PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - No cats and flaps ...... back to F35B?
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Old 14th Sep 2012, 13:19
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mike-wsm
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
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Thanks for the lists of "single-engined" carrier aircraft, though if jindabyne's aircraft were flying with only one engine fitted some would represent an extreme triumph of accountancy over airworthiness.

The F-35B is a naval variant of the land-based F-35, which in turn is a stripped-down F-22.

It has a smaller weapons bay, which means either fewer weapons or some weapons must be carried externally, compromising stealth.

If operated from a stripped down carrier without catapult and arrestor gear, it has to land vertically, at reduced weight, so it has to dump excess fuel and expensive weaponry in the sea.

If the one engine fails or suffers combat damage, plane and pilot both have to be dumped in the sea. Anyone remember the loss rate of the F-104, and that in peacetime?

It has less fuel so the unstealthy carrier has to get closer in to the combat zone.
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