From: Ad 

Phil Payne wrote:
>> Entertaining system but one wonders why not just pop out a fully loaded
>> cruise/UCAV out of the back of the transport aircraft.
>
> Airborne aircraft carriers?
>
>

Indeed.

Right now an aircraft carrying cruise missiles is one.

Once the beasties are not kamikaze's then....long range aircraft of some
sort (the more std the better/cheaper e.g. boeing/airbus + bomb bay
mechanism)......et voila. The nice thing is if a reasonably chunky a/c
(e.g. 747/A380) then the mothership can also have the operators with their
VDU'es & do air2air refuelling of the child UCAV's.

Remember how much fuel climbing to altitude burns. Release {at} 35-40K feet
& the range of the beasties is much improved.

keep a rotating magazine of smaller missiles for self protection (e.g.
amraam/meteor) & when air dominance/SEAD s achieved your 747's can tool
around over the battle area & also drop GPS etc guided bombs.

Then you can use the same aircraft to fly the troops home, to refuel
others, to bring in supplies..act as network
hubs/repeaters..etc.etc.etc.....


& if you use std airliners....then....you get to keep a "ready reserve"
in the shape of std airline pilots.


Adam

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5