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Pentagon battle breaks out over a spy plane
Los Angeles Times ^
| March 21, 2008
| Peter Spiegel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Posted on 03/21/2008 10:19:29 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
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To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
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.
To: NormsRevenge; elhombrelibre; Allegra; SandRat; tobyhill; G8 Diplomat; Dog; Cap Huff; ...
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
So lets buy some more.
Solved.
5
posted on
03/21/2008 10:29:50 AM PDT
by
Ramius
(Personally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Ok, easy solution. Turn the program over to the Army and Marines.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
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?
7
posted on
03/21/2008 10:30:49 AM PDT
by
paddles
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Train Army & Marine crews. They’ll do the job without crying about the workload.
8
posted on
03/21/2008 10:32:03 AM PDT
by
csvset
To: ClearCase_guy
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.
9
posted on
03/21/2008 10:32:54 AM PDT
by
ASOC
(I know I don't look like much, but I raised a US Marine!)
To: ClearCase_guy
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.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Obviously softer Ascots are needed in Nevada. Tough duty???
To: ClearCase_guy
Remember the Nena song 99 Luftballoons?
“Keine Doesenflieger mehr”
(We are out of pilots!)
12
posted on
03/21/2008 10:39:42 AM PDT
by
patton
(cuiquam in sua arte credendum)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
The Air Force upper brass is seeing the tactical air future - and it doesn’t have pilots!
13
posted on
03/21/2008 10:41:09 AM PDT
by
WarEagle
(Can America survive a President named Hussein?)
To: paddles
You said: Where do we find such men?
um...the Air Force?
14
posted on
03/21/2008 10:46:29 AM PDT
by
big'ol_freeper
("...millions hate what they mistakenly think that the Catholic Church is." ~ Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
To: ClearCase_guy
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
15
posted on
03/21/2008 10:49:24 AM PDT
by
brazzaville
(No surrender, no retreat. Well, maybe retreat's ok)
To: paddles
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.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach; AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
In four years, the same nimrods opposing the program will be publicly endorsing one or more of the Demwit candidates for President. Thanks Ernest.
17
posted on
03/21/2008 10:52:12 AM PDT
by
SunkenCiv
(https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/______________________Profile updated Saturday, March 1, 2008)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
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
![](http://www.robertsarmory.com/m5.jpg)
18
posted on
03/21/2008 10:52:44 AM PDT
by
McCloud-Strife
(McCain-You maniac, you blew it up, damn you to hell.)
To: ClearCase_guy
...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.
To: McCloud-Strife
Bingo!
It’s times like this that we need Rummy around to kick some top brass butt!
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