Re: Slow planes was: Battle blimps

Brian,

I agree with you regarding airships,  I think they
would be of great use back in the rear areas where
they can be defended.  There their heavy lift
capability and extreme endurance could be used
effectively.

Magic

--- Brian Bilderback <bbilderback@hotmail.com> wrote:
> >From: Robert Makowsky <rmakowsky@yahoo.com>
> 
> >Eventually the biplane pilot fails his dodge roll
> and
> >the monoplane has him.
> 
> You'd think so, but there were rare instances when
> biplanes DID out-dogfight 
> monos - notably the Gloster Gladiators used by
> Britain in the defense of 
> Malta.  Every dog has it's day, so to speak
> 
> >I think blimps are large slow targets that will be
> >juicy to any fighter pilot in the sky.
> 
> *_IF_* that enemy fighter pilot has a chance to get
> near it.  AWACS and 
> Hawkeyes are pretty slow-moving planes - you'd think
> they'd have been 
> MAJORLY juicy targets for, say, Iraqi fighters in
> the Gulf War.  I believe 
> Mr. Gill hit on the idea of using them for radar and
> control - definitely 
> within the protection of an air cap.
> 
> In a WW-I
> >setting they can outclimb the fighters of the day
> but
> >in any later setting they are not viable in a
> combat
> >zone that has other air assets.
> 
> But may be viable in a less enemy-intensive zone....
> 
> >I do not see enough armament and stealth gear to
> keep
> >them safe without a large escort that can keep the
> >threat away.
> 
> Such as the escort provided a carrier task force or
> other fleet....
> 
> The thing to remember is that just because a flight
> technology is not viable 
> in front-line combat, does not mean it's completely
> inviable in ANY military 
> service.  Rear-area heavy lift, coastal patrol,
> radar & control, all MIGHT 
> be plausible uses for lighter-than-air...
> 
> 3B^2
> 
>
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