Military Blimps and Dirigibles Coming Back.

Ocklawaha · August 22, 2009, 09:32:48 AM

My favorite is my 44 mag. saddle rifle (Okie Roots!). One day sitting at Los Padres mine, on top of a mountain in California's high desert, my late father asked me if I could hit an old bleach bottle at the bottom of the mountain.
Took careful aim and squeezed off a shot. NAILED IT, the bottle sort of blew up (dry heat makes the plastic brittle), that shot had to be over a half mile (glad he didn't ask me twice!). I used to go up in the Angels National Forrest where they had a target shooting area in a deserted canyon, about 1/2 the time others would walk up and try my "cannon".

I used to joke that if one shot the goodyear blimp that it would go skittering across the sky like a child's balloon.

OCKLAWAHA

Sportmotor · August 22, 2009, 09:50:12 AM

If we are talking about iron sighting Im scary good with the K98k had to sell that long time ago tho, was sad.

CS Foltz · August 23, 2009, 08:31:21 AM

Be hard to beat for a "Look and See" platform.....logistical aspects are something that could be handled in present day and age....not really sure it would be the ideal platform for a "HOT" insertion! Maybe back from the front lines but the way that conflicts are being conducted nowdays....insurgency or guerrilla warfare , unless armed or armored not a safe method and both of those options would reduce payload, speed and range!

civil42806 · August 23, 2009, 09:03:47 AM

Quote from: CS Foltz on August 23, 2009, 08:31:21 AM
Be hard to beat for a "Look and See" platform.....logistical aspects are something that could be handled in present day and age....not really sure it would be the ideal platform for a "HOT" insertion! Maybe back from the front lines but the way that conflicts are being conducted nowdays....insurgency or guerrilla warfare , unless armed or armored not a safe method and both of those options would reduce payload, speed and range!

Nah not a real option, you can get an unmanned Globalhawk at 65000 feet dwelling for 30+ hours.

NotNow · August 23, 2009, 10:59:41 AM

I think they are trying to use the phased array as the structural component. Still a lot of weight, but rrreeeaaallllyyy long range picture. It will be interesting to see if it works.

BridgeTroll · August 23, 2009, 11:01:13 AM

A great test application would be along the Mexico - U.S border to aid our border patrol...

NotNow · August 23, 2009, 11:18:24 AM

Dirigibles are there now! National Guard units (at least until last year) were using a tethered balloon borne radar to detect vehicle sized targets along the rural portions of the border. I am told it was a fairly successful detection system, interdiction was another matter. I saw a few of them on a trip down that way, it is not very low profile but if they changed locations at night it would seem to be pretty useful.

CS Foltz · August 23, 2009, 01:10:37 PM

Global Hawk I don't believe operates at that altitude......engine is prop driven even though that's turbine powered! Reaper or Predator might be able to operate that high since they both are jet powered and stop to think about the operators......they are on the ground at Arizona and use data links to control aircraft. Airborne platform might be best alternative if it had takeoff and landing capabilities for drones. But the concept has merit for sure and needs a prototype manufactured for proof of concept!

Sportmotor · August 23, 2009, 02:52:37 PM

Those drons are also fitted with weapons as well as camies now, better to look and have the capablity to do a fast action kill then to look
and look
and keep looking, and not beable to do anything

CS Foltz · August 24, 2009, 06:32:11 AM

OK stephendare I stand corrected.......I must have the forerunner of that type in mind. I still remember H13 Gunships and worked on same! Checked balance of data and stand on that.....control point is back in the US even for the Predator's with real time data links. Only experienced persons are controlling the gun runs!

civil42806 · August 24, 2009, 07:15:28 AM

Quote from: stephendare on August 23, 2009, 01:43:27 PM
36 hours vs 4 weeks? I dunno, sounds like not much of a matchup.

It is when you consider the altitude, get a blimp to 65000 feet! Rather a bit out of harms way there.
CS think your thinking of the predator. GH is a strategic asset, not armed, basically a survelience aircraft, performs the same function as a U-2. Unmanned is a plus.

civil42806 · August 24, 2009, 08:31:20 AM

Quote from: stephendare on August 23, 2009, 01:42:45 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RQ-4_Global_Hawk
The Northrop Grumman (formerly Ryan Aeronautical) RQ-4 Global Hawk (known as Tier II+ during development, and, informally/affectionately, as "Global Chicken") is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the United States Air Force as a surveillance aircraft.

In role and design, the Global Hawk is similar to the Lockheed U-2, the venerable 1950s spy plane. It is a theater commander's asset to both provide a broad overview and systematically target surveillance shortfalls. The Global Hawk air vehicle is able to provide high resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)—that can penetrate cloud-cover and sandstorms—and Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) imagery at long range with long loiter times over target areas. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles (100,000 square kilometers) of terrain a day.

Potential missions for the Global Hawk cover the spectrum of intelligence collection capability to support forces in worldwide peace, crisis, and wartime operations. According to the Air Force, the capabilities of the aircraft will allow more precise targeting of weapons and better protection of forces through superior surveillance capabilities.

The "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance; "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "4" refers to it being the fourth of a series of purpose-built unmanned aircraft systems.

The Global Hawk costs about $35 million USD [1] (actual per-aircraft costs; with development costs also included, the per-aircraft cost rises to $123.2 million USD each[2]).

Performance

* Cruise speed: 404 mph (650 km/h)
* Endurance: 36 hours
* Service ceiling: 65,000 ft (20,000 m)

Also you will be seeing the Naval version of the GH flying around the area in the Future. East coast squadron will be based at NAS Jacksonville.

Overstreet · August 24, 2009, 08:51:35 AM

Back when I was in the business and read Aviation Week magazine regularly there was frequently an article about using lighter than air machines. That was a long time ago. Aside from the tether blimps with the radars looking at Cuba they didn't ever field one. I suspect this will remain theoretical. But you never know when some billionaire will push a dream forward.

Dog Walker · August 24, 2009, 09:07:41 AM

Atmosphere is not a static fluid. Winds at 65,000 feet = 100mph +. Speed of airship = <80mph. Bye, Bye.

Ocklawaha · August 24, 2009, 09:24:42 AM

Quote from: Overstreet on August 24, 2009, 08:51:35 AM
Back when I was in the business and read Aviation Week magazine regularly there was frequently an article about using lighter than air machines. That was a long time ago. Aside from the tether blimps with the radars looking at Cuba they didn't ever field one. I suspect this will remain theoretical. But you never know when some billionaire will push a dream forward.

Quote from: Dog Walker on August 24, 2009, 09:07:41 AM
Atmosphere is not a static fluid. Winds at 65,000 feet = 100mph +. Speed of airship = <80mph. Bye, Bye.

Sorry guys but Boeing has already got one up and flying over the Skunk Works, out to China Lake and 29 Palms, CA. Don't know all the details but have read that the winds won't effect it in any drastic way. ?? Interesting.

OCKLAWAHA