Darpa Airship Vs. Boeing Pelican

But what is harder to detect one large single vehicle or a whole formation of jets spread across the sky?

Waynos... When did I tell you that those jets would fly at the same time... I understand your point, But don't you think it's safer to transport a thing in small pieces rather than to transport it all in one plane. Now I'am asking you a question... Wich of these two alternatives would get shot down easier...?? 10-20 C-17 or one large slow "balloon"...


[edit on 8-2-2006 by Figher Master FIN]

I wasn't making any point FIN, it was a genuine question. I'm undecided on this argument. It just occurred to me that maybe a squadron of C-17's would be easier to see than a single airship. Of course it is more complicated than that and if it is a squadron of Flankers that is lying in wait it doesn't matter which you are in. You are dead anyway, but at least one airship would be cheaper for the taxpayer

I like the airship.

Greater payload, less up keep.

Are you sure about that Waynos... I think it would be a lot more expensive to build one big airship than many C-17... And C-17 still have a chanse to escpae... they can't shoot down the Su-47, or what ever is after them... but the whole squadron of C-17 could go thier own ways, and therefore have better chanses in survival...

One C17 costs 202.3 mil/per with a max speed of 450 knots.

The Walrus production costs are unknown(due to it still being developed) and max speed is hypothesisized to be between 100-150 knots.

How many RPG can a C17 take? My guess is one or two. How bout A2A missile? Probably one. What is the Max takeoff and landing speed of a C17?

How many RPG can a Walrus with multiple redundant cell membranes take? 1 per cell. The question is how many cells will a Walrus have. It could theoreticall withstand multiple hits and still land safely far away from the attacker(this is a G2A scenario) How many A2A hits can the Walrus take? Again it depends on how many Cells each hit takes out. The sheer size of the walrus is it's best defence. The bigger the better. Sure its relatively easy to hit, but how easy would it be to shoot down or even get close enough to take a shot? Think rationally here mmkay?

This also doesn't take into account the fact that the Walrus will most likely have DEFENSES on it due to it's sheer size. Solid State Laser system? It's doable. A2A Missile defenses? Again doable. Also it will most likely NOT be alone and will probably be escorted by F-15s or something similiar(sorry not a plane man so I don't know what would be used as an escort, maybe a retrofitted C130 Gunship? or maybe even another type of Airship desined for this special task?)

Don't count your chickens before they hatch!

[edit on 10-2-2006 by sardion2000]

Well... if we change the scenario a bit... What about a stinger launched from an unknown location... F-15 can't do much anything to that... And missiles are getting better as we speak... they could destry that ship in a sec... lasers are just being tested, it will take a while before you can actually use laser defenses... And don't you agree with me when I say "the bigger target, the bigger chanse it will get destroyed"... You are talking about defenses that won't be used in 50 years... And those C-17 could just aswell get the same laser defenses...

[edit on 10-2-2006 by Figher Master FIN]

What is the explosive yield of a Stinger? I highly doubt one could take out a Walrus. You forget the Multiple redundant lifting cells again?

With that said how many Stingers can a C17 take? 1? 2?

[edit on 10-2-2006 by sardion2000]

[edit on 10-2-2006 by sardion2000]

Depends where you hit...

But C-17 still have a lot beter chanses of survival, just because they outnumber an airship... One missile that get's a good hit could take down an Airship... but a good hit on a C-17 could only take down 1 C-17, not the whole squadron...

reply to post by TACHYON


Actually the Americans, once they found out about the aircraft, called it the Caspean Sea Monster. This name got back to the Russians and the name stuck. So, like many aircraft eg. A10- Warthog. the common name for this plane is a little more colorful.
Karl

The Walrus got cancelled

www.defenseindustrydaily.com...

Edit: the link didn't work

[edit on 14-7-2008 by deckard83]

Most of the comments relate to the aircrafts suitability for military purposes, and both look somewhat vulnerable.
The Pelican in particular though seems like a wonderful middle ground between aircraft and ships for civilian cargo transport.
In fact even if flown at 200mph most goods that require air freight would be delivered satisfactorily at that pace, at much lower cost.
I guess the biggest problem for WIG planes is that they need to be very large to ensure they get ground effect at a reasonable height above he waves.
That means there's a very low likelihood of the technology being first developed in small scale aircraft, which is a real pity, because it may be seen as too big a risk to ever develop an aircraft of this size with new technology.

Originally posted by koji_K
according to the webpage, the pelican flies at just 20ft above the sea... weird!

-koji K.

Yeah they say due to less drag the plane will fly 20 feet above water, then over land at 20,000 feet. I don't know, that sounds really REALLY dangerous! lol And can you imagine sitting in your little vessel as this HUGE plane skims right over you. You'll go flying!

[edit on 25-9-2008 by markissluv]