syscom3
Pacific Historian
I think some B52's will continue to fly. They are great bomb trucks to use in conventional roles where air defenses are not an issue.
B21 Bomber
- Thread starter DBII
- Start date
Barrett
Staff Sergeant
GRRR...do not do not get me started on a Designation Rant.
Aw hell...
Rant Mode ON:
The Dept of Defense has an office tasked with designating aircraft and stuff. The staff knows the "rules" but exerts almost zero influence because of
c'mon man...
you know...
the thing...
THE IGNORANCE AND POLITICS THINGS.
When McNamara redesigned military aircraft in 1962 presumably he started a New Era of linear, consistent designations that would continue in perpetuity.
Well...not hardly.
Among many many others: the "F"117 Stealth "Fighter" was completely out of sequence. Not to mention the F-35 flail. By rights it should be the F-24 (after the dead-end Northrop F-23). But...
When DoD, upon announcing the biggest military ("defense") contract ever…it neglected to assign a number to the selected joint strike fighter. When a reporter—obviously more astute than the suits and stars running the JSF program—asked What's the number…
The suit couldn't answer the question. So he lateraled to a USMC star wearer who said…um…well, it was the X-35 so I guess it's the F-35!
Truth. I had the transcript for a 2007 book.
As for the B-21, industry insiders say that B-3 isn't (XYZ) enough, and after all, it's the first bomber of the XXI century.
I could cite more absurdities but I won't.
Rant Mode to STANDBY.
Aw hell...
Rant Mode ON:
The Dept of Defense has an office tasked with designating aircraft and stuff. The staff knows the "rules" but exerts almost zero influence because of
c'mon man...
you know...
the thing...
THE IGNORANCE AND POLITICS THINGS.
When McNamara redesigned military aircraft in 1962 presumably he started a New Era of linear, consistent designations that would continue in perpetuity.
Well...not hardly.
Among many many others: the "F"117 Stealth "Fighter" was completely out of sequence. Not to mention the F-35 flail. By rights it should be the F-24 (after the dead-end Northrop F-23). But...
When DoD, upon announcing the biggest military ("defense") contract ever…it neglected to assign a number to the selected joint strike fighter. When a reporter—obviously more astute than the suits and stars running the JSF program—asked What's the number…
The suit couldn't answer the question. So he lateraled to a USMC star wearer who said…um…well, it was the X-35 so I guess it's the F-35!
Truth. I had the transcript for a 2007 book.
As for the B-21, industry insiders say that B-3 isn't (XYZ) enough, and after all, it's the first bomber of the XXI century.
I could cite more absurdities but I won't.
Rant Mode to STANDBY.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Well Barrett - I have to somewhat disagree. I knew people (many people) that worked the X-35. I was there to see the first flight. It was a known that if LM won the JSF program, the production bird would be the F-35. I'm talking 1997/ 98 time frame. Now whether this USMC star weaver gaffed on this earlier, I have no idea.
The F-117? Legend has it the USAF wanted to make sure it was designated as a fighter rather than an attack or strike aircraft (something that might chase egotistical fighter jocks away from the program). A mistake on the draft -1 made it to some meeting and someone picked up on the F-117 designation. The rest is history.
I wasn't there for the first flight but I did see the first 2 built!
Wildcat
Major
According to The War Zone, the B-21 will replace both the B-1 and B-2 and serve alongside the B-52.
This Is The B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber (Updated)
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
I won't hold my breath. It's going to come down to who is at the helm when the first B-21s start rolling out
- Thread starter
- #46
DBII
Senior Master Sergeant
Rant on !
Wildcat
Major
It will be interesting to see what happens. In other news, pundits down here are advocating for the RAAF to purchase the B-21, a move I support to counter China's sphere of influence. A deal that might be possible now that AUKUS exists?
US hints it will sell B-21 to Australia with RAAF invite
Buy 12 stealth bombers at $28b to counter China: ASPI
Renewed speculation Australia could purchase nuclear-capable stealth bombers after Air Force chief's US visit
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Great way to lower cost per plane. Can we get Japan in on it somehow?
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
China might like to buy a few...
Thumpalumpacus
Colonel
This accords with my readings as well.
Thumpalumpacus
Colonel
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Yes - but some how F-117 emerged!
I wouldn't be surprise that would be for the purposes of deception. After all a bomber or attack plane would follow a specific sequence and this would be out in the middle of nowhere.
While I wouldn't be surprised if
FLYBOYJ was right on this one, I see no need for this matter here since the planes weren't black projects: They should have just went with F-24 or F-25 or something.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
No one knows for sure, for the F-117 it was all here say and folklore. Wen i was on the program, it was known as "the article."
At that time a model company put out a model of the "F-19" which everyone thought is what the real stealth fighter was supposed to look like. This may have played in the decision. Personally I could care less if they skipped numbers (or used them on black programs).While I wouldn't be surprised if
- Thread starter
- #55
DBII
Senior Master Sergeant
A rose is a rose.
syscom3
Pacific Historian
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
Boy, Testors really nailed it back then! 
hawkeye2an
Staff Sergeant
Talked to a rep for Monogram back in the day and he said "If you can show it in black, it will sell twice as much"
