Airbus is in deep doo do

[weaselsan]

The Boeing-led Airborne Laser team exposes the Airborne Laser's conformal window during a test flight. Such an exposure is necessary for the weapon system to complete its mission of shooting down an Airbus during the takeoff phase of flight.


 


As envisioned, the aircraft would fly in a figure-eight pattern over an area deemed a likely site of a Airbus takeoff. Onboard infrared sensors would detect the takeoff and feed that information into a computer that would direct the laser turret to point at the ascending Airbus. The turret would then fire two lower-powered solid-state lasers — one to track the Airbus and one to measure atmospheric distortion — before shooting the high-powered chemical laser at the target.

[Chairboy]

heh, nice.

Gotta love the 747, it has to be one of the most versatile airframes in service.  In some ways, it reminds me of the DC-3/C-47 in that regard.  Engineered to such a degree that it can carry passengers, freight, SPACE FREAKIN SHUTTLES, not to mention LASER DEATH RAYS!  Oh, and there's a 747 that has been adapted for use in FIGHTING FOREST FIRES by dumping water on them.  Holy bejebus!

That's one versatile airframe.

[beet1e]

Originally posted by Chairboy
Oh, and there's a 747 that has been adapted for use in FIGHTING FOREST FIRES by dumping water on them.  Holy bejebus!

They learned that from the French, who use Canadairs for the purpose in the Cote d'Azur.

[Dago]

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[SFRT - Frenchy]

I remember reading an article aboout it 8 years ago

[LePaul]

That's a pretty quick turn around from design, develop and flying.  

Now if I had that plane, my test target would be the Orville Reddenbacher microwave popcorn kernal storage facility  

[RAIDER14]

all that equipment on the 747s must create a lot of drag

[OOZ662]

Originally posted by RAIDER14
all that equipment on the 747s must create a lot of drag

Probably, but airliners are overpowered in the first place to make up for engine losses and such. It also doesn't have any passengers on board.

[Chairboy]

The 747-400s in particular are beaucoup powered.  I read of an account where Boeing test pilots took a 747-400 supersonic briefly in level flight to collect data on the flight characteristics.  It drank a lot of gas, but did ok.

[APDrone]

Originally posted by LePaul
That's a pretty quick turn around from design, develop and flying.  

Now if I had that plane, my test target would be the Orville Reddenbacher microwave popcorn kernal storage facility  

Ice is Nice!!!

[Vulcan]

One bird **** on those optics and that Boeing is toast.

[RAIDER14]

Originally posted by Chairboy
The 747-400s in particular are beaucoup powered.  I read of an account where Boeing test pilots took a 747-400 supersonic briefly in level flight to collect data on the flight characteristics.  It drank a lot of gas, but did ok.

 

thought the top speed of a 747 was only like 600 or 620mph:huh

[Chairboy]

Nope, the 747 has been the fastest airliner in service for decades (not counting the Concorde, of course), with a cruise of .85 mach.

It might be big, but it's no slouch.

[RAIDER14]

but the passenger 747s only travel at like 540mph if that

[Chairboy]

...and?