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Re: From our First Line of Defense .... 

By: Zimbler0 in POPE IV | Recommend this post (3)
Wed, 30 Aug 17 10:58 PM | 65 view(s)
Boardmark this board | POPES NEW and Improved Real Board 		Msg. 32634 of 47202
(This msg. is a reply to 32548 by lkorrow)
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Lkorrow> What is INS and why did it fail so much? Darn computers!


Dear Linda,
INS = Inertial Navigation System.
A little device with some little gyroscopes in it.
As the machine moves or turns it determines how far
and in which direction it turned or moved thereby
allowing the machine (computerized of course) to
determine where they are at all times.

INS is not as accurate as GPS . . . but many of our
smart missiles are built with both inside them. If
the enemy screws up the GPS the INS will still guide
the weapon 'close enough' to at least damage the target.

I believe the INS 'dumped all the time' because back
in those days the electronics and reliability of same
was still not what it is today.

I'm with you on the F-14's. As for why the F-35 requires
so much maintenance - I'm pretty sure it will be
because of those 'stealth' coatings. The B-2 is also
high maintenance for the same reason.

I have to wonder . . . what would the cost for a B-2
bomber be if it didn't have the stealth paint etc.
on it. Would it have similar costs and maintenance
requirements to the B-52?

Zim.


Zim.




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Mad Poet Strikes Again.


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The above is a reply to the following message:
Re: From our First Line of Defense ....
By: lkorrow in POPE IV
Wed, 30 Aug 17 4:48 AM 		Msg. 32548 of 47202

I didn't get a lot of it, but a fascinating story, thanks for posting it.

"the Vark had an incredible range and was a cadillac when cruising along at .95 Mach a few hundred feet above the countryside."

It had terrain-following radar to hug the ground without running into something, too.

I'd say that's when we knew how to build planes, but this -- "our INS dumped and every heading system on my side spun to a wrong heading ... the INS dumped all the time but usually the heading system was rock solid" -- is disturbing. What is INS and why did it fail so much? Darn computers!

What kills me is they retired the F-14 because they were getting long in the tooth and required long maintenance intervals. Now, the brand-new F-35s require 50 hours of maintenance for every flight hour, exceeding that of the old f-14s. Absolutely outrageous and way too expensive if you have to actually fight a war and use them. Never should have moved all our manufacturers out west, imo. Or let pork get in the way of our safety.

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