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Old 30th Mar 2017, 17:27
  #3996 (permalink)  
MSOCS
 
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OAP, one of the benefits of STOVL recoveries is assured landing, providing you have the performance. As such, STOVL Ops don't need a buddy-buddy AAR asset in the overhead, unlike Cat and Trap Ops where there is a much higher relative chance of a "bolter" or "wave off" with low fuel. The comfort blanket of a tanker to calm the nerves, try a few more times, or "go to the beach" is therefore ingrained in the big deck psyche. For good reason too! STOVL is a different game in many respects. F-35B doesn't let you slow below a min performance airspeed and it will show you that predicted min speed too - if it's zero then it calculates you can hover so go ahead and shoot the approach. If it's 100kts you need to burn down or shift weight via jettison. If it's 50-60kts go for a Shipborne Rolling VL, which is extremely gentile and easy to fly. Ultimately it is a world apart from a 120kt approach out of the goo, trying to catch a wire on a pitching/yawing/heaving greasy deck.

Your point on fuel quantity is also important. V-22 doesn't carry enough to be a viable AAR asset for projection operations. So, much like today's USN fleet, to get real range and endurance, you RV with a real (land-based) tanker and fill your 2/4/8-ship to the Gunwhales before going downtown.
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