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F-35 Cancelled, then what ?

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F-35 Cancelled, then what ?

Old 21st Aug 2015, 12:59
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Courtney, believed head size of F35 pilots is of course infinite....

I do detect a head size limitation design parameter here, I am assuming, no doubt erroneously, that all the special display bits that take over the role of the HUD are a one size solution. Looking at various motorcycle helmets in my house, the outside is rather larger for the one worn by the rider with a large head size..... Hence my thoughts that no big heads can be F35 pilots. Could of course be that only big headed pilots need apply as a small headed pilot would have too much liner to pad out the helmet, it would vibrate too much....
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 13:43
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I guess there is a limit to any flying helmet. Traditionally done in a number of sizes with enough adjustment/liner-fit in each one to fill in the gaps.

Even the optics need some adjustment to allow for inter-ocular distance and the like. Also needs careful calibration between different helmets and aircraft.
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 15:23
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Courtney M.

In my day, Helmet fitting was the squippers way of "getting one back" on those who were particularly obnoxious.

And from my time as EA, I understand helmet re-fitts were much more common on Harrier Sqns than on other aircraft types for some reason...

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Old 21st Aug 2015, 15:25
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Kept having to move up a size, eh?
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 15:37
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Back when we had such a unit, the School of Refresher Flying used to get very hacked-off with the number of pilots who arrived from North Luffenham with a helmet so tight that flights were often terminated early due to the pain suffered by the refresher student.

The Squippers' helmet testing rig was frequently mis-employed as a 'helmet stretcher', which helped a bit. But the fault was with the Luffenham chamber-minders and their quackery insisting on ridiculously tight fits.

I was at Luffenham doing my pre-Vulcan AMTC course when Tim Webb and the late great 'Puddy' Catt turned up having flown over to Wittering in the Brawdy Meteors after having been pinged for a 'mid-tour AMTC refresher'. I told Puddy that I was surprised at the immaculate condition of his bonedome, to which he replied "I don't use it for flying, old boy - it's one I've acquired just to keep the docs happy! My comfy one is sitting safely in Winston's cockpit!".

Typical Pud!
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 15:44
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Nothing wrong with a cloth 'inner' and Mk1a Size 3 Broad 'outer' ... But it might look a bit out of place in the F-35
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 16:41
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PhilipG,

Perhaps I can help. The F-35 is no different from any other combat aircraft in that there was requirement for a wide range of sizes of pilot to be able to fly it. Actually, the 'anthropometric range' defined for the F-35 was extremely wide.

That requirement includes a range of head sizes, and the helmet designers were required to meet it. You make a good point that the outer 'shell' containing the optronics and displays for the HMD has to fit a range of helmet shell sizes, and so it is designed to do that. It also had to meet very tough requirements for mass and centre of gravity.

So, there isn't any intrinsic limitation on head size on the F-35.

Hope this helps

Best Regards to all those fitting the headgear

Engines
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 17:02
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Engines,
Thanks for the clarity.
Philip
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 19:57
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From Avweek

Israel insists it will undertake the maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) of its on-order fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35 combat aircraft, going against the airframer’s strategy of creating regional sustainment centres for the Joint Strike Fighter.
If they get their way past history shows they will sell the data to China in a week.

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Old 21st Aug 2015, 22:09
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What appears to be a fairly definite statement about the fitting of the gun in the first sentence of this item today on the RN website. Is that a decision that's been taken? I must have missed it... http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and...21-f35-gattlinNavy?s next-generation stealth fighter lets rip with Gatling gun | Royal Navyg-gun
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Old 21st Aug 2015, 22:34
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On the jump jet version of the Anglo-American aircraft, which is being bought by the UK, the same gun is being installed – but it will be fitted externally, on the F-35's centreline.

How can you install something when it's" fitted externally"?

Ref
Navy?s next-generation stealth fighter lets rip with Gatling gun | Royal Navy
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Old 26th Aug 2015, 13:24
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How can you install something when it's" fitted externally"?
I guess it all depends on one's definition of "install". Perhaps using this author's definition of "install", one also "installs" a Sidewinder, a Maverick, or a JDAM. Personally, I always thought a gun was "mounted", not "installed".
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Old 26th Aug 2015, 15:16
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Install verb

Place or fix (equipment or machinery) in position ready for use.
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Old 26th Aug 2015, 15:46
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Install verb

Place or fix (equipment or machinery) in position ready for use.
So using that definition, it is certainly possible to "install" a gun (or missile, or bomb or whatever) externally on an aircraft.
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Old 26th Aug 2015, 18:12
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Video Clips of the planes being discussed

Link provided for some very nice clips of the following.
Not sure why only one clip has seemingly embedded itself in. The site URL has options to view the others.
I'll try and C&CV those in. Sorry for the mix up.
EDIT: Looks like the only good 'one' is the one embedded.


F35
F22
Super Hornet
Typhoon
Rafale


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=24e_1440610909

Nr.1 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II
Nr.2 Lockheed Martin / Boeing F-22 Raptor (USA)
Nr.3 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet (USA)
Nr.4 Eurofighter Typhoon (European Union)
Nr.5 Dassault Rafale (France)
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Old 27th Aug 2015, 04:10
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The Russian T50 being thrown around.

Looks extremely maneuverable.


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=bc4_1440620189
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Old 27th Aug 2015, 06:32
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Grrr

It looks like it's early days in the FCS, too.
Because Higher/faster/dramatic airshow makes the best fighter plane.

Staying with the Russian/Indian theme. The su-30 still looks pretty.






still, once they sort out the F-35 FCS, it should look ok, too
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWji8AcOYGA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlFJHWfHaTY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWHHuLILs0

Last edited by a1bill; 27th Aug 2015 at 07:47.
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Old 27th Aug 2015, 10:21
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Because Higher/faster/dramatic airshow makes the best fighter plane.
At least it's being displayed at airshows!

Where's the 'T-50 Cancelled, then what?' thread?
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Old 27th Aug 2015, 13:34
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Interestingly, unlike the F-22, the T-50 is designed to be a multi-role fighter and have both air-to-ground and air-to-air capability.
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Old 27th Aug 2015, 15:37
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Ken,

I believe that the F22 was initially design brief was for a multi-role fighter / attack aircraft. Many of the features that would have helped it achieve a better A to G role were deleted from the final spec.

That is not to say that the F22 cannot do air to ground as was shown when it was used to strike an ISIS command and control facility in Raqqah on 23rd September 2014.
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