Modern War Planes: An open Opinion.

[ledhed]

Its already flying and its remotely piloted .

 

[YSSMAN]

Just makes you wonder what secret planes the military have now

...Well theres the Aurora, which was the rumored replacement for the SR-71. The name first started poping up in 1985 after the project appeared on a Pentagon budget request beneath the U-2 and SR-71. Apparently back when Dick Cheney was head of the Department of Defense in 1992, he scrapped the project after hearing reports that each individual plane would cost in the neighborhood of $1 Billion.

There have been various reports that the plane is still around, and is still being tested. The unexplained sonic booms over Los Angles and Las Vagas are reported to be from the testing of the Aurora (which reportedly can hit Mach 6-20), and there have apparently been sightings of the plane, but some have been discredited.

The rumor also is that the Aurora name was codename for the B-2 project, but that is not for certain.

The Aurora has been a part of pop culture for a while now as well. In the Command and Conquer Generals game, one of your weapons is the Aurora high-speed bomber, and in Ghost Recon there is a mission where you have to destroy a downed Aurora aircraft.

 

[Keef]

I think the name Aurora is just a cliche name for a secret plane, to me, at least. The original "concept" had scramjet engines which required supersonic speeds just to light, and they had no moving parts inside the engines. Back in the 80s and 90s it was all secret, but the military has openly tested scramjet engines now. They attached a 6 or so foot long model that, hmm, just happened to look like what everyone thought the "Aurora" would look like, it was fitted with a small scramjet, then hooked on the end of a Pegasis rocket which was dropped from a B-52 in order to get the scramjet to supersonic speeds. So the whole Aurora thing is pretty old now and requires no discussion. We know they've been pondering a high-atmoshere transport/airliner/bomber that can fly at ~6 mach. Most of the secret aircraft at work now are going to be UAVs, even some that fight on their own. But that doesn't really invoke any emotions of pride in me. Who are little kids going to look up to in the future if all the pilots have been replaced with UAVs?

 

[YSSMAN]

...I don't think a UAV will ever completely take away the need for pilots, as I presume that it will be similar to the arguement for robots replacing the footsoldier... There will always be a need for human intervention...

 

[ExigeEvan]

I think UAVs are the future, however, they will still require real time pilots to remotely control them. Even if not as a full time requirement. I actually kind of like the Dale Brown style of thinking where you'll have a single pilot controlling 4 aircraft each capable of some AI.

 

[Keef]

I think a pilot in a plane should still be the "flagship" of the airforce, and UAVs should be like support drones or wingmen for the piloted planes. I also like the idea of remotely controlled UAVs, where a pilot is on the ground, maybe 50 miles away, controlling it like a videogame. I do trust human pilots way more than I'll ever trust AI.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I think a pilot in a plane should still be the "flagship" of the airforce, and UAVs should be like support drones or wingmen for the piloted planes. I also like the idea of remotely controlled UAVs, where a pilot is on the ground, maybe 50 miles away, controlling it like a videogame

50 miles isn't very far when your in control of a supersonic jet. And so far that is about the limitations of current UAVs. Control via Satellite is a possibility but the lag and possible interference would be damaging. However, there is the possibilities of armed flying control centres (Another job for the B-52 perhaps?) that could do make the gap much smaller.

I do trust human pilots way more than I'll ever trust AI.

Especially if it was American programmed AI!

 

[YSSMAN]

...AWACS would probably take control of the UAV's from high-above, it's not like they have anything good to do these days...

 

[Keef]

Yeah, I didn't know how far they could be controlled from. It didn't occur to me that the military uses satellites and can, and does, control UAVs from thousands of miles away.
And, Exige, that was a bad joke. It definitely deserved a .

 

[YSSMAN]

...I'm in the process of playing through Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, and it is a pretty interesting game for all of you fighter-jet fans...

I'm not very far into the game, but so far the highest-rated plane I have come across is the Saab Gripen-C, otherwise I'm stuck with the ol' Russian Mirage at the moment. She is a great handler, and is good at close combat, but thats about it. Air-to-air, it obviously is not the best since it is an attacker-class aircraft, but it is better than my only other figher, the F-5E.

 

[a6m5]

I'm stuck with the ol' Russian Mirage at the moment.

Russians don't have Mirages, do they?

 

[Kent]

...I'm in the process of playing through Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War, and it is a pretty interesting game for all of you fighter-jet fans...

I'm not very far into the game, but so far the highest-rated plane I have come across is the Saab Gripen-C, otherwise I'm stuck with the ol' Russian Mirage at the moment. She is a great handler, and is good at close combat, but thats about it. Air-to-air, it obviously is not the best since it is an attacker-class aircraft, but it is better than my only other figher, the F-5E.

Suprisingly, the F5 is an excellent fighter that is extremely agile.

Also, the Mirage is a French plane. 👍
(pretty sure of that although I could be wrong, though I doubt it)

 

[Ev0]

The Mirage series is most certainly French.

In its time, the F-5 was a pretty good aircraft for the price. Very, very light.

 

[DQuaN]

I have always wondered. In Top Gun, were the fictional "Mig-28's" Actually Freedom Fighters painted black? Or were they something else? I seem to remember there is another plane that looks just like the F-5, but I can't remember it.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I seem to remember there is another plane that looks just like the F-5, but I can't remember it.

Hawker Gnat? The RAFs single seater jet trainer and Red Arrows plane of choice.

And the Mirage is French, but is also used by the Argentinians (among others). I have seen one on the ground close up and it's almost like a paper dart/plane in shape.

 

[Ev0]

I have always wondered. In Top Gun, were the fictional "Mig-28's" Actually Freedom Fighters painted black? Or were they something else? I seem to remember there is another plane that looks just like the F-5, but I can't remember it.

After looking at a google image search, it does seem the MiG 28 is an F5 in black.

Also, you are probably thinking of either the T-38 Talon (the F-5 was based on this aircraft) or the F-20 Tigershark, an advanced version of the F-5 which never made it to market.

 

[DQuaN]

Tigershark it is. 👍

 

[YSSMAN]

The Mirage 2000D, thats the full name. I thought it was a Russian Aircraft used to take down enemy ships with it's long-range torpedo and missle capabilities... I'm not sure... I guess the paint job threw me off...

 

[DQuaN]

The full name would actually be Dassault Mirage 2000D. It is definately french and the 2000D is the Conventional Strike Variant.

 

[YSSMAN]

Allright, thanks for the clearup. I guess that has made me wrong since the release of Ace Combat 4, I suppose it would help to research the planes once in a while.

...Damn, I'm having a rough time with the level where you have to dodge the Excalibur lazer... I need a faster or more agile plane... Damnit I want an f-ing F15E now!!!

 

[Keef]

Just mash the gas, MAN. I kicked ass on AC04. And AC05 now that I think about it. I can't believe they don't have an Ace Comabat lined up for the PS3 yet!

 

[YSSMAN]

Sorry to dig-up an old thread, but I was thinking about it the other day when I was watching NASCAR.

I don't know if I'm the only one who has noticed this, but the F-22 has been showing up far more often than I had expected at the beginning of the races these past few weeks, so I would assume that they've began to enter service now? Wiki says they went live at the end of 2005, but these are the first of them I've seen flying around (although, I have yet to see one in person).

I still hate seeing so many of my favorite jets going away, but then again, its a natural process of the military. I'm still eagerly anticipating the JSF as well...

 

[Eric.]

Best Enemy Aircraft (Tie): Chinese J10 (similar competition to F-16) and J-XX (upcomming compeditor to the F-22). Stangely the Chinese still seem to think the US is going to destroy them, so they see the need to build planes to compete against ours. Too bad the F-22 and JSF are allready near production, as we are WAY ahead of the curve compared to the Chinese at the moment.

The J-XX will look exactly like the F-22 but will have shoddy build quality. Those X's are going to be replaced so that it is J-22. That way they can trick others into thinking they really have the American fighter.

 

[Kent]

Sorry to dig-up an old thread, but I was thinking about it the other day when I was watching NASCAR.

I don't know if I'm the only one who has noticed this, but the F-22 has been showing up far more often than I had expected at the beginning of the races these past few weeks, so I would assume that they've began to enter service now? Wiki says they went live at the end of 2005, but these are the first of them I've seen flying around (although, I have yet to see one in person).

I still hate seeing so many of my favorite jets going away, but then again, its a natural process of the military. I'm still eagerly anticipating the JSF as well...

Heard that.
Of course, I must admit, people in my hometown (just a bit outside of langley) have noticed the F22 for a while now. Seems the sucker really did go into service in '05 and seeing the things was just a matter of where you lived in the country.

Even though I hate to see planes like the F14 and F15 on the way out (not to mention the F5), I'm happy to see something like the F22 in the sky.

That said... A while back I went on Spring Break in Panama City Beach and you all wouldn't believe what I saw in flight... An F4 Phantom!!!
I couldn't believe my eyes! Eventually I just assumed it was something from the National Guard or something.

Btw,

I have always wondered. In Top Gun, were the fictional "Mig-28's" Actually Freedom Fighters painted black? Or were they something else? I seem to remember there is another plane that looks just like the F-5, but I can't remember it.

The F5 was used a training plane for the very reasons we've been saying it was a good plane... Light weight made it extremely agile and inturn the TopGun school used it as an advanced trainer (in real life, not just the movie).

 

[YSSMAN]

That said... A while back I went on Spring Break in Panama City Beach and you all wouldn't believe what I saw in flight... An F4 Phantom!!!
I couldn't believe my eyes! Eventually I just assumed it was something from the National Guard or something.

I used to vacation there every spring in the late '90s (up until 2001), and there were always a wide assortment of jets to be seen. I don't recall seeing an F-5 at any point in time, but I do remember a lot of F-16s, and maybe an F-15 or two.

But I do believe you're right, I think the F-5 is the training aircraft of choice, given its size and speed. But then again, it may be too small for that.

...I really need to go back to the Air Zoo down in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They had quite a few great planes there the last time I went, and I'm sure they've added quite a few more these days. An air show wouldn't be a bad idea either, although I usually go just to see the new fighters than anything else...

It would be sweet to go to the Royal International Air Tattoo in the UK, otherwise the Oshkosh show in Wisconsin wouldn't be too bad.

 

[Kent]

I've never seen a F5 in real life and only manage to catch it frequently in Video Games as it isn't very popular here in the U.S.
According to an aircraft guide I own (dated something like '81 ) the F5 was never used by US military for much other than instruction with Top Gun.
What I'm thinking is funny now... Thinking back to the movie Top Gun... I believe the instructors in the movies were using A4s and the MiGs were F5s, is that right?
I wonder why? Not sure here but I would guess laws preventing the purchase of MiG.

Btw, grabbed the book...

"Northrop's F-5 family of lightweight fighters has racked up a remarkable sales total of more than 2,700 aircraft to 30 countries in spite of the fact that it was never adopted- or even marketed- as a major type in its own country!"
"These are still rather limited aircraft, without all-weather intercept or attack capability, but they are tough, simple, cheap, beautiful to fly, extremely agile and not only useful as advanced trainers (the F5E is used by the USAF and US Navy for Aggressors/Top Gun fighter pilot training) but quite effective in simple wars under visual conditions."

Donald, David. The Pocket Guide to Military Aircraft and The World's Air Forces. Gallery Books, 1989.

I'm sure sales have continued by now and I'm sure the technology in the aircraft has caught up to modern standards. 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

Geez, haven't seen a jaguar (retired?)/tornado/harrier in ages

Though the chinooks have been pretty active recentley

 

[YSSMAN]

Though the chinooks have been pretty active recentley

They're pretty useful choppers, I must say. Its a shame how easy they are to shoot down, that is, if the mechanical bits and pieces aren't failing to begin with. I would suppose that it could be a problem if we're using Vietnam-era weapons in a modern war, many of which haven't been updated.

I've only seen a Chinook once or twice in person, and I couldn't believe the size and sound of the thing. There are a lot more Huey choppers around here, and those are outstandingly loud for being so small...

One of my former High School teachers served in Iraq in a Blackhawk, my personal favorite helicopter, but he would have a Huey visit the school every spring when he was in the US. Beyond that, they used to do some kind of chopper training thing there, where they would fly in, people would jump out, and then get back in, and take off.

...I miss those days...

 

[DQuaN]

One of the great things about Chinooks is that they float!

Making marine pickups very easy, somtimes they just drive the dingy straight up the rear ramp!

 

[Sting]

Never seen a Chinook float.

But I remember once a Chinook did land on our school field when I was still in 6th form. I don't know why it landed at my school but it was an awesome sight to watch with the twin rotors beating like crazy. Luckily for me I didn't have a lesson at that time so I watched the whole thing. It landed, some teachers and students got to have a look inside, stayed for a little while and took off again on its merry way.

Though why some teachers and students were allowed a look baffles me cause I cant think of a subject taught at that school where they would need a Chinook.


Operational wise, my favourite helicopter is the AH64 Apache, even though some people think its quite ugly.
Shame the RAH-66 Comanche got cancelled, cause that was an awesome looking machine.