Message posted by Andre' M. Dall'au on June 12, 2010 at 14:04:28 PST:
There were a couple of attempts to have fighter "parasites" on bombers. The B-36 experimented with a modified RF-84 and later with a purpose-built FICON fighter that was a flying barrel and unstable to fly. I'm sure most of our buffs remember both. The abilities of a stealth blimp is still limited to its inability to withstand high winds and bad weather as well as a very slow speed. That pretty much limits the concept to non-combat use in good weather and prevailing winds. It would be useful for long recce in non-denied areas, and in that area it would be excellent with very long loiter time and the ability to carry a lot of optics and electronics. It would also be good for strategic heavy-lift transport. Lockheed-Martin has been flying at least one for years, and if it was not for the limitations of any dirigible, it would be in use extensively. A type of aircraft that cannot fly on demand based on unfavorable weather is not something that can be integrated into planning, hence it is useless. A great concept that is simply defeated by high winds and bad weather.
In Reply to: Re: big enough to land on? posted by Hamster on June 12, 2010 at 12:56:19 PST:
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