"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:eqcie.5517$n95.3587@trndny08...
Jay Beckman wrote:

Which brings up this question: Why did they need the F16s at all?
Aren't the Blackhawks armed with 20mm guns mounted in the doors? Did
they not know the type of aircraft until the F16s arrived on station or
did the helo get a viz ID first? If so, why not call off the F16s? The
Blackhawk probably could have blown the C150 down with rotor wash on it's
own.

What if the intruder is a Citation? Blackhawks can't catch one.


George,

I realize that a BlackHawk couldn't catch a bizjet but the plane in this
specific case was a C150. Hence my additonal questions regarding at what
point was the type confirmed?

If the helo got a positive ID, then did they really need the Falcons? Were
the Falcons airborn and enroute before an ID was made?

Personally, a 20mm minigun pointed my way from a BlackHawk would get my
attention ASAP.

Of course, as has been mentioned elsewhere, a Citation would've either hit
or been out of the ADIZ by the time the F-16s left the ground, but that's
probably the argument for using them.

Maybe if they kept the F-16 pilots at cockpit readiness, like they did
Spitfire pilots during the BFB, they might have a chance. Anybody want
that job?

I do not know if the pilot I saw interviewed was one of the interceptors or
if he was just "Spokes Brass", but he used the term "Hot Cocked" in regard
to the F16s assigned to ADIZ duty.

A little Google-ing yields a defintion of "Hot Cocked" as being an aircraft
that is fueled and armed, has it's INS aligned and then is not moved unless
launced. There were differing opinions but from what I could glean, a "Hot
Cocked" fighter can be airborne in as little as 30 seconds after startup +
gauge stabilization if they are getting radar steers (GC or AWACS) or are
GPS equipped, to about 2 minutes if they will have to rely soley on INS
guidence.

IIRC, the F15s at Bitburg Germany were maintained in this state of readiness
in their hardstands in case "Ivan" came calling via the Fulda Gap back in
the "bad old days."

Jay Beckman
PP-ASEL
Chandler, AZ