PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - No cats and flaps ...... back to F35B?
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Old 3rd Jun 2012, 14:18
  #998 (permalink)  
longer ron
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Westnoreastsouth
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it's the lightest possible design.
So is the Fin structure...and I understand that is a little on the weak side
I understand about flexible structures but 40 years as an aircraft technician has made me sceptical about some aspects of a/c design,all the a/c I have worked on have ended up being 'beefed up' in service,It is better to start off over engineered and perhaps gradually pare the weight down - to start off with 'just strong enough' is asking for trouble.
To return to the noseleg - surely it will get a little bit 'wobblier' during a rough sea/moving deck landing.
I worked on harriers for 11 years and well understand the reasoning behind the firm landing technique but I would not compare the weakness of a Sea Dog outrigger to a noseleg,the noseleg on the F35 looks more like the design you would find on a light a/c...a twin fork design would be both stronger and more stable.

rgds LR
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