Posted on 07/09/2017 8:45:11 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Commuters on a new high-speed rail line in France got to race a Dassault Rafale fighter jet, which is pretty cool. I would like to snark how American it is of them, but America doesn’t really do high-speed rail.
To celebrate a new line between Connerré and Cesson-Sévigné, the French rail service was joined by the French Air Force, with a Dassault Rafale fighter jet following along the new train, looking cool and giving commuters the impression that they were mere pawns in France’s multi-transport racing gambit.
In the video from Puissance Française (French Power) on YouTube, you can also see what the video claims is a Dassault Alpha jet circling in the background.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a case of the train going as fast as a fighter jet, but rather a fighter jet going as slow as a train. This is even more obvious by the second jet literally running circles around the Rafale and the train.
But the people of France should still be proud, as the country operates one of the fastest rail systems in the world, with TGV trains often reaching speeds of around 200 mph, as well as a slew of land-speed records in excess of 350 mph.
I do have a rule when I’m traveling though, and it’s that I hope to never be surprised by looking out of the window and seeing a fighter jet looking back at me—plane, train, car, anything. We’ve all seen Live Free or Die Hard.
Not to worry.
No commuter trains have been shot down since after Bill Clinton bagged that one in Serbia.
I was thinking the jet must be flirting with its stall speed.
Tom Cruise is on that TGV trying to get the NOC list back.....
France has slow fighter jets?
France has high speed rail, cool. But, US freight rail are the envy of the World.
The Rafale has excellent low speed flight chacteristics due to its canard wing design.
Canard (aeronautics) Close coupling
The Rafale has excellent low speed flight chacteristics due to its canard wing design.
Canard (aeronautics) Close coupling
Wow. I enjoyed your profile page. So many quotes and songs and pictures to savor. One of my favs was about hiding the key to your heart because you might forget where you put it! Have you heard the Tommy Dorsey orchestra with young singer Frank Sinatra singing, “Without a Song”? It would fit on your wall nicely.
Cheers,
T.W.
I think high-speed trains work well in Europe and Japan and serve a real purpose. That clip is pretty cool!.
Reminds me of the American version, where some car show took that fancy new Ford truck (Raptor?) with the stock off-road package and raced it across the desert against a helicopter. (Well it was more of a gimic than a race - but I think the truck was over 100 MPH off road!)
So they spewed tons of Co2 from a jet to tout energy efficient public transportation
France is slightly less than the size of Texas.
I’m glad you liked my page. I use it for my music page. Plus things I like. I do like big band music. I like Frank. I don’t think I’ve heard that Sinatra song you mention. I will check it out.
“High-Speed Train Gets Fighter Escort For Some Amazing Reason”
At least we know it was “Amazing”.
Thanks for the info
You can not see the canard in the clip and I was not familiar with the Dassault Rafale.
perhaps the authorites were worried it had been hijacked by terrorists so they gave it a fighter escort?
(only being semi-serious).
< Willie Green mode = ON >
Hi-speed rail is GREAT!! It is better than sliced bread and indoor plumbing and Wi-Fi and sex and everything!!
We need it everywhere in the USA (and the government can pay for it)
< Willie Green mode = off >
(I actually miss the Willie Green Happy Choo-Choo threads
Watch a French fighter plane and a high speed train stay together using this one weird trick.
ditto
“Watch a French fighter plane and a high speed train stay together using this one weird trick.”
And you won’t believe what happens next.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.