Rising Sun warbirds

[Aggie08]

I think the US devised a seminuclear warhead to detonate against enemy planes in the 60s or so...can't remember much about it, not sure if it was ever made, but I know it was under consideration at some point

 

[evangilder]

Yep, they had the MB-1 Genie that was used with the F-101 Voodoo.

Douglas began developing the air-launched MB-1 (later Air 2) Genie rocket in 1955, with the Los Alamos National Laboratory responsible for the nuclear warhead. The Genie rocket was carried by the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo and was unguided, relying on the power of its 1.5-kiloton nuclear warhead. The Genie was the first nuclear-armed interceptor rocket to be tested, and its first flight was July 19, 1957. Lethal radius was an estimated 1,000 feet.

http://www.boeing.com/history/mdc/gargoyle.htm

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I think a nuclear warhead for air to air interception is overkill.

 

[Nonskimmer]

Interesting how in that article they state that Voodoos were built under licence in Canada. They weren't. The RCAF acquired 58 of them made to order from McDonnell, and then traded them in for 66 apparently more up to date used ones some years later from the USAF.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Yep - for it to really be worth it a formation of 100 bombers would have to be in front of you, someting someone thought might happen!

 

[syscom3]

I think a nuclear warhead for air to air interception is overkill.

Its not overkill if that bomber youre shooting at has several nukes aboard.

No points for second place in nuke warfare

 

[Nonskimmer]

You'd just better hope you're out of the blast radius when that mother goes off.

 

[Aggie08]

Its not overkill if that bomber youre shooting at has several nukes aboard.

No points for second place in nuke warfare

Too true.

 

[syscom3]

You'd just better hope you're out of the blast radius when that mother goes off.

Even if you're destroyed, youve saved cities or installations. Fair trade in the cold math of warfare.

 

[Nonskimmer]

Right.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

unless the plane you destroyed turned out to be some civilian airliner that just happened to be an ex-soviet bomber

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I am sure thought that they would not mistaken a civilian liner like that.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and if, as i said, this airliner happened to be an ex soviet bomber

what, it could happen

 

[cheddar cheese]

I wouldnt fly with an airline like that, or "Bearline" as they might call it

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

 

[cheddar cheese]

The idea of a "Bearliner" could "Backfire"

 

[Nonskimmer]

 

[mosquitoman]

Stop "Badger"ing us with all these jokes willya!

 

[cheddar cheese]

What a "Blinder" of a pun!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

bloody hell you guys.....