BlackBeard wrote:
On Oct 5, 12:50 pm, Typhoon502 wrote:
SNIP
How on earth is it a violation of laws of physics to launch Cobras at
0330 and Ospreys at 0430? And I still want to know what genius of
planning would schedule the transports to arrive in the hot zone at
the same time that the first armed aircraft are arriving.

IIRC wasn't it SOP during WWII that fighter escorts would rendevous
with long range bombers at some point during the mission. They left
from different airfields, at different times, yet still often made the
rendevous and stayed with the bombers as long as they could (prior to
the long range escorts) and eventually throughout the flight while in
hostile skies.
With modern advancements in technology you would think if they could
do it back then, they can do it better now. Coordinating your escort
gunships to arrive at the LZ 10 minutes before the transports, from
different (closer) airbases, or leaving from the same base earlier,
isn't rocket science.


Sure fighters rendezvoused with bombers.. (But exactly how accurate was
the timing? Within minutes of schedule, at the appointed place on a map?)

When the escorts joined with the bomber stream they throttled back to
the speed of the transports so the missions could stay "together".. Of
course the escorts, being faster could also fly loops etc giving better
cover..

Now reverse the equation..

The escorts (helicopter gunships) rendezvous with the V-22s..

The V-22s slow down to the cruise sped of the helicopters... also
altitude.. Which kind of defeats the justification for the V-22.

The alternative is time on target.. gunships and transports arrive at
the LZ at the same time..

which means the V-22s have to transit without any escort (Unless they
get aircraft escorts?)..

The Helicopters should arrive ahead of the V-22s to suppress the ground
before the V-22s come in (The V-22 arriving first is contraindicated)..

The big problem is..

Once the mission is launched..

If for any reason the LZ is moved... You have to contact all units to
get them to (1) turn back for re planning, or (2) schedule arrival at
the new LZ...

Trying to schedule a new rendezvous once an operation has been launched
... Well.. I'm sure it would be an interesting exercise.. Lot's of ways
things could go wrong... (If the two units -- transports and escort--
were flying together.. No such problem..)

Do the V-22s circle at altitude until the LZ is considered safe?