Breckey Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) Looks like LM fixed their arresting hook issue. Edited November 4, 2014 by Breckey
TreeA10 Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 RAND paper on F35. I think it was linked before but it's a good look at why this Joint Fighter concept, while highly overrated, at least it is very expensive. https://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1225.html
busdriver Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 I have no doubt that the joint concept doesn't really save any money. Complexity is complexity, I just get bothered when people go on about how this thing is way too expensive, well compared to what? The first actual F-35 flight was in 2006, everything before that was prototype DARPA type shit. So we're less than 10 years of the real aircraft, so really about on par with the F-22. It's a shit load longer than I'd like to see, but it seems to be standard for the industry. If my google foo is ok the last super hornet buy has a fly away cost about 60mil per bird, I picked that aircraft because it's the newest fighter the DOD has bought in awhile. The flyaway cost for the F-35 is about 80mil if you buy the forecasts for 2018. So the new hotness is about a 30% cost increase. All the LRIP costs are floating all over the place, in my opinion part of the rush to kill other platforms and ramp up F-35 production is to prevent a cost spiral. So there is no doubt that the new jet costs a lot more than the old stuff, but is that worth it? What would the cost be to upgrade the super hornet class of jets to F-35 class avionics? Since the F-35 avionics are a large part of what's holding things back, I don't see how a block XX F-16 with F-35 type avionics doesn't close that gap pretty significantly as well as eat up time. So we might end up with a badass F-16, it'll still have a worse RCS, inferior performance when loaded for attack, and it will be just as shitty for low slow escort, the single advantage of the F-16 is last ditch survivability, it can jettison all the extra weight and turn itself into a BFM monster. When has that been a key player in the last 20 years? As far as the F-35 replacing the A-10, fast movers have been doing CAS for a long time. The marines have been doing it without the advantage of the A-10 for awhile. The biggest problem is the AF will try to multirole the shit out of everything without realizing the biggest reason A-10 squadrons are really fucking good at CAS is because that's what they do. This is more a pink body issue than platform issue. When the F-35 really comes online, the AF needs to not have a blanket DOC statement for all F-35 squadrons, they need to specialize. As far as the A-10 specialty of low slow escort, well we're fucked, we (the slow fat kids)need to take that upon ourselves. 1
busdriver Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 That's basically where we're going, self escort RVs
TreeA10 Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 I have no problem with the A-10 being replaced. All great aircraft at some point are relegated to history My problem with the F-35 is it a massive compromise of epic proportions. It isn't the best at anything other than soaking up dollars but, like the ugly chick at closing time, somebody is going to take her home.
busdriver Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Tree, I look at the F-35 as an F-16 replacement.There is no current "replacement" for the A-10. We're replacing the A-10 with the F-16, it just took a couple extra decades. Better in some ways, terrible in others, at the end of the day it's going to happen. Others will have to change to accommodate, but this is happening I don't see the value in fighting it.
xcraftllc Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I just hope there's a damn usb port in the f_ckin thing.
TreeA10 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Tree, I look at the F-35 as an F-16 replacement.There is no current "replacement" for the A-10. We're replacing the A-10 with the F-16, it just took a couple extra decades. Better in some ways, terrible in others, at the end of the day it's going to happen. Others will have to change to accommodate, but this is happening I don't see the value in fighting it. I absolutely agree. I live in Texas just down the road from Fort Worth. Numerous neighbors work for LM, one is a test pilot (flew as a Red Hat, too) and just did the first F-35B hover in Fort Worth. I'm sure the Senators from Texas are not going to shut it down. It'll be the LGPOS II. Jack of all trades, master of none. I just don't want to leave our ground troops settling for 2nd or 3rd best or worse... "just be happy that something flew by and made noise." 1
dvlax40 Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 i think the big issue they never touch on but was covered by rand, is that because the f35 is not as stealthy and cant carry as many weapons, when pitted against a near peer, they are simply overwhelmed by their lower numbers... now the issue here is not the kill ratio of the f-35, which will still be very good, it has ALWAYS been about the tankers, overwhelming the fighters and cutting the head off the tankers will prevent follow on sorties.
JarheadBoom Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I just hope there's a damn usb port in the f_ckin thing. If there is one, it'll be USB 1.0, and you won't be able to plug anything into it anyway for fear of corrupting the avionics/introducing a virus. 1
Fuzz Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) I just hope there's a damn usb port in the f_ckin thing. Yeah you may be able to plug into the jet but you'll have to then plug it into a standalone, burn the data to a CD or external HD and then finally transfer it to a network computer. Edited November 5, 2014 by Fuzz
brabus Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Yeah you may be able to plug into the jet but you'll have to then plug it into a standalone, burn the data to a CD or external HD and then finally transfer it to a network computer. Too bad there's only one dude per MAJCOM with those specific burn rights...and he's on leave for the next 6.9 years. 1
Stitch Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Too bad there's only one dude per MAJCOM with those specific burn rights...and he's on leave for the next 6.9 years. And when is back his office will be closed early for "training", PT, running the Focus 56 group and volunteering at the Airman's Attic. Besides your paperwork wasn't filled out properly and was kicked back to Group along with a nastygram to your CC concerning your 'attitude'. 2
xcraftllc Posted November 8, 2014 Posted November 8, 2014 (edited) Also interesting, in true Chinese knock-off fashion, the J-31 is named the "Falcon Eagle", can't make this stuff up guys: https://theaviationist.com/2014/11/06/j-31-zhuhai-airshow-practice/ In keeping with the finest traditions of their modern culture: https://www.buzzfeed.com/hgrant/23-hilariously-bad-knockoff-brands Edited November 8, 2014 by xcraftllc
dvlax40 Posted November 8, 2014 Posted November 8, 2014 Also interesting, in true Chinese knock-off fashion, the J-31 is named the "Falcon Eagle", can't make this stuff up guys: ahh yes the falcon eagle..... with all the cunning of the f-16 falcon, and power of the f-15 eagle....
guineapigfury Posted November 8, 2014 Posted November 8, 2014 ahh yes the falcon eagle..... with all the cunning of the f-16 falcon, and power of the f-15 eagle.... It also, shares certain ... interests. Let us celebrate their commitment to diversity.
xcraftllc Posted November 14, 2014 Posted November 14, 2014 (edited) More on the J-31: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-11/china-shows-air-show-might-with-deals-and-new-fighter-jet.html Edited November 14, 2014 by xcraftllc
xcraftllc Posted November 16, 2014 Posted November 16, 2014 Flying at night even now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPRSh4v4gVM
Steve Davies Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 Is it usual for the a/b to leave the deck on fire? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPRSh4v4gVM#t=19
xcraftllc Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 Is it usual for the a/b to leave the deck on fire? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPRSh4v4gVM#t=19 I think I see what you're talking about at 14 - 23 seconds. Not sure, almost seems like the crew chief there was expecting it and didn't really care.
HiFlyer Posted November 17, 2014 Author Posted November 17, 2014 Is it usual for the a/b to leave the deck on fire? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPRSh4v4gVM#t=19 You mean the steam from the cat illuminated by the deck lighting?
Steve Davies Posted November 17, 2014 Posted November 17, 2014 You mean the steam from the cat illuminated by the deck lighting? That could well be exactly what it is - orange illumination just made it look like a localised patch of fire. I think I see what you're talking about at 14 - 23 seconds. Not sure, almost seems like the crew chief there was expecting it and didn't really care. Yeah, that would tally with it just being illuminated smoke, as per HF's suggestion.
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