Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site rabbit.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alice!rabbit!wolit 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