5 ms·

Because you're trying to shoot something flying at 500 miles an hour, piloted by a tiny lunatic who actually thought this sort of thing was a good career move a

Because you're trying to shoot something flying at 500 miles an hour, piloted by a tiny lunatic who actually thought this sort of thing was a good career move and is probably on military-issued meth, with a projectile the size of your thumb, while also being the exact same sort of lunatic? :-D

notahacker 5y ago
But if your missiles are effective enough, they take care of the bit about finding and hitting the target for you. The article explains it as enemy forces not having anyone loony enough to think actually getting within range is going to advance their career. I blame Joseph Heller.
- gilleain 5y ago
  Well concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind.
- ashtonkem 5y ago
  The issue with the missiles is that the other side also has them, and is quite keen to use theirs without being hit by yours. Combatants have a way of learning to neutralize each other’s advantages, and claims of weapon system capabilities are almost always overstated.
_benj 5y ago
Have been watching videos of DCS World (which btw, seem to do a pretty good job as a simulator) and it’s just precisely like you described. I’d say that a simulator is marginally less “lunatic” but still :)
- bencollier49 5y ago
  The "Grim Reapers" videos are great fun. Love watching them occasionally with my sons.
  - foxyv 5y ago
    Check out Hellreign82. I love his stuff. I'm sure you've already seen Growling Sidewinder as well! https://www.youtube.com/c/Hellreign82 https://www.youtube.com/c/Hellreign82
- Victerius 5y ago
  Ace Combat is the superior simulator. << This is what V2 is for. >>
  - Ygg2 5y ago
    But does Ace Combat have a dog fight a near an active volcano? Checkmate Aceist. Project Wingman is the superior game /s Both games are great and crazy in their own right.
- meheleventyone 5y ago
  Can definitely recommend IL2 for WW2 flavored dogfighting. It's easily one of the best VR games despite pre-dating the latest round of VR. Shooting up (well trying to) some 110s in a P39 in multiplayer: https://twitter.com/meheleventyone/status/1413473122271973376 https://twitter.com/meheleventyone/status/141347312227197337...
2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago
> probably on military-issued meth The US military issues meth? Source?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- techer 5y ago
  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drugs_used_by_militaries https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drugs_used_by_milita... Cousin of meth.
  - boppo1 5y ago
    Iirc comparing modafinil and meth is like comparing budweiser and everclear.
    - rpeden 5y ago
      It included Dexedrine and other amphetamines up until a few years ago, which might be what OP was thinking of.
    - Retric 5y ago
      So basically the same drug at different douses?
      - boppo1 5y ago
        I think that's a fair evaluation, if not technically correct. But don't discount how different the effects can be: low-dose benadryl makes you sleepy. High dose benadryl makes you hallucinate people, spiders, and other things that aren't really there.
      - P_I_Staker 5y ago
        No, OP(s) premise is also deeply flawed. I'm not an expert, but while there's similarities, these are profoundly different substances. Whereas alcohol only differs by concentration (maybe the release is slightly different, especially if it's eaten, instead of liquid), these stimulants are fundamentally very different. On the other hand while Amphetamine can be compared to substances like meth or coke (it might actually be closer to cocaine as far as user experience goes), it's also has key differences. Cocaine is generally taken all at once, and the methyl family of amphetamine has specific, more drastic effects. Basically, meth's special, and shoots through barriers in the brain, that normally slow down other substances. Amphetamine, on the other hand, has a more medium potential for abuse. Also, it's thought that people can generally keep up with therapeutic doses. In other words, while there may be some effect on the brain, you'll eventually reach a point where you're not constantly being drained of neurochemicals. This isn't possible with meth/coke, which is why they prescribe adderall fairly readily, but not meth. I researched this recently after being prescribed adderall. I've heard that slow release cocaine is a better metaphor than meth, but I think there's probably issues with that too.
galcerte 5y ago
They used to do that, but now they issue modafinil I believe. Much safer.
- the__alchemist 5y ago
  And Dex
lkxijlewlf 5y ago
> ... with a projectile the size of your thumb I have a dummy shell from an A10 at my desk. Here's an image (not mine) (the nearly 12" shell on the far left): https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-23308fca719553f998cbc4be4f609a21-lq https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-23308fca719553f998cbc4... Now, the A10 is air to ground, and these shells are made for killing tanks and not aircraft and you're not wrong in that the projectile isn't that much larger than a thumb, but just seeing the dang thing. I mean, it's crazy what we come up with to destroy.
- meheleventyone 5y ago
  Aircraft in WW2 used even bigger caliber rounds as well. The advancement over the war from firing machine guns to cannons is pretty bonkers.
- melony 5y ago
  Is that a HEAT round?
  - laverya 5y ago
    Blue is generally training [0], but the standard loadout for the A-10 was a 5:1 mix of depleted uranium API and HEI rounds. (per wiki [1]) I think there was a move to change that ratio given that they were much more likely to be shooting unarmored technicals than T-69s, though. (And you wouldn't put HEAT in a 30mm projectile anyways, far too small diameter) 0: https://fbcinc.com/source/Northrop_Resources/30_x_173mm_Full_Ammo_Suite.pdf https://fbcinc.com/source/Northrop_Resources/30_x_173mm_Full... 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger
  - lkxijlewlf 5y ago
    That picture isn't of mine. Mine is a dummy round to test and calibrate the auto loader.
defaultprimate 5y ago
Missiles and 20mm are a lil bigger than than your thumb, but your point still stands lol

notahacker 5y ago

But if your missiles are effective enough, they take care of the bit about finding and hitting the target for you. The article explains it as enemy forces not having anyone loony enough to think actually getting within range is going to advance their career. I blame Joseph Heller.

gilleain 5y ago
Well concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that are real and immediate is the process of a rational mind.
ashtonkem 5y ago
The issue with the missiles is that the other side also has them, and is quite keen to use theirs without being hit by yours. Combatants have a way of learning to neutralize each other’s advantages, and claims of weapon system capabilities are almost always overstated.

_benj 5y ago

Have been watching videos of DCS World (which btw, seem to do a pretty good job as a simulator) and it’s just precisely like you described. I’d say that a simulator is marginally less “lunatic” but still :)

bencollier49 5y ago
The "Grim Reapers" videos are great fun. Love watching them occasionally with my sons.
- foxyv 5y ago
  Check out Hellreign82. I love his stuff. I'm sure you've already seen Growling Sidewinder as well! https://www.youtube.com/c/Hellreign82 https://www.youtube.com/c/Hellreign82
Victerius 5y ago
Ace Combat is the superior simulator. << This is what V2 is for. >>
- Ygg2 5y ago
  But does Ace Combat have a dog fight a near an active volcano? Checkmate Aceist. Project Wingman is the superior game /s Both games are great and crazy in their own right.
meheleventyone 5y ago
Can definitely recommend IL2 for WW2 flavored dogfighting. It's easily one of the best VR games despite pre-dating the latest round of VR. Shooting up (well trying to) some 110s in a P39 in multiplayer: https://twitter.com/meheleventyone/status/1413473122271973376 https://twitter.com/meheleventyone/status/141347312227197337...

2OEH8eoCRo0 5y ago

> probably on military-issued meth The US military issues meth? Source?

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
techer 5y ago
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drugs_used_by_militaries https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_drugs_used_by_milita... Cousin of meth.
- boppo1 5y ago
  Iirc comparing modafinil and meth is like comparing budweiser and everclear.
  - rpeden 5y ago
    It included Dexedrine and other amphetamines up until a few years ago, which might be what OP was thinking of.
  - Retric 5y ago
    So basically the same drug at different douses?
    - boppo1 5y ago
      I think that's a fair evaluation, if not technically correct. But don't discount how different the effects can be: low-dose benadryl makes you sleepy. High dose benadryl makes you hallucinate people, spiders, and other things that aren't really there.
    - P_I_Staker 5y ago
      No, OP(s) premise is also deeply flawed. I'm not an expert, but while there's similarities, these are profoundly different substances. Whereas alcohol only differs by concentration (maybe the release is slightly different, especially if it's eaten, instead of liquid), these stimulants are fundamentally very different. On the other hand while Amphetamine can be compared to substances like meth or coke (it might actually be closer to cocaine as far as user experience goes), it's also has key differences. Cocaine is generally taken all at once, and the methyl family of amphetamine has specific, more drastic effects. Basically, meth's special, and shoots through barriers in the brain, that normally slow down other substances. Amphetamine, on the other hand, has a more medium potential for abuse. Also, it's thought that people can generally keep up with therapeutic doses. In other words, while there may be some effect on the brain, you'll eventually reach a point where you're not constantly being drained of neurochemicals. This isn't possible with meth/coke, which is why they prescribe adderall fairly readily, but not meth. I researched this recently after being prescribed adderall. I've heard that slow release cocaine is a better metaphor than meth, but I think there's probably issues with that too.

galcerte 5y ago

They used to do that, but now they issue modafinil I believe. Much safer.

the__alchemist 5y ago
And Dex

lkxijlewlf 5y ago

> ... with a projectile the size of your thumb I have a dummy shell from an A10 at my desk. Here's an image (not mine) (the nearly 12" shell on the far left): https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-23308fca719553f998cbc4be4f609a21-lq https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-23308fca719553f998cbc4... Now, the A10 is air to ground, and these shells are made for killing tanks and not aircraft and you're not wrong in that the projectile isn't that much larger than a thumb, but just seeing the dang thing. I mean, it's crazy what we come up with to destroy.

meheleventyone 5y ago
Aircraft in WW2 used even bigger caliber rounds as well. The advancement over the war from firing machine guns to cannons is pretty bonkers.
melony 5y ago
Is that a HEAT round?
- laverya 5y ago
  Blue is generally training [0], but the standard loadout for the A-10 was a 5:1 mix of depleted uranium API and HEI rounds. (per wiki [1]) I think there was a move to change that ratio given that they were much more likely to be shooting unarmored technicals than T-69s, though. (And you wouldn't put HEAT in a 30mm projectile anyways, far too small diameter) 0: https://fbcinc.com/source/Northrop_Resources/30_x_173mm_Full_Ammo_Suite.pdf https://fbcinc.com/source/Northrop_Resources/30_x_173mm_Full... 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GAU-8_Avenger
- lkxijlewlf 5y ago
  That picture isn't of mine. Mine is a dummy round to test and calibrate the auto loader.

defaultprimate 5y ago

Missiles and 20mm are a lil bigger than than your thumb, but your point still stands lol