Forum: Air Force Life

Any particular reason why a base such as Shaw, Hill, Spangdalhem, Avanio, etc. will only have a FW that only opperates one type of viper as opposed to two variants? Ex. Why doesnt the 31st FW opperate a FS of 50's and one FS one 40's instead of two FS of 40's?

Thanks in advance.

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Cost, logistics, maintenance, etc...

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To elaborate on TC's correct response:

1. Multiple types of airframes means mulitpule types of support equipment and more money.
2. Multiple types of airframes means multipule types of engines and more support equipment and more money.
3. Multiple types of airframes and engines and support equipment means you need more people to teach classes on the different types of airframes and engines and support equipment, and that means more money.

Makes sense, I figured the same thing. Thanks for the replies guys.

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 25, 2003 - 10:03 PM Posts: 679

At the rate we're going, we'll have like 3 conus bases in the future, and we'll have a fighter base, a bomber base and a refueler and cargo base! Of course this is just humorous speculation, but do you think they've finished closing bases for awhile?

No I don't think they have finished. In 5-10 years from now I am betting they will close more, my guess they will keep guard, and close active duty, thats just my guess though.

CrewDawg,

Are you talking about all AD bases, or just AD viper bases?

All active.... My theory is they will scale things back, cut down on the fighter bases. Keep the mobility stuff. We are gradually moving toward an anti-gorilla warfare force. So we need to move small amounts of troops to various locations throughout the world. The overseas bases will be small staging bases. We will move to the ability to respond to threats to our economical stability, i.e. Oil. Once the country removes its dependence on overseas energy sources we will be less threatened by instability in those areas, and will not feel the need to respond to international politics as much. We will then be more aligned to assist the UN in the capacity that the UN currently acts in.

Right now America is still in the Post Cold War draw down, and will continue to be till we stop operating like America is going to be invaded at any moment. If China were an actually a threat they would be moving to acquire the small countries with little or no defense near them. China is actually probably happy with the current state of America since most of our electronics and textiles come from there, they are getting a pretty good chunk of our GNP. So to scale back from the post cold war era way of doing things, I think we will scale back to theater bases, and small bases within the US. Keep bases that are strategic for mobility, ie Ramstein, Incirlik and some place in the Arabian peninsula.

Of course this is just my theory

IDCrewDawg wrote:

To elaborate on TC's correct response:

1. Multiple types of airframes means mulitpule types of support equipment and more money.
2. Multiple types of airframes means multipule types of engines and more support equipment and more money.
3. Multiple types of airframes and engines and support equipment means you need more people to teach classes on the different types of airframes and engines and support equipment, and that means more money.

That's why I can't figure out why Kunsan has block 30's and 40's and Osan has block 40's only. Wouldn't it make sense to have both block 40 squadrons at one base?

Eggroll135R wrote:

IDCrewDawg wrote:

To elaborate on TC's correct response:

1. Multiple types of airframes means mulitpule types of support equipment and more money.
2. Multiple types of airframes means multipule types of engines and more support equipment and more money.
3. Multiple types of airframes and engines and support equipment means you need more people to teach classes on the different types of airframes and engines and support equipment, and that means more money.

That's why I can't figure out why Kunsan has block 30's and 40's and Osan has block 40's only. Wouldn't it make sense to have both block 40 squadrons at one base?

It's how you get a mule. You have to mate a horse and a donkey. If you want a Block 60 you have to put a 30 and a 40 in a hangar overnight while both the engines are still warm. A light cart with red scarves draped over them also helps.

Sometimes there are multiple mission requirements, and that requirement drives the different blocks. Luke for example.

Yep...and Tucson to a certain degree.

falconfixer860261 wrote:

It's how you get a mule. You have to mate a horse and a donkey. If you want a Block 60 you have to put a 30 and a 40 in a hangar overnight while both the engines are still warm. A light cart with red scarves draped over them also helps.

I know someone who works command post; I'll have him play some Barry White over the GIANT VOICE. I'll also disconnect the nitrogen valve off the EPU system of both jets so we don't get any premature "activations". LMAO

IDCrewDawg wrote:

To elaborate on TC's correct response:

1. Multiple types of airframes means mulitpule types of support equipment and more money.
2. Multiple types of airframes means multipule types of engines and more support equipment and more money.
3. Multiple types of airframes and engines and support equipment means you need more people to teach classes on the different types of airframes and engines and support equipment, and that means more money.

One very slight "exception" to that rule Wink

RAF Lakenheath... the 48th FW has 1 FS of F-15C/D and 2 FS of F-15E

Smile

Andy

Quote:

That's why I can't figure out why Kunsan has block 30's and 40's and Osan has block 40's only

Osan has A-10`s along with the F-16 Blk40 - great from a logistics point of view Wink

The most important factor I believe lie in the mission the base or wing has. Multiple tasks - multiple planes. In a perfect world you would only have 1 type of aircraft per base, but in todays changing threat environment you need to come prepared for most if not all eventuallities. Thus you get bases with different types of Vipers or different types of planes.
366WG is another good example; F-15E`s, F-16C Blk.50`s and B-1B`s Rolling Eyes

As for the 8FW at Kunsan, the 80FS flies Weasel missions with blk. 30`s while the 35FS flies the ground attack with their blk. 40`s.

Just my Two Cents

Forum: Air Force Life

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