Pentagon battle breaks out over a spy plane

Los Angeles Times ^ | March 21, 2008 | Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

[ClearCase_guy]

Some officers said pressure from Gates resulted in one plan that could have taken the Air Force down a path similar to the German Luftwaffe, which cut back training in World War II to get more pilots in the air. "That was the end of their air force," said Col. Chris Chambliss

That seems over-stated. The problem for the Germans was that inexperienced pilots were sent up too early, and got shot down by the RAF. German pilots didn't live long enough to gain the skills that ought to have been passed on to the next group of young pilots.

Planes can be replaced far more easily than pilots. The Germans sacrificed their pilots.

You really can't get yourself into the same sort of fix witht he Predators.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[heywoodubuzzoff]

General Atomics Bump!

[Ramius]

So lets buy some more.

Solved.

[taxcontrol]

Ok, easy solution. Turn the program over to the Army and Marines.

[paddles]

I can just imagine how stressful it is getting up in the morning in Las Vegas, driving all the way to Nellis or Indian Springs and settling-in for that several hour Predator flight.

Where do we find such men?

[csvset]

Train Army & Marine crews. They’ll do the job without crying about the workload.

[ASOC]

Hard to get hurt when driving a drone from an air-conditioned shelter just outside of Las Vegas.

I can imagine that looking at a monitor for 12+ hours looking for Hajiis in the bush can strain the old eyeballs tho...

Shame they can’t multicast over the web so many eyes can look as well....it would be the ultimate video game to some.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

I think the Air Force sees bad things ahead....from the article:

Trainers will turn out more pilots for Predators next year than for all other Air Force fighter planes combined.

[mortal19440]

Obviously softer Ascots are needed in Nevada. Tough duty???

[patton]

Remember the Nena song 99 Luftballoons?

“Keine Doesenflieger mehr”

(We are out of pilots!)

[WarEagle]

The Air Force upper brass is seeing the tactical air future - and it doesn’t have pilots!

[big'ol_freeper]

You said: Where do we find such men?

um...the Air Force?

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
“German pilots didn’t live long enough to gain the skills that ought to have been passed on to the next group of young pilots.”

Yet three of the five highest scoring aces in history were Luftwaffe pilots who survived the war.

Michael Frazier

[dis.kevin]

I fly large R/C planes and would love the chance to fly one of the drones. I’d fly for free! I wished they had these drones when I was in the Navy back in the 80’s.

[SunkenCiv]

In four years, the same nimrods opposing the program will be publicly endorsing one or more of the Demwit candidates for President. Thanks Ernest.

[McCloud-Strife]

Since a lot of the Air Force is top heavy with Fighter Jocks I see it more as the brass being threatened. They know the writing is on the wall for manned fighter aircraft and with it, their monopoly on power they held for 60 years. Think of it like in the 30's when calvary was forced to give over to the tank

[Mr. Lucky]

...and, of course, the Los Angeles Times fails to suggest just who it might be that would be engaging these drones in dog fights and how the lives of the drone pilots could possibly be endangered.

[BigBobber]

Bingo!

It’s times like this that we need Rummy around to kick some top brass butt!