Aviation Stuff

[TigerVols]

I know I'm not the only aerogeek around here, so I thought I'd start a new thread...taking off with this head-smacker that the Navy is seeking to replace the Hornet II with -- something other than the troubled JSF. WTF?

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/04/super-hornet-jsf/

Does this mean the Navy thinks the JSF will never go into carrier service? Hmmm.

 

[bigpern23]

It's frustrating to see all the problems with the F-35 because it's going to be an incredible plane if they can ever get it straight.

Just spitballing here, but I would have to think the "Son of the Super Hornet" is going to move more toward an unmanned aerial vehicle if they want to avoid redundancy with the F-35. I'm thinking of something that is more capable of combat than a Predator drone.

If you're talking about 20 or 30 years from now before it goes into service, it just seems natural that the unmanned technology will be vastly improved. I don't think we'll be completely out of the piloted aircraft game by then, but I think you're going to be seeing a lot more jets that don't require a body in the cockpit.

 

[finishthehat]

And a lot more jets that do things that would kill a pilot who was in the cockpit at the time, in terms of G force-creating maneuvers.

 

[Bamadog]

I know I'm not the only aerogeek around here, so I thought I'd start a new thread...taking off with this head-smacker that the Navy is seeking to replace the Hornet II with -- something other than the troubled JSF. WTF?

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/04/super-hornet-jsf/

Does this mean the Navy thinks the JSF will never go into carrier service? Hmmm.

But it's all they have. It's do or die on the JSF. If the JSF goes away, it'll be Super Hornets and nothing else. And those would be easy meat for a Su-35, a Rafale, a Gripen or a Typhoon in a turning fight. Just to think if they wouldn't have canceled the A-12 during the first Bush administration...

As for the UAVs, I think that they're the future in some roles, but they're not the panacea everybody thinks they are. Jam their datalinks and they're just expensive targets. They're going to have to be more autonomous and then you're getting into Skynet time.

 

[TigerVols]

Yep, the A-12 was the correct answer for all these problems.

 

[bigpern23]

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/17/space-shuttle-headed-for-museum/?hpt=hp_c3

Space shuttle Discovery arrived in Washington today to become a part of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.

I hope they get it set up so visitors can go aboard. I'd love step into it one day.

Not sure if aircraft sex is SFW, but Discovery gives it good to a 747 on the way into Dulles.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/17/space-shuttle-headed-for-museum/?hpt=hp_c3

Space shuttle Discovery arrived in Washington today to become a part of the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum.

I hope they get it set up so visitors can go aboard. I'd love step into it one day.

Not sure if aircraft sex is SFW, but Discovery gives it good to a 747 on the way into Dulles.

The corn must not have been in season at the time.

 

[User 1019]

Real aircrews. Not pretty-boy jet pilots, who are worried about job security.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nvTgkurCccQ

;D

 

[TigerVols]

Ha! You don't see any UAV dust-offs on the horizon, TBF?

 

[bigpern23]

Real aircrews. Not pretty-boy jet pilots, who are worried about job security.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nvTgkurCccQ

;D

That video was better than any commercial any of the military branches run.

 

[Bamadog]

Yep, the A-12 was the correct answer for all these problems.

If the estimates are correct, it would've been cheaper than the JSF and had better range and payload moving mud. The JSF is a modern-day, stealthy F-105. Big and fast on a single engine, but with little dogfighting capability and warload.

 

[TigerVols]

Don't tell anyone, but the USAF has Raptors and next-gen F-15s in the skies near Iran.

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/04/armada-masses-near-iran/

 

[kleeda]

My father-in-law was neck deep in the A-12 project, and he was not a fan at all. My father worked for Vought Corporation for 36 years (once a big Navy primary contractor) and none of the engineers there thought it was doable, either. And Vought did some wild stuff in my dad's years there, including the precursor -- by about 30 years -- of the V-22 Osprey.

Here's a link: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a38_1254076693


And this is definitely the best thread on the board!

 

[bydesign77]

I'm 35 years old, worked for two airlines and want to get my pilot's license someday, and I did something yesterday I've never done before: Go to an airshow.

The Blue Angels were there and put on quite a show. Amazing amount of precision and timing. Completely worth 95-degree heat and little shade.

 

[bigpern23]

I'm 35 years old, worked for two airlines and want to get my pilot's license someday, and I did something yesterday I've never done before: Go to an airshow.

The Blue Angels were there and put on quite a show. Amazing amount of precision and timing. Completely worth 95-degree heat and little shade.

The Blue Angels are great. I went to one last year and one of the things that really stuck with me was how a friend noted how loud they were. I commented something about how its not as if they have to sneak up on targets because of their weaponry.

The announcer told everyone to look to the right for an upcoming maneuver. All of a sudden, they flew overhead from behind and you didn't hear the engines until what seemed like five seconds after they were already long past you.

Those things move so fast, you're dead before you even know they're coming.

 

[Iron_chet]

I'm 35 years old, worked for two airlines and want to get my pilot's license someday, and I did something yesterday I've never done before: Go to an airshow.

The Blue Angels were there and put on quite a show. Amazing amount of precision and timing. Completely worth 95-degree heat and little shade.

The Blue Angels are great. I went to one last year and one of the things that really stuck with me was how a friend noted how loud they were. I commented something about how its not as if they have to sneak up on targets because of their weaponry.

The announcer told everyone to look to the right for an upcoming maneuver. All of a sudden, they flew overhead from behind and you didn't hear the engines until what seemed like five seconds after they were already long past you.

Those things move so fast, you're dead before you even know they're coming.

If you get a chance to see RCAF (Canadian airforce) Snowbirds at an airshow you should check it out.

They use antiquated 50s ers Tudors but the show is very fluid and graceful, what the team lacks in kick as equipment they make up for in precision. That being said the awesome power display of a Blue Angels show is really amazing.

I have been to a few airshows and my favorite by far is the one on Cocoa Beach, Florida. Great setting right on the beach and cool to see some of the machines from nearby Patrick AFB in action.

 

[Bamadog]

My father-in-law was neck deep in the A-12 project, and he was not a fan at all. My father worked for Vought Corporation for 36 years (once a big Navy primary contractor) and none of the engineers there thought it was doable, either. And Vought did some wild stuff in my dad's years there, including the precursor -- by about 30 years -- of the V-22 Osprey.

Here's a link: http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a38_1254076693


And this is definitely the best thread on the board!

Sweet video.

 

[TigerVols]

The Chino Air Show is this weekend, which means lots of WWII vintage aircraft buzzing over my house today. When the jets show up tomorrow, the entire valley roars.

Needless to say, I get a lot of honey do jobs done outdoors this weekend every year!

 

[bigpern23]

Big weekend for commercial space travel coming up. SpaceX plans to launch its Dragon capsule Saturday with the hope of docking it with the ISS. I've got my fingers crossed hoping they pull it off, but I have a feeling the launch will get scrubbed. It just seems like that's the way these things go a lot of times.

http://lightyears.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/18/spacex-dragon-to-launch-saturday/?hpt=hp_bn1

 

[Killick]

CBS this morning had clips of an interview with Spacex's owner, a surprisingly young guy. He was getting weepy when talking about the criticisms flying his way from the likes of Neil Armstrong. "These guys were my heroes, growing up. (sniff) So, yeah... it's tough."

Really felt for the guy. (Helps that, despite my admiration, I'm still waiting for a call back from Armstrong for an aerospace story I wrote five years ago. The *******. The heroic *******.)