Author Topic: Afghanistan anecdote; true? false? I don't know. (Read 2268 times)

Toad · « **on:** February 16, 2004, 11:41:49 AM »

Just got this from an old military buddy. It had a signed name supposedly by the writer but I deleted it. I have no idea if it's true or not but I'll look into it.

Just thought it was kinda funny/cute. The power of advertising; commercial slogans become part of the lexicon.

Quote

From Afghanistan
Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2004 9:43 AM
Story of the week;

So we are up in the mountains at about 0100 hrs looking for a bad guy that we thought was in the area. Here are ten of us, pitch black, crystal clear night, about 25 degrees. We know there are bad guys in the area, a few shots have been fired but no big deal. We decide that we need air cover and the only thing in the area is a solo B-1 bomber.

He flies around at about 20,000 feet and tells us there is nothing in the area. He then asks if we would like a low level show of force. Stupid question. Of course we tell him yes.

The controller who is attached to the team then is heard talking to the pilot. Pilot asks if we want it subsonic or supersonic. Very stupid question. Pilot advises he is twenty miles out and stand by. The controller gets us all sitting down in a line and points out the proper location.

You have to picture this. Pitch black, ten killers sitting down, dead quiet and overlooking this about 30 mile long valley. All of a sudden, way out (below our level) you see a set of four 200' white flames coming at us. The controller says, "Ah-- guys-- you might want to plug your ears".

Faster than you can think a B-1, supersonic, 1000' over our heads, blasts the sound barrier and it feels like God just hit you in the head with a hammer". He then stands it straight up with 4 white trails of flame coming out and disappears.

Cost of gas for that: Probably $50,000

Hearing damage: For certain

Bunch of ragheads thinking twice about shooting at us:...........Priceless!

Ripsnort · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:45:28 AM »

ROTFLOL!

NUKE · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2004, 11:50:04 AM »

That's great! LMFAO........

What a sight that would be.

Dinger · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:16:59 PM »

Yeah that lancer is a badass. I remember watching the feed from Baghdad last year, various A-10s and stuff attacking. Then in one shot, I spotted a B-1 pulling out. The sight of that thing just made me instinctively yell "Holy *****", and that's halfway around the world, subsonic and on television.

Curval · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:27:46 PM »

pugg666 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:27:47 PM »

Saw one a few years ago at the Mirabel airshow..even subsonic it's wicked loud

loved it.

I don't care what anyone says...it's one sexy plane

Ripsnort · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:35:01 PM »

Thank Reagan for the B1B bomber.

Munkii · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:37:11 PM »

My friend works on the lancers at Tinker AFB here in OKC, OK. When the Lancer did it's barrel roll at the OKC airshow 2 years ago, he was chaning warped sheetmetal on it for a week. Turns out the pilot did a 3g barrel roll at around 500' and 450mph. I saw the roll, it was quite amazing to say the least.

pugg666 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:37:56 PM »

two more nice ones

...

Pongo · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:47:39 PM »

I thought it was subsonic only?
But its a cool story and brings me back to the first time I saw afterburner cans lit up at close quarters at night. I think it must have been an F18, but could have been an F5a.

NUKE · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:51:50 PM »

Nah, max speed is mach 1.25

Ripsnort · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:55:16 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Pongo
I thought it was subsonic only?
But its a cool story and brings me back to the first time I saw afterburner cans lit up at close quarters at night. I think it must have been an F18, but could have been an F5a.

B-2 is subsonic.

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2004, 12:59:40 PM »

think of the source hes 0 for 2 on military matters that can be checked.

mach 1.2 at 50k

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/systems/b-1b-specs.htm

B1B speed/alt

600+ mph (Mach .92) @ 500 feet
825 mph (Mach 1.25) @ 50,000 feet

toads r/c club buddies are full of **** again.

lord dolf vader · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2004, 01:02:19 PM »

and yea thanks reagan for the useless gdamed thing. suprised we still have b-52s sigh....

http://coat.ncf.ca/air_show/links/background.htm

B-1 Lancer
It carries nuclear bombs and cruise missiles in three internal rotary dispensers. The B1A was first conceived in the late 60's as a replacement for the B52. President Carter killed it due to technical problems and huge cost overruns. Reagan brought it back, spending many more millions trying to have it redesigned as a subsonic, low level, penetration bomber. This created massive design problems because it was originally designed as a supersonic, high altitude, penetration bomber. Despite costing over $100 million each, the B1B was virtually obsolete when its first run was completed. Despite costing tremendous amounts of money, no one in the White House today is quite sure what to do with it. It is very popular at air shows.

SunTracker · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2004, 01:06:31 PM »

If the B-1B was in a dive it could break supersonic at sea level.