You should try being under the flight deck of a carrier when an F-14 slams in for a cable snare. The landing gear on those things could darn near land a B-1. I pity the poor bastages who had their berthing up there. Yet one more reason I went subs. The whole berthing deck flexes when you launch a missile, but who cares, because you're launching a 34-ton nuclear missile. Some things are just worth losing sleep for.

I don't think I could stand being in a sub for a long period of time. The cramped quarters, the stale air in some places, the thought of being under so many tons of pressure, and of course hot bunking would be a downer!

Close. I was an Electronic Warfare specialist (an Old Crow for any of you other Crows out there) in the Air Force for the B-1 awhile. That meant being an ECM/Comms/Navigation/and part-time crew chief guy. Afterwards I worked on the B-1, B-2, and the B-52 as an Avionics Suit Specialist/Engineering Technician/Field Engineer until I resigned and now work on UAV's. It sounds way more glamorous than it really was and is, I assure you.

The Wing Sweeping isn't such a big deal to maintain, but in general it is a pig to maintain. Most of us have a Love-Hate relationship with it. I still marvel at the B-1's shaking the ground and taking off, where-as I all but ignore the F-22's, as I do most of the other aircraft around here when they hit the runway.

On a side note, if you do eject the children, just make sure that your Ejection Wafer is set to Manual instead of Auto or you'll be going with them. /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

You should try being under the flight deck of a carrier when an F-14 slams in for a cable snare. The landing gear on those things could darn near land a B-1. I pity the poor bastages who had their berthing up there. Yet one more reason I went subs. The whole berthing deck flexes when you launch a missile, but who cares, because you're launching a 34-ton nuclear missile. Some things are just worth losing sleep for.

You sound like you were aircrew on a B-1 in a former life, based on both your familiarity and your obvious fondness for them. Truth be told, I've always loved the B-1, but I've heard that upkeep on a swing-wing can be a royal b****. There is a certain appeal to being able to eject noisy children though...

Close. I was an Electronic Warfare specialist (an Old Crow for any of you other Crows out there) in the Air Force for the B-1 awhile. That meant being an ECM/Comms/Navigation/and part-time crew chief guy. Afterwards I worked on the B-1, B-2, and the B-52 as an Avionics Suit Specialist/Engineering Technician/Field Engineer until I resigned and now work on UAV's. It sounds way more glamorous than it really was and is, I assure you.

The Wing Sweeping isn't such a big deal to maintain, but in general it is a pig to maintain. Most of us have a Love-Hate relationship with it. I still marvel at the B-1's shaking the ground and taking off, where-as I all but ignore the F-22's, as I do most of the other aircraft around here when they hit the runway.

On a side note, if you do eject the children, just make sure that your Ejection Wafer is set to Manual instead of Auto or you'll be going with them. /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />

Well I wouldn't say faster /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' />. The ECM suite can run itself, and all you need to do for navigation is have the wife watch for blips and you can just follow the compass (or the moving map display on your tablet PC if you have one)!

You sound like you were aircrew on a B-1 in a former life, based on both your familiarity and your obvious fondness for them. Truth be told, I've always loved the B-1, but I've heard that upkeep on a swing-wing can be a royal b****. There is a certain appeal to being able to eject noisy children though...

Actually not so much. I have no sense of direction. Thank goodness for GPS.

Then I'd need the whole family to fly the thing. The kids are good at video games, so they'd do fine with the ECM suite, but NoWhammies as my Navigator/Bombardier? Her main requirement for a new SUV was "it has to tell me when to turn".

F-22: Faster, more maneuverable, less expensive to buy and maintain, absolutely state of the art, no kids fighting in the backseat.

B-1B: Longer range, helluva lot more luggage room.

Still gotta go with the F-22.

Well I wouldn't say faster /wink.png' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':D' />. The ECM suite can run itself, and all you need to do for navigation is have the wife watch for blips and you can just follow the compass (or the moving map display on your tablet PC if you have one)!

Just settle for the B1-B bomber. Its phased array ALQ-161 EW system is the grandfather of the F-22's and is huge. You get a good RADAR system, and a supersonic, nuclear capable bomber that's wings swing back for around $250 Million. That's a steal!

Then I'd need the whole family to fly the thing. The kids are good at video games, so they'd do fine with the ECM suite, but NoWhammies as my Navigator/Bombardier? Her main requirement for a new SUV was "it has to tell me when to turn".

F-22: Faster, more maneuverable, less expensive to buy and maintain, absolutely state of the art, no kids fighting in the backseat.

B-1B: Longer range, helluva lot more luggage room.

Still gotta go with the F-22.

No, I'm talking about an F-22, with a phased-array radar countermeasure system that can fry a tri-field EMF detector at 20 miles. It just looks like way too much FUN.

Just settle for the B1-B bomber. Its phased array ALQ-161 EW system is the grandfather of the F-22's and is huge. You get a good RADAR system, and a supersonic, nuclear capable bomber that's wings swing back for around $250 Million. That's a steal!

If you are on a budget then might I offer you:

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim.....eview.html

Somehow it just wouldn't be the same... Much less likely to leave a smoking crater though.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/sim.....eview.html

Are you talking about a remote controlled airplane that you can attach a tri-field EMF detector, DAR and a video camera to and fly it around a large house or outside in a creepy cemetery?

I think a remote controlled helicopter would be better.

No, I'm talking about an F-22, with a phased-array radar countermeasure system that can fry a tri-field EMF detector at 20 miles. It just looks like way too much FUN.

I would love to get a remote control vehicle and put a wire-less IR camera on it and send it into places that people couldn't fit or wouldn't want to go. Imagine the possibilities.

we have a night vision camera RC car. Or, more specifically, the kids do. Gotta keep the bedroom door shut with that thing.

No - he wants some 100 million dollar fighter plane. I have no idea why.

http://business.timesonline.co.....k/tol/busi...icle5489287.ece