Speculative? An iteration of the large twin engined Carver. This was the larger “Mirage 4000 type” perhaps?

From the same source as above.

I have no idea how accurate or innaccurate these drawings are, or whether they are purely speculative or draw on semi official info.

Speculative artwork? Project Carver Twin seater single engined model?

From P Victor’s “Those who had the Power”

… and increased fuel consumtion for an overly powerful engine not really needed for the training role. If you limit or govern the thrust, you still have a heavier engine to lug around than is necessary.

It would be nice for a limited run of LIFT/secondary strike’interceptor class thoough!!:cool:

When MiG first talked about reconfigurable flight control systems on the MiG-AT I was blown away by the idea – the ability to tailor handling characteristics to ape or match those of a particular frontline type seemed to be a compelling advantage to me, as a lay person, and as a PPL with some FJ experience.

But talking to flight training pros, it soon became clear that this was an impressive capability that was not actually needed, and that wouldn’t really be used. There would clearly be some impact in reducing conversion time to a frontline type, but the pure ‘type conversion’ element of most OCU courses is very brief anyway. A trainer that handles like a Hawk simply isn’t a problem.

Good point. I suppose the manufacturers will often come up with a new feature to make their product ‘sell-able’, but whether it’s needed or not!

I suppose there should be a finite increase in engine thrust relative to fuel consumtion if the vehicle is to be used only for training and not for secondary strike/interception duties.

In its current production guise (LIFT/127/128/129 etc) Hawk is:

Still the best advanced trainer out there, bar none.

Still perfectly capable of providing the kind of cockpit environment that is representrative of current and future frontline platforms.

Capable of downloading current OCU-type training to a cheaper to operate type.

Supersonic capability is irrlevant for an advanced trainer, and the UAE’s decision, while surprising, is hardly Hawk’s death knell.

Jacko, while the above points certainly were true for many years, I’m not sure how true the above arguments still are.

There are now more recent products coming on line, such as the T-50, M-346 et al. Whilst the Hawk has been continueously upgraded and is one of the best advanced trainers still available, I feel this will change within the next 5 or so years. Knowing the length it takes to introduce new systems these days, I feel that the the late 60’s early 1970’s design origin of the Hawk will start this process of change, especially when the new generation trainers start coming on line in the next few years.

With the emphasis on supercruise and retention of high speed energy in AirtoAir combat now gaining prevelance, perhaps the time for supersonic trainers is now?

The only picture of the complete ac is this blurred picture … and YES – at least for my opinion – the intake looks different !

Thanks Deino. The intake looks considerably bigger. Seeing as some of the airframes are actually quite recently built, this may mean that the H-6/Badger design will be in service longer than the B-52’s!!

Equally they tend to be deflected by things like twigs and branches or sheets of glass that will not deflect a standard 7.62mm ball round.
In other words the heavier 7.62 x 39mm round is more likely to get to the target in brush and will penetrate a small tree and still have the capacity to kill. Most small calibre rounds will dump all their energy into a tree and do little to anything behind that tree.

This is the precise reason why South Africa, after replacing their 7,62mmx51 FN’s with the 5,56mmx45 R4, still kept the FN LMG in 7,62mm NATO. The larger round was found to be more effective in the African bush than the 5,56mm, which was more easily deflected by heavy twigs or branches.

The original AK-47 had a machined body and was heavier than the AKM with it’s ‘cheaper’ pressed lower receiver. the original was also heavier.

Of course it is. A large radar that can look deep into Russian airspace… the americans have never had that before… they must be drooling. Hope it is worth the loss of the INF treaty and other treaties too more than likely.

Hmmm… that is a good point.