YBQ-1R

[Shasper]

One small note: if I'm looking correctly at whats in the weaps bay those are ALCMs, not Tomahawks (the Tommies are strictly a USN thing)

Still looks killa thou!

[Sauragnmon]

Gotta argue that one with you, Shas - the Tommie isn't a pure USN operation - they have a different version for vertical launch, yes, featuring a booster if I recall, but there are air-launch versions, often carried on the racks of a B-52 - most of the Tommies used in the early stage of Desert Storm II were thrown from B-52's as opposed to launched from fleet cruisers, to my recollection.

[Shasper]

Ok, break out the scotch & shot glasses

While there were plans for a air launched Tommy, it never reached operational service with US forces,  it's chief rival being the Boeing ALCM (the RAAF looked at getting some to arm their 111s and Orions, but they ended up investing in the JASSM), all work on the air launched version was stopped in the early '80s.

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-109.html


Now the Buff did launch a few Toms during its air launched testing, but that was a decade prior to Desert Storm.

[Sauragnmon]

Alright, I bow, I stand corrected, Shas.  I could have sworn Tommies were air-carried as well, my bad.  Must have been something I'd read in the news, and silly me, thought they reported the truth (I forget, how dumb the media really are some days).

[Shasper]

No worries mate, ya know how much CNN gets it all wrong . . . 'Course, who's to say that USN B-52s used the Tom instead of the ALCM?

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

LUV that camo scheme 

Ian

[noxioux]

Thanks for the great comments, guys.  And the ordinance lesson.  The more I think about it, the more I think I should've scratched up some JDAMs for the bay.  Maybe next time. . .

As for the tail bulge, just call it artistic license.  I should put up a profile shot, because the nose is quite a bit different in profile as well.

Boy, it really feels good finishing something after so long and still get comments like my last whiff was yesterday.  I love this place!

[GTX]

Love the YBQ-1R

Regards,

Greg