Rafale on Foch

So it seems the only realistic thing the Brazillians could do would be updating the Skyhawks with a multi-mode radar and BVR missile. Little fantasising coming on here………They could operate T-45 Goshawks………and BAE has made single seat Hawk strike planes in the past (only the truly dense will not see where I’m going with this at this point) so how hard (or expensive) would it be to make a single-seat hawk carrier capable? Probably too much for Brazille to aford, but would India be interested? I read in latest issue of Air Forces Monthly that Indian Navy would like 8 Hawks for lead-in-fighter training………I would put France in, but they send all their carrier pilots to US for training allready…..

Wanshan: haven’t you heard that the X-43 has been out on trials doing deck landings?

That doesn’t preclude that pic being a fake, does it?

X-43 …. isn’t that an Unpiloted Hypersonic Research Vehicle rather than an UCAV? Must be Boeing X46 UVAC-N, the naval version of X45 J-UCAS, currently in competition with the Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus UVAC-N, that you are referring to.

If you check under ‘X-45 system’, ‘gallery’, ‘op concept’ here: http://www.darpa.mil/j-ucas/index.htm you will find that these are concept images, not real images.

More info here; http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app4/x-45.html

X45

X46

X47

IMHO that pic is an artist impression of the UCAV PS-ed onto a real pic or a carrier deck.

Wanshan: haven’t you heard that the X-43 has been out on trials doing deck landings?

Perhaps Brazil should skip a couple of generations and go straight to UCAVs:) http://www.darpa.mil/j-ucas/

IMHO that pic is an artist impression of the UCAV PS-ed onto a real pic or a carrier deck.

the ship reminds me alot of the USS Oriskany

I’m amazed that they could fit over 40+ aircraft on that deck.

Looks like there’s 46 aircraft on deck in this pic:
14 F8 Crusader
18 A4 Skyhawk
11 A6 Intruder
3 E1 Tracer

Any chance of Braz upgrading SP with C-13s?

Everyone gets all the good stuff but us, Bring some down here.

Though I must admit that Australia can lay claim to the only Foxbat’s ever as war trophies, we have two captured in Iraq and shipped back here, though god knows where they are now!

Hahahaha Funny Sader, I don’t even play it as well and up untill three nights ago I’d never used ebay before.

There is a little hope mate, France are offering their old Saders for only 1 Euro as pointed out in the F-8 Thread in the Modern Airforce section 😉 As I said, it’s only a small hope. Personally I’d like to buy two, have one as a door guard to my place and fly the other around, just to show off and out do those guys with their hotted up cars! Never did like those type!!!

I agree! That 1 Euro deal has me real interested, in that I would love to have an F-8 at our museum here in Charlotte! We are slated for an F-14, and just got a CH-46E. Also working on an AV-8A/C, but there was a delay with the Corps. I need to find out the details of the French Crusader offer….

Hahahaha Funny Sader, I don’t even play it as well and up untill three nights ago I’d never used ebay before.

There is a little hope mate, France are offering their old Saders for only 1 Euro as pointed out in the F-8 Thread in the Modern Airforce section 😉 As I said, it’s only a small hope. Personally I’d like to buy two, have one as a door guard to my place and fly the other around, just to show off and out do those guys with their hotted up cars! Never did like those type!!!

Sader: Mate the F-8’s never took off with a full load of fuel, the cats were always prone to breaking down as it was. I remember seeing here on one tour where both her cats were down and she was just one big floating target (Mwhahahahaha oh it’s a submariners dream).

My point was just that A-7s(8676kg) and F-8s(8727kg) are very close in dry weight, so the A-7 was the closest to a real possibility, even with its higher max weight. I had read that they had had problems with the cats in the past, so that was why I asked if they were not the same. All talk, anyway, as I said. I would love to see them find a sq or 2 of F-8s to use, but I have a better chance of winning the lottery, and I don’t even play it…..

Sader: Mate the F-8’s never took off with a full load of fuel, the cats were always prone to breaking down as it was. I remember seeing here on one tour where both her cats were down and she was just one big floating target (Mwhahahahaha oh it’s a submariners dream).

OK I’ve read a few things on this thread and I guess it’s time to clear up a few things.

1. Sao Paulo can’t operate anything heavier than the current A-4 because the steam cat she has won’t take the load, if you’ll observe, not even the Trainer versions put to sea due to the heavier weight. The MdB is looking at refitting a stronger system capable of launching heavier a/c but funds are hard to come by atm what with Brazil needing other defence toys to play with. A-7’s would be right out due to their weight as would most things these days including a naval AMX, though one thought does spring to mind, a naval Tejas might work, hmmmm.

??They launched F-8s for years, and an A-7 weighs less than an F-8, though not at full load for the later models (approx 42k lbs (A-7) vs roughly 38k lbs (F-8) ) , so I just don’t see that as being true, unless the cats on there now are less than what the French were using. Are they? The A-7s would still be able to carry a decent load, and get launched, even though this is all a pipe dream. Personally, I’d love to see them beef up the cats and get either Rafs or some secondhand F-4s with the latest goodies.

As sure as I was there at my daughter’s birth nearly 14 years ago! I read about it somewhere, I’ll see if I can find it

The so called Ski Jump you have pictured there, isn’t a ramp at all, it’s an extention test piece, to see just how much length was actually needed…

Are you sure about that?

Damd that’s an impressive pic there mate

Perhaps Brazil should skip a couple of generations and go straight to UCAVs:) http://www.darpa.mil/j-ucas/

4. As pointed out already, they are/were Zephyrs, these were produced for the French Navy because the French didn’t want to buy foregin trainers for their home fleet, IIRC something like 25 were eventually built and the last retired from front line duties in 1995.

Good call. 30 were produced, including the 2 protos.

Hahahahahaha, still the clown, good to see mate!!!

Hey Buger mate, did you ever get home to MacDonald’s Island? HAHAHAHAHA

I did and when I got there, I was surprised Penguins took over me shack mate 😡 😡 😡

Hey Buger mate, did you ever get home to MacDonald’s Island? HAHAHAHAHA