Big Bad Boeing

[Skyraider3D]

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/pics-clips/images/hires/MSF06-1488-1.jpg
(56K warning :cool:)

from: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/abl/pics-clips/index.html

[krazycolin]

seen this... it's one of the dumbest things i've seen.. having been involved (in a minute way) in the SDI project (before i was an animator... i was something else...) i can tell you that, sure the laser will work.. and sure.. you can track a missile... but... getting the plane to where it can hit the missile is gonna be a problem.. as well.. tracking is one thing.. targeting is another. a good example of this is the Patriot missile system. the US claimed an amazing hit rate of something like 85%... that's absolute kaka. the actual hit rate was in the range of about 10%... that includes all failed launches, missile "deviations" (not heading towards the target) and all other possible "misses".. They could have used stinger missiles and had better results...

this plane is one big pork barrel... another 6 BILLION dollars of US dollars down the tubes... and they wonder why no one likes them????

[Skyraider3D]

At least it will look interesting in future aviation history books! :lol:

[kiwi123]

Lol, that aint no pretty baby

[krazycolin]

and it must get REALLY hot inside that sucker.... think of the insulation needed to protect the crew from a plasma laser???? yikes...

[Skyraider3D]

and it must get REALLY hot inside that sucker.... think of the insulation needed to protect the crew from a plasma laser???? yikes...Nothing opening a window at 40,000 ft won't fix! ;)

[Danoku]

i have to echo KC's comments, this things has dodged the axe in the last 5 budgets where it was scheduled to be terminated, yet it is still here. I used to be something else as well...that 10% number is optimistic, closer to low single digits if you don't count missle breakups in the same general vicinity of where the warhead went. This ranks right up there with wonderful "lease" arrangement we almost got roped into for 767 based tankers. On the purely artisitic side, keeerist what an ugly airplane lol.

[pete.cook]

Anyone read Dale Brown's books? In one of his books (Shadows of Steel, iirc) he introduced a plane he called the Dragon. A modified B-52 with a huge plasma laser, designed to complement the EB-52 Megafortresses. It could shoot missiles out of the sky or engage ground targets.

Wonder who gave who the idea....

[Spinner]

Got some smoothing probs on the tail
lol
You could probably hire the opfor for what that's cost.
Nearly as silly as Oz buying Abrams.