Noting it just had a problem, Perhaps this isn't a bad way to use robust tech to do research.
What I found more surprising, is that they have been flown in combat contexts in Afghanistan for RF work. You would not expect other 70s warbirds to be routinely used that way, but the A10 was used in the same conflict, and it is also a 1970s era aircraft, so perhaps the surprise is a mistake?
Then there's the B-52...
Odd that the A380 is probably going to disappear before the last Boeing 747 because the A380 has no freight context, where the Jumbo has a good long life ahead as a C&C aircraft, and in freight. Turns out the nose bump had real value.
50 MD-11 just got announced as on the path out of fedex. Thats a 1980s type over and done, while these 1970s craft continue on. The story isn't certain for a marque.
ortusdux•1w ago