Posted on 09/15/2021 9:34:52 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Fighter jets practised landing on a highway in southern Taiwan on Wednesday as part of an annual live-fire military exercise that simulates defending the island against an invasion by China.
The drill, which was watched by President Tsai Ing-wen, is supposed to hone Taiwanese pilot skills if the island's airstrips are wiped out.
Wednesday's drill took place on one of five highways that have been deliberately built with long sections that can accommodate planes landing.
In June, 28 Chinese jets breached Taiwan's ADIZ in the largest single-day incursion. That came shortly after G7 leaders issued a landmark statement urging peace in the Taiwan Strait.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Aren’t our US Highways built to act as emergency runways every so many miles? I remember hearing that when I was a kid.
Michigan freeways in the US are so filled with potholes and crevices the enemy planes would flip over and burn.
China will take over Taiwan. biden already promised them he wouldn’t stand in the way of the takeover. He needs to repay them for putting him in the White House and for all the money we haven’t heard about yet.
Do like the Swiss (or the swiss used to do). Send every recruit home with their rifle, a locker and 100 rounds of ammo, so that eventually, every other man between the ages of 20 and 80 was armed. Bring them back locally once a year for a day of target practice and BBQ.
Even the most bloodthirsty communist would think twice if he was facing 3 million or more armed citizens.
The use of the Interstates to land planes and move troops and equipment was that justification Eisenhower used to get approval for a Federal highway system. Ike was a damm sight smarter than most pols.
They did it near Alpena
Wednesday's drill took place on one of five highways that have been deliberately built with long sections that can accommodate planes landing.
So blast the runways and the highways.
slightly different take on the interstate system:
(I thought differently about the system being built because of a recent Eisenhower biography I read.)
“Myths” page....(their side of the story)
One in five miles of the Interstate System is straight so airplanes can land in emergencies.
This myth is widespread on the Internet and in reference sources, but has no basis in law, regulation, design manual—or fact. Airplanes occasionally land on Interstates when no alternative is available in an emergency, not because the Interstates are designed for that purpose.
“President Eisenhower supported the Interstate System because he wanted a way of evacuating cities if the United States was attacked by an atomic bomb. Defense was the primary reason for the Interstate System. The Interstate System was launched by the Interstate Defense Highway Act of 1956.Nov 20, 2019”
Federal Highway System, Highway History.
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/interstate/interstatemyths.cfm#question5
Ping.
Thanks for clearing that up with such a great response.
Read about The Battle Of Kinmen Island.
The Chinese lost an entire division (9000 men) trying to take Kinmen Island.
Airplanes occasionally land on Interstates when no alternative is available in an emergency, not because the Interstates are designed for that purpose.
non-sequitur
Non-sequitur in Federal Highway System site explanation.
Yes, unless they believed flying cars were involved a lot.
Driverless or pilotless.
I missed it.
Does it count if it was for a CHiPS episode?
Not really. Highways not stressed for it, must be specifically built and the mandate for the Interstate Hwys was to provide a safe, fast and efficient way to move military men and equipment across the states.
Eisenhower remembered it took him about 30-days to take his unit from the east coast to west coast. He championed to interstate system, that is why every so often on the “original” interstates you will see a 5-start sign in memory of Eisenhower.
Autobahn in Germany has some stretches of highway designed and stressed for use as a runway. . .mostly for A-10’s. Other jets need more improved surfaces and increased logistics support.
Some sections were but...those small prop fighters put a lot less stress on a roadway than a modern heavy fighter. The roadway needs some serious reinforcement to land modern aircraft.
He was a loggie and looked at the highways as a loggie problem to move men and equipment (see my other post).
Been to his presidential library back in the 80’s and read his notes on the interstate plan. . .no mention of using the interstates for aviation support.
not attacking the messenger,
the fact that planes land in an emergency doesn’t mean it wasn’t designed for alternate uses other than engine failure
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