USAF News and Discussion

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
Cowabunga it is… or rather Wedgetail.
The USAF is going E7
But I don't think that the USAF will get the same upgrade advantages as the RAAF have because of their culture. It is too hidebound by the book and the acquisition people both in the USAF and the Pentagon will not tolerate users operating the same way with the contractors the way that the RAAF E-7 crews do. It will be interesting to see how the RAF will approach this as well because the MOD civil service will not take kindly to having their empire poached upon.
 

vonnoobie

Well-Known Member
But I don't think that the USAF will get the same upgrade advantages as the RAAF have because of their culture. It is too hidebound by the book and the acquisition people both in the USAF and the Pentagon will not tolerate users operating the same way with the contractors the way that the RAAF E-7 crews do. It will be interesting to see how the RAF will approach this as well because the MOD civil service will not take kindly to having their empire poached upon.
That is the biggest issue with oh so many programs. What does have me concerned for the US though is rather then a fixed order they are looking to first get 2 prototype aircraft... How far are they planning to modify them? Could be dumping on them selves unneeded costs and delays when they could have learnt from our mistakes (Forget the gold plating at the start, Get it working, We will shine it up as we go)
 

ngatimozart

Super Moderator
Staff member
Verified Defense Pro
That is the biggest issue with oh so many programs. What does have me concerned for the US though is rather then a fixed order they are looking to first get 2 prototype aircraft... How far are they planning to modify them? Could be dumping on them selves unneeded costs and delays when they could have learnt from our mistakes (Forget the gold plating at the start, Get it working, We will shine it up as we go)
There is that too and don't forget Congress and all the pollies within wanting to pork barrel for their district.

It's a wonder the USAF didn't want it built on an upgraded, enlarged B-2 airframe, powered by flux converters, be supersonic with secret hypersonic capabilities. Or is that next months plan? :D
 

vonnoobie

Well-Known Member
There is that too and don't forget Congress and all the pollies within wanting to pork barrel for their district.

It's a wonder the USAF didn't want it built on an upgraded, enlarged B-2 airframe, powered by flux converters, be supersonic with secret hypersonic capabilities. Or is that next months plan? :D
Well lets give them some credit it will take a few years for plans to adjust so not next month.. But I imagine final design may look something like this...deliveryService.jpg
 

John Fedup

The Bunker Group
This article suggests the F-15EX could be in trouble. With the USN SH orders on the decline Boeing will be pretty much out of the fast jet business if the EX gets cancelled. Even if it’s price wasn’t so north of the F-35, it still never seemed like a worthwhile acquisition IMO other than Boeing welfare.

 

Redlands18

Well-Known Member
This article suggests the F-15EX could be in trouble. With the USN SH orders on the decline Boeing will be pretty much out of the fast jet business if the EX gets cancelled. Even if it’s price wasn’t so north of the F-35, it still never seemed like a worthwhile acquisition IMO other than Boeing welfare.

Not completely out of the Fast Jet business as they still have the T-7 program.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
The air force does not plan to order the V-280 Valor, but hopefully it will be of a more mature design with less technical problems.
The V-280 will be probably safer, because between the two engines a driveshaft runs through the straight wing, allowing both prop rotors to be driven by a single engine in the event of engine loss.
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
The air force does not plan to order the V-280 Valor, but hopefully it will be of a more mature design with less technical problems.
The V-280 will be probably safer, because between the two engines a driveshaft runs through the straight wing, allowing both prop rotors to be driven by a single engine in the event of engine loss.
V22 already has the ability to operate both rotors on one engine in an emergency. In fact your link points that out. The problem is that the engine and its transmission.
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
Less than a month ago an A330MRTT landed with a drogue dragging. As such incidents like this aren’t unique to the type.
 

At lakes

Well-Known Member

Many different reasons offered in this article why this KC46 has a white washed belly as the author calls it. None of which have been confirmed by Boeing. This aircraft was the Boeing test aircraft at one stage and the fact that is carrying civilian registration indicates that its back in that job
 

Terran

Well-Known Member
The most reasonable is added in an update. That being that the White paint is reactive meant to trace leaks.
 

Sandhi Yudha

Well-Known Member
V22 already has the ability to operate both rotors on one engine in an emergency. In fact your link points that out. The problem is that the engine and its transmission.
Thank you.

A USAF Special Operations CV-22 Osprey is stuck in the nature reserve Stongodden on the island of Senja in Troms (Norway). This emergency landing is one of the events that recently led to the grounding of all CV-22s, which is quite bad because also all US Army CH-47 Chinooks are grounded.

Maybe they can turn this CV-22 into a monument.
 
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Terran

Well-Known Member
Thank you.

A USAF Special Operations CV-22 Osprey is stuck in the nature reserve Stongodden on the island of Senja in Troms (Norway). This emergency landing is one of the events that recently led to the grounding of all CV-22s, which is quite bad because also all US Army CH-47 Chinooks are grounded.

Maybe they can turn this CV-22 into a monument.
So the USAF has cleared its V22 to fly again yet they don’t have a solution to the clutch issue. Navy and Marine V22 were not grounded. It remains to be seen what happens with the Strongodden Osprey.
 
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