If it were MY collection of unflyable Raptors in the path of 13' storm surge, I'd load at least a few on flat beds and drive them north. An expensive hedge, for sure... but worthwhile with an actual national asset valued over a billion dollars. We need every F-22 we've got (had?); this is truly devastating to our national defense.

10-14-2018 | 02:24 AM

#196153

sailingfun

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Joined: Feb 2008

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Likes: 193

Quote:

Originally Posted by TED74

You would have to take the wings off to flatbed them. I suspect that’s not easy. We could not even flaked a A4 with a 24 foot wingspan. The Raptor has a 44 foot span.

10-14-2018 | 03:27 AM

#196154

TED74

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Joined: Sep 2014

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Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfun

You would have to take the wings off to flatbed them. I suspect that’s not easy. We could not even flaked a A4 with a 24 foot wingspan. The Raptor has a 44 foot span.

I'm sure none of it would be easy. But at $135M a pop, when we're already hundreds short of the quantity (I think) we need, I wish they had found a way.

I wasn't there and I don't know the details, but I've been in the military long enough not to trust that all the right decisions were made in advance of this historic storm.

10-14-2018 | 05:33 AM

#196155

Bucking Bar

Can't abide NAI

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 12,078

Likes: 15

From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuardPolice

...do you think Delta would actually be that stupid to leave billions of dollars worth of airplanes in the path of any hurricane?

If I were CFO, I'd make sure the insurance policies were paid, then dispatch the entire MD88 fleet and a few A320's to the lowest windy'st airport with instructions to leave them unchocked with the tires really pumped up and parking brakes released. Then if the airplanes appeared repairable, spread the word that the liquor kits are still onboard. Scavengers will finish them off searching for booze.

... probably the reason I'll never be CFO, but we would have a most excellent quarter at $11.5 million per.

Last edited by Bucking Bar; 10-14-2018 at 05:44 AM.

10-14-2018 | 05:41 AM

#196156

Bucking Bar

Can't abide NAI

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 12,078

Likes: 15

From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingfun

All were in a non flyable status.

Find a Vietnam era F4 pilot and hire him as a sub-contractor. "3,500 feet of steel matting and one engine will do, we can air start the other one on the climb out"

Locate Charlie Tutt & Bill Panke, insert a 12 pack of reasonable quality beer, find a lakeside, wait one hour and learn what is possible with a 50,000lb war machine in a serious state of disrepair :-)

10-14-2018 | 05:50 AM

#196157

notEnuf

Racketeer

Joined: Mar 2015

Posts: 13,320

Likes: 814

From: N60.4858 W149.9327

I can't believe the value we leave lying around the panhandle (and have for years) without a hardened safe hangar that can accommodate fighter size aircraft. Just look at the hurricane plots over the last 100 years.

10-14-2018 | 05:54 AM

#196158

Bucking Bar

Can't abide NAI

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 12,078

Likes: 15

From: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler

Quote:

Originally Posted by notEnuf

While the POTUS can deny climate change, it is a serious threat to our military readiness for just the reason you mention. Hardened facilities are still vulnerable. Salt water is a corrosive beyatch.

Then there is climate induced migration. Walls might keep out 1,000 or 10,000, but when the numbers get into the millions a wall does not work.

10-14-2018 | 06:08 AM

#196159

notEnuf

Racketeer

Joined: Mar 2015

Posts: 13,320

Likes: 814

From: N60.4858 W149.9327

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bucking Bar

We spent a lot of money on a sub sea level city and its infrastructure. An airbase seems small in comparison. The surge and salt water are a problem along the coast, maybe we should rethink the barrier island location. Swap with navy for an inland base. I don't know the answer but to keep them in a known threat area during the season just seems stupid.

10-14-2018 | 06:31 AM

#196160

Han Solo

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Joined: Nov 2013

Posts: 1,657

Likes: 0

From: Fastest Hunk of Junk in the Galaxy

Quote:

Originally Posted by TED74

Don't worry, the USAF will pin it all on some captain or major and the general in charge will get a ribbon and promotion.

edit: and btw, the per unit cost of a Raptor is $339M!!! 138M is the incremental per unit cost for any additional jets in 2009.

Last edited by Han Solo; 10-14-2018 at 07:03 AM.