America's new Air Inferiority Fighter!

[SnakeEyeSS]

http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2014/07/14/pentagons-big-budget-f-35-fighter-cant-turn-cant-climb-cant-run

 

Well that's just great. The stealth plane "doesn't work very well". The engine has design flaws, and the pentagon may be worried it is not combat worthy?

[RyanbabZ71]

Shoulda went with the F136 engine. More power/better performance at a lower cost 90% complete then axed. Hindsight is 20/20. Pratt was lucky it had all those lobbyists in Washington

 

 

Ryan

[DaveH71]

Just like the Bradly's, and the UCP camo pattern, and the never ending quest to replace the M4.

 

Watch The Pentagon Wars if you wanna see some funny but true stuff that goes on in the military.

[txab]

[SnakeEyeSS]

 

 

Real joke is on China for stealing our plans for their version.

[kstruckcountry]

Why they thought one plane can do that many jobs beats me. Meanwhile they're wanting to get rid of the only real air to ground plane we have... I don't get it.

[Chris]

Shoulda went with the F136 engine. More power/better performance at a lower cost 90% complete then axed. Hindsight is 20/20. Pratt was lucky it had all those lobbyists in Washington

 

 

Ryan

You should be pushing for the T56A to power it.

[Spurshot]

This whole program is driven by trying to save a nickel. Navy's been wanting a stealth airplane for decades so they can play in the first strike role. Congress wanted an export stealth fighter, Marines wanted a stealth VTOL. So, they get a solution that does everything mediocre for everyone.

 

F-15 will not go without a fight. Even though it was designed in the late 60s, it's got a real combat record that AF has a soft spot for.

[SnakeEyeSS]

Here is a link for my earlier statement

http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/13/f-35-secrets-now-showing-chinas-stealth-fighter/#ixzz37U9ctKL1

[SarahsGMC]

saw this story the other day. my opinion they just thought the paintjob was cool.

[Spurshot]

In another 10 years, the manned fighter will be a dinosaur.

[FireDragon]

You know.. we've seen some very good aircraft over the years,

 

the F-4 Phantom which was an awesome aircraft back in the Vietnam days and for performing the "wild weasal" missions during Desert Storm, now used for drone practice..

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,472 mph, 2,370 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Cruise speed: 506 kn (585 mph, 940 km/h)
• Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)
• Ferry range: 1,403 nmi (1,615 mi, 2,600 km) with 3 external fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
• Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)
• Wing loading: 78 lb/ft² (383 kg/m²)
• lift-to-drag: 8.58
• Thrust/weight: 0.86 at loaded weight, 0.58 at MTOW
• Takeoff roll: 4,490 ft (1,370 m) at 53,814 lb (24,410 kg)
• Landing roll: 3,680 ft (1,120 m) at 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric J79-GE-17A axial compressor turbojets, 11,905 lbf dry thrust (52.9 kN), 17,845 lbf in afterburner (79.4 kN) each

 

The F-16 Falcon- A single engined bad-ass aircraft which still delivers awesome performance and manuvrability

• Maximum speed:
  • At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)
  • At altitude: Mach 2 (1,320 mph, 2,120 km/h) clean configuration
• Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nmi, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with four 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
• Ferry range: 2,280 nmi (2,620 mi, 4,220 km) with drop tanks
• Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (15,240+ m)
• Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
• Wing loading: 88.3 lb/ft² (431 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 1.095
• Maximum g-load: +9.0 g
• Powerplant: 1 × F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
  • Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
  • Thrust with afterburner: 28,600 lbf (127 kN)

 

The F-15E Strike Eagle One of if not the fastest combat aircraft the Air Force have flown

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.5+ (1,650+ mph, 2,655+ km/h)
• Combat radius: 790 mi (1,150 mi (max))
• Ferry range: 2,400 mi (2,100 nmi, 3,900 km) with conformal fuel tank and three external fuel tanks
• Service ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,200 m)
• Rate of climb: 50,000+ ft/min (254+ m/s)
• Thrust/weight: 0.93
• Maximum g-load: +9 g
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F100-229 afterburning turbofans, 29,000 lbf (129 kN) each

The F-14D Tomcat- A beautiful carrier based air superiority fighter that packed a lot of punch. And it had attitude. She was retired far earlier then she should have.

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.34 (1,544 mph, 2,485 km/h) at high altitude
• Combat radius: 500 nmi (575 mi, 926 km)
• Ferry range: 1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km)
• Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (15,200 m)
• Rate of climb: >45,000 ft/min (229 m/s)
• Wing loading: 113.4 lb/ft² (553.9 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.92
• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F110-GE-400 afterburning turbofans
  • Dry thrust: 13,810 lbf (61.4 kN) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 27,800 lbf (123.7 kN) each

 

The F-18 Hornet and Super Hornet- She's not as fast as the F-14 and is a bit smaller, but still packs a punch and is not to be underestimated.

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 (1,190 mph, 1,915 km/h) at 40,000 ft (12,190 m)
• Range: 1,275 nmi (2,346 km) clean plus two AIM-9s
• Combat radius: 390 nmi (449 mi, 722 km) for interdiction mission
• Ferry range: 1,800 nmi (2,070 mi, 3,330 km)
• Service ceiling: 50,000+ ft (15,000+ m)
• Rate of climb: 44,882 ft/min(228 m/s)
• Wing loading: 94.0 lb/ft² (459 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.93
• Design load factor: 7.6 g

• Powerplant: 2 × General Electric F414-GE-400 turbofans
  • Dry thrust: 13,000 lbf (62.3 kN) each
  • Thrust with afterburner: 22,000 lbf (97.9 kN) each

 

Annnnd here we have the F-35.

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 1.6+(1,200 mph, 1,930 km/h) (tested to Mach 1.61)
• Range: 1,200 nmi (2,220 km) on internal fuel
• Combat radius: 613 nmi (1,135 km) on internal fuel
• Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m)
• Wing loading: 107.7 lb/ft² (526 kg/m²; 745 kg/m² max loaded)
• Thrust/weight:
  • With full fuel: 0.87
  • With 50% fuel: 1.07
• Maximum g-load: 9 g
• • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan
    • Dry thrust: 28,000 lbf(125 kN)
    • Thrust with afterburner: 43,000 lbf (191 kN)

 

 

What proved to be a good aircraft I think would also be the F-22 Raptor

Performance

• Maximum speed:
  • At altitude: Mach 2.25 (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h) [estimated]
  • Supercruise: Mach 1.82 (1,220 mph, 1,960 km/h)
• Range: >1,600 nmi (1,840 mi, 2,960 km) with 2 external fuel tanks
• Combat radius: 410 nmi (with 100 nmi in supercruise) (470 mi, 760 km)
• Ferry range: 2,000 mi (1,740 nmi, 3,220 km)
• Service ceiling: >65,000 ft (20,000 m)
• Wing loading: 77 lb/ft² (375 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 1.09 (1.26 with loaded weight & 50% fuel)
• Maximum design g-load: −3.0/+9.0 g
• • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 pitch thrust vectoring turbofans
    • Dry thrust: 23,500 lb (104 kN) each
    • Thrust with afterburner: 35,000+ lb (156+ kN) each

 

With everything said and done, my picks would be the F-22, F-14,(no longer in service) F-15, and F-16. If speed were not an issue, I'd take the F-18 as well.

[RyanbabZ71]

F22 is a nice plane

 

 

[SnakeEyeSS]

Too bad strapping missiles and bombs on the SR-71 never worked out

 

I read somewhere they did a feasibility study on it.

[Spurshot]

 

With everything said and done, my picks would be the F-22, F-14,(no longer in service) F-15, and F-16. If speed were not an issue, I'd take the F-18 as well.

 

F-14, F-15, & F-16 are fighter engineering from the 60's and early 70's. While they are high performance based on their speed, acceleration, rate of climb, etc., they don't incorporate any low observable technology. F-18 E/F Super Hornet has many LO features. But flying any of them would be out of this world. A friend of mine flew a MiG 29 back a long time ago. The best I've flown was a P-51.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GfWZnq336P8