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Posted
On 5/21/2017 at 8:39 AM, Clark Griswold said:

Just vaporware but an interesting idea ala the never realized F-16XL, an F-35XL.  

Not sure if the A or C model would be easier for this mod (or any) but a new bigger wing to hold all the gas and give the 35 a new internal weapons bay.

f-35m_r1p.png

and another with the cranked wing 

BZav6QQ.jpg

Think in lieu of a clean sheet A-X, this XL variant would fill that role.

It was more than vaporware.  Oh yeah, Pratt engines always sucked, gimme a GE any day.

IMG_0072.JPG

Posted (edited)
9 hours ago, matmacwc said:
It was more than vaporware.  Oh yeah, Pratt engines always sucked, gimme a GE any day.
IMG_0072.JPG.f4122737b96e8513b4a216660eb637fb.JPG

Just meant the F-35XL

Put the AC GE motor in an F-35XL, probably 1000 NM combat radius if the new wing could hold 20% + fuel

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Edited by Clark Griswold
Posted

Can anybody expand on this news?:

https://www.janes.com/article/71414/usaf-increases-scope-of-f-16-slep-to-include-more-aircraft-and-airframe-hours

It should be noted that in the release the article refers to, it states "up to" and "a maximum of" etc., not some kind of specific plan for that many jets and that many hours:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=32c057a1afc8eccb60621d77f0f890ba&tab=core&_cview=0

I wonder how this will impact the purchase of F-35s.

As a side note, "13,856 hours" , that's a oddly specific number of hours, they shoulda just said: "about 13,869 hours or something crazy like that".

Posted
23 minutes ago, xcraftllc said:

As a side note, "13,856 hours" , that's a oddly specific number of hours, they shoulda just said: "about 13,869 hours or something crazy like that".

Some poor Capt/Maj on staff was told to WAG at how many hours they could get for $XX, $XY & $XZ money.  Then the bosses threw it all away and came up with that number.

Posted
1 hour ago, 17D_guy said:

... Then the bosses threw it all away and came up with that number.

That is entirely possible...

1 hour ago, xcraftllc said:

... I wonder how this will impact the purchase of F-35s.

Probably won't affect the overall acquisition plan but it does provide a Plan B of sorts for other unforeseen problems, delays, financial difficulties, etc...

Just my two cents but that is a Plan B- (delaying F-35A acquisition for SLEP'ed F-16s) - we've bet the farm on the F-35A, go all in and get this as right as it can be, we're over 110+ aircraft purchased with more on the way and paid for, barring some huge new flaw(s) discovered we are well past V1.

 

Posted
3 hours ago, xcraftllc said:

Can anybody expand on this news?:

https://www.janes.com/article/71414/usaf-increases-scope-of-f-16-slep-to-include-more-aircraft-and-airframe-hours

It should be noted that in the release the article refers to, it states "up to" and "a maximum of" etc., not some kind of specific plan for that many jets and that many hours:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=32c057a1afc8eccb60621d77f0f890ba&tab=core&_cview=0

I wonder how this will impact the purchase of F-35s.

As a side note, "13,856 hours" , that's a oddly specific number of hours, they shoulda just said: "about 13,869 hours or something crazy like that".

The F-16 has been extended to 2045, so they need to SLEP more jets to meet that timeline requirement. It is not related to F35 delays, but I think there are at least a few people who realize 4th gen will be required for quite a long time due to the numbers of jets required in the inventory to meet all the COCOM and OPLAN requirements, combined with the reality of our total 5th gen numbers (e.g. There will never be enough to have a 5th gen only AF)

Posted

We should just be honest with ourselves and the fiscal reality that will be pushed on the DOD.

The F-16 will be extended to however many hours until the wings come off one in flight.....

And then they will "re-evaluate."

  • Upvote 3
Posted
The F-16 will be extended to however many hours until the wings come off one in flight.....

And then they will "re-evaluate."

This is the exact plan with the KC-135.

Sent from my Vitamix 450x Professional using Tapatalk

  • Like 1
  • Upvote 4
Posted
Hasn't that already happened?

No. Shell 77 was a malfunctioning part. We did recently have a plane with a massive crack on one of the main spars. They caught that one in time fortunately.

Sent from my Vitamix 450x Professional using Tapatalk

  • Upvote 1
Posted
6 hours ago, Lord Ratner said:

We did recently have a plane with a massive crack on one of the main spars. They caught that one in time fortunately.
 

Just like every HH-60 with multiple 308 beam cracks and wobbly probes.

Posted
8 hours ago, Clark Griswold said:

How Trump Can Fix The F-35 Fighter Program Without Hurting American Warfighters, Workers Or Allies

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2016/12/20/how-trump-can-fix-the-f-35-fighter-program-without-hurting-american-warfighters-workers-or-allies/#35690e5a59d8

Take with a grain of salt but some decent suggestions for cost savings

Speaking of economies of scale: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-lockheed-nears-f-35-164019487.html

Posted
4 hours ago, xcraftllc said:

Excellent.  

Someone at LM leaned the ABC's...

giphy.gif

Keep closing multi-year sales and keep dropping that price, particularly for the A model.  

Still want other partners (sts) and just my two cents, but coaxing Germany & Poland into the club are the Glen Gary leads.  That could be another 150+ aircraft and would give the Ruskies something to worry about.  

 

  • Upvote 1
Posted (edited)

Dude they're gonna be dropping from here on out.

*in a general sense anyway, B-Course schedule/timing permitting, as is the way for any airframe.

Edited by xcraftllc
Add the note
Posted

F-35 Bubbas I am in need of some unclass info on the F-35 for a project.  If able please PM me for details...thanks!

Posted
2 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

F-35 Bubbas I am in need of some unclass info on the F-35 for a project.  If able please PM me for details...thanks!

Nice try, ISIS. 

  • Upvote 3
Posted
8 hours ago, FishBowl said:

Nice try, ISIS. 

I was trying to get all F-35 Bubbas at least 72 virgins, but I'll give them to the Raptor bros if you'd rather.

Posted
5 hours ago, ClearedHot said:

I was trying to get all F-35 Bubbas at least 72 virgins, but I'll give them to the Raptor bros if you'd rather.

Soooo, in this brave new world we're experiencing, are the 72 virgins gender-specific?

Asking for a friend...

  • Upvote 1
Posted
Soooo, in this brave new world we're experiencing, are the 72 virgins gender-specific?
Asking for a friend...


You basically die and go to Comic-con, but not the one in San Diego, it's the one in Ft Wayne Indiana.
  • Upvote 2
Posted

 Was in San Diego once for Comic-con, the women , not models, were pretty scary there too.

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