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SteveO

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February 5, 2006 at 8:38 pm in reply to: EKRANOPLANS (WIGs) #2064016

SteveO
Participant

That’s a nice wishlist but it doesn’t give any idea of what kind of design would be needed to meet the requirements: weights, dimensions, power plants for cruising speed, extra power needed for takeoff and for OOGE flight…these boring little details are the ones which matter!

That is why I said possible specifications rather than possible design. I’m no expert on Ekranoplans/WIGs, I’m just a enthusiast who can see the potential of the concept.

February 3, 2006 at 12:33 pm in reply to: EKRANOPLANS (WIGs) #2064134

SteveO
Participant

Here are some possible specifications for a Fast Attack Ekranoplan 🙂

3000km combat radius at 500km/h

Crew of 4 in ejection seats or escape capsule and space to rescue another 4+ people.

Air cushion landing gear and OOGE flight capable to allow for maximum basing possiblities.

Tail mounted Multi-Function Radar, full ECM fit (decoys, dispensers, jammers), optical sensors, laser radar for wave avoidance/navigation and auto-pilot/throttle.

Weapons fit to include 16x Exocet+ class anti-ship missiles, self defence missile with anti-missile capability and 2x Recoilless Automatic Cannon (RMK 30) turrets for limited CIWS and targets of opportunity.

February 3, 2006 at 11:58 am in reply to: EKRANOPLANS (WIGs) #2064148

SteveO
Participant

True, but a significant part of the capability includes range – and you harm that by fitting engines which are much more powerful than you need for cruising flight. Which is why the multiple-engine route is still the most likely approach for military designers to adopt in order to combine efficient cruising (with some engines shut down) with OOGE flight.

Maybe a tandem fan engine can provide the extra thrust without the need for extra engines?

The front fan could also inflate the air cushion landing gear too.

Pic of Vought V-530 V/STOL project featuring tandem fan engine from here http://prototypes.free.fr/vtol/vtol-9.htm

February 3, 2006 at 11:42 am in reply to: Type 45 launch website #2064154

SteveO
Participant

douggie,

The point I’m trying to make is that with a little rearrangement the T45 could have had a bigger hangar with no impact on the primary role of the ship. I don’t understand why you think this would reduce the capabilities of the T45, in my opinion it would make the T45 more useful as a escort.

The RN is getting smaller, carrying more Merlin’s and Lynx’s on escorts allows you to carry more assault helos and strike aircraft on the carriers. How can this be a bad thing?

February 2, 2006 at 6:27 pm in reply to: Type 45 launch website #2064185

SteveO
Participant

Not sure I necessarily agree with the twin copter issues. The Merlin is one of the lowest support helicopters made.

I know it serves a different role with a lighter weapons fit to the type 45 and not necessarily a global reach, but the much praised and stealthy HMDS Esbern Snare manages to operate two EH101 with a crew of 100 and it is 12.5 metres shorter and a couple of metres narrower than a type 45. That kind of vessel shows what can be done with innovative design and packaging. It also has the boat deck shutters which are a good idea.

I don’t think a twin ‘copter set-up on the T45 is a non-starter, it will all depend on need and the political will.

Good post 🙂 the Danish ABSALON Class is a very impressive design.

Some pics and more info here http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/TheShips/Classes/Absalon_Class(2004).htm

February 2, 2006 at 6:14 pm in reply to: Type 45 launch website #2064196

SteveO
Participant

douggie and sealordlawrence,

Have you ever rearranged the furniture in a room to make more space? basically that was all the T45 needed doing to it, when designed, to give it a bigger hangar.

These pics clearly show how much room the boat decks take up and how the hangar door could have been wider. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/EquipmentAndLogistics/HmsDaringLaunchesInGlasgow.htm

February 2, 2006 at 5:52 pm in reply to: EKRANOPLANS (WIGs) #2064203

SteveO
Participant

Those are important concerns for a Ekranoplan planned for commerical operations where economy and efficiency are the primary goal, but for a military Ekranoplan required capability comes first.

I still think a new design military Ekranoplan will be able to deliver much improved performance and capability more efficiently and economically than existing designs.

February 2, 2006 at 4:20 pm in reply to: EKRANOPLANS (WIGs) #2064225

SteveO
Participant

WIG flight requires far less power than OOGE flight – that’s the whole point. I believe that the battery of engines in most WIG planes are normally all used only for take-off, or for the occasional need for OOGE flight: in WIG flight several of them are shut down. So if you want to move from WIG to OOGE mode you would have to spool up the dormant engines, and that isn’t instant.

Existing Ekranoplans probably will have problems climbing out of ground effect, but that doesn’t mean future Ekranoplans will.

Current Ekranoplans need all those engines just to clear the water because of hydrodynamic drag, a future Ekranoplan with a air cushion landing gear will reduce this drag and will probably need just two engines which will be much more responsive to power changes. Aerodynamic improvements can also make a Ekranoplan much better in OOGE flight too.

February 1, 2006 at 10:32 pm in reply to: Question regarding the BL755 and Briitish 1000 lb iron bomb #1819704

SteveO
Participant

RAF Jaguar dropping retarded bombs http://www.raf.mod.uk/rafcoltishall/mc04_gallery.html

February 1, 2006 at 10:28 pm in reply to: Screensaver: "Eurofighter Typhoon – Nothing Comes Close" #2598249

SteveO
Participant

That’s right DJJ, more pics of the same event here http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/limage_06_01.html

February 1, 2006 at 10:21 pm in reply to: Type 45 launch website #2064312

SteveO
Participant

I never said RHIBs are not useful, they just don’t need all that potential hangar space to operate them on the T45. Those stealthy rolling shutters for the boat spaces are a pretty extravagant waste of money too.

February 1, 2006 at 10:10 pm in reply to: EKRANOPLANS (WIGs) #2064314

SteveO
Participant

I’m not sure what you mean with safe hight as Rogues can get over 30m in hight. And they do appear in just a very short period, not giving you enough time to react.

Apart form that, a very informative and nice thread!!! Keep it coming!

Thanks Neptune 🙂

I guess there is no guaranteed way of avoiding a rogue wave but a decent in ground effect flight altitude and warning system will make accidents few and far between (I hope 😉 ).

As Flanker man said, Ekranoplans can fly inefficiently like normal aircraft so they will be able to avoid large waves with enough warning.

February 1, 2006 at 7:58 pm in reply to: Question regarding the BL755 and Briitish 1000 lb iron bomb #1819707

SteveO
Participant

Portsmouth Aviation Limited 1000lb HEIM Bomb website http://www.portsmouth-aviation.co.uk/Content/PA_1000lb_bomb.aspx

February 1, 2006 at 7:56 pm in reply to: Question regarding the BL755 and Briitish 1000 lb iron bomb #1819712

SteveO
Participant

I think these pics show a 1000lb bomb retarded tail. Search for bombs here http://www.defenceimagedatabase.mod.uk/fotoweb/

February 1, 2006 at 7:45 pm in reply to: Question regarding the BL755 and Briitish 1000 lb iron bomb #1819718

SteveO
Participant

Here are some 1000lb bomb pics (whoops! the last pic shows 540lb bombs 🙂 )
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