Forum: Technology

Had a crazy hypothetical question: up there with the best of them... Assuming B-1B (or equiv) super-sonic bomber's crew was properly space-suited up: could you mate a couple rockets (e.g. first-stage Pegasus boosters @ 1 min 20 secs duration) to the under-wing pylons, flick off the aircraft's turbo-fans at around 40,000'/Mach 1.5 and light up the boosters for perhaps 140,000' altitude @ about Mach 2.5 (restricted max speed) performance, level off, sling-shot some seriously extra-ranged 'high-value' ordnance from that aspect (or employ ISR over a given area, from high altitude)... and then recover the jet's power again, once back down to 40,000'?

Just curious about the feasibility part of such a near-space operating capability - i.e., whether the wing would rip off, canopy burst open, total aircraft control loss, etc.. Thanks in advance..

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Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 - 08:39 PM Posts: 1496

Would not be that simple. In fact, it'd make infinitely more sense to just strap the rocket booster onto the ordanance if you want more range.

If you boost an aircraft out of the atmosphere you had damn well better have a way to maintain positive attitude control so the pointy end is still going forward when you descend back into the atmosphere!

Forum Veteran Joined: Dec 15, 2006 - 12:28 AM Posts: 760

Guysmiley wrote:

Would not be that simple. In fact, it'd make infinitely more sense to just strap the rocket booster onto the ordanance if you want more range.

It’s that simple and it works as long as you use wily coyote cartoon logic.

Guysmiley wrote:

If you boost an aircraft out of the atmosphere you had damn well better have a way to maintain positive attitude control so the pointy end is still going forward when you descend back into the atmosphere!

Maybe we could work that into part of the plot in the wily coyote cartoon. You know how some laws of physics don’t apply one moment and suddenly they start applying. Random intermittent laws of physics that are not so random when it comes to plot. Wiley coyote straps a bunch or rockets on a B-1 and it goes Mach 8; but suddenly he realizes that he can’t control his craft, then next suddenly more laws of physics start working as they should ( thermodynamics) the aircraft breaks up and burns up. Wiley coyote is nothing more than dust and smoke.

Some of the ideas that some of these guys come up with make me think of cartoons. Not that this was his idea, I think skyhigh should forget real world aviation and work for the cartoon industry. (I’m just ribbing you skyhigh. I really don’t mean to discourage you from your aviation interests). Some of the questions and premises that many people make; make me think of cartoons or Hollyweird. I can’t help but think that many people get their ideas and premises from Hollyweird. I find it both frustrating and entertaining at times.

Thanks, GS..

Unfortunately, not every current weapon system could be fit with jettisonable booster rocket and still be fit to same internal launcher, etc. While I don't suggest the primary mission of such a Rocket-boosted legacy Bomber/Interceptor class airframe, I was merely gesturing at the capability with a bit of genuine intrigue. (And i concur, it would be important to A) control the max speed during boost and B) control flight on the return-trip glide..

But the mere psychological edge I think would be under-estimated, to be able to fly a real-time Recon-roled legacy airframe, e.g., at 140,000'+ and mach 2.5 over a maritime or ground target, with few challenges. Target would wonder... 'OK, so what's next??? Any update-guided super-sonic inbounds on the way???'

I'll lay it 'flat out' here in public... I first pondered the capability recently, envisioning a Tu-22M or possible Tu-160 variant (w/ crew) going way up, via rockets, and launching possibly AS-16 type munition for 1,000km, Mach 6 shots?

Elite 1K Joined: May 26, 2005 - 08:39 PM Posts: 1496

Ask yourself how is that more plausible, easier or more effective than just an IRBM with a terminally-guided conventional warhead? Boosting an existing bomber-type airframe out of the atmosphere is out there. Way out there. Like... anime level out there. Just my Two Cents

Guysmiley wrote:

Ask yourself how is that more plausible, easier or more effective than just an IRBM with a terminally-guided conventional warhead? Boosting an existing bomber-type airframe out of the atmosphere is out there. Way out there. Like... anime level out there. Just my Two Cents

OK, I hear your viewpoint, no prob sir and thanks for replies. I'll note for the sake of discussion though, that 'boosting outside the atmoshpere' is not the claim and perhaps is a confusion.. 'Within the stratoshpere' was the suggestion... keeping under 50km altitude. Yes, the crew would probably need 'space suites', but no they're not in outter space. If a feasible rocket boost could be enabled (that's the main question IMHO), then the post was merely contemplating whether beneficial tactical gains could be made with flying at such altitudes and while at around M2.5 speed (even for short duration peak alt/speed)?

The hypothetically F-22 launched SDB for example is unprecedented capability for a 'glide projectile'.. This would just possibly be taking an exponential leap, along with any potential 'out of reach' ISR performance.

Forum: Technology

High alt, rocket boosted B-1B bomber?