You know it's sad how criminally under flown those planes are. I have a few deployments and well over 1000 hours as a P-3 mission commander and instructor pilot. We used to be able to fly it like we stole it, but as it was nearing the end, big Navy took away all of the fun with speed, g, and other maneuvering…

I bet the Carrier Battle Groups are wishing they still had the Tomcat. This is exactly the threat they Tomcat and the Phoenix were designed to protect the fleet from. Now they have to hope that their SAMs are good enough to stop the missiles rather than having the Tomcats go out and kill the Backfires before they…

That is the guaranteed way to turn yourself into lunch meat. One person makes an abrupt lane change, and you are a 1KM long smear.

She is the worst Prius driver in the world.

I have no sympathy for these people. That airport has been there far longer than they have. And if anything, jets have become MUCH quieter over the past 10 years as old low-bypass powered planes like the 727, DC-9, DC-8, 707, and early MD-80 series planes have been phased out of service.

I clicked a link without looking where I was going, and about halfway through I thought to myself, "This is seriously well written and informative—I must be on Foxtrot Alpha."

I disagree. Please read it again or fully. How does it manufacture fear? We have to be able to write about weapon systems without being accused of such things or we are in denial of their existence.

Foxtrot Alpha remains the most interesting and enjoyable site ever to exist on Kinja.

"You simply do not need a high-end stealth bomber to fight black and camo clad jihadis driving around in Toyota Helix trucks."

In certain parts, they don't. The outboard tanks are so shallow and narrow, most people couldn't even fit their torso in them. I've safety-wired stuff while lying on my back with my arms straight out over my head, unable to see what I was doing, and just going off of feel.

That is just it, it really didn't cost anything. They do these missions all the time around the US, this is just another target, another challenge of their skills to put the jet in the right place at the right time in the right configuration.

I never understood the hate for flyovers or airshows. Personally I like to see what my tax dollars pay for.

how many non-govt subsidized a380s are bought? i mean pretty much all the middle eastern and asian airlines are govt run/funded.

Shutting down and re-starting the engines carries a higher risk of mechanical failure than just letting it idle. Since they are heading right back into combat they do everything possible to ensure the helo stays in the fight.

Considering what is going on aboard a carrier it is pretty damn fast. Basically doing last chance checks and launching in a couple minutes, but things take time and the gear is what it is and it can go fast during a time of war or emergency. The FARP reloading is what it is, the gear has limitations and it is not…

Finally music from the same age as the air frame he is sitting in! Not some stupid dubstep shit. Classic rock fits these birds so much better.

Speed loading clips, whether it's 5.56 into an M-4 or these 30mm into an Apache, never ever work like they should.

SUVs cost much more, get worse gas mileage and have less space. Unless you're towing something very heavy, minivans are far more practical for 99% of families. As long as you're not too caught up in looking "cool". See below

No, flying out of Afghanistan in a C-17 makes you appreciate its beauty.