Slater

The "Extended Range" part of it refers to the addition of a refueling probe, I'm guessing?

Presumably these would be the newer CH-47F variant? https://www.janes.com/defence-news/defence/latest/uk-to-review-chinook-buy-in-q1-2024

This appears to be the original request. Was the final overall cost pretty close to the mark? https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/new_zealand_19-69.pdf

Maybe we need a new category for "ace"?

Boeing has lost $billions on the E-4 replacement aircraft and the KC-46 tanker. They're probably a bit gun-shy.

I suppose buying a UK-standard E-7 was out of the question? "The level of engineering work needed to adapt the E-7 to the Air Force’s specifications was “above and beyond what we anticipated,” Hunter said. “The big surprise there was an unexpected amount and degree of non-recurring engineering required to meet the requirement that the Air Force specified, which we thought was very close to what the U.K. is currently procuring from Boeing,” Hunter said. “Those discussions have been challenging.” https://www.defensenews.com/air/2024/02/15/tricky-e-7-adaptations-complicate-us-air-force-boeing-negotiations/

Much of the money saved by canceling FARA is going into the CH-47F Chinook program (and also the Black Hawk fleet). You can't keep an old heavy helo down

From the clips I've seen, the name "Lt Crosby" comes up from time to time. Presumably they're referring to this individual?: https://100thbg.com/harry-h-crosby/

Maybe a better title would have been "Generally Competent in the Air"

Presumably, this means no 1/48 Bell Invictus?

Wonder if Apache and AH-1Z will be the last of their kind in US service?

Anyone know if there are any CH-53K kits on the horizon?

If the CGI was done right, I think the Battle of the Bismarck Sea would be a candidate for a film. B-25's skimming in over the sea to skip-bomb enemy ships sounds like it would be visually impressive. The USAAF and RAAF pulled off a major victory in that encounter. I think Operation Jericho has already received the film treatment, but again, Mosquitos in low-level flight to hit a pinpoint target could be made into a breathtaking visual sequence.

I've only seen the various clips available on Youtube. The CGI could be better, but from the sequences I've seen, it's passable.

The quality of CGI seems to be directly proportional to the amount of money spent on it.

A film about the Ploesti raid would bring a little more publicity to the B-24 boys. They always seemed to take second place in the publicity department to the (arguably) more photogenic B-17.

The US inert blue is (IIRC) FS 35109. I've seen the color bronze used on inert classroom training bombs.

Wonder if the new avionics would have made any substantial difference in the Southeast Asia theatre?

From today's (2 Feb 24) US DoD contract announcements: Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York, was awarded a not-to-exceed $150,560,000 undefinitized modification (P00001) to a firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee order (N0001924F5567) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001921G0017). This modification adds scope to provide non-recurring engineering and add/delete efforts in support of bringing six MH-60R aircraft from a standard Foreign Military Sales (FMS) configuration to a unique configuration for the government of Norway. Additionally, this modification adds scope for the production and delivery of four Embedded Global Positioning System Inertial Navigation Systems spares, as well as provides for production spares, field and technical service representative support, and electronic support measures in-country reprogramming hot bench. Work will be performed in Owego, New York (62%); Stratford, Connecticut (36%); and Troy, Alabama (2%), and is expected to be completed in February 2027. FMS customer funds in the amount of $49,471,800 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Jan. 31, 2024) What is "unique" about Norwegian MH-60R's?

Presumable the markings would still be reasonably intact?

Pizza and loose women at General Atomics tonight? https://www.dsca.mil/sites/default/files/mas/Press Release - India 24-07 CN v3.pdf

Those BDU-33's look quite toylike on such a large aircraft.

Yes, AMRAAM is a Raytheon product. Going from the Turkish request they want AMRAAM (AIM-120C-8) or an equivalent missile from the US.

Didn't Monogram or Revell do a 1/48 T-Stick II kit?

From a USAF history: "Another crucial modification, started in 1966 and hindered by numerous problems, would give 30 F-105Ds improved visual bombing accuracy, a more precise navigation system, and a better blind bombing capability. An overriding problem was the poor reliability and rising cost of the AN/ARN-85 LORAN system first considered. This problem persisted until new testing began at Eglin AFB in September 1969. The T-Stick II/Loran prototype aircraft was then equipped with the AN/ARN-92 (produced by International Telephone and Telegraph) and successfully flight tested. Still, modification of the 30 aircraft was not completed until late July 1971." Although the modification program was completed in 1971, it appears that none of these aircraft saw combat in Vietnam. Or has anyone heard different?