Originally Posted by
FODPlod
Can any of these aircraft launch (or land) carrying a decent payload?
Interesting question. I’m curious about the ski-jump.
I can see how in the low speed/high AUW take-off of a VSTOL type like Harrier/F-35B, the vertical thrust element is usefully augmented by the vertical motion generated by going up the ski jump, giving more time/height for the aircraft to accelerate to the speed needed to transition to wing-borne flight.
However with a conventional type the aircraft clearly needs to achieve flying speed by the time it reaches the end of the deck. If the engine thrust alone can achieve this, I’m not clear what advantage the ski-jump gives, beyond pointing the jet away from the sea. If anything I’d expect it to actually reduce acceleration just when it’s most needed.
It’d be interesting to hear Engines or Mogwi’s thoughts on this.