The “shiny” stuff is the low emissivity IR coating, which is RF transparent. V-22 uses it also.

Now that you mention it i thought i had seen a similar paint/finish on something else, thanks for bringing up the V-22.

Im not trying (nor do i want to) bring another environmental debate into this thread since we are so far offfff topic at this point (me included :diablo: )…..

But, as far as i know and at least saw when i was in Spain a few years ago for a high school class trip (great time, great people, loved the med) Europe is much more urbanized than the US. Which leads to urban sprawl here across the pond….Which brings larger homes…..more miles to drive to work everyday…..etc etc.

That may be one very good reason why the US has a much higher consuption per person than other industirablized nations.

I believe China is heavily urbanized, am i correct? Much easier for public transportation to drive people around and drop them off.

What i found most interesting though with the consumption chart was the fact that Canada used almost the same amount as the US, is it for the same reasons?

Oh, and on the oil production aspect for the US, from what I understand is with our huge coal deposits and shale oil, let alone Alaska, we could have enough oil to meet our demand and expected demand for a long time to come…

And not to stir up debate really, but here in the US we really frown upon the govenrment telling us what to do, how to live, etc etc……Suprisingly, there are still quite a few people who live here that still understand that government is not the answer to all of lifes problems, large and small. But thats just us crazy yanks 😀

Flex, Niksi….. it would seem that is a pic of the new #6 Blue Angel pilot Major Nathan Miller and not Lt.Commander Kevin Davis…the Blue Angel site was updated by that point.

Whoever brought up the point of the incrase of the price in corn is spot on….

I for one think this whole f%$@ing thing is idiotic and stupid. Were the goddam US of friggin A……we need to do something, domestic or foreign, we could dam well do it if who ever was leading was actually a leader. I dont hate Bush, but im no big fan either. All this crap is just that, CRAP.

If, and its a small if, the only reason were in the Mid-East is because of the oil, and to insure its continued supply on reasonable terms favorable to us (yes, i said it, sorry, were the biggest consumer as it is)….fine, no problem. But dont pussyfoot around, screwin around the bush. Take care of any problems and keep the **** flowing at a reasonable price. But dont play these dumb freakin games.

When it comes to corn, well thats the most assanine thing ive ever heard of. The food of the world, hell yets use it as fuel, and give you money to make the fuel. At the same time it takes more fuel to produce the fuel you intend to make……

Honestly, and this is for all non-Americans. I feel sorry for ya. I say this, as i said not long ago in my first post being the most nationalistic of people, proud and happy to be an American. But if we cant get our **** half assed together, forget trying to do anything else outside of our own borders.

PS:this is coming from a “neo-con”……….just so you know where im coming from.

Also, since i feel i should talk a little about the subject thread….

The US would run all over IRAN in the beginning stages of the war, the conventional part of the war would be over in 2-3 weeks tops. Sure, wed take some losses on the ground and air, but very minimal.

It would be the “unconventional” war that we would have major problems with as we all can see from Iraq……we dont have a modern day
Gen. Sherman.

And, being that im a “neo-con”, id say, at this point in time and for the forseeable future, the worst thing we could do is invade Iran. The population is young and ready, wanting reform…..If anything lets help them from the inside, but no “Direct” incursions are needed at this point in time. (may change in 10 yrs but im not a fortune teller.)

Ya know, in that pic of the F-23 and F119, the F-23 really does look like the “FOXFIRE” haha :diablo:

Im just wondering, since it looks like the Su-35 in combination with
Anti-Awacs missles could be a potent adversary for any nation highy dependent on intel/command and control…. ie: USA.

What are the countermeasures…if any?

Not the old chaff and maneuvering. I know back in the old days they figured the AWACS would have enough warning time to shut down the radar and boogey out of dodge, which was at that moment as good as a mission kill.

But with these new missles,(I know Russia has been developing these type missles for some time, least thats what I have read) I dont think simply doing a 180 and hightailing it will work….

Any new jamming techniques…..tactics etc? Just wondering, didnt mean to hijack the thread but I figure its somewhat inline with the original post.

If we all have an idea of the history of LO and what was done to make it more “maintenance friendly” in regards to the F-117, we could all agree they made advances in reducing the ammount of time/labor/material needed on maintenance.

But, the fact of the matter is, a fleet of F-117s is:

A: Less useful than a fleet of F-111s, even plane for plane
B: As much as a maintenance hog the F-111 always has been, id have to place my bet on the F-117 being even a bigger ehm…whore….when it comes to maintenance.

Personally, I even like the F-111 over the F-15E in almost all cases….who knows what the F-111 could have been turned into if it was “new build” with all the new 4th and 4+ generation avionics, powerplant and airframe? (interesting point to ponder 😀 )

PS: the use of the term generation was only used as a purely simple way of explaining things of a newer nature

The Answer is no, an American Nimitz Class or Enterprise carrier can not pass through the Panama Canal….yet. But i do believe there are plans to widen it in order to handle the new Super Dooper Extra Very Big Cargo ships planned for production (sorry for the inpercise name, but when a ship makes a Nimitz Class look small….without using explitives its hard to fathom :p )

Question is, can any of the USN’s “small carriers” (amphibs) fit through the Panama Canal?