HalfLifeExpert
Posts: 911
Joined: 7/20/2015 From: California, United States Status: offline
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When I was playing Armed Diplomacy, I set up a mission for the AWACS planes from Okinawa, E-3B Sentrys. Three of the four were ready to go, with one not having any loadout. I wanted the fourth ready, just in case I needed it, so I had to ready it with Airborne Early Warning Loadout. It took 3 hours to ready the aircraft. I could afford the time of course because I had three others ready, but I don't understand why I need to 'Ready' an airplane that has literally no other purpose than that loadout. I understand it being down for maintnence and the equipment being taken out for that, but why does it take 3 hours to ready an AWACS plane that was listed as "no loadout" and how could it have "no loadout"? I have read the CMANO article on ready times and quick turnaround several times, and fully understand the need for them with combat aircraft, as in ones that carry stuff other than fuel that you don't want to have a cigarette around, but how do those principles apply to non-combat support aircraft, specifically ones like the Sentry that have no purpose other than AEW Support? I'm not complaining, I just want to understand, it can't possibly take 3 hours to fuel, flight check and get the crew onto the Sentry can it? What else needs to be done? Especially since that plane will always have the AEW load out unless down for maintenance.
< Message edited by HalfLifeExpert -- 5/22/2017 4:06:30 PM >
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