Military Aviation News and Discussion

the concerned said:

Hope you don't mind me asking this question on here but if a aircraft travelling at supersonic speed lobbed a bomb how far could it travel.

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Vintage Video Shows F-104 Using "Tossing" Technique To Drop A Nuclear Bomb And Escape The Blast Effects

This is how the USAF proposed to do it in the late 50's early 60's using a F104C and believe it not a B47. The Navy tried it using a A4C but the video clip is crap quality so I did not include it. The F104 clip shows the procedure best. Proposed for the release of low yield weapons.

My father was in the Royal Navy and mentioned the buccaneer practicing this technique . I was wondering something modern like the f35

































































































My father was in the Royal Navy on HMS Eagle and mentioned the buccaneer practicing this technique. I was wondering about the F35 with a internal payload.

the concerned said:

My father was in the Royal Navy and mentioned the buccaneer practicing this technique . I was wondering something modern like the f35

































































































My father was in the Royal Navy on HMS Eagle and mentioned the buccaneer practicing this technique. I was wondering about the F35 with a internal payload.

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Probably could do it but the need is just not there. It was about getting out of the blast range in time, but by the 1970s tactical Warheads were being fitted to powered ASMs with ranges in 10s of ks, by the 80s 100s of Ks, by the 90s a 1000 Ks(Tomahawk family). There was far better ways to do it.

OK, straight nuts, And apparently not very good for the airframe

the concerned said:

My father was in the Royal Navy on HMS Eagle and mentioned the buccaneer practicing this technique. I was wondering about the F35 with a internal payload.

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There is still the issue of maintaining supersonic speed with the weapons bay open and in a significant climb. I don't know the answer, but is the F35 even cleared to open the weapons bay at supersonic speeds?

Some info on the Osprey hard clutch issue. I wonder if this component assembly or derivative of it is used in the V-280? It is a lighter aircraft and only the rotor/transmission rotates, not the entire engine assembly like the Osprey. LM is probably hoping it is potentially a issue against the V-280 award which is under review.

Another take on the Chinese balloon. Don’t have a clue wrt detection of these balloons. If detection is as difficult as the article suggests then I guess this delivery method for EMP might work. Certainly means it should have been shot down over the Pacific not the Atlantic!

What a pathetic end to this aircraft. At a reported sell price of 95 million for a jet that only made 16 flights it is surprising somebody couldn’t find a use for it. It is a 747-8. I guess turning it into an “F” version wasn’t doable.

Sad to see but understandable. I mean it’s a very large aircraft quad engined. Making it expensive to operate and in the modern era a 787 could do 90% of the 747-8 BBJ’s missions. Fortunately her sacrifice will keep her sisters flying for decades to come.

John Fedup said:

What a pathetic end to this aircraft. At a reported sell price of 95 million for a jet that only made 16 flights it is surprising somebody couldn’t find a use for it. It is a 747-8. I guess turning it into an “F” version wasn’t doable.

Brand new Boeing 747 scrapped after 16 flights

The world's largest business jet, a Boeing 747 configured as a private VIP plane for a Saudi royal, is being scrapped after having spent just 30 hours in service over 16 flights.

www.cnn.com

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Sad to read, it would be better if the USAF buy this one to turn into a VVIP-transporter.



Here two news reports from the Middle-East.
The last of a total of twelve Bell AH-1Z Viper is delivered to the Royal Bahraini Air Force, and at this year's International Defence Exhibition and Conference IDEX (IDEX 23) exposition in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) signed a contract for fifteen Hongdu L-15 Falcon advanced jet training aircraft.

Remarkable that the UAEAF didn't purchase the Aermacchi M-346, as a former MB-339 user.

If i'm not wrong, 10 more AH-1Z helicopters are on the production line for the Czech Airforce.

China manage to sell their L-15 LIFT to UAE. It is relatively small deals toward what UAE bought from Western suppliers. However related to US/West - China increasingly tensions, this shown quite a breakthrough toward one of Western Dominates traditional military market.

Must say I'm a bit surprised, but it is not as if the Super Bug ever developed a deep customer base, and recent contract losses the the F-35 likely plays a large role in this decision. Production of new F/A-18E/F to end on 2025. Though production could be extended based on "international customer" needs (suggested as related to Indian Navy trials) Article also suggested that production could be extended if the US Congress continues to force the US Navy to buy new aircraft, which it has as late as the last budget cycle.

There are still-unconfirmed rumors that those sales have led the Rafale M to become the front-runner to win the Indian Navy deal

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Put the quote in that article, as seems this is the foreign deal that Boeing really hope to keep the Shornet line open for sometimes in future. Indian media and online forums already talk of Indian Navy unsatisfied with Mig 29K performance.


However with Rafale seems also ahead in future deal with Indian AF, Rafale M also gain more traction with Indian Navy as not just Carrier Fighter for their new carrier, but also replacing Mig 29K in their existing carrier. Thus the deal can worth more than 26 Fighters.

Note:
India do planning to have their indigenous twin engine carrier fighter to replace Mig 29K. However considering their track record time table on developing Tejas, I'm not certain their indigenous carrier fighter can be ready by early next decade. Considering problem they have with Mig 29K, make whoever win (Rafale or Shornet), can potentially fill Carrier wing on both carriers and not just one.

Putting this kind information in Media, can be considered that Boeing already close to throw the towel against Dasault in India. Which basically the biggest potential foreign deals that Shornet can hope for left in near future.

Apparently no more V-22s after 2025. Can’t help but think the hard clutch engagement issue is partly to blame for this decision. I wonder if the V-280 has a better solution?

Another article pointing out questionable decisions by the US army that will degrade the military industrial capacity down the road. Also mentioned in the article was the army decision to close the Lima, Ohio tank plant. Good move by by Congress to can that plan given the Ukraine decision.

The Philadelphia area will take a huge hit if Chinook production ends. The V-22 is also produced here and that ends in 2025 as per my post 774.

John Fedup said:

Apparently no more V-22s after 2025. Can’t help but think the hard clutch engagement issue is partly to blame for this decision. I wonder if the V-280 has a better solution?

Military Quietly Stops Buying Ospreys as Aircraft Faces an Uncertain Future

New budget documents for the three military branches that fly the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft show that none has plans to buy any additional airframes, a sign that the Pentagon isn't prioritizing growing the fleet.

www.military.com

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V22 has a different mission set than V280. I mean you can’t drive a quad it’s into a V280. Nor can you load even parts of an F135.
on the other side V22 can’t mount machine guns on both sides like V280 or empty the chalk like one. The two don’t compete with each other they complement.

Terran said:

V22 has a different mission set than V280. I mean you can’t drive a quad it’s into a V280. Nor can you load even parts of an F135.
on the other side V22 can’t mount machine guns on both sides like V280 or empty the chalk like one. The two don’t compete with each other they complement.

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I wasn’t referring to mission but rather to the actual transmission differences between the two aircraft. The Osprey’s entire engine assembly rotates whereas the Valor only has the propeller (and I assume part of the gearbox) rotating. Is the gearbox/clutch assembly different or will it have the same hard clutch engagement issues?

This article contains a video describing how B-52 crews were prepared for nuclear bomb releases.

The amount of effort to gather all the important scientific and engineering data is impressive, especially considering the state of the art computing kit availability. The staff required to prepare all those punch cards for the IBM computers, where did they find the money?

John Fedup said:

I wasn’t referring to mission but rather to the actual transmission differences between the two aircraft. The Osprey’s entire engine assembly rotates whereas the Valor only has the propeller (and I assume part of the gearbox) rotating. Is the gearbox/clutch assembly different or will it have the same hard clutch engagement issues?

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I am aware of that however, it’s the missions that decide if the aircraft is going to be bought not the mechanism. V280 is clearly the newer of the two types with a larger pool of aircraft it’s slated to replace vs V22 which targeted a slightly larger medium lifter. Though V22 may still get some traction in orders at this point the USDOD has replaced the old USMC CH46 with V22, established whole USAF SOF units and replaced the old Jolly green Giants with it and the Navy is filling out its orders for CMV22s for carrier air wings to replace C2 Greyhound. Unless one of the services suddenly says “oh wait we need a new variant for this mission here!” V22 as we know it will be pushed increasingly to the export market. The JMSDF has an order and hopefully other countries will see the potential.

Terran said:

I am aware of that however, it’s the missions that decide if the aircraft is going to be bought not the mechanism. V280 is clearly the newer of the two types with a larger pool of aircraft it’s slated to replace vs V22 which targeted a slightly larger medium lifter. Though V22 may still get some traction in orders at this point the USDOD has replaced the old USMC CH46 with V22, established whole USAF SOF units and replaced the old Jolly green Giants with it and the Navy is filling out its orders for CMV22s for carrier air wings to replace C2 Greyhound. Unless one of the services suddenly says “oh wait we need a new variant for this mission here!” V22 as we know it will be pushed increasingly to the export market. The JMSDF has an order and hopefully other countries will see the potential.

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JHC, I am asking about whether the V-280 offers a different solution wrt to the hard clutch problem encountered with the V-22 that could be applied to the V-22. Besides, there are no future US orders for the Osprey so what will be bought isn't my question. Furthermore I doubt any more V-22 export orders are possible as the production line is to close in 2025. Probably would be useful for the RN but money would be difficult.