P-AEA: E-SEAD Counterpart of Big Wing

Wait I'm confused. Maybe haven't had enough coffee yet this morning. Is this thread about either the Wichita or Texas bird as a new "Companion" P-AEA?

If so, I'll sit back and see where this goes. I'm pretty sure both birds have some neato electronics in them but that's not saying much these days. As for me my opinion is that the texas bird is good looking. The wichita bird has a nice pretty shape. Ones faster than the other. One is bigger than the other. One's got more pull the others kinda more cool.

as for the P-AEA - we don't have a dedicated one these days.

"Attention passengers- this is the Captain speaking. Were sorry for this delay it looks like we're going to have to hang around the jetway for another 5 hours before departure while Air Traffic Control sorts out a few technical difficulties with their hardware."

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I think it's about the idea that yet another "companion" aircraft either exists or is coming into existence. I just derailed the thread with my hunch that the Wichita bird might be something very, very different.

What's interesting about this new, to me at least, is that this might mean that the F-117's companion is finally getting retired.

Just as the LRS-B is the de facto replacement for the B-2, this P-AEA craft will almost certainly be replacing some sort of pre-existing ELINT/jamming platform, which would most likely be the famous one that's existed since the 80's(the one who's existence is why the USAF let the EF-111 get retired a couple decades too early without so much as a peep).

a reply to: Barnalby

So for the Wichita pic so far we've got possible LRS-B, Avenger, Stealth transport (cargo), Stealth Tactical transport for SOF, a new "companion" P- AEA, and swamp gas.

gunna sit back and see where this one goes.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: thebozeian

If it's a STOL transport it wasn't escorting F-117s anywhere. It can't be both an escort to lase targets and do EW like people speculate, and a transport capable of carrying almost 40 people.

What if it's backwards. What if the F-117 went in and took out anti-aircraft sites and did it's own lasing -- and this "companion" inserted it's own spec ops teams.

Instead of the companion doing the EW/target designation...what if it's been backwards all this time as disinformation?

a reply to: MystikMushroom

I know the planform for the companion. It's not carrying anything but weapons. There's not a lot of room for anything on it.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I can tell you what it's not.

Oh! Do we get to play, "One of these things is not like the other"?

a reply to: Zaphod58

Damn it you two! Now you're confusing me.

So....you're saying it's a tanker! I knew it!!!! Nobody outsmarts the Bassplyr!

a reply to: BASSPLYR

It's a UFO.

a reply to: Zaphod58

And that's the way it's gunna stay. Unidentified and flying.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

Well, for some of you anyway.

a reply to: Zaphod58

but zaph you told me it was the secret stealth replacement for the C-130 called the c230. ( Not to be confused with the C330 which is a commuter rail in philidelphia.)

It's supposedly supposed to be a stop gap until they come out with the c1300. It has canards.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

No no no. That was Texas. This was the B3000. It has an automatic coffee maker.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Well it's about time they got mr coffee in there. We gotta catch up you know. Russias had mr vodka installed in all of their planes for at least the last 10 years.

All depends if they have upgraded to microwaves rather than the gas cookers they have run..Too many rabbit holes my brain hurteth...

originally posted by: Jukiodone
I posted about SOFTA here www.abovetopsecret.com...
There was also a bit of info about it summarised here www.abovetopsecret.com...


Here's a slightly different angle from Michael Schratts vid on YT :

Boomer seemed to think the source info (Scaled Composites circa 1991) was BS...but he didnt get back with any additional leads (nudge nudge).

As part of Schratts description of the SOFTA on YT he said the doc (pictured) states the craft was "range and wind tunnel tested" and " is designed to accommodate 24-36 passengers ( or equivalent payload) but no way to verify without seeing the docs.

the source wasnt scaled composites. thats a very well respected company today. the source was their crazy ass CEO and founder. That guy has been spewing horse crap and dis info out of his mouth for decades now. And hes the owner of that stargazing site or whatever its called.

a reply to: boomer135

I thought Rutan WAS the serving CEO of scaled composites in 1991 when he made the comments?
Didn't realise that Scaled Composites became more "respectable" over time - I'll have a read up on it but if he was CEO in 1991 when he made the comments- they are the representations of Scaled Composites - albeit historical representations.

Shouldn't have (mis)quoted you anyway so point taken!

a reply to: Zaphod58

You are the biggest tease sometimes.

lol

a reply to: grey580

Yeah wait until you see what he has in store for us when he takes photos at the next invite only roll out coming up soon. It will probably toe the line between tease and torture.


So Zaph, Any comments on the rumors that the wichita bird is really the new hypersonic stealth blimp? Cause that's what I heard.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

I assure you, I have no plans to tease anyone with the pictures I'm gonna take.