Never thought of that!

[Yogimus]

You keep thinking strafing runs. I am saying AC130 style orbits

[blackeagle603]

You keep thinking strafing runs. I am saying AC130 style orbits

Exactly. Bingo. Keeping eyes on target entire time, not having to break contact and reestablish visuals pass after pass. Seems like less blue on blue risk there.

[randy]

You keep thinking strafing runs. I am saying AC130 style orbits

Exactly. Bingo. Keeping eyes on target entire time, not having to break contact and reestablish visuals pass after pass. Seems like less blue on blue risk there.

As long as you are in a permissive low threat environment. Add MANPADS, massed heavy caliber AAA etc. and we're back to (relatively) fast movers making in and out weapons passes until the AD is suppressed. (And "the AAA is suppressed" should rank up there with "The LZ is secure", "I'll respect you in the morning"...). I'd suggest asking the crew of Spirit03, but they've been unavailable for comment since 1991.

[Steamforger]

40mm turrets on low flying platforms has been done and done quite a while back. They were, to my understanding, VERY effective against river traffic in the delta.

[Yogimus]

Imagine that turret belly mounted on a bush plane. A pilot, a gunner, Kevlar around both, 2015 optics and fire-control, and NOTHING ELSE but a radio.

make the landing gear sturdy enough to be able to take off from a new jersey parkway, or a grass field. Each plane comes with a refueling truck/tow vehicle. Use it as an airborn gun truck.

[HTRN]

You keep thinking strafing runs. I am saying AC130 style orbits

An "Afgan Tornado".

Didn't the Airforce look into building smaller AC's not so long ago, and the whole project was scrapped supposedly due to "accuracy issues"?

(My guess the idea was a sop to people demanding them, and them not wanting to do it, and finding a reason to scrap the program).

[Jericho941]

You keep thinking strafing runs. I am saying AC130 style orbits

An "Afgan Tornado".

Didn't the Airforce look into building smaller AC's not so long ago, and the whole project was scrapped supposedly due to "accuracy issues"?

(My guess the idea was a sop to people demanding them, and them not wanting to do it, and finding a reason to scrap the program).

Hmmmmmmm.

In May 2009, the program was put on hold because U.S. Army funding for 40 C-27s in an Army–Air Force cooperative purchase was removed from the fiscal 2010 budget.

HMMMMMMMMMMM

Yes, entrust the fixed-wing CAS mission entirely to the Army, that will solve everything.

Y'all can feast upon this bag of extra-salty unwashed dicks now.

[arctictom]

Mmmmmmm A10s

[D5CAV]

Yes, entrust the fixed-wing CAS mission entirely to the Army, that will solve everything.

Y'all can feast upon this bag of extra-salty unwashed dicks now.

All the way up to 1970, there were US Army officers who had to go buy blue uniforms and throw away their greens because the USAF got their panties in a twist over some single engine piston aircraft with "US Army" on the side.

What's the big deal with some AC130 and A10 jockeys buying some green uniforms?

If only the USAF has the unique skills and knowledge to operate fixed wing aircraft, then we need to have boys in blue on aircraft carriers and providing CAS for the USMC.

Why is the USAF so generous with their expertise with the US Army, but denying their special essence to the USN and USMC?

[Jericho941]

If only the USAF has the unique skills and knowledge to operate fixed wing aircraft, then we need to have boys in blue on aircraft carriers and providing CAS for the USMC.

Why is the USAF so generous with their expertise with the US Army, but denying their special essence to the USN and USMC?

Yeah, about that.