Supersonic JDAM drop marks increase in Raptor capability

Air Force Link ^ | 7/25/2005 | Christopher Ball

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Supersonic JDAM drop marks increase in Raptor capability
OVER CALIFORNIA -- An F/A-22 Raptor, flown by Maj. John Teichert, releases a guided bomb unit-32 1,000-pound joint direct attack munitions at supersonic speed for the first time near California's Panamint Mountain range. Major Teichert is a test pilot assigned to the 411th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Darin Russell)

[Shazbot29]

Holy Frijoles! To have ANYTHING to hit a target a supersonic speed means that is it for Air to Ground combat. Air has it, pretty much forever.

But, as much as I like the F-22, there will never, EVER be an aircraft as beautiful as the F-15.

I know, lots of "forevers and nevers" there. But I am in a hyperbolic mood.

[Echo Talon]

BOOM! :D

[Danae]

Oooh new toys!

Say shall we live fire test that baby in some really sandy far away location? One populated with lots of Brainwashed Muslims out to kill us?

We need more glass in the west don't we?

Ok ok. </sarc>

[Pukin Dog]

Goin downtown?

[Echo Talon]

I love the way the F-15 looks as well. :D

[GoldCountryRedneck]

Aviation List ping

[null and void]

But, as much as I like the F-22, there will never, EVER be an aircraft as beautiful as the F-15.

Not even the A-10?

[tet68]

the testing was not without its challenges.

Some of these challenges included limited range airspace to reach test conditions,

longer range travel of the weapon after release,

The benefits just keep coming.

Increased standoff means more safety for the pilots
and less for the target, I wonder if they've ever thought
about rocket packs for the JDAMs.

[Thermalseeker]

Not even the A-10?

May not be as purty, but it shor' can kick up a fuss......

[halfright]

Ask a jar head and he'll tell you the A-10 is the prettiest bird in the world. I live in flight pattern for NAS Willow Grove and they train hard here...

[narby]

The GBU-32 separation test vehicle that was released is the same size, shape and weight as a real bomb, but without the guidance kit.

That's why they call it a "shape".

We had nuke shapes that we practiced with in the AF.

[LibWhacker]

Additionally, this was the first time a JDAM was released supersonically from an internal weapons bay, officials said.

Wow, I'm no pilot or engineer or anything, but just intuitively speaking, one can see that this is one well-built bird!

[Shazbot29]

My humble list of airplane beauty (USA):

1. F-15 Eagle
2. F-14 Tomcat
3. F-22 Raptor (Lightning)
4. A-10 Warthog(almost a tie with the F-22)
5. F-16 Falcon
7. F/A-18 Hornet
8. B-1 Supersonic Bomber
9. B-52 Bomber

Special Mention: SR-71 Blackbird (a different class altogether)


Ugliest:

4. V-22 Osprey
3. F-117 Stealth Fighter
2. B-2 Stealth Bomber
1. F-4 Phantom


Just my list and it is based on asthetiscs only, not fighting ability or anything else important.

[dighton]

Big pic at linked article and here.

[GAB-1955]

There is nothing so beautiful as the P-51D.

[narby]

Hey! The old F-4 bent wing aint ugly!

I was going to send it up as one of the pretty ones.

Although I worked on them, I actually like the WW2 warbirds better, for aesthetic tastes.

The P-51 and Spitfire Mark IX in planform view are the prettiest.

[Shazbot29]

The P-51D was lovely for its day. As was the B-29.

I guess it wasn't fair for me to include the F-4, since all the rest of the aircraft I listed are modern-era craft (sad about the retirement of the F-14. I loved the variable geometry).

I was also tempted to add the F-23 jsf but it is so close to the F-22 (and I am not sure it is deployed) that it seemed redundant.

I am sure all of these craft hold a special beauty to those who depend(ed) on them, flew them, maintained them and loved them.

This is like a beauty contest where every contestant is somebody's Mom ;)

[marblehead17]

My favorites in no particular order are,

P-51
SR-71
F-4 Phantom
F-15
F-14
F-117
WWII era Corsair(F-4) I think.

[Born to Conserve]

Hatboro?

Are you old enough to remember the sun dimming when the flying boxcars passed over?