challenger
New Member
Beat me too it! Ugh, ugliest aircraft ever :crazy:
F-35 program to double in cost
- Thread starter MikeD
- Start date
Beat me too it! Ugh, ugliest aircraft ever :crazy:
Orange Anchor
New Member
The F-5G, later renamed the F-20 Tiger Shark, was a proposal during the Carter years and it was for export in place of F-16s. Those countries rejected the airplane, especially after the USAF said it was not going to buy any. 3 were built and two lost due to G-LOC events. The last A/C is on display in California.
The F-5G/F-20 had much if not most of the F-16's capabilities but it was NOT an F-16.
(interesting this a/c has an N-number and no military registration)
On the other hand, the Singaporeans (?) took their A-4s and stuffed new avionics and a -404 engine from an F-18 and created the A-4SU, a very capable machine for very little cost and like the F-20, has considerable capability.
The F-5G/F-20 had much if not most of the F-16's capabilities but it was NOT an F-16.
(interesting this a/c has an N-number and no military registration)
On the other hand, the Singaporeans (?) took their A-4s and stuffed new avionics and a -404 engine from an F-18 and created the A-4SU, a very capable machine for very little cost and like the F-20, has considerable capability.
aerospacepilot
New Member
That fan in the middle of the fuselage is the single biggest reason why Lockheed Martin won the contract to build the F-35, the single largest defense aquisition contract in history, valued at over $300 Billion dollars...
It is much more efficient to move a large amount of air at a low speed than it is to move a small amount of air at a high speed. That is why turbofans are more efficient than turbojets. That is why the Lockheed F-35 could takeoff vertically with a full load and the Boeing airplane could not. I'll take the fan.
Orange Anchor
New Member
They bought the Lockheed because they knew that even with free beers at the club after 1700, they wouldn't be able to find fighter pilots to fly this thing.
I don't know about air combat but if it came to an 'ugly-off', the Boeing would rule the skies.
SpiraMirabilis
Possible Subversive
They bought the Lockheed because they knew that even with free beers at the club after 1700, they wouldn't be able to find fighter pilots to fly this thing.
I don't know about air combat but if it came to an 'ugly-off', the Boeing would rule the skies.
It looks like its about to say "I'm going to eeeat youuu!!"
Orange Anchor
New Member
That was part of the design strategy. If the adversary didn't choke laughing, the possibility of being devoured (chewed up into tiny bits like you see on those nature shows) would intimidate and thus no weapons would have to be employed. It is part of a secret 'green war' project.. oops.. I wasn't supposed to mention that. You can keep a secret, right?
There were also plans to paint the Joker face on it to make it more threatening but the UN said that may fall under war crimes.
