Engines,
Many thanks for the gen' - one point though, and I don't mean to contradict you, but isn't even the CVF a lot smaller than a Nimitz class, and they still park with the tails over the side ( better for the crew getting out than nose-over-side I suppose ! ).
As the F-35B is a lot larger than a Harrier, I imagine reverse thrust viffing midair is not considered necessary even for approach, and parking will be done by a 'tractor' as is traditional ?
Cue a project for a new super deck tug - probably a more profitable contract than the aircraft!
While I'm all for advance, wouldn't a Harrier -even allowing for lost knowledge & manufacturing capability ( all relatively available given the will ) -with AMRAAM and something like an S-3 / Osprey / Orion with buddy tanking & AEW have been a lot cheaper, therefore in a perfect world more of them, and more Type 45 destroyers ( we all know the answer to that one...).
Too late now, in the words of Basil Fawlty after banging head on table " No, it's not a dream, we're stuck with it !"
Last edited by Double Zero; 29th Aug 2008 at 19:06.