Low, Slow & Deadly - Behold the AC-130 gunship.

NRO ^ | October 18, 2001 10:10 a.m. | Charles E. Miller, retired Air Force colonel.

[LiveFree2000]

Recall the formula General Colin Powell used for the defeat of the Iraqis: first cut them off, then kill them.

To bad he did not finish the job!

[art vandelay]

bump

[Mamzelle]

kewl bump

[The Shootist]

Slow is comparative. A P-51 had a cruise speed of 325 knots at 10,000 feet while the AC-130 cruise speed is 310 knots at Sea Level.

[Stand Watch Listen]

C-130H Spectre
AC-130U Spooky

[hchutch]

Is it safe to say that this is a plane that can ruin your whole month?

[Gamecock]

There have been several posts on this monster the last few days, this is the best!

I can't read enough about this weapon! Thanks!

[kayak]

fyi

[prambo]

THIS is the definition of "Death From Above".

Had the privilege of working on AC-119 "Stingers" in VietNam, Republic of.

The Spectre is a couple of orders of magnitude more powerful than a Stinger, and Stingers were NOT to be phuqued with.

The firepower is so awesome, that the Stinger would sideslip from the recoil. They don't go bang-bang-bang, they go "brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr". And all the badguys are dead - with extreme prejudice.

prambo

[StoneColdGOP]

That is a thing of beauty, every one needs an aircraft like that...

[pepsionice]

I always thought it could have been improved....even more weapons...I would have thrown a couple of Bazooka type missles into the side, some laser equipment, and some loud music speakers on the side.

[StoneColdGOP]

some loud music speakers on the side.

My thoughts exactly, blasting out Twisted Sister's "Burn in Hell"!

[ZULU]

Awesome weapon, glad its ours, hope it snags Osama, but why is all this information on it public? Shouldn't it be classified?

I guess Revell or Tamiya have a perfect scale model of it in the works by now.

[Steve0113]

why is all this information on it public? Shouldn't it be classified?

Guns are low-tech, and usually not classified. Notice the article doesn't say HOW any of that equipment works, especially the sensors.

[stumpy]

I want to see it use for "clean up" after a few dozen "ARC LIGHT" missions. If the taliban has a "front" line (I don't know what that is, I was in the 'Nam), each "buff" can take out an area 1/2 mile by 2 miles with "dumb" 500lb bombs.

[The Shootist]

each "buff" can take out an area 1/2 mile by 2 miles with "dumb" 500lb bombs.

And they came out of their tunnels like nothing had happened.

[BobinIL]

I would like to see the A-10 converted to be launched from a carrier!!!

[Steve0113]

And they came out of their tunnels like nothing had happened.

You mean, after they dig their way through the rubble, right?

[b4its2late]

Thanks. :-)