Air Force One
- Wodrick
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Air Force One
There was a program on UK C5 a couple of nights ago "Secrets of AF1"
It was said that AF1 is always accompanied by a backup and a command center.
The CC, it was stated, was where the President would control a major conflict.
this CC is 747-400 based and it was also stated that it could remain airborne for a week.
Now I'm an Avionics Engineer but that got an incredulous mutter from me.
Surely a 747-400 with enough aux tanks to ensure MTOW could not carry enough to remain up that long.
It was said that AF1 is always accompanied by a backup and a command center.
The CC, it was stated, was where the President would control a major conflict.
this CC is 747-400 based and it was also stated that it could remain airborne for a week.
Now I'm an Avionics Engineer but that got an incredulous mutter from me.
Surely a 747-400 with enough aux tanks to ensure MTOW could not carry enough to remain up that long.
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Re: Air Force One
I think it would be refuelled by tanker during that week. The endurance is probably based on the amount of food on board.
Re: Air Force One
Most 'long duration' flights are also limited by consumables such as oils.
- Wodrick
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Re: Air Force One
Silly me never thought of in flight refuelling for a 747
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Re: Air Force One
In the Cold War a Looking Glass 135 was launched from Offutt AFB every day for a continuous airborne command post. The minimum ranking officer on board was a SAC one star in rotation from around the Command.
In case of bad weather at Offutt a tanker would keep it airborne longer. I am not sure how long a routine flight was, maybe 24 hrs.
In case of bad weather at Offutt a tanker would keep it airborne longer. I am not sure how long a routine flight was, maybe 24 hrs.
- Mrs Ex-Ascot
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Re: Air Force One
Wouldn't it be more practical to hide from run any potential nasty war from a well built underground bunker rather than fly around in a potential airborne target ?
RAF 32 Sqn B Flt ; Twin Squirrels.
- ian16th
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Re: Air Force One
If airborne at the time of the trouble starting, one might need to stumble around whilst working out which way to go!Mrs Ex-Ascot wrote: ↑Sun Sep 29, 2019 11:10 amWouldn't it be more practical to hide from run any potential nasty war from a well built underground bunker rather than fly around in a potential airborne target ?
Cynicism improves with age
- Undried Plum
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Re: Air Force One
I remember hearing/reading that the limitation is the engine oil. They have extra large oil tanks in them thar engines, but there is some plumbing reason why it's not practical to rig a top-up while the donks are running.
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Re: Air Force One
I have an idea that the B36 was so large that the FE could go into the wing. May be bollocks but it was big.
- ian16th
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Re: Air Force One
This has been a problem with IFR/AAR since Alan Cobham was a lad!Undried Plum wrote: ↑Sun Sep 29, 2019 1:15 pmI remember hearing/reading that the limitation is the engine oil. They have extra large oil tanks in them thar engines, but there is some plumbing reason why it's not practical to rig a top-up while the donks are running.
IFR/AAR is by and large a military endeavour. Even though Sir Alan envisaged it as a means to service the Empire with none stop civilian flights to India.
A lot of military use is simply to increase pay load at take off, where an a/c takes off with a full weapons load but low on fuel, once airborne topping up the fuel to a number above MTOW. This is common with naval ops from carriers.
In all of these cases oil consumption doesn't normally come into the consideration.
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Re: Air Force One
It may have been the Buccaneer, but one mil a/c was quite limited by oil consumption. I was not aware of any limit for the Lightning and we often did 6:30+.
- ian16th
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Re: Air Force One
The Lightning had Avon's, the same as the Valiant, albeit without after burner.
For the non-stop flight UK to Singapore they kept operating for 15 hours 35 minutes.
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Re: Air Force One
Perhaps the UK could sell the septics the Blackburn Beverley technology. Wherein engine oil is sprayed continuously on the outside of the engine cowlings, with the expectation that it would soak through.
Rev Mother Bene Gesserit.
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Sent from my PDP11/05 running RSX-11D via an ASR33 (TTY)
- ian16th
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Re: Air Force One
Blackburn Beverley first flight 20 June 1950
Lockheed C-130 Hercules first flight 23 August 1954
Lockheed C-130 Hercules first flight 23 August 1954
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Re: Air Force One
I was told that navigation on the Beverley return leg was always made easier by the trail of oil.
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Re: Air Force One
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- Ex-Ascot
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Re: Air Force One
Thought I heard the dulcet tones of Mike Westwood there before he made an appearance. We used to para drop together and he was a flight commander on 10 Sqn before my time. Now Chairman of The 10 Sqn Association. I am still in contact with him.
'Yes, Madam, I am drunk, but in the morning I shall be sober and you will still be ugly.' Sir Winston Churchill.