Cheap RAF Bomber - Page 2

highsea · 12-29-2006, 13:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug97

So how did they manage it in Vietnam?

WFT?? Which commercial airliners were used as bombers in Vietnam??

PubFather · 12-29-2006, 18:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highsea

It would be a substantial reengineering project, not just a different type of cargo.

Besides the weight/balance issues, there is the whole issue of the way the airframe is designed and built. A commercial airliner is a big pressurized tube. It expands and contracts under the cycle, and the movement is consistent throughout the airframe. It's a significant amount of movement that takes place, several inches in diameter depending on type.

So you can't just take the cargo spaces, which are pressurized compartments, and put bomb bay doors in them. You would need to have pressure bulkheads, floors, etc., and separate the crew spaces from the weapons spaces. This changes the characteristics of the airframe and how it handles the expansion/contraction from pressurization and depressurization cycles.

Or you have to operate below 12,000 ft. MSL all the time, or put the crew on oxygen.

To have a convertible role would be tough, since you can't realistically use a non-pressurized aircraft for a transport. Or at least, the areas that are used for weapons would not be easily converted for people.

So it could probably be done, but I think the "Cheap" part would be missing...

Thanks for that highseas - glad of your input.. Are C130s/A400Ms pressurised? I assumed they weren't....

Quote:

The MR4As already have a high-res SAR radar and retractable EO/IR suite and a wide range of communications capaibilities. They'd need to have self-designation capability, and comms suitable to talking directly to ground forces.

I strongly suspect the MR4's will end up in this role - it has already been floated on various rumour mills (along with using it as a platform for Stormshadow). I wonder if some of the MR2's might get a further SLEP (using the remainder as a source of spares) and be pushed into a similar role.

PubFather · 12-29-2006, 18:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highsea

WFT?? Which commercial airliners were used as bombers in Vietnam??

I assume he's refering to C130's... arent C130's used to drop Daisy Cutters? (or something equivalent)...

highsea · 12-29-2006, 19:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PubFather

Thanks for that highseas - glad of your input.. Are C130s/A400Ms pressurised? I assumed they weren't.

They are both pressurized aircraft. Presumably they go below 12,000 MSL and depressurize before opening any doors.

Sorry, when you said A400 I was thinking Airbus airliner, not a military transport. It will already be fitted with a pallet handling system ,and dropping things out the back is normal.

Brain fart.

hello · 12-30-2006, 15:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by highsea

WFT?? Which commercial airliners were used as bombers in Vietnam??

The P-3 Orion was a maritime bomber converted from an airliner, the Electra. I don't know if it was used in Vietnam but it was in service at the time.

highsea · 12-30-2006, 15:14 PM

A "maritime bomber"?

First time I ever heard an ASW platform called that, lol.

ArmchairGeneral · 12-30-2006, 16:03 PM

IIRC, the Orion could carry Harpoons.

highsea · 12-30-2006, 22:41 PM

It carries a pretty wide range of armament- torpedos, depth charges, mines, harpoons, mavericks, cluster munitions, etc.

Just never heard it referred to as a bomber, lol.

12-30-2006, 16:03 PM	#22 (permalink)
ArmchairGeneral Devil's Advocate *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 05-03-06 Location: The boonies of NC, USA. Posts: 2,884 Country:	IIRC, the Orion could carry Harpoons. __________________ "Apocalyptic thought is curiously pleasurable." -Theodore Dalrymple

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12-30-2006, 15:14 PM	#21 (permalink)
highsea *Defense Professional* Join Date: 12-10-04 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,585	A "maritime bomber"? First time I ever heard an ASW platform called that, lol.

12-30-2006, 22:41 PM	#23 (permalink)
highsea *Defense Professional* Join Date: 12-10-04 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 3,585	It carries a pretty wide range of armament- torpedos, depth charges, mines, harpoons, mavericks, cluster munitions, etc. Just never heard it referred to as a bomber, lol.

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