This could be a ploy by the Pentagon to force the American government to pick a replacement for these aircraft with the projected KC-767. I agree with the fact that many of these aircraft need to be replaced but it would seem to me that the 767 airframe could be the wrong choice.
The best choice, in my opinion, would be the multitude of MD-11s which are sitting idle in the United States. It would probably cost less money to complete the transformation to tanker configuration for these aircraft than it would cost to acquire new Boeing 767s.
I am sure that Boeing would like to have an answer as soon as possible as they are probably looking at shutting down the assembly lines for this model to make room for the 7E7.
Source AM680 News from Toronto:
“The B-1 bomber, on September 7th, 2004, had to abort its take off due to a blown tire. The crew was out of the aircraft before the fire crews could reach them. a new tire will be flown in to replace the blown rubber before the aircraft will be able to return to Dyess AFB. The crew will spend the night in Toronto to fly out the next day.”
The incident apparently happened at Pearson which might have disrupted traffic until the aircraft was removed from the runway. Cheers!
The likelyhood of the C-130 still flying for another fifty years wouldn’t surprise me. Its longevity has been proven with its first fifty years of faithful service around the world.
There have been rumors of such an attack being planned by Israel for a few years now but no one will ever know unless it actually happens.
As to how I would plan it: The one constant would be the use of the F-15I Ra’am. This would be the perfect platform for such a sortie. The mission plan would probably be a variation of the mission flown in 1980 against the nuclear powerplant in Irak. I am not a tactician so I won’t go into detail, but if I had to plan something of this magnitude, I would go along these lines.
As much as Israel would feel safer if such a mission was executed, the American government has no doubt put Sharon on a leash. There is no way the Bush Administration would allow such a mission to be flown unless American assets would be involved and lead the way into bandit country.
Great looking Apha Jet! Are they Portuguese?
Does anyone know what the F-35 will look like when it will be produced? As well, should we expect it to be used by Israel?
Has this thing ever flown?
I read on the Boeing website the last order for the USAF was for ten F-15E Strike Eagle, all to be delivered by 2003 if I am not mistaken!
Is there a chance this helicopter will be used by the Australian SAS regiment? And might this decision push the British government to acquire a few NH90 of their own for the SAS?
Has anyone ever heard of a variant of the Kfir called the C10? Not sure if it was ever produced or if it even went beyond the drawing boards?
I have never heard of the F-15C and Typhoon meeting in a mock dogfight, however, I am sure this will happen soon enough as the American DoD will want to know how performant the Eurofighter is against the Eagle.
Would these aircraft take part in Red Flag exercises or do they travel the country to be where they are needed?
Aren’t Sierra Leone’s Hinds grounded due to a lack of spare parts or has the government found a source to get them back in the air?
Could we expect the C-160s to be retired when this aircraft reaches frontline squadron s in both France and Germany? If so, would it be logical for Turkey to purchase the A400?
Just a quick question! Do you believe the F-35 will be as good as everyone says it will be or will jets such as the Typhoon and the Rafale be as performant and cost less money?