night driver
ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
That a Gripen??
Love that shot.
Love that shot.
The old discussion referenced the large aircraft, such as bombers, being too heavy for the depth of the concrete used during road construction. In my searches, I never found in any of my hundreds of historical manuals and documents anything to back this question up. Alfaman, think you could dig up anything?
I remember seeing something in a report off DTIC.mil regarding interstate national system and launching bombers off it, but don't have it in my files.
Wanting to say some stretches of the US interstate were heavier built during construction. The interstate system was considered complete by 1974. Those stretches handling bomber weights were mostly completed by 1970; basically it involved just digging out and putting more concrete in those stretches of road. And if I remember correctly those portions of the interstate system that was concrete, rather than asphalt were the ones to be used for heavier weight aircraft. I don't remember seeing specific highways listed as usable as alert runways, but consider the ones done in concrete and maintained regularly those runways.
Back then a 'bomber' included the FB-111.
As you acknowledged, the B-1B, B-52H, B-2 and B-21 are all in much greater weight class.
Could have used some A-10 support driving from Dallas down to Freeport.
That’s the most likely scenario.Or they mean to do us harm.
It would be nice if they also blocked the on ramps.On a similar mindset, have you noticed the increased use of cable fencing on many stretches, often around the larger cities. It makes it almost impossible for anyone to cut across and go back from where they came. No U Turns. I noticed a lot of this ten or more years ago....I recognize it has some safety value, but it also has a lot of control value.
I was told by an Illinois State Trooper many years ago, that if something big happens, they will commandeer Semi rigs and block all the off ramps of the interstates...once on, you are exiting the city and there's no turning back or getting off. He was talking about the Chicago area, not sure how far out this would go....likely a long way.
Those plans may have been shelved because after the war municipal and private airfields sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. Now many of them only exist in memory, a few faded photographs or a small monument or historical plaque in front of a strip mall. Back then plans to use the interstates as runways may not have had the same priority as during the war or now.Someone's been dusting off old war plans. Our Interstate highway system was built - in part - to allow .mil aircraft to operate across the country.
Best
Doc
On a similar mindset, have you noticed the increased use of cable fencing on many stretches, often around the larger cities. It makes it almost impossible for anyone to cut across and go back from where they came. No U Turns. I noticed a lot of this ten or more years ago....I recognize it has some safety value, but it also has a lot of control value.
I remember seeing something in a report off DTIC.mil regarding interstate national system and launching bombers off it, but don't have it in my files.
Wanting to say some stretches of the US interstate were heavier built during construction. The interstate system was considered complete by 1974. Those stretches handling bomber weights were mostly completed by 1970; basically it involved just digging out and putting more concrete in those stretches of road. And if I remember correctly those portions of the interstate system that was concrete, rather than asphalt were the ones to be used for heavier weight aircraft. I don't remember seeing specific highways listed as usable as alert runways, but consider the ones done in concrete and maintained regularly those runways.
The interstate highway system here was conceived for this very purpose along with other military use and commerce.
I worked for Kentucky DOT for 7 years and was involved in some interstate work related to .mil potential usage.
This is the first time in my life I have known of use of interstate highways for this purpose in the U.S. Planned but never practiced to my knowledge.
While overseas I saw it as common practice in France but did not observe it in other countries.
Some stretches of interstates have been "contaminated" by powerline crossings although there is likely a plane to "eliminate" those if necessary.
I just informed my wife (USAF veteran) of this thread and told her I suspect something is up.
I was told by an Illinois State Trooper many years ago, that if something big happens, they will commandeer Semi rigs and block all the off ramps of the interstates...once on, you are exiting the city and there's no turning back or getting off. He was talking about the Chicago area, not sure how far out this would go....likely a long way.
Australia had a system of air bases in the Northern Territory in case on Japanese invsiion.
Well, cool.
But why now all of a sudden,?
On a similar mindset, have you noticed the increased use of cable fencing on many stretches, often around the larger cities. It makes it almost impossible for anyone to cut across and go back from where they came. No U Turns. I noticed a lot of this ten or more years ago....I recognize it has some safety value, but it also has a lot of control value.
I was told by an Illinois State Trooper many years ago, that if something big happens, they will commandeer Semi rigs and block all the off ramps of the interstates...once on, you are exiting the city and there's no turning back or getting off. He was talking about the Chicago area, not sure how far out this would go....likely a long way.
Those plans may have been shelved because after the war municipal and private airfields sprang up like mushrooms after the rain. Now many of them only exist in memory, a few faded photographs or a small monument or historical plaque in front of a strip mall. Back then plans to use the interstates as runways may not have had the same priority as before the war or now.
Warthogs and F22's aren't b29's or P51's. They weren't designed with this in mind. Would potential FOD (Foreign Object Damage) from debris on roadways be an issue for the newer aircraft?
The issue is the heavier aircraft require insane re-enforcement for their landing. airbases that receive them have two strips one getting repaired and the active one. Unless the roadbed is built on literal bedrock.
This is going to cause serious issues with road maintenance for any low profile issues after the events are done.
But if they are getting to this point of instigating this use, they are either getting ready for fast inter country deployments, or, an invasion, or this is part of some new wargames training.
This could be a big program of snatch and grabs if other things end up panning out.
Excellent…thank you…I’ll do some digging on that in several books in my library…2004 Conditions and Performance - Policy | Federal Highway Administration
Policy and Governmental Affairswww.fhwa.dot.gov
Us?
As in you and me?
A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft from Air Force Reserve Unit, 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base landing and taking off in Estonia. The A-10s were guided by a Combat Controller from 321st Special Tactics Squadron on the highway below.
Runtime 1:24
A-10 Landing On Highway
View: https://youtu.be/gukbW2n6lxs
That a Gripen??
Love that shot.
There was discussion here YEARS ago, about the design of the interstates including some use as landing strips for various .mil aircraft. This type of plan has been going on for decades outside of the US.
Anyone know anymore about this historical context?
I wondered if anyone else saw that.
Yeah this is for us.
Act and plan accordingly.
Not sure how much "Blackmailing" it would take considering the age of most pilots .doubt very much they can blackmail enough USAF to fly many missions >>> they are depending on armed drones guided by gamesters munching on Toaster Pop-Ups - already a FED drone airforce operated outside the USAF ...
It’s certain sections of highway and interstate that are built to handle aircraft and tanks, not the entire road.