[Tallguy]

The "Tiger Tank" analogy is not a good one. The Tiger had a major defect: it wasn't mechanically reliable. It was best used on the defensive as a kind of Tank Destroyer. Out in open country it was slow and suseptible to breakdowns. Not a very good offensive tank.

One of the features of these modern aircraft is the lower maintenance hours per flight hour. The "Up Time" on these planes is going to be one of their strongest features.

[Gaffer]

....The "Up Time" on these planes is going to be one of their strongest features.... I hope it does better than the B-2.. I'm not trying to be defeatist about the Raptor, I work next door to where they're built and have had some experience with maintainability of aircraft. When you start getting exotic with avionics (the B-1 was so sophisticated, it could jam itself...), reflective coatings et cetera, maintenance logistics goes up.... when they figure out how to use a Ford Pickup transmission, or other similar part, then it really gets maintainable..... Also, I'm not so sure that the Tiger tank was merely for defensive means....in an open field, the firepower and range would have been deadly, even, as you say they were mechanically deficient and slow to turret..

[mad_as_he$$]

My Grandfather told me they leaked fuel like a pig. Broke down all the time and the GI's would find them abandoned in the field with apparent reason.