Boys, as you all know, radar cross section area is dependent on the angle between the target and the radar transmitter. If we keep that in mind I’m pretty sure the Euforighter mob will find certain aspects where it’s close to zero.

Regards,
Cliff

Could someone give us a little short re-cap of how this tender went so wrong?

I reckon they were offered 24 Gripens or 18 Eurofighters – and now they end up with 15 tranche 1 Eurofighters. Doesn’t make sense at all.

Regards,
Cliff

The lift for an aircraft is provided by the flow of air around the wing as it moves forward down the runway. If it is standing still, albeit with it’s wheels spinning on a conveyer type runway, there is no forward movement, hence no lift, hence no take off..

1L.

Couldn’t said it better myself, totally agree on this.

Why do many airforces purchase two completely different aircraft at about the same time and yet use them for exactly the same role?

An example of this would be the AH-64 Apache and the AH-1 Cobra, two attack helecopters serving exactly the same role often side by side. The cost of having to have two completely different sets of almost everything (men and equipment) and running two different training programmes for must surely cancel any benefits gained by having two different helicopters.

In the RAF why are Jaguars and Tornados used for the same role of ground attack? I thought when the Tornado was developed initially as the MRCA in the late 70s it was to supersede the Buccaneer, Jaguar and Vulcan in RAF service yet in 1991 during Gulf War 1 the Tornado, Buccaneer and Jaguar all flew smetimes together.

Just my two cents:
Because that new and fancy fighter you developed became so expansive that you couldn’t afford changing fighters on a one-to-one ratio. So in order to keep the original number of operational fighters – you’ll need some of the old ones…

I agree on it seeing a little bit odd to buy 12 fighters of each kind – 18 Flankers would make more sense. Eventhough I’d rather see no fighters being sold to Libya at all.

Regards,
Cliff

Yes and no. Northrop, who certainly knows a little bit about stealth, didn’t produce a design that is a virtual carbon-copy of the X-47. Neither did Lockheed. Their designs have all differed significantly. I mean seriously the Neuron team could damn near use the molds for the X-47 to make the skin of their aircraft. I guess the ammusing part to me is CB’s rabid denial that they are virtually carbon copies in form and that somehow the Neuron is completely unique.

Ok Dorith, let’s get down to business then?

What annoys me is that just because you see some similarities in the skin and shape of two airplanes you draw the conclusion that those are carbon copies of each other. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – they are both the results of solving the same problem.

If we would apply your tactics to the civilian market one could say that Boeing 787 is a carbon copy of A330 but somehow I seem to think that even you Sferrin could understand how wrong that argument would be.

When it comes to these UAVs you don’t know a sh!t about how the airframe structure is made and of what material, what engine and inlet technology they’re using, what centre of gravity and aeronautical centre they have (which will affect control laws and thereby agility) and so on and so on. Yet you stand there shouting carbon copy to each and every one on this forum.

Is it really that hard to believe that they, just as their american competitor, have tested several configuration before arriving at this one because it might be the best one they’ve tested?

Cliff

That’s priceless. Since you can’t see any difference you resort to mud slinging instead..

Thank you sir! Was feeling a little bit sarcastic tonight and I’m glad someone enjoyed it.

Well keep telling yourself it’s an original European design if it makes you feel better about yourself.

As a matter of fact, I actually intend to do so. This might be because I’m out of cash to pay my therapist – or – it might be because I’m an aerospace engineer having worked in this very field.

And, oh, forgot to mention – nowadays I work for an american aircraft manufacturer but please don’t go tell the redneck boys at home that there are foreigners designing upcoming american-state-of-the-art airplanes. That would hurt their feelings badly.

Glorious greetings to you my american friend!
Cliff