• aramis87@fedia.io
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    3 months ago

    I’m delighted we’re sending these over to Ukraine (though it should have been done a long time ago).

    Question: the F-16s are planes. Is there some reason we’re loading them onto other planes for transport instead of flying them over?

    • BatrickPateman@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      Ease of transfer (one pilot vs multiple for a looooong flight, probably no refuel on the Antonow, and if so it eats less specialised stuff than the F-16s) and maybe even fuel efficiency, I would guess.

      Also, one cargo plane raises less eye brows than a flock of fighters.

      • ItWasTheDNS@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        AN-124’s are extremely inefficient - it’s probably stopping 2-3 times on route, but still easier to arrange than flying each plane.

      • Ilovethebomb@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Both aircraft types will almost certainly be running Jet A1, or whatever the military version of it is.

    • Dicska@lemmy.world
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      3 months ago

      The others here answered everything already, I just would like to use one analogy: 6 sports cars on a trailer.

    • Tar_Alcaran@sh.itjust.works
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      3 months ago

      The maximum range for the F16 in “ferry” mode (max fuel, no weapons, pee before takeoff) is something like 4000km. The distance from Belfast (Maine) to Belfast (the original) is 4500km.

      That would mean air to air refueling, which is expensive and risky. It would put major wear on the planes, which are not the newest to start with. And unlike the Antonov, the F16 comes with neither legroom nor bathrooms.

    • Wilshire@sopuli.xyzOP
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      3 months ago

      It’s safer for long distances, plus they won’t have to worry about refueling.

      • RubberDuck@lemmy.world
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        3 months ago

        That, and 6x the flight hours for a F16 is expensive. The flight hours with accompanied wear and tear are better used over Ukraine.