Flew on a Swiss Saab 2000 once, and I felt very cramped and claustrophobic in it, compared to an ATR72. Pity, because I’d been trying for ages to add it to my “Type list.” I remember looking down that narrow tube-like cabin and wondering what it would be like to evacuate in an emergency.

I wouldn’t mind mistakes so much if only these journalists didn’t portray themselves as so authoratative and on-the-ball. I remember during the first Gulf War some BBC reporter telling us profoundly “This… is an Intruder bomber just back from Baghdad” over film of a taxiing S-3 Viking. OK, they can’t be experts in everything, but surely they could get a bit more clued-up, if only by buying an Observers’ book or something.

Very true 😀 , however there would have been a few if the re-designations of 1962 had not happened. The USAF were also going to call the F-110 the Spectre, if memory serves (Couldn’t call it the Phantom as that a NAVY aircraft 😮 ).

I wonder what the export aircraft would have been called? Maybe the RAF would have been flying Spectre FGR.2s?

i hope there is some brits out there who will, like me will say…HOW DARE YOU RUN DOWN OUR BELOVED LIGHTNING.they where fxxxin fantastic aircraft.and we still miss them dearly….. :dev2:

Much as I love and miss the Lightning, and whilst recognising it’s origins as a research aircraft (P1), you’ve got to admit that as a fighter design exercise it had its failings; notably a nose intake meaning much of the fuselage was occupied by engine and ducting, that tiny radome, and mid-set wings resulting in a long undercarriage taking up wing space that could have been used for fuel. Still one helluva machine though.

I bet that’s a right pain in the…