Aircraft Super Thread Mk.VII

[Model-Junkie]

I lived in the UK when I was younger, I was about 13 or 14 when I was at RAF Cosford but I was more focused on the air show at the time than the static displays, I don't even recall viewing the TSR.2.  I need to make a trip there when I go back to the UK, it's only 45 mins away from my parent's place.

I visited the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton Ohio in September, a phenomenal place.  Really happy I was able to see the YF-23 in person.  

[F-ZeroOne]

Thanks for the great pic, like the TSR-2 itself, the YF-23 still looks like its from an alternate timeline... I've never made it to Cosford, though I have been to Duxford though not for some years. I keep meaning to make a return trip but its sort of the wrong side of London to make it straightforward getting there from where I am.

[F-ZeroOne]

Wait, top right hand-corner - is that either the X-29 or James Bonds little jet from "Octopussy"...?!

[renegadeleader1]

26 minutes ago, F-ZeroOne said:

Wait, top right hand-corner - is that either the X-29 or James Bonds little jet from "Octopussy"...?!

X-29. The BeeDee is at Pima Air & Space Museum.

[Model-Junkie]

That is indeed one of the X-29A's peeking in my shot, I like how they suspended the aircraft from the ceiling and you're able to walk under it, though my photo makes it seem closer than it really was.

[F-ZeroOne]

You know you’ve perhaps a bit too far down the aviation fan route when you can recognise an aircraft from a bit of colour on its nose…! 😅

[Knight26]

On 1/3/2025 at 1:30 PM, renegadeleader1 said:

X-29. The BeeDee is at Pima Air & Space Museum.

I helped restore that plane as a senior project.

[F-ZeroOne]

Wow, cool! I guess you should just be glad they didn't ask you to the horsebox as well... 😄

[Knight26]

https://www.uasvision.com/2025/02/10/irans-drone-aircraft-carrier-has-entered-service/

BWAHAHA!!!

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

50 minutes ago, Knight26 said:

https://www.uasvision.com/2025/02/10/irans-drone-aircraft-carrier-has-entered-service/

BWAHAHA!!!

When you order an aircraft carrier from Temu.

[Big s]

It’s the most brutally cute thing ever 

[Thom]

It doesn't have to look pretty, or mean, to work. That being said, get it in someone's sights and it's not going to last long. Converted freighter's aren't made to survive combat, no matter how fully they are converted.

But still, this could start a naval trend. Why spend billions on one massive aircraft carrier when you get a handful of some smaller (and more expendable) ones at a quarter the cost.

Edited February 11 by Thom

[Knight26]

12 hours ago, Thom said:

It doesn't have to look pretty, or mean, to work. That being said, get it in someone's sights and it's not going to last long. Converted freighter's aren't made to survive combat, no matter how fully they are converted.

But still, this could start a naval trend. Why spend billions on one massive aircraft carrier when you get a handful of some smaller (and more expendable) ones at a quarter the cost.

It can only launch small drones and helicopters.  And I love how their 60% scale UCAVs are just smaller versions of their super duper "stealth fighter."

[F-ZeroOne]

Perhaps they need to think a little bigger? Over here we could send them tips on how to build an aircraft carrier out of sawdust and ice... 😅

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Habakkuk

[Old_Nash_II]

https://www.af.mil/news/article-display/article/4131345/air-force-awards-contract-for-next-generation-air-dominance-ngad-platform-f-47/

Well, is anyone hopeful about this new fighter? I'm always wary when they announce something like this, they just talk without a model for the public to see it in action.

[Thom]

It'll be a decade late and billions over budget. And you just know who it'll be named after!🤣

 

Edited Friday at 09:21 PM by Thom

[Bolt]

So i guess the next gen fighter is going to be built by Boeing F-47..

[505thAirborne]

7 minutes ago, Bolt said:

So i guess the next gen fighter is going to be built by Boeing F-47..

Something about F-47 just doesn't roll off the togue... feels forced. By the time they get this thing airborne & into production, a Gen 7 aircraft will be in the works.

[azrael]

Last time Boeing designed a fighter jet, they gave us the X-32.

And given Boeing's current problems....🤨...yeah.

[Chronocidal]

Eh, don't underestimate the Air Force to put out something custom ordered in a hurry.  Not having to manage multiple sets of armed forces and export partner requirements will let it move a whole lot faster than the F-35 could ever hope to achieve.

Not discounting the Boeing issues, but I have to admit I'm happy seeing something not being handed out to Lockheed for a change.

[renegadeleader1]

55 minutes ago, azrael said:

Last time Boeing designed a fighter jet, they gave us the X-32.

And given Boeing's current problems....🤨...yeah.

Last time Boeing had a fighter accepted into service it was the P-26 Peashooter in 1932.

[Bolt]

2 hours ago, 505thAirborne said:

Something about F-47 just doesn't roll off the togue... feels forced

Ya, i thought the same thing.

Should be interesting .  Seen so many AI "next gen" fighters already , I'm willing to bet Boeing is gonna throw out something we've already seen. 

[davidwhangchoi]

so are we going to see the top gun jet that Maverick fried now in real life? 

also next Kawamori design will be based off f-47

will we get VF-47 Epsilon or Gamma?

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

5 hours ago, Thom said:

It'll be a decade late and billions over budget. And you just know who it'll be named after!🤣

 

Yeah, but F-47 Putin just sounds weird.

[Bolt]

12 minutes ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Yeah, but F-47 Putin just sounds weird.

Haha! 
I'm thinking Kawamori just needs to designate the next VF the Four-oh !

[Old_Nash_II]

On 1/3/2025 at 10:36 AM, Model-Junkie said:

I lived in the UK when I was younger, I was about 13 or 14 when I was at RAF Cosford but I was more focused on the air show at the time than the static displays, I don't even recall viewing the TSR.2.  I need to make a trip there when I go back to the UK, it's only 45 mins away from my parent's place.

I visited the National Museum of the USAF in Dayton Ohio in September, a phenomenal place.  Really happy I was able to see the YF-23 in person.  

And to think that the USAF chose the other model because it was "prettier" than the YF-23.
Which ended up being a bad choice, since its maintenance costs twice as much as the price of the fighter itself.

[Old_Nash_II]

25 minutes ago, Bolt said:

Haha! 
I'm thinking Kawamori just needs to designate the next VF the Four-oh !

We need transformable fighter jets. Maybe if someone used niobium (Brazilian joke), they could have built one a long time ago.

[Scyla]

I‘m confused why the NGAD contract is going to Boeing. I thought they are Going to develop the F-18 successor for the Navy.

What is Lockheed-Martin supposed to build once all the F-35 are built?

Hopefully Boeing learned from its defeat in the JSF program and designed a beautiful looking jet.

[Thom]

10 hours ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Yeah, but F-47 Putin just sounds weird.

The Su-57 already has it, but maybe they could reuse the name Felon...🤔

[anime52k8]

6 hours ago, Scyla said:

I‘m confused why the NGAD contract is going to Boeing.

 

Because we live in the hell timeline.

[Raikkonen]

18 hours ago, Bolt said:

Seen so many AI "next gen" fighters already , I'm willing to bet Boeing is gonna throw out something we've already seen. 

I typed F-47 Boeing, and these lovely AI renders popped up in the google search. 

[azrael]

6 hours ago, Scyla said:

I thought they are Going to develop the F-18 successor for the Navy.

Technically they did; the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet...which they inherited when they bought McDonnell Douglas.

[electric indigo]

14 minutes ago, anime52k8 said:

 

Because we live in the hell timeline.

That might explain the first american fighter with canards.

[Bolt]

26 minutes ago, Raikkonen said:

I typed F-47 Boeing, and these lovely AI renders popped up in the google search. 

 

[davidwhangchoi]

16 hours ago, Valkyrie Hunter D said:

Yeah, but F-47 Putin just sounds weird.

  F-47 Krasnov is more proper