Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 F-16IN Super Viper Read elsewhere that the new Viper can supercruise...eh....anyone think it can do so with all those weapons mounted on it in the promo image?
VF-19 Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 F-16IN Super Viper Read elsewhere that the new Viper can supercruise...eh....anyone think it can do so with all those weapons mounted on it in the promo image? Probably not, but perhaps it can cruse close to mach 1 with all that stuff hanging off of it. Now, my big question is: Why?
David Hingtgen Posted October 19, 2009 Posted October 19, 2009 Like many teen fighters, the F-16 can technically supercruise when clean and light. But nothing but an ATF is in the 1.3+ "worth mentioning" supercruise. Because seriously, 0.95 vs 1.02 are effectively meaningless. But if you've got .3+ over somebody, that's something. I seriously doubt the new thing even hits 1.1 ::reads article:: 32,000lbs of thrust? Heck, late model Vipers have that already. And you want to add all that extra junk to it? M1.05 is optimistic....
David Hingtgen Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 The Green Hornet: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/...-18B/1597042/L/ (camo+green+white=rare)
F-ZeroOne Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Did they win that scheme by completing an Ace Combat game?!
blacklotus Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 The Green Hornet: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/...-18B/1597042/L/ (camo+green+white=rare) Wow! Beautiful color scheme. Any idea which lucky squadron has this beauty? And where it's based in? All its cousins are painted in the usual dull gray scheme.
David Hingtgen Posted October 21, 2009 Posted October 21, 2009 Says VFA-125 right on it, so I'm betting STRKFITRON 125. They're the West Coast training squadron, so they're from Lemoore.
F-ZeroOne Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) http://www.vectorsite.net/avparsit.html Parasite fighters are one of those "Hmm, thats a nice idea but... " things that crop up now and again, usually with unpleasant results for the flight crews involved. Up until now, though, I hadn't known about the Boeing 747 "Microfighter" carrier concept, which is really something that should be a G.I. Joe playset and also proves that all those flying aircraft carriers in Ace Combat games are only mostly nuts. Couple of odd designation thoughts that popped into my head - as theres already a F-35A, B and C what are they going to call improved variants down the line? And I know about the F-14A, A+ (later B) and D, but what/where was the C? Edited November 9, 2009 by F-ZeroOne
David Hingtgen Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 "Another scheme, known as "Tip-Tow", involved a B-29 modified to allow F-84s to hook up wingtip-to-wingtip using a clamping module on each of the B-29's wingtips. which came to an abrupt end on 24 April 1953, when an F-84 flipped over and tore off the wing of the B-29, with all crew killed in the disaster. The problem was that there were vortices around the B-29's wingtips that made the hookups very troublesome." Severe vortices? Off of a gigantic unswept wing at high speed? You don't say. See the XB-70 for what happens when small fighters get near a heavy bomber's wingtips.
Lynx7725 Posted November 9, 2009 Posted November 9, 2009 Severe vortices? Off of a gigantic unswept wing at high speed? You don't say. See the XB-70 for what happens when small fighters get near a heavy bomber's wingtips. I think the term is "flaming, flaming wreckage"...
anime52k8 Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Couple of odd designation thoughts that popped into my head - as theres already a F-35A, B and C what are they going to call improved variants down the line? -35D, E and F most likely. And I know about the F-14A, A+ (later B) and D, but what/where was the C? the C was a proposed variant of the -14B with F401 (naval P&W F100's) engines and multi-mission avionics. The whole thing never got off the ground, and eventually they developed the F-14D instead.
Vifam7 Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 the C was a proposed variant of the -14B with F401 (naval P&W F100's) engines and multi-mission avionics. The whole thing never got off the ground, and eventually they developed the F-14D instead. IIRC the C-model was a proposed variant of the 14B with F101DFE engines (not F401). Many of the upgrades (much of it avionics related) for the proposed C-model was later incorporated in the A, A+/B, and D model Tomcats.
David Hingtgen Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 There never really was supposed to be an A+/B model (not as we know it). Remember, the original F-14B had the F101, but nothing ever came of it past the prototype. Then the C was proposed, and also never happened. Then the D came and was approved---but the engines were ready long before the avionics were. So the decision was made (since the TF30 sucked so bad it was a safety issue) to immediately refit as many A's as possible with the new engines, while waiting for the avionics to be finished. When the avionics were finished, all the "half-converted" A's were to be "finished up" with a full conversion into D's. Similarly, they built new F-14s with the new engines intending them to be upgraded later as well. But, time/money/Cheney happened, and no plane ever got a "second" conversion to finish the job. Now, as the "re-engined A" was to be simply that, nothing more, and only exist as a TEMPORARY status while awaiting new avionics---it was called the A+. Nice and logical. B and C were already taken, and you couldn't call it an "F-14-interim-notD". But the Navy's ancient computers didn't like the "+" symbol at all, so they had to rename it SOMETHING, and B seemed fairly logical for a "slightly" modified A, as the original B never went into production and most people didn't know about the original one anyways.
anime52k8 Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 IIRC the C-model was a proposed variant of the 14B with F101DFE engines (not F401). Many of the upgrades (much of it avionics related) for the proposed C-model was later incorporated in the A, A+/B, and D model Tomcats. oh, here we go, link I was hoping to find a half hour ago: http://anft.net/f-14/f14-history-f14b.htm The ORIGINAL original F-14B prototype DID have F401's, but apparently they weren't all that good (P&W engines not being good? SHOCKING! ).
electric indigo Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 http://www.vectorsite.net/avparsit.html I think this also deserves a honorable mention due to the structural insanity level: http://www.fantastic-plastic.com/XAB-1%20BETA-1%20PAGE.htm
F-ZeroOne Posted November 10, 2009 Posted November 10, 2009 Thanks for the F-14 answers, everyone! anime52k8, I suppose thats possible, but I suspect that sooner or later its going to get rather messy...
Warmaker Posted November 11, 2009 Posted November 11, 2009 (edited) The Green Hornet: http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/...-18B/1597042/L/ (camo+green+white=rare) LOL! Just LOL!! The best part is that someone had to pitch this to gain approval for their corrosion control shop to paint it like that. Even better, the guy that approved it thought it was a great idea. Maybe even told the CO about it and got consent there too? Edited November 11, 2009 by Warmaker
Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0 Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 What would win in a dogfight with pilots of equal skill/experience in BFM/DACM? YF-17 Cobra VS F/A-18E Super Hornet
David Hingtgen Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 The F-20 of course. (Northrop's other greatest fighter that was never made). Was supposed to be able to out-turn and out-accelerate a stripped-down F-16, with better high-alpha stability.
Vifam7 Posted November 13, 2009 Posted November 13, 2009 (edited) What would win in a dogfight with pilots of equal skill/experience in BFM/DACM? YF-17 Cobra VS F/A-18E Super Hornet Unfair fight. The YF-17 was never fitted with any kind of extensive combat avionics system. The Super Hornet has the AESA radar, JHMCS, AIM-9X capability, etc etc. If it was just comparison of airframe and engines, I dunno. Probably similar? Which means if pilot skills were equal, it'll be all up to luck. Edited November 13, 2009 by Vifam7
vermillion01 Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 Japan's answer to not getting the F-22 looks a lot like...... an F-22! (well a bit at least.) Shinshin ATD-X
Retracting Head Ter Ter Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 Japan's answer to not getting the F-22 looks a lot like...... an F-22! (well a bit at least.) Shinshin ATD-X 'Three Boards Type Vector Nozzle Engine!'...... hmmmmm, where have we seen that before?
David Hingtgen Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 I think the X-31 was the first practical application of that. I mean, it is the smallest possible number to get 3D vectoring. (yes, I know what you're really alluding to)
F-ZeroOne Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 (edited) Little Typhoon tid-bit: you might recall that during World War II, the island of Malta was at one point defended by a famous trio of Gloster Gladiator biplanes. They were named "Faith, Hope and Charity" [1]. Well, the Falkland Islands is currently defended by a four-plane detachment of Typhoons. They've been named Faith, Hope, Charity and... ...Desperation. [1] Actually, I seem to recall there were actually more than just the three, but thats the legend... Edited November 14, 2009 by F-ZeroOne
David Hingtgen Posted November 14, 2009 Posted November 14, 2009 One of the few (only?) flying EE Lightings crashed at an airshow in Cape Town (as in South Africa), killing the pilot.
Retracting Head Ter Ter Posted November 15, 2009 Posted November 15, 2009 (edited) One of the few (only?) flying EE Lightings crashed at an airshow in Cape Town (as in South Africa), killing the pilot. IIRC, those South African guys have about 2 or 4 flyable Lightnings but some guys in the US? are trying to restore one to flying condition as well AFAIK. Edited November 15, 2009 by Retracting Head Ter Ter
miles316 Posted November 16, 2009 Posted November 16, 2009 The Electric Lightning is that crazy English Jet fighter that has Two Jet engines stacked on top of the other.
F-ZeroOne Posted November 16, 2009 Posted November 16, 2009 (edited) English Electric Lightning. Also known for being quite quick and being able to achieve a fuel emergency state from the moment the wheels leave the runway. Edited November 16, 2009 by F-ZeroOne
Warmaker Posted November 17, 2009 Posted November 17, 2009 I remember building a 1/72 model of one of those as a kid. Very unique appearance.
electric indigo Posted November 17, 2009 Posted November 17, 2009 The Electric Lightning is that crazy English Jet fighter that has Two Jet engines stacked on top of the other. It also had missiles mounted at the sides of the fuselage and drop tanks on top of the wings!
F-ZeroOne Posted November 17, 2009 Posted November 17, 2009 My favourite Lightning story is about a pilot whose job it was to give foreign pilots from air forces who might be interested in buying Lightnings a test flight. He'd sit in the back and let the visitor take off, fly around etc. The instructor always made it clear to the guests that the Lightning had a surplus of power and could be going really rather quick [1] before you knew it. One of his pupils apparently didn't listen too hard one day just before take-off. So the tale goes, the Lightning was at 50,000 feet before they were able to raise the gear... [1] Possibly the trouble is our British habit for understatement. Some embarrassments might have been spared if a well known phrase involving shovels had been employed instead...
Shin Densetsu Kai 7.0 Posted November 19, 2009 Posted November 19, 2009 The F-20 of course. (Northrop's other greatest fighter that was never made). Was supposed to be able to out-turn and out-accelerate a stripped-down F-16, with better high-alpha stability.Whoa..that's beast I did not know that... The F-20 is one sexy bird
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