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From: wolit@rabbit.UUCP (Jan Wolitzky)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Re: More on B-1 vs B-52
Message-ID: <3220@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 8-Oct-84 11:29:36 EDT
Article-I.D.: rabbit.3220
Posted: Mon Oct  8 11:29:36 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 11-Oct-84 07:03:39 EDT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 48

> The B-1B while intended to be used in a subsonic mode can fly supersonic.

The B-1 was *ORIGINALLY* designed to be a supersonic bomber.  Hence my
comparisons with the B-58 and the B-70.  However, as you agree, the
"B" version is intended to be subsonic.  So what if it *CAN* fly
faster; obviously it can't do it very well or for very long.  Lots of
WWII fighters could fly around Mach 1 just before the wings came off;
that doesn't make them supersonic planes.

> ... Castle Air Force Base.  Its the place where the 93rd
> SAC Bomb wing lives.  They do all B-52G&H training there.  They have
> lost several aircraft and crews in the past years.  Thats because
> the things are literally falling apart.

Not according to the USAF, who plan to keep the B-52 around for quite
a few more years.

> With the B-1, you push a button.

...and it falls apart all by itself, like it did a couple of weeks ago.
You're not listening, though, I wasn't proposing that the B-52 be used in
nap-of-the-earth flying, I said it could perform the B-1's mission by
standing off and launching cruise missiles, which have a *MUCH* better
chance of successful penetration than the B-1 ever will, ECM or no.

> The B-52 takes an eternity to come from alert status to go airborne, 
> those planes would be destroyed by SLBM fire.  

Seems to me that the SAC has been practicing scrambing B-52's for
about 30 years now, and that they can usually get them off in about 10
minutes, or about 5 minutes before the first SLBMs will arrive.  I
also recall something about a certain number of them being on airborne
patrol at all times, and about plans to disperse them in times of
crisis.  

> There are BIG differences between the B-1 and B-52.  
> Some people get their defense information from AW&ST and trade journals.  
> Other get theirs from the National Enquirer and Mondale Campaign flyers.

The BIGgest differences between the B-1 and the B-52 are those with
dollar signs in front of them.  I read AW&ST every week (even had a
letter published last year).  I used to subscribe, but realized I was
funding the bad guys, so now I just read other people's.  And I don't
think much of Mondale -- he wants an even bigger War Department budget
than the current Reagan one, and it was under Carter/Mondale that the
MX fiasco got started in the first place.

	Jan Wolitzky, AT&T Bell Labs, Murray Hill, NJ