Some little questions occurr to my uninformed mind;
Is that portable heat pad really so heavy it won't flip and become a serious bit of FOD ?
What the hell is the thermal management system, spraying fresh water over the deck ? - good for performance & bring back, engine wash, not so good for pilot visibility, which he won't be too keen on even if landing is automatic - or is it playing ' cool ' music, the definition of which could lead to serious in-fighting between individuals let alone countries - God forbid the F-35 comes equipped with American music ( well, Bat Out of Hell was alright, otherwise Brit pilots will I'm sure prefer class, such as Pink Floyd & Led Zeppelin..?
And most of all, why the hell should the Osprey hover partly over the deck for 90 minutes ? I can understand the ' safety aircraft ' role for fast jets, though that seems better covered by a helicopter, and I know the Marines carry a lot of kit, but what takes 90 minutes, the grand piano ?
I'd imagine the Osprey uses a lot of fuel hovering or semi at ship speed...
Last edited by Double Zero; 25th Nov 2009 at 17:04.