Aircraft Super Thread Mk.VII

[anime52k8]

The F-2 is designed for a heavy anti-ship role (the standard F-16 has almost no capability there) so I assume it's "ocean-colored".

I figured it was sea camo, but that's an extremely vibrant, rich blue for blending into the ocean/sky.

[Vifam7]

I figured it was sea camo, but that's an extremely vibrant, rich blue for blending into the ocean/sky.

Perhaps this pic shows how effective it could be. The F-2s are on the top right.

http://schwarze01.tumblr.com/image/24708833280

[LOW_ALT]

Perhaps this pic shows how effective it could be. The F-2s are on the top right.

http://schwarze01.tumblr.com/image/24708833280

That's nothing compared to the YF-23's super special parking lot paint scheme.

[David Hingtgen]

That's the exact same scheme the F-15 wore for most of its existence.

[Shadow]

I love that bird. Shame we'll never get to see her fly again.

[Frogze]

Here's a few pictures I took at the Paris Airshow last weekend. I'm a total novice to photography and most of the time I forgot to adjust the speed or the framing so most pics have been thrashed, these are the crippled survivors :

creepy Drones

the ugly Eurofighter

the sexy Sukhoi Su-35

weathering on the Jaguar

a Rafale

Amidala's P-38

trying to take an artsy pic and failing miserably

russian copter with coaxial rotor

flight demos

Edited June 27, 2013 by Frogze

[electric indigo]

Great stuff. What's the bird with the gun pod in the foreground?

The Kamov Allligator looks cool with the new camo. More pics of it at the manufacturer's page:

http://www.russianhelicopters.aero/en/press/news/4450.html

[Bri]

^ looks like a Yak 130 trainer.

[electric indigo]

Ah, thank you.

Apparently there's a variant (ground attacker?) with a different nose design:

[reddsun1]

when the 'cobra' just doesn't kick enough ass?

[robodragon]

when the 'cobra' just doesn't kick enough ass?

Yep I can see this in the new Top Gun movie.

What are you doing? You're slowing down, you're slowing down!

I'm bringing him in closer, Merlin.

You're gonna do what?

I'm going to pull up and spin around 360, he'll fly right by and crap his pants at what an awesome pilot I am.

[raptormesh]

Yep I can see this in the new Top Gun movie.

What are you doing? You're slowing down, you're slowing down!

I'm bringing him in closer, Merlin.

You're gonna do what?

I'm going to pull up and spin around 360, he'll fly right by and crap his pants at what an awesome pilot I am.

And promptly gets blown up by a missile with higher kinetic energy with a proximity fuse.

[Vifam7]

And promptly gets blown up by a missile with higher kinetic energy with a proximity fuse.

"That was some of the best flying I've seen to date - right up to the part where you got killed."

Jester from Top Gun

Edited June 28, 2013 by Vifam7

[Frogze]

Thanks Electric Indigo, it is a YAK-130 just as Bri said. The weapon display arround it made me think of those Bandai Super Parts pics actually. The Sukhoi did some really impressive maneuvers, in comparison the Rafale's demo was pretty straightforward and there's little doubt about who would have won in a dogfight situation

[raptormesh]

Dogfight is not about fancy maneuvers...it's about who has the higher initiative and more kinetic energy. The only advantage you have doing flips and cobras is to point your nose at the adversary with high instantaneous turn rates but even then your missile will not be in its optimum kinetic envelope if you launch it at 150mph. With current boresight helmets and all aspect seekers it's not really an advantage anymore. Even the ruskies themselves admitted that these are mainly for airshows and is not really an integral part of their WVR merge training for active frontline units(as opposed to test and stunt pilots).

Edited June 29, 2013 by raptormesh

[Shadow]

Dogfight is not about fancy maneuvers...it's about who has the higher initiative and more kinetic energy. The only advantage you have doing flips and cobras is to point your nose at the adversary with high instantaneous turn rates but even then your missile will not be in its optimum kinetic envelope if you launch it at 150mph. With current boresight helmets and all aspect seekers it's not really an advantage anymore. Even the ruskies themselves admitted that these are mainly for airshows and is not really an integral part of their WVR merge training for active frontline units(as opposed to test and stunt pilots).

This is why it's funny reading all the fanboy comments about the Flanker being the best fighter in the world because of these airshow maneuvers.

[Frogze]

Damn, my total ignorance of basic military tactics has been exposed

[anime52k8]

This is why it's funny reading all the fanboy comments about the Flanker being the best fighter in the world because of these airshow maneuvers.

The Flanker is the best fighter in the world because it wins all the beauty contests.

[David Hingtgen]

And because there's so many one-of-a-kind variants, you can get one tailored just for you.

[electric indigo]

There's a new 1/48 kit of the YF-23 coming from Hobby Boss. For now, we get this nice box art

[mechaninac]

That look "boss"!

1/48 Black Widow II...

I've never built a hobby boss kit; how good are they in terms of molding, surface detail, accuracy, etc.?

[505thAirborne]

Hell yeah, my buddy who manages a Hobby shop in LA told me this a few months ago and I so going to get one when its released, love the YF-23. He told me its going to be a very detailed kit, maybe not Hasegawa but very close!

[electric indigo]

I'd rather have a proper 1/72 kit; it's such a big bird with pretty plain surfaces. But maybe I fall when I see the first builds of the 1/48.

Mechaninac, I've heard about some bad apples in the Hobby Boss range, but I built their 1/72 Rafale and it was Hasegawa quality.

[David Hingtgen]

Generally, I don't "do" 1/48. But for the coolest plane ever*, I'll make an exception. Also, it's got about the easiest paint job there is. Flat dark grey is hard to screw up, even for people like me who suck at painting large surfaces smoothly/evenly. (I'll probably build it totally closed and gear up, as I hate gloss white, especially on complicated surfaces like gear wells and gear struts----plus, the weapons trapeze is a nightmare, even if they do manage to get it right)

*yes, beating the XB-70

[raptormesh]

Looks awesome, but space is an issue. Gonna go clear some space then.

[David Hingtgen]

Looks awesome, but space is an issue. Gonna go clear some space then.

Not much of an issue---all things are inferior to the YF-23, so they can be sacrificed.

[raptormesh]

Not much of an issue---all things are inferior to the YF-23, so they can be sacrificed.

Words that simply cannot be any more true. /sweeps frontier DXs into the bin of shame.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

Generally, I don't "do" 1/48. But for the coolest plane ever*, I'll make an exception.

QFT, now where's the preorder button.

[Noyhauser]

Generally, I don't "do" 1/48. But for the coolest plane ever*, I'll make an exception. Also, it's got about the easiest paint job there is. Flat dark grey is hard to screw up, even for people like me who suck at painting large surfaces smoothly/evenly. (I'll probably build it totally closed and gear up, as I hate gloss white, especially on complicated surfaces like gear wells and gear struts----plus, the weapons trapeze is a nightmare, even if they do manage to get it right)

*yes, beating the XB-70

You can always count on a kit you want to come out after spending mega bucks on an inferior version.

[David Hingtgen]

I'm still waiting for Zactoman's 1/32 version. Even if it takes him another decade to finish it, I will buy it.

[Vepariga]

when the 'cobra' just doesn't kick enough ass?

Madness

[anime52k8]

Local news:

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 Crash-Lands At San Francisco International Airport

[David Hingtgen]

Awesome fighter jet pics (just trust me, their thumbnail link system hasn't been updated in years, and is now incompatible with most forum software)

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia---Air/Sukhoi-T-50/2261755/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Malaysia---Air/Sukhoi-Su-30MKM/2259985/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Panavia-Tornado-IDS/2256204/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Czech-Republic--/Saab-JAS-39C-Gripen/2029423/L/

[raptormesh]

Local news:

Asiana Airlines Flight 214 Crash-Lands At San Francisco International Airport

RIP to the lost and speedy recovery to the injured. Hope they find the missing ones asap.

Awesome fighter jet pics (just trust me, their thumbnail link system hasn't been updated in years, and is now incompatible with most forum software)

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Russia---Air/Sukhoi-T-50/2261755/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Malaysia---Air/Sukhoi-Su-30MKM/2259985/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/UK---Air/Panavia-Tornado-IDS/2256204/L/

http://www.airliners.net/photo/Czech-Republic--/Saab-JAS-39C-Gripen/2029423/L/

Thanks David, amazing.

[the white drew carey]

At this point they are announcing two dead, and scores with varying levels of injuries.

I guess the plane was too low and the tail section clipped the seawall. I'm sure footage will be released soon.

The tragedy of this event is mitigated by the amount who have survived, quite a few with no injuries at all. I hope there is a speedy recovery to all those who are hospitalized.