LawstudHere’s an idea for an F-111 replacement…why not replace it with what the USAF replaced it with…the F-15E?
If money’s a problem they could get some cheap ex-USAF ones soon…and have Japan do maintenance work. True they won’t be the newest thing in the air, but they’d be newer than the F-111s.. 🙂
How about the Eurofighter or Rafale ?
LawstudAnyways, there wasn’t a lot to do at Schönefeld landside, if it’s to become the new Gateway to Berlin and be renamed ‘Berlin Brandenburg International’ (which is the stated objective), they’ll have to do a fair bit of work, in my humble opinion.
They really have to do a lot in SXF and the areaaround, it still has a very socialistic touch down there. Not a very good entry for Berlin, but as I flew to Orly the other day, I was glad to see that the Airport doesn´t look much better then SXF…..
LawstudMaybe that would be the best plane for the RAAF
Long time reader here, but I just joined the forum…
I read in that Aussie Aviation Magazine, that the F-35 is not suitable for interceptor/air defence role. (That RAAF is planning to use it in this way).
What I mean is, the stealth technology applied to this design is useful against SAMs/AAA. Its not suitable against AWACs type as well as the family of Flanker aircraft…Essentially, long range airborne radars. (Where as the F/A-22A has stealth applied on a different level to cover a larger radar frequency range so it has that “First look, first shot, first kill” capability…Their job is to clear the skies while F-35s clear the ground.)
I’m just wondering, with this disadvantage, why can’t our RAAF get a mix of F/A-22 and F-35?
Maybe have a variant of the F/A-22 to replace the F-111…Long range
tactical bomber with stealth…Maybe a stretched version of the F-22?
Although I doubt US would release such stealth technology even to an ally like Australia.
Northrop Grumman’s “forgotten” advanced tactical fighter leaves museum and could be heading for bomber contest
Northrop Grumman’s long-abandoned YF-23A advanced tactical fighter (ATF) is emerging as the possible basis for a surprise contender for the US Air Force’s interim bomber requirement.
The company recently retrieved the second of the two YF-23A “Black Widow II” prototypes (PAV-2) from the Western Museum of Flight in Hathorne, California, ostensibly for repainting for display at a forthcoming Northrop Grumman-backed air fair in August. However, the restoration is also thought to include several changes, including new cockpit displays and other possible cosmetic modifications.
Northrop Grumman confirms restoration of the General Electric YF120-powered PAV-2 is taking place, but declines to comment on whether the revived YF-23A is linked to any USAF proposal. But sources close to the studies, which were kicked off by the USAF’s recently issued request for information, say Northrop Grumman now includes a YF-23-based “regional” bomber concept among its raft of proposals and that the USAF “is interested”.
Until now, the company’s offerings are known to include an upgraded B-2, X-47B unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) -based studies and possible designs based on its quiet supersonic technology programme. The distinctive, rhomboid-winged YF-23A lost out to Lockheed Martin’s YF-22 in the ATF competition in 1991, but proved a valuable technology testbed for Northrop Grumman, which gave it all-aspect stealth. The company says it “drew upon a wide range of experience for its response to the interim bomber RFI, and the YF-23 is one”.
Other contenders include a Boeing’s B-1R (regional) re-engined bomber studies and a larger D-model version of its X-45 UCAV, while Lockheed Martin is considering various derivatives of the F/A-22. These include single- and two-seat, re-winged and tailless versions dubbed the FB-22, the larger of which would be able to cruise at Mach 1.8 and have 75% of the range of the B-2 carrying up to 30 115kg (250lb) small-diameter bombs. Lockheed Martin is also understood to be offering a variety of other manned designs, including a flying-wing concept.
The interim bomber is intended to bridge the gap between the current bomber fleet and a next-generation aircraft planned for 2037. The present timetable calls for a development effort to start in 2006, with an initial operating capability by 2015.
Quelle : http://www.flightinternational.com/…txtTotalRecs=13
LawstudWell the Eurofighter -although it is an ugly looking flying triangle or at least a plane where you have to get used to its design 😉 – is a very good fighter (form follows function).
At the moment it is state of the art technology and can be improved easily (Tranche 3), at the moment its only equivalent is the Rafale.
Later it has to show if it can match with the F-35.
The advantage of the F-35 is its stealth technology and the STVOL capacities of the B(?)-series.
Another advantage of the F-35 is maybe the price because of the high number of planes which are going to be build.
I guess the advantage of the Eurofighter is its agility based on its delta-wing and canard design, I think that the F-35 won´t be able to fly that kind of maneuvers like the Eurofighter can.
The question for me is now what is the greater advantage stealth or agility ?
I think that the F-35 will be a better fighter bomber and the Eurofighter the better fighter airplane and a mixture of these two would be perfect (like in U.K and Italy), but mostly they would be used as a multi-role fighter and each customer has to see what he needs more…..although in the days of “storm shadows” and “Taurus” the advantage of the F-35 as a fighter bomber is very low
LawstudDo you know the type of the plane ?
737-300 or -700 (I doubt the A319 because it is mainly used to flights from and to switzerland, afaik).
LawstudIt is highly unlikely that they will be calling Fiat G-91s and F-104s back to service 🙂
That is a really pity……I would love some Ginas and F-104s flying again in Luftwaffe colours…..
Some more dreaming :
Maybe the reserve unit which is flying the Do-27 and Do 28 can bring some one of each back into the air.
A company in the U.S. by the way is restoring some ex-luftwaffe ginas and piagios, but I dind´t find the link to it, I believe it is called classic-wings or classic-jets….
LawstudI don’t recall United ever operating the tristar
They got some from Pan Am with the 747Sps.
LawstudDelta are also a member of the rather exclusive band of airlines who have operated the DC-10, Tristar and Boeing 747.
How many more can you name?
Not quite true, there was only one 747-100 in the Delta fleet, which was given away very fast. I don´t know anything about DC-10s but MD-11s in the Delta fleet.
Pan Am had both 707 and DC-8s, Tristars and DC-10s.
British Airways also operated Tristars, DC-10s and 747s……..
LawstudThis thing with the Mako makes only sense if Eurotraining will be realised. I would rather have some downrated Gripens then the Mako as advanced trainer. The least thing we need in Europe is another airframe. The Gripen is for me the ideal design, to base an advanced trainer up on it (comparable to T-38/ F-5 combination) So we had Gripens with the full avionics and a trainerversion, both with the same engine (EJ-2X0 of course) and the same cheap airframe.
That makes sense 🙂
LawstudThis is still not for shure. The hangars in Nordholz are to small for the P-3C’s.
Addtionally, there is some dispute with the Dutch about the delivery of groundequipment and spares. There is a rumor that we don’t get the Orions, therefore we would get surplus French Atlantique 4.
Well look at the last Flug Revue (I think that you are from Germany) – the deal with the Netherlands is set.
The only thing left is the decision of the german parliament which is supposed to be this fall !!
Crews from MFG 3 are already in Valkenburg for Training – the deal also includes the ground equipment and spares. Everything worked out fine !!!
LawstudThree Words :
Joint Strike Fighter
LawstudEuropeans can’t even decide what to do about farm policy, what makes you think that they could decide to send troops anywhere?
Well if they have to, it will work -maybe after long discussions but it will work.
Besides it would be much cheaper and effective for Europe to have one welll equiped and professionelly trained army. I see a great profit in a common european army, even for the U.S. to have an equal partner.
At the moment it is impossible for Europe to react to a conflict alone – the best example is Bosnia or Kosovo.
LawstudJudging from the Germans studying in London, its drinking, drinking and drinking which is great. 🙂
Germany is still one of the world’s strongest economies, therefore, it is unquestionable that Germany can afford to have what it wishes. The Europe has no threat logic is not a sufficient condition for a smaller army, one could argue that all countries should disolve their millitaries and thus noone would need to protect themselves in the first place, besides if Germany and France plan to see the great European Army, a distant dream for now, they better start building up soon.
I think that someday we will have a common european army, it would be the best.
@Sameer
Judging the British it is drinking, drinking and drinking, too and making fun of the germans when there is a big football match ahead
LawstudI am really glad that Germany has decided to buy the dutch P-3C Orions, so at least there is still one Navy Air Wing left flying with planes.
Although I think 8 are a little less….but better then no replacement of the Atlantic. Do you believe in Euro Hawk as SIGINT-replacement.
LawstudBut i think still it will be FOAS
Yes, but FOAS also includes some F-35s, as far as I know…
I really like the Gripen, but it was the first 4th generation fighter and would have no chance to a F-35 -when it is flying and keeps its promises 🙂
But furthermore the Gripen is not such export success, even with the help of Bae Systems -sells outside of sweden are very poor.
Except of South Africa all the others (Hungary and Czech) will get used Gripens from the Flygvapnet.
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