What Military Aircraft Would You Bring Back To Service?
Ignoring all the crazy logistical issues for most of these:
B1-B
Vulcan, Victor and Valiant
Harrier
Buccanneer (for the low passes in ground effect
)
And for complete lunacy, fit a Concorde with a couple of 303s in the wings and call it military!
B1-B
Vulcan, Victor and Valiant
Harrier
Buccanneer (for the low passes in ground effect
)And for complete lunacy, fit a Concorde with a couple of 303s in the wings and call it military!
From what I know there's a few of them hidden that are airworthy. I bought the POH for the BlackBird and it's really interesting, very complex airplane. There is still some pages classified. And also the actual flight envelope is likewise, classified. my guess is FL 90 and M 3.6
Of course, Reaction Engines’ helium cooled heat exchanger on their Sabre concept overcomes that general limitation. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if that pitches up in something hypersonic in the US.
Aircraft I Like would to be still flying.
Wasn't there a design for the Vickers Funbus as a bomber (& indeed a maritime patrol aircraft) both fitted with a bomb bay & disposable pods under the wings? If I recall in the bomber role it could have carried 40,000lb worth (or maybe more) of bombs. Get's my vote!
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I hate to say it, and sorry to be controversial, but none of the RAF's retired types were really world beating either by the time they were retired or even when introduced. The Eurofighter Typhoon is OK, as was the Lightning. Tornado, adequate. We'd have bene far better to buy a half dozen squadrons of F/A18s and upgraded to E/F models really. Could have deployed them on a carrier, and on land. A truly versatile aircraft. F15s are still better than the Eurofighter and they're 40 years old.
The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.
Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!
The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.
Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!
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I hate to say it, and sorry to be controversial, but none of the RAF's retired types were really world beating either by the time they were retired or even when introduced. The Eurofighter Typhoon is OK, as was the Lightning. Tornado, adequate. We'd have bene far better to buy a half dozen squadrons of F/A18s and upgraded to E/F models really. Could have deployed them on a carrier, and on land. A truly versatile aircraft. F15s are still better than the Eurofighter and they're 40 years old.
The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.
Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!
The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.
Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!
When you say, "as was the Lightning," I presume you refer to the English Electric Lightning.
At the risk of every WIWOL on the forum hating me forever, no, it really wasn't 'ok' when put into historical context. It was neglected by the political class, and as a consequence it was out-classed by fighters capable of delivering RH weapons.
It had the potential, it just didn't have the investment and its IR weapons were old and dated - the later models of the AIM-9 in those days were a quantum leap in technology.
Maybe in the 60's, the Lightning really was top dog. When RH technology really started to pick up, anything that wasn't providing a similar capability was left behind.
Oh, and let's not even go there with regards to fuel...
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I hate to say it, and sorry to be controversial, but none of the RAF's retired types were really world beating either by the time they were retired or even when introduced. The Eurofighter Typhoon is OK, as was the Lightning. Tornado, adequate. We'd have bene far better to buy a half dozen squadrons of F/A18s and upgraded to E/F models really. Could have deployed them on a carrier, and on land. A truly versatile aircraft. F15s are still better than the Eurofighter and they're 40 years old.
The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.
Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!
The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.
Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!
I hate to say it, and sorry to be controversial, but none of the RAF's retired types were really world beating either by the time they were retired or even when introduced. The Eurofighter Typhoon is OK, as was the Lightning. Tornado, adequate. We'd have bene far better to buy a half dozen squadrons of F/A18s and upgraded to E/F models really.
I recall ages ago reading some work someone had done to calculate the top speed, came out at M3.4 so far as I can recall. The limiting factor is the compressor inlet air temperature, which increases with speed. Any faster than that and the air temperature profile throughout the compressor results in the latter stages getting hot enough to melt.
Of course, Reaction Engines’ helium cooled heat exchanger on their Sabre concept overcomes that general limitation. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if that pitches up in something hypersonic in the US.
Of course, Reaction Engines’ helium cooled heat exchanger on their Sabre concept overcomes that general limitation. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if that pitches up in something hypersonic in the US.
Thanks
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Could you have written a more poorly balanced post?
When you say, "as was the Lightning," I presume you refer to the English Electric Lightning.
At the risk of every WIWOL on the forum hating me forever, no, it really wasn't 'ok' when put into historical context. It was neglected by the political class, and as a consequence it was out-classed by fighters capable of delivering RH weapons.
It had the potential, it just didn't have the investment and its IR weapons were old and dated - the later models of the AIM-9 in those days were a quantum leap in technology.
Maybe in the 60's, the Lightning really was top dog. When RH technology really started to pick up, anything that wasn't providing a similar capability was left behind.
Oh, and let's not even go there with regards to fuel...
When you say, "as was the Lightning," I presume you refer to the English Electric Lightning.
At the risk of every WIWOL on the forum hating me forever, no, it really wasn't 'ok' when put into historical context. It was neglected by the political class, and as a consequence it was out-classed by fighters capable of delivering RH weapons.
It had the potential, it just didn't have the investment and its IR weapons were old and dated - the later models of the AIM-9 in those days were a quantum leap in technology.
Maybe in the 60's, the Lightning really was top dog. When RH technology really started to pick up, anything that wasn't providing a similar capability was left behind.
Oh, and let's not even go there with regards to fuel...
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I'm kind of glad the political class neglected it, to be honest.
The Phantom was a wonderful aeroplane and I don't think the Lightning, even if given all the money in the world, could have been close to being as capable and it would have undermined the case to buy the F-4.
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It wasn't that long ago that it was delivering good news to vile people.
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Ttfn
what's interesting is how many of the suggestions want to add/change things to the light of their life - armament, engines, electronics