Author Topic: Jets operating from road bases (Read 2404 times)

Grendel · « **Reply #30 on:** October 10, 2004, 02:53:23 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Replicant
How regular do they operate from roads? Do they have like a 'mobile caravan' to check the strip and bird control to check for birds and FOD?

Quite regularly. The idea is to disperse the whole Air Force in wartime to road bases. Main airfields would be empty of all combat aircraft, except if you need bigger repairs. I don't know how much equipment there is, how many road bases can be operating at same time but I suspect the capability is quite large. There's vehicles to clear to road of debris etc. The fueling systems, armanent storages etc have enough capasity to support such large operations. Bird control - well in remote locations the wildlife isn't as familiar with noisy vehicles, so I suspect those dangers are less worrisome than on regular airfields. Don't know the actual procedures for that though - and no clue what "FOD" means.

Replicant · « **Reply #31 on:** October 10, 2004, 03:00:49 PM »

FOD = Foreign Object Debris - any form of object that can be sucked into a jet engine or damage tyres etc.

Cobra412 · « **Reply #32 on:** October 10, 2004, 06:19:45 PM »

Grendel the system your speaking of is JTIDS(Joint Tactical Information Distribution System) and/or FDL (Fighter Data Link).

FDL is already in service and JTIDS is being dumped due to lack of parts and how expensive it is to maintain. JTIDS had more capabilites and a higher watts output but not worth the cost.

medicboy · « **Reply #33 on:** October 10, 2004, 08:44:07 PM »

Ok, don't laugh but I heard that is why the US govt built the interstate highway system. In the event of war they could set up bases anywhere if the standard ones were destroyed....

Not sure but it could work.

bigsky · « **Reply #34 on:** October 10, 2004, 08:50:28 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by medicboy
Ok, don't laugh but I heard that is why the US govt built the interstate highway system. In the event of war they could set up bases anywhere if the standard ones were destroyed....

Not sure but it could work.

no ike started that off. he admired the germam autobahn. modern US aircraft cant operate off dirty runways because the engines would suck up crap.

Wolfala · « **Reply #35 on:** October 10, 2004, 08:51:28 PM »

Medic is correct. There are sections of I80 that are marked off. Only problem is they'd have to cut down some signs on the roads if that ever happened - but I don't think thats an issue for the guys with chainsaws.

doobs · « **Reply #36 on:** October 10, 2004, 09:48:34 PM »

cool video but doesn't look like a road to me, looks like a military airfield in the woods. Road does not continue on either side in video

Staga · « **Reply #37 on:** October 11, 2004, 01:06:31 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by doobs
cool video but doesn't look like a road to me, looks like a military airfield in the woods. Road does not continue on either side in video

It is a road.

mora · « **Reply #38 on:** October 11, 2004, 04:04:32 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by doobs
cool video but doesn't look like a road to me, looks like a military airfield in the woods. Road does not continue on either side in video

Actually that part of road is widened for this exact purpose. These places are however public knowledge, and I'm not sure that they would be any safer places in wartime than regular airbases.

Grendel · « **Reply #39 on:** October 11, 2004, 07:20:57 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by doobs
cool video but doesn't look like a road to me, looks like a military airfield in the woods. Road does not continue on either side in video

Well, I don't know whose eyes are malfunctionin here, but I see the road extending until it disappears into forest at both ends. Especially in the end of the vid you see the road continuing past the F-18 waiting to takeoff, and when camera follows it you see the road going far far ahead. It's a road all right.

wasq · « **Reply #40 on:** October 11, 2004, 07:48:16 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by bigsky
modern US aircraft cant operate off dirty runways because the engines would suck up crap.

Wouldn't F/A-18 be a modern US aircraft? It can operate on a public road as seen in the pictures.

I was fortunate enough to be camping in the Virttaa area during that air force excercise and saw the Hornet takeoff and landing. The takeoff is a pretty amazing sight in the dark.

Grendel · « **Reply #41 on:** October 11, 2004, 03:36:06 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by wasq
Wouldn't F/A-18 be a modern US aircraft? It can operate on a public road as seen in the pictures.

Hehe didn't notice that one at all

bigsky · « **Reply #42 on:** October 12, 2004, 06:26:10 AM »

i noticed, just because you can should you?
http://www.sftt.org/article08082002a.html
http://www.udayton.edu/news/nr/032503a.html
http://www.defense.gov/photos/Aug2004/040807-N-1485H-026.html
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_news_article979.html

Wolfala · « **Reply #43 on:** October 12, 2004, 07:18:14 AM »

You train like you fight - thats how they will do it - and they'd be tough as ticks I bet. U got 2 engines - if 1 gets FOD and craps out - u can land on the other 1 despite the 80 % reduction in performance and 50 % available power.

wasq · « **Reply #44 on:** October 12, 2004, 08:27:53 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by bigsky
i noticed, just because you can should you?

FOD isn't a problem in this case since we've got the special sweeper vehicles to clean up the roads. I wonder whether it is cheaper to use the sweeper vehicles or have lots of people manually checking the runways...