USMC F-35B Crash - 17 Sep 23
I don't think that going back through aviation history and pointing to high loss rates of then-advanced new types in their early years of service is a very good way of looking at this, especially not if we are going to go back as far as the Harrier or the Lightning! One would like to think we had learned things about aircraft design and flight safety in that time, not to mention changes in societal expectations and budgetary provision. The F35 accident rate compares favourably with 4th gen US aircraft, which is probably as fair a comparison as can be made in this way.
I wonder if perceptions in Europe have become skewed by the quite extraordinary safety record of the Eurofighter, and whether comparisons between it and the F35 are unfair: it could be argued that European budgetary constraints have pushed loss aversion to an excessive level, driving inflexibility and reducing combat readiness, and that Europeans should be grateful the US is still prepared to push boundaries in the way it designs, maintains and operates combat aircraft. I'm not going to come down on either side of that fence: my mind is not made up, but there seems to me the basis of an argument there.
I wonder if perceptions in Europe have become skewed by the quite extraordinary safety record of the Eurofighter, and whether comparisons between it and the F35 are unfair: it could be argued that European budgetary constraints have pushed loss aversion to an excessive level, driving inflexibility and reducing combat readiness, and that Europeans should be grateful the US is still prepared to push boundaries in the way it designs, maintains and operates combat aircraft. I'm not going to come down on either side of that fence: my mind is not made up, but there seems to me the basis of an argument there.
I think it’s inevitable that the Typhoon will have a better record. It’s a conventional type operating from runways. The 35 is a complex VSTOL type, with some accidents from carriers.
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Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I don’t believe any of the F-35 crashes were due to engine failure (I am assuming the QE intake blank accident would have had the same result).
https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-databa...and-accidents/
https://www.f-16.net/aircraft-databa...and-accidents/
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1 vs 2
Interestingly I read a USAF study a few years back comparing engine failure rates leading to aircraft loss from the F15 vs the F16 fleet. It might surprise you to realise that the F15 had a higher rate of losses due to engine failure.
The reason?
Twice as many engines means double the odds of a failure. Since FJs tend to have their engines mounted side by side, one failing spectacularly is likely to take the other one with it or cause additional problems leading to aircraft loss.
So, whilst a pilot may feel safer having a second engine, they should actually trust the statistics and think of themselves as safer in a single engine jet.
Disclaimer: may not be true of every fleet and I would not use it as a legal defence.
BV
The reason?
Twice as many engines means double the odds of a failure. Since FJs tend to have their engines mounted side by side, one failing spectacularly is likely to take the other one with it or cause additional problems leading to aircraft loss.
So, whilst a pilot may feel safer having a second engine, they should actually trust the statistics and think of themselves as safer in a single engine jet.
Disclaimer: may not be true of every fleet and I would not use it as a legal defence.
BV
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Reference the above.
The Fighter Engine Debate – More is not Better
Billie Flynn | 8 Sep 2021
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fight...r-billie-flynn
The Fighter Engine Debate – More is not Better
Billie Flynn | 8 Sep 2021
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fight...r-billie-flynn
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Reference the above.
The Fighter Engine Debate – More is not Better
Billie Flynn | 8 Sep 2021
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fight...r-billie-flynn
The Fighter Engine Debate – More is not Better
Billie Flynn | 8 Sep 2021
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fight...r-billie-flynn
The Fighter Engine Debate – More is not Better 08 Sep 2021
https://billieflynn.com/the-fighter-...is-not-better/
...the F15 had a higher rate of losses due to engine failure.
I've had catastrophic engine failure in an F-100, lost the aircraft....and catastrophic engine failure in F-4s twice, recovered both aircraft.
(Twice the odds of engine failure seems logically reasonable, but twice the odds of losing the airframe certainly does not follow.)
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
I believe the figures show that the cost of buying, maintaining and running two engines for the life of an aircraft (which is therefore heavier and uses more fuel anyway), rather than a single engined aircraft far exceeds the marginal cost of the few additional airframes lost.
That also factors in the few additional aircrew lost - though that won’t be many with modern seats.
It does explain the navy preference for a two engines aircraft where long flights over water with limited rescue assets is a factor - just not an option for a STOVL aircraft. Then again the USN operated A-4 and A-7, so it’s a preference rather than a policy.
That also factors in the few additional aircrew lost - though that won’t be many with modern seats.
It does explain the navy preference for a two engines aircraft where long flights over water with limited rescue assets is a factor - just not an option for a STOVL aircraft. Then again the USN operated A-4 and A-7, so it’s a preference rather than a policy.
When you start adding expensive Auto-GCAS, auto-ejection systems, etc., I'm not sure service life costs due to engine config are that high of a priority. Auto-GCAS function being to save the aircraft first and the pilot as an afterthought...$100 mill (or 80) not being chump change.
With respect to F-16 v F-15 accident rates due to engine failure, the F-16 has one big advantage over most (probably all) other single-engine aircraft. A flame out landing attempt is much more likely to be successful than any other aircraft in the inventory, given equal starting conditions. If it's possible at all to do it, it is the easiest aircraft to safely land engine-out under a variety of conditions and offers more flexibility in energy management options than any other single engine fighter I flew, all of which suggested ejection as a preferable alternative. (Difference between an engine failure statistic and an engine fail/hull loss statistic)
edit: T-6 may be just as easy to land engine out
With respect to F-16 v F-15 accident rates due to engine failure, the F-16 has one big advantage over most (probably all) other single-engine aircraft. A flame out landing attempt is much more likely to be successful than any other aircraft in the inventory, given equal starting conditions. If it's possible at all to do it, it is the easiest aircraft to safely land engine-out under a variety of conditions and offers more flexibility in energy management options than any other single engine fighter I flew, all of which suggested ejection as a preferable alternative. (Difference between an engine failure statistic and an engine fail/hull loss statistic)
edit: T-6 may be just as easy to land engine out
Last edited by OK465; 16th Oct 2023 at 18:42. Reason: addition
Salute!
Some good points here from folks that actually flew single and dual engine fast movers.
I favor the single engine lights because I would rather have more gas and burn less of it that I did in my original jet, that used J-57's and had a low lost rate for reasons other than motor failure. I thot the 106 had the best single engine loss rate in its early years, but have to check. The A-7D I flew had some engine problems early on, and then became a stalwart.
The Viper was first USAF fighter that I recall having an approved and tested flameout procedure after the 106 and 102. We saw it do good deadstick landings several times in the time I was at Hill in the early years ( 1979 - 1984 ), and one or two were not the classic circling pattern but straight ins. There's a few videos on the 'net to provide examples.
Gums sends...
Some good points here from folks that actually flew single and dual engine fast movers.
I favor the single engine lights because I would rather have more gas and burn less of it that I did in my original jet, that used J-57's and had a low lost rate for reasons other than motor failure. I thot the 106 had the best single engine loss rate in its early years, but have to check. The A-7D I flew had some engine problems early on, and then became a stalwart.
The Viper was first USAF fighter that I recall having an approved and tested flameout procedure after the 106 and 102. We saw it do good deadstick landings several times in the time I was at Hill in the early years ( 1979 - 1984 ), and one or two were not the classic circling pattern but straight ins. There's a few videos on the 'net to provide examples.
Gums sends...
We saw it do good deadstick landings several times
