New tech is really old tech....

[il d00d]

It might depend if it was on a conveyor.

No really.

Wait.  Did you just...?  You just trolled your own forum, didn't you ?

[ducpainter]

Wait.  Did you just...?  You just trolled your own forum, didn't you ?

I don't care for serious discussion.

It hurts my head.

[herm]

Definitely check out AVRO Arrow. It's a sad chapter in Canadian history - world-beating engineering shelved by petty political bullshit. The prototypes were destroyed and sunk into a lake. All that remains are some blueprints and memories. The movie was pretty good, it's regularly aired on Canadian TV.

For those unfamiliar with the Arrow, it was the first aircraft to break Mach 2. Nobody though it was possible (apparently they forgot what had been said about Mach 1) until the Canadians set about building a bleeding-edge fighter to do it.

As for "1980s" tech, remember that current stuff like the M1A1 was developed in the late 70s. And it is still more than good enough for the battlefield with the upgrades that have been made (depleted uranium armour, computer gun control, various refinements). An M1A1 has NEVER been lost to enemy fire. They have accidently shot at each other without penetrating the armour. The worst that has happened is suspension or engine damage, and the only crew to die overseas drowned when the tank collapsed a bridge.

that doesnt sound right.......did you mean depleted uranium rounds (sabot?)

[derby]

that doesnt sound right.......did you mean depleted uranium rounds (sabot?)

nope, he had it right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#Armor_plate

[herm]

nope, he had it right.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depleted_uranium#Armor_plate

learn something new every day...

i spent some time @ los alamos lab back in early 2000... got to see some of the results destructive potential of some early testing of the DU sabot rounds (or so i was told)

strange place, los alamos........a little scary actually.

[superjohn]

There are a lot of rumours about the SR-71 replacement. As mentioned before, Area 51 has not only had its main runway extended, but in the last 10 years has had a HUGE amount of new construction going on. They also decommed a couple of the smaller runways.

It's known that satellite surveillance was great for stationary targets and organized gatherings of troops in a legitimate nation state, but the nature of terrorist encampments and small, loosely organized bands required a more flexible aircraft based solution.

So, my guess is that Groom Lake houses the base of operations for the Aurora project where it can fly out, reach it's operating theatre, perform it's mission, and return with a minimum of refueling, all at super to hyper sonic speeds. I'm also beginning to wonder if the plane is even manned, or controlled remotely.

[LMT]

Not quite on topic, but I have sat in an operational SR-71.  While stationed at Loring AFB, Maine I was the only person in the 'chute shop trained to pack the SR-71 chutes.  The stopped in every once in a while and a couple of times I had to help out with a problem.  I also got a ride in a F-4 while in Germany.  I have been in a B-52 loaded with nuclear weapons also.

The B-52 is as old school as it gets, and it still sees duty.  Scars the poop out of folks when it comes in low.

[ducatiz]

Not quite on topic, but I have sat in an operational SR-71.  While stationed at Loring AFB, Maine I was the only person in the 'chute shop trained to pack the SR-71 chutes.  The stopped in every once in a while and a couple of times I had to help out with a problem.  I also got a ride in a F-4 while in Germany.  I have been in a B-52 loaded with nuclear weapons also.

The B-52 is as old school as it gets, and it still sees duty.  Scars the poop out of folks when it comes in low.

those dual nacelles can suck up a vw

[krolik]

As for "1980s" tech, remember that current stuff like the M1A1 was developed in the late 70s. And it is still more than good enough for the battlefield with the upgrades that have been made (depleted uranium armour, computer gun control, various refinements). An M1A1 has NEVER been lost to enemy fire. They have accidently shot at each other without penetrating the armour. The worst that has happened is suspension or engine damage, and the only crew to die overseas drowned when the tank collapsed a bridge.

Actually there have been crew member deaths and vehicle losses due to AT mines & enhanced IEDs.

BUt still, the Abrams is one tough tank.

The fire control on the M1A1 is 80's tech, but still fun to shoot.

Gunner Sabot Tank!

[Mother]

sometimes tech doesn't need to be modernizes

because it works

2 such non plane examples would be the Colt 1911

and

the Browning M2

[Langanobob]

I also got a ride in a F-4 while in Germany.

That must've been a great ride!  The most glamorous and exciting  military planes I ever rode in were C-130's 

[ducatiz]

sometimes tech doesn't need to be modernizes

because it works

2 such non plane examples would be the Colt 1911

and

the Browning M2

i have to agree with the 1911 example, but the ma deuce's usability is highly strategy dependent . i think you'll see more "non projectile" stuff being used (i.e. sonic) and there are some very interesting caseless MG designs from MetalStorm -- no flying brass.

One of MetalStorm's designs uses electrical ignition which can permit multiple projectiles to exit the barrel simultaneously -- no muzzle flip!

[aaronb]

Not quite on topic, but I have sat in an operational SR-71.  While stationed at Loring AFB, Maine I was the only person in the 'chute shop trained to pack the SR-71 chutes.  The stopped in every once in a while and a couple of times I had to help out with a problem.  I also got a ride in a F-4 while in Germany.  I have been in a B-52 loaded with nuclear weapons also.

The B-52 is as old school as it gets, and it still sees duty.  Scars the poop out of folks when it comes in low.

i don't know why it was there, but a b52 flew over my old apartment building a few years ago.  it was insane, i lived on the top floor of my building, and it was normal for commercial flights to fly over at a few thousand feet.  but this thing was low, and loud! very impressive.  i assume it stopped at Mitchel Int airport when it still had an AF reserve refueling unit there. 

[the_Journeyman]

We have C-130's buzz the house regularly.  They like to play radar games in these mountains & valleys.  When they come over, you find out if things that you hang on walls and such are securely mounted.  I've always like C-130's and B-52's.

JM

[Monster Dave]

We have C-130's buzz the house regularly.  They like to play radar games in these mountains & valleys.  When they come over, you find out if things that you hang on walls and such are securely mounted.  I've always like C-130's and B-52's.

JM

I've heard that people who live near our local AFB who commute on the highway often find that thier radar detectors are going off because pilots are practicing locking on moving targets from the air!!!!

Holy Crap!! That woud scare the crap out of me!!!! Especially in an oops moment by a pilot!!!!!