Future Carrier (Including Costs)

[Engines]

Sandie, others,

Thanks for coming back. I'm not surprised that the F-117 had similar issues, as the key factors driving the issue were similar.

OAP, any decision can be 'dumb' - but using fuel as a heat sink is a sensible measure - it all depends how you implement it and schedule the thermal management system. Yes, of course the engine is generating big heat loads, but happily quite a bit of it gets flung out of the back of the aircraft. Thermal problems can (and do) arise all over highly integrated aircraft, in places such as flying controls and even antenna installations.

In designing a combat aircraft, it's rare for anyone to 'blindly' think about anything - almost every decision impacts the aircraft somewhere else. The complexity of modern fuel systems isn't driven by stupidity - but rather by necessity.

Best regards as ever to those fixing the tough problems,

Engines