I remember a time when the USAF had a solid base of science and engineering experts.
No more.
UPDATE: Air Force Times has more information on this story.
One precaution the service took when returning the jets to service was to add carbon filters to the pilot’s oxygen supply, one source said. Additionally, pilots were required to give blood samples to use as a baseline to measure against in case of future incidents and are now required to wear a device called a pulse oximeter. The device is supposed to alert the pilot if there is a physiological problem.
However, numerous sources had voiced their misgivings about the return to flight arrangements.
6 comments:
I would humbly propose an emergency session called by USAF, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Intelligence Agency, DoD, National Security Council, White House Administration and Congressional Armed services heads to consider immediate term USAF air superiority supplementation.
I would personally propose transfer of DoD funding for a late-end FY12 if plausible, or at latest FY13 procurement of as many possible off-the-shelf F-15E+ units as part of an emergency 5yr MYB strategic stopgap. Said F-15 would incorporate latest computer, APG-82 radar, latest EW system, IRST and self-protection suite including latest MAWS/MLD suite. Unit Price; less than an FY13 LRIP F-35A.
Furthermore, a maximal number of advanced F-16 variants should be procured under the same emergency 5yr MYB interim stopgap consideration. imho.
God speed
Everybody should ponder the thought of the USAF being entirely constituted of F22s and F35s. F22 still grounded and all the delays and what nots with F35, no second source engine for either fighter, yeah, real comforting thought. I am with Geogen, maybe a top off on some new F15E+ sounds real good, at least we know they work.
Against the Su35s?
More as a general high-end stop-gap solution, not so much directed at counter-balancing one particular airframe or another.
And I guess the argument would be... which other procurement options exist as a supplement to a prematurely ended, but nonetheless unreliable F-22 fleet by FY13 given a similar budget allocation?
If anything, a supplemental F-15E+ with latest radar and IRST could achieve a first look Situational Awareness both passively and actively, farther out than anything in USAF inventory including F-35.
It would probably be a superior F-22 escort too (and force-multiplier) once F-22 eventually got back up to speed and by the time Increment 3.2 was delivered.
What against the SU35S?
Leave me alone.
The Silent Death.
Summer 1964, many Dutch F-104 Starfighter pilots have experiences with sudden strong nauseous feelings. The results are disorientation,vomitting and even loss of consciousness
They reacted by quickly putting off their oxygen masks. At the ground, notting dangerous is found in the LOX and the pilots have no health problems anymore.
Autumn 1964, one '104' flies a high alt mission in the Northern Netherlands. The pilot losses his consciousness and crashed in Norway.
After this crash and a similar event in West-Germany. A thorough examination of the LOX supply system follows. Conclusion: just 1 connector ring reacted with the pure oxygen and that endproduct contaminated the pilot's oxygen.
That's All!
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