hobbes221

Just some little news bits for those who haven't heard. It looks to be confirmed that the F-22 and C-17 assembly lines will shut down in 2010 with final numbers of airframes coming to 183 for the Raptor and 205 for the Globemaster. The VH-71 is also looking like it might soon get the ax as it is far over cost. The USAF's CSAR-X was terminated as well. This comes from Defense Secretary Robert Gates. And it looks like there are more problems for the A400M, here is a bit of what they said- On March 30 Airbus Chief Executive Officer Tom Ender Stated that: "under the current conditions we cannot build the plane" His interview was quickly followed up by an EADS press statement saying that: "The group reaffirms that the contract signed in 2003 does not provide the necessary conditions for the successful development of the program, firstly because of unrealistic timetable, and secondly because the commercial nature of the contract dose not fit the reality of a military program containing high technological risks". All this above was from AIR INTERNATIONAL Vol.76 No5 Now to me the A400M thing sounds like they told people that they could built a military aircraft using commercial methods to get a cheaper aircraft, faster than a normal military program could and now they found out that they can't and are blaming the contract. If the contract was unfair, why did they sign it? I haven't been following the whole A400M too much but am going to do some digging to get up to speed, but if anyone would toss in their take on things that would be great.

Outstanding stuff anime53k8, love the low-vis -84 bird. You and Talos, all your work is Sierra Hotel for sure!

A few pics of the J10-B that I just came across.

Outstanding work man! Nothing else to say, just outstanding!

Could also be a hanger bay, the large windows could have been launch and recovery ports.

Vandy 1

Just a thought but there could also be a increase in, or new type of armor plate due to reactions from past combat actions. The design could have given up some internal volume to allow for a stronger frame as well. This is just a idea that I had when remembering how the M1 Abrams started out at about 61.5 tons and the latest ones roll off the line at around 69.5 tons. They don't look very different on the outside but due to the new armor packages newer ones are a much harder kill. Maybe something along the same lines are going on with the carriers.

Good stuff as always!

I would like to see us pick up the new Gripen NG, I feel that it would fit well with the Marines and the way in which they use airpower. Also I've always wondered about just how hard it would be to mod for carrier ops. It's already fitted for hard landing and the landing gears almost look carrier ready as is. With it's small wing span I don't thing that you would need folding wings, much like the old A-4s. Anyways, just a off topic rant - sorry -edit- Man David couldn't you find a BIGGER pic - JK, you find/take/have some of the best stuff I've come across, thanks for sharing!

That looks very good. And yes, we need more please!

Who knows, maybe Sci Fi will pick it up like they did for SG-1?

I've got these if it helps at all. And man, you do great work!

Looking good so far, thanks for the update!

Yeah that Mk.14 is tricked out, looks to have an Aimpoint stacked on top of the magnified optic along with a DBAL on the side rail and he's running a Surefire can as well. I love the M14/Mk.14 Oh guess where I'm going on Friday, Ft. Morgan, CO for a machine gun shoot! (NO MATTER THE WEATHER!)

I think it's F'ing funny that they have on ear pro, but not on their ears And yes, I will be watching this.

And I guess with today's weapons you could do the SEAD/DEAD missions without ARMs, using things like JDAM and JSOW type weapons. All you really need is the Weasel gear.

Almost sound like they are trying to stage the design to allow for ether the widest range of requirements and/or cost. No reason that an intake system could not be fitted if a customer asked. This would look to give the largest possible amount of sales by being able to offer just what the customer needs, not having the design fixed in one configuration with say having the weapons packs fixed on the airframe and such. I think we were just talking about the two outer wing hardpoints being removed that have really never been used operationally, I think that it would be no problem to shoot HARMs off the main pylons. And IIRC there is work on a ARM that would be carried by the F-22s and F-35s in the weapons bays so that might also work. Good stuff Shadow

Good stuff man, both the girl and the VF.

To Starbuck, Apollo, Husker, all the rest and to Galactica herself, Thanks for the ride, it was a wild one.

As you say those hardpoints were removed, but did you see on the powerpoint that pic that had those shown with twin rails mounted? Also I'm from Tucson, man the Bone Yard is too cool and sad at the same time.

Didn't I just say not too long ago that an upgraded Eagle might show up? All in all it looks good. I thought I heard awhile ago something about Eagles being used for the SEAD role once the F-22s were on the flight line so maybe this is looking in that direction? Lower RCS, some ARMs and a GIB... we might just be looking at the next and newest Wild Weasel. Knew a guy who flew F-105s hunting SAMs over Vietnam, great stories, damn good man.

Well I don't have any source to back this up but my take is like this. One, as they say that the ARMDs are docked I would think that they could detach if needed. How fast might depend on what the need is, slow if everything going fine and fast if things are bad. The faster way would probably do damage to the docking mounts of both ships. As such each ship would have her own captain but in the Navy today the captain of a ship does not have to have the rank of Captain. Each ARMD could have the senior officer be a Commander or whatnot. As they seem to be three ships you could just look at it like they are a small task force, command would be no different as the SDF-1 would have command of it's escorts. This way they are just connected. I mean just look how a carrier battle group works in today's world, the carrier has overall command. To the roles of the duel bridge design, the tower could be for flight ops and the other for ship control but both having the capability to take on both roles in the event of damage to ether area. Hope this helps, and I would like here other ideas as well

Did you mention that?, damn, that's nice to know. Kinda figured it was a panel line but was just looking to confirm it. That and I'm working out a swinging FSW design of my own.

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking that it might have had a duel swing system (or sumthin') when I saw this line that I marked. And I know how you feel, I'll be at work and have a great idea on how something I've been tinkering with should go and as soon as I'm home - it's gone

I said low speed flight characteristics would be bad. No, never wondered why a land based bird was never used on a carrier. I never said that VFs don't use body lift, I was only saying that the wings look to be large enough that the loss of the shield should not be a problem in the total amount of lifting area on the design. Anime52k8 said that he designed it as a racer, many warbirds used in air races today have clipped wings because they don't need the wing area. I've said my piece, we can disagree.