F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

[ssgp2]

Looks like you guys enjoy flying toys.
Worth watching in 1080HD

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZD-J1KksHUQ&feature=player_embedded"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZD-J1KksHUQ&feature=player_embedded" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

 

[Retoocs]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

One of their engineers brought his 7 year old in to the simulator. They talked the kid through a vertical landing on a carrier and he landed on the first try.

 

[maxpower220]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

Funny, the chief pilot was an Air Force pilot with zero hours in Vstol. One would think it would be wise to have a Harrier test pilot at your firm to be the chief pilot. I guess that is just me thinking logically.

Also, it struck me as funny how he never mentioned how far behind schedule the program is or how much over budget it is now. Years and Billions! Awesome!

 

[Retoocs]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

Being behind schedule and over budgeted is normal for a military program. This is why the new trend is to privately fund a design and then sell it to the military. Boeing is doing this with the A160 Hummingbird and Sikorksy is working on the X-2 based attack helicopter.

 

[DP425]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

My biggest concerns on this program are the cost over-runs and the fact that they actually want the F-35 to eventually replace the A-10 unless funding for a new ground attack AC comes on line. Seems the AF forgets rather quickly lessons learned in the past. Fast fighters are for shit in CAS. Of course, air-combat pilots want to fly fighters; the A-10 is the bastard child of the AF. IMO, they should just give up the fixed wing CAS mission and equipment to the Army and Marines. Let them handle the crap they actually really want- air superiority and strategic bombing.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

I lament the passing of the F-14, and will undoubtedly do the same over the A-10. Superior airframes with unique capabilities. But as with the F-14, I don't fear for the A-10's loss, the successor airframes are clearly capable.

This is the age of economy. Just as the F-14 and SR-71 become unsupportable, the F-35B is a reasonable solution, seen in a context where the CVN-21 series of carriers will need to suport 25% more sorties with 500 fewer personnel aboard. That personnel number is just for CVN-78, and goals are targeting even larger manpower cuts for follow-on hulls. Bird farms with 100 airframes replacing ones with 80, 10 airframe types replacing 8.

Like it or not, that's the scenario the Pentagon has charted for our miltary's future. Smaller numbers going in harms way, delivering more harm to others than before. It's gonna happen. It is happening.

They say tomorrow always comes sooner than you think. Well, tomorrow is arriving sometime this afternon, folks.

Greg

 

[427Cobra]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

F35b is a POS replacement for the A-10, 23 years ago when I was in the USAF the brass was looking to get rid of it and replace them with F16a and b models, good thing that didn't happen, here and now another super duper jet is slated to replace the A-10, it ain't gonna work because no USAF pilot wants to sweep in low and take ground fire in a plane thats not armour protected like the A-10, composites are great, but space age polymers are not going to stop\protect\survive a AAA gun attack.

 

[Flyingbullseye]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

Could always go back to the original T-bolt, they're cheaper to build. With today's modern metals and technology they'd be even tougher than back in the day, you'd be saving the taxpayer money.

At the very least they're faster with much longer range than the A-10. Strap 2 20's in each wing still got some serious firepower.

Flyingbullseye

 

[Hink]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

Interesting....about how he talks about what he does not know. Original model Harriers did require constant control inputs from the pilot; AV-8B models incorporated SAAHS and RCS for stability augmentation and control.

This guy is a tool.

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">F35b is a POS replacement for the A-10, 23 years ago when I was in the USAF the brass was looking to get rid of it and replace them with F16a and b models, good thing that didn't happen, here and now another super duper jet is slated to replace the A-10, it ain't gonna work because no USAF pilot wants to sweep in low and take ground fire in a plane thats not armour protected like the A-10, composites are great, but space age polymers are not going to stop\protect\survive a AAA gun attack.</div></div>
The Air Force has never been all that interested in supporting the Army with CAS as that is not a sexy endeavor. You can tell by who they promote to General and it is usually Fighter Jocks, Bombers, Missiles, and then if no one else is left, ground attack guys. If Desert Storm didn't happen when it did the A-10 would have been either shifted to the Army or moth-balled in Arizona.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

I recall hearing similar talk about the F/A-18 when it first emerged into the fleet. About how pisspoor it was going to be as an F-14 replacement. Nowadays the F/A-18 is getting somewhat dated (although teh Rhino represents far more han a contemporizing upgrade, it's a completely new set of capabilities), and something new(er) is needed as a successor airframe.

Folks mistakenly took the F/A-18 as a replacment, which it never was. Instead, it was a new answer to a new need. As a replacment, it could never have been successful, but for what it was designed to do it was and remains superb.

I think we're going to experience something very similar regarding the F-35B. As for manpower braving groundfire, one of those two new airframes destined for the CVN-21 is a UCAV. In case anyone was wondering why the A-12 program was cancelled, this could be a big part of the answer to that very good question.

Greg

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

Greg the airframe on the FA18 may be outdated but the new FA18 D/E model is anything but outdated.

It was not cost effective to maintain the F14, parts obsoletion etc - it could still outperform the F18 but barely....

The A-10 is not going anywhere anytime soon, Saw a documentary on it that said it was slated to run another 20 years.

The Airframe is the big concern.

My old company started making obsolete parts - turns out there's a heck of a market there...


I think this plane was cancelled anyway, t ake possession of the 184 or 187 - and the MFG's are selling to everyone else since the US won't buy them...or is that the F22?

 

[Retoocs]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

Actually it's the F/A-18 E/F/G model.

The A-10's did get a big upgrade into the C model which should help it last. It has always been the bastard child of the air force because it is not high tech. The air force wants to be have the latest and greatest. They don't want an airplane design by guys who designed WWII bombers.

The obsolete parts market is doing quite well. The company I work for supports A-10, F-15, F-16, F/A-18, B-1, B-52, C-130, KC-135, and KC-10.

 

[USAFDoug]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

The Air Force's main mission is CAS right now... I think with the new F35 they are looking at being a more mobile and smaller force. A lot was learned in the 90's with not only the airframe but the weapons that are used. We are now able to support CAS missions from 30k feet because we can drop a SDB and clear out whatever is needed...

The F22 wasnt canceled they just arent buying anymore...

 

[Phil1]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level


Schwartz Concerned About F-35 Operational Debut

As if the Tanker program tangle wasn’t enough, U.S. Air Force chief of staff Gen. Norton also worries about the F-35 program, in particular about slow software development that may push the Joint Strike Fighter’s operational debut into 2016.

“With respect to the A-model [USAF] aircraft, my assessment is that it is ahead on test points and flying hours, software stability has been good and the structure has experienced no failures or surprises,” says Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz.

However, there was a big caveat to his assessment.

“There are some issues with respect to timing on software development,” Schwartz says. “We don’t have a complete understanding yet of whether that will affect the new, predicted [initial operating capability] IOC of April 2016. “I’m still concerned about the schedule – a little less on technical matters, [but] software appears to be a potential pacing item.”

A defense acquisition board (DAB) meeting was held last week and another is due soon. The presentation was the Navy program manager’s preliminary technical baseline review that involved a look at both production status and schedules as well as test data and progress on software engineering. Another DAB will soon finalize inputs for the Fiscal 2012 defense budget.

Program delays could ripple throughout the military according to a new Government Accountability Office report. Researchers contend that currently projected F-35 production will allow the level of 2,000 fighters mandated by the Quadrennial Defense Review to fall to roughly 1,800 fighters over the next 18 years.

Schwartz disputes the analyses saying there are options and workaround such as structural and avionics upgrades to extend the operational life of Block 40/50 F-16s and thereby ensure the U.S. can execute the national military strategy.

“A-model, F-35 performance has indicated it is the best of the lot,” Schwartz says. “[But,] if the aircraft aren’t ready to put on the ramp, we’ll work alternatives. There is a related fighter force structure strategy that will accompany the F-35 production information in the Fiscal 2012 budget plan.”
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?channel=defense

 

[1812]

Re: F-35B - Taking STOVL to a New Level

"The Air Force has the meanest and most petty bureaucracy of all the services. This is in part because the Air Force defines it mission by the type of aircraft it flies; it is in the hardware-acquisition business rather than the war-fighting business. Even today there are roughly 74,000 officers in the Air Force, about 13,000 of whom are pilots. Most of those fly noncombat aircraft; about 2,000 are combat pilots. Thus, a case can be made that the Air Force is not really a fighting force. It is a bureaucracy, the main purpose of which is to buy ever more expensive aircraft.” - Robert Coram "The Life and Wars of Col. Bud Day"