Posted on 10/16/2018 3:16:15 PM PDT by llevrok
I am no military vet, so this is perhaps a naive question -
A number of planes at Tindall were left on base and suffered partial or full damage. Some were F22's, no small loss.
Why were not all planes flown out the day before when it was obvious this was going to be ground zero for Hurricane Michael or near it?
Were they hanger queens and not flight ready? Or were there not the crews ready to fly them out?
It seems strange to me so many flying assets were left back.
The plane I saw flipped looked like a display plane.
There were a few of those. But many “air worthy” ones in damaged hangers according to the USAF page.
I saw a news report that said there were maintenance and spare parts issues so they could not be flown out. If true it’s pathetic.
The bigger question is, why were there only 33 out of 55 aircraft flyable leading up to the storm? That’s a pretty lousy readiness rate, especially for a top of the line fighter fresh off the assembly line.
Follow the money. New contracts for unions coming up.
Because new F-22’s are a lot cheaper than reinforced concrete bunkers. /sarcasm
I was told the current aircraft were flown to Texas and Ohio before the storm. I can not believe the AF would leave their favorite toys for the storm.
you beat me to it
It is interesting how Trump managed to create a hurricane to hit Florida and make jobs for unionized construction workers. Perhaps he is hoping the unionized construction workers will vote for Republicans next month and for in in 2020.
I’m posting the above as sarcasm but we’ll probably find it being used by the Dems before election day.
If spare parts and maintenance are the case, thank Obama and his hatred of the military.
No hurricanes before Trump.
The plane, a F-15, flipped on its back was a non-flying display aircraft, often called “gate guards” because they are either near the airbase gate or the flight line. In the same display area are a: F-4 Phantom, F-86 Sabre, and a F-102.
An example of a literal gate guard is the F-105 Thunderchief that is on a pedestal at the entrance to Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, DC. It is a ‘memorial’ to the last fighter squadron that was based at Bolling, it flew F-105s.
Take as many grains of salt as you need but here is one answer/excuse.
The F-22s left behind could not fly for either mechanical or safety reasons,
said a spokeswoman, who also said all the hangars on base were damaged.
Yeah...kind of interesting isn’t it.
But we are “ready” for anything.
WWG1WGA
Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)
That’s where I was born. 8>)
I thought they were done with the F22 in favor of the F 35.
Oops...they got broke. I guess we need more 35’s.
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