Peter Skelton wrote:
On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 20:29:07 -0500, "Andrew Chaplin"
wrote:

"Yeff" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:49:43 -0500, Andrew Chaplin wrote:

Why the loss of performance?

It doesn't start off with the speed of a launching aircraft.

That's what I thought it would be. So one needs something like a boost
stage if one is to have anything like the same envelope?

Yes, but it's energy, not speed, that matters. Altitude, as well
as speed, is important

Yes, a missile launched higher should have better range... a plane
launching an AMRAAM at an altitude of 30,000 feet at a target at 30,000
feet or less should have more range than a ground launch at a target up
at 30,000 feet....

Also there is the ability to use look down radar in a plane, maybe
longer detection range? Depending on terrain and so on I guess....

Peter Skelton