset that makes them value stuff that can be rapidly re-tasked to other duties(multi-role), or can make use of a common supply chain(standardized consumables, same components, that kind of stuff). In theory, a bunch of F-35s could perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, and this is the kind of solution these guys hope for; the same airframe, able to do what ever job required, with less of a supply chain to manage. It's the A-10's ground support that these guys are looking to get rid of, while the abilities of the A-10 are not their focus.

I could also say there's also fighter pilots in the upper ranks influencing things, but it's kind of obvious:shifty:

 

[Urwumpe]

EDIT: who needs a pointy nose when you have dat gun?

Well, politicians and jet jockeys. The A-10 was constantly under threat to be retired. Too slow, too ugly, obsolete technology, not stealthy, too small bomb load....

And then you have to take such people aside and show them the facts...

Yes, a F-15E can make radar maps so accurate to show the masts of a power line from 50 km away while flying at the speed of sound.

An A-10 can fly underneath the power line and kill some tanks. And then it kills some more tanks. And while you are repairing the F-15E for the next flight without it ever seeing hostile fire, the A-10 is already rearming and refueling with running engines, lifting off again and kills more tanks.

In the second gulf war, the A-10s flew 8100 missions in the few days of it, destroyed 900 tanks, 2000 other vehicles, 1200 artillery pieces and two helicopters. It launched 90% of all Mavericks in that short war. And only seven aircraft had been lost or too badly damaged to be repaired. It flew night missions without even having any equipment for it - they just powered up a Maverick and used its sensor for detecting targets by "looking through a drinking straw" on a tiny TV monitor. It even flew when the weather was still too bad for the other aircraft. And that without autopilot or even a computer to calculate CCIP.

Simply by aircraft being in the air for 8-10 hours everyday. Its a workhorse. And everybody takes workhorses for granted.

 

[ISProgram]

An A-10 can fly underneath the power line and kill some tanks. And then it kills some more tanks. And while you are repairing the F-15E for the next flight without it ever seeing hostile fire, the A-10 is already rearming and refueling with running engines, lifting off again and kills more tanks.

Now if the F-15E never sees hostile fire, why (I'm assuming) have it replace the A-10? That makes no sense. :lol:

Also, when a F-15E can't fly with only one engine, one tail, one elevator, and half of a wing missing, like the A-10 can, then you retire the latter. Until then, that "specialized role" is monopolized, and will continue to be monopolized, by the A-10.

I will admit that have common equipment is desirable, but I don't see a tank-buster fitting that.

 

[mojoey]

Meanwhile in Wolfsburg...

 

[Athena]

What the heck is a Flughafen-Feuerwehr Simulator? :blink:

 

[Urwumpe]

What the heck is a Flughafen-Feuerwehr Simulator? :blink:

Don't ask. "Airport fire department simulator"

The last time I had been in the local entertainment store, there was nothing that was not simulated. Even the waste collection.

 

[Loru]

Also, when a F-15E can't fly with only one engine, one tail, one elevator, and half of a wing missing, like the A-10 can, then you retire the latter.

not there yet but F-15 doesn't need wings to fly:

 

[MattBaker]

I know those as bounty games. The only thing you can do with them is pirate them, play them for an hour, have a laugh about the terrible physics/gamedesign/gameplay/pacing issues and move on.

Then again I enjoy the Silent Hunter series and thousands play a goat simulator, so...