PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - V-22 Osprey Air Refuel F-35Bs for CVFs? + other stuff
Old 12th Oct 2013, 19:10
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peter we
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: london,uk
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With a small, thin wing and low-bypass engine, the JSF is going to be less able to throttle back and ration fuel than an AV-8B in a recovery situation. One result is that usable operational radius will be highly dependent on recovery scenarios and (consequently) fuel reserves overhead the ship.
The harrier will always be a subsonic aircraft, which is a fundamental and potential fatal disadvantage.

Thew F-35's range can be extended. So which do you choose? They choose the F-35 and the Harrier is history.

BTW, the AV-8B's combat range doesn't look as good as the F-35 according to that PDF.
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