Test of 'massive' Air Force Bomb Set for Tuesday at Eglin (MOAB test on Fla panhandle)

tbo ^ | 031003

[InvisibleChurch]

Test of 'massive' Air Force Bomb Set for Tuesday at Eglin

The Associated Press

Published: Mar 10, 2003

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) - A conventional bomb so big that it's first name is "massive" is set to be tested for the first time at this Florida Panhandle base Tuesday.

Air Force officials Monday warned residents of communities surrounding the western half Eglin's 724-square-mile military reservation to be prepared to hear an explosion that sounds like thunder or a slamming door between noon and 5 p.m. CST although the blast will be miles away.

The loudness of the 21,000-pound "massive ordnance air burst," or MOAB, will vary depending on wind currents and some people may not hear it at all, Eglin officials said in a brief news release.

They added that the test will be conducted only under weather conditions best for minimizing the sound and inside a buffer zone to keep a shock wave and debris from the explosion inside Eglin's boundaries. The backup date for the test is Thursday during the same time frame.

MOAB is similar to but 40 percent heavier than the 15,000-pound BLU-82, billed as the world's most powerful non-nuclear bomb and known to send up a mushroom cloud similar to a nuclear weapon.

The BLU-82, nicknamed "daisy cutter," was developed during the Vietnam War to create jungle clearings for use as helicopter landing areas. It was most recently dropped in Afghanistan on caves where al-Qaida leaders were suspected of hiding.

In the Persian Gulf War, it was used to clear minefields. MOAB is expected to be ready for use this year if the test is successful.

Areas where civilians may be able to hear the blast are Mary Esther, Navarre, Holly, Holt and western Crestview.

AP-ES-03-10-03 1947EST

[InvisibleChurch]

Inri

[Doctor Raoul]

a/k/a the "Come To Allah" bomb.

[coloradan]

Something will soon blowed up real good.

[SCHROLL]

Wouldn't Paris be a better test site?

[Mike-o-Matic]

Duplicate post... here's the other (busier) one... link

[rs79bm]

This is very series indeed.

[DoughtyOne]

I like to think of it as the Special Delivery to Allah bomb. SWAK! The kiss of D.

[DoughtyOne]

By now they seem to have a whole serious of these.

[SC DOC]

21,000-pound "massive ordnance air burst," or MOAB...

Mother Of All Bombs

[FairOpinion]

Wouldn't Paris be a better test site?
--

My thoughts exactly.

[Brett66]

MOAB - Muslim's Oppresive Annihilator Bomb?

[El Gato]

Wouldn't Paris be a better test site?

Maybe not, we don't want to help the Germans on their next rampage accross Europe do we?

I was thinking one of Saddam's Palaces. The one that is the best bet for him to be in at the time the bomb is dropped.

[Joe Hadenuf]

Hey I love fireworks. Lets put it out in China Lake California, we'll charge admission, put up a few thousands bleachers and save Davis's sorry butt. Not! We'll give the liberal, extreme leftist pinko, America haters the best seats, front and center, up wind....

[glorgau]

I'd put down $5 to go see it. Perhaps a side show with a few strafing runs by a Spectre to warm up the crowd...

[Joe Hadenuf]

Yeah, and put out a few target tanks to get blowed to pieces......

[Doctor Raoul]

You win, much better acronym.

[RWG]

Best reply in a week.

[aruanan]

The test will be this afternoon.

[k2blader]

Bump.

[ladtx]

Just heard CBS radio news refer to the MOAB. The newsreader said the acronym stood for "Mother Of All Bombs". Sounds like a newsroom typist was having some fun at his expense. LOL!! Anyone else hear it? Almost had coffee all over my keyboard.