America's Kamikaze
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/f-16-pilot-was-ready-to-give-her-life-on-sept-11/2011/09/06/gIQAMpcODK_story.html?sub=AR
A fascinating and frightening tale. Growing up, the rumor/belief was that there were always two fighters in flight around the area. I suppose the theory was that there was always the possibility of a bomber somehow sneaking past the usual radar defenses, and one can never discount a ship-launched plane. (The technology and techniques to transport and launch small bombers from submarines had been known since the later days of WWII). At any rate, if such did exist, it's been proven time and again in the last few years that it doesn't exist now. I confess to being surprised that those planes prepared for emergencies aren't armed. Even a rank amateur like me knows that an hour is much too long in terms of the type of emergency that would be confronting this type of last-ditch defense of DC. The idea that ramming is the only course available, (regardless of how brave and admirable I find these people), is surreal. The numerous illegal flights that have successfully penetrated restricted airspace around here have already proven conclusively that we are STILL totally unprepared to do anything about it, (no one's ever been downed - even by ramming). The idea that we need at least an hour, should we ever decide to actually defend the Capital, leaves me astonished. They're not going to give you an hour, folks.
A fascinating and frightening tale. Growing up, the rumor/belief was that there were always two fighters in flight around the area. I suppose the theory was that there was always the possibility of a bomber somehow sneaking past the usual radar defenses, and one can never discount a ship-launched plane. (The technology and techniques to transport and launch small bombers from submarines had been known since the later days of WWII). At any rate, if such did exist, it's been proven time and again in the last few years that it doesn't exist now. I confess to being surprised that those planes prepared for emergencies aren't armed. Even a rank amateur like me knows that an hour is much too long in terms of the type of emergency that would be confronting this type of last-ditch defense of DC. The idea that ramming is the only course available, (regardless of how brave and admirable I find these people), is surreal. The numerous illegal flights that have successfully penetrated restricted airspace around here have already proven conclusively that we are STILL totally unprepared to do anything about it, (no one's ever been downed - even by ramming). The idea that we need at least an hour, should we ever decide to actually defend the Capital, leaves me astonished. They're not going to give you an hour, folks.
posted by mendip at
3:06 PM
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