Modern War Planes: An open Opinion.
- Thread starter m.piedgros
- 140 comments
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- Southern Louisiana
- GTP_Kent
Believe it or not, the Chinook is the one that floats.
If I can find pictures of both the Sea Knight and the Chinook it will become obvious. (off to look for them now)
Chinook Picture... (wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BOEING_VERTOL_CH-47_CHINOOK.png
Sea Knight Picture (wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BOEING_VERTOL_CH-46_SEA_KNIGHT.png
Look at those pictures and it will surely be obvious that the Chinook floats and the Sea Knight doesn't.
According to the book I quoted the other day, the Chinook was designed with water landings in mind even though it has a full ramp rear door. 👍
If I can find pictures of both the Sea Knight and the Chinook it will become obvious. (off to look for them now)
Chinook Picture... (wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BOEING_VERTOL_CH-47_CHINOOK.png
Sea Knight Picture (wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:BOEING_VERTOL_CH-46_SEA_KNIGHT.png
Look at those pictures and it will surely be obvious that the Chinook floats and the Sea Knight doesn't.
According to the book I quoted the other day, the Chinook was designed with water landings in mind even though it has a full ramp rear door. 👍
- 5,080
- Panama City, FL
The F-22 has been in service for a couple of years now. The local air force base, Tyndall, is one of the primary training centers for F22 pilots, and just underwent a massive contruction effort for facilities like simulators, shops, what-have-you. The power company had to run a new set of lines across the bay for them!
They still don't have an "official" demonstration team like the 15, 16 and 18, but at every show I've been to at Tyndall since '04 there has been a flight of at least two F-22s doing flat passes and some serious climbs.
Going over some of the older posts, I thought I'd dredge up a couple of points.
The A-10 is Air Force, not Army, at least in the US. Army combat aviation is helicopters only.
The MIG-25 may have been fast, but it had a single job to do. Intercept the B-70 we never built. And while it's capable of those speeds, it can only do it once. Any MIG-25 that's seen that speed can't do it again without new engines. And I mean new, not overhauled. Or so I've been told. . . .
I'm thinking the F14's replacement is the F18E Super Hornet. Looks just like an F-18, unless an F-18 is close enough to compare it to. It has a LOT more wing, and while it's the same shape generally, it's like it's scaled up by a quarter or a third. In air show demonstrations it's positively amazing to see.
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The Super Hornet is truly badass. It and the JSF will be the new Navy workhorses, replacing the 14 and 18.
Two of my favorite jets are the F-22 and the A-10. I love the sleekness and stealthiness of the 22, but I do enjoy the raw power of the A-10.
The A-10 is an interesting plane. While most planes are developed before the gun is considered, the Warthog was the other way around. It is a plane that was built around a gun. A gun that is half the plane's length, and can actually slow the plane if fired enough. Plus it fires depleted uranium bullets the size of Coke bottles at almost 4000 rounds a minute. It's also the only non fly-by-wire combat aircraft still in US military service.
My all-time favorite jet is still the F-4 Phantom. Fast as hell, could take a beating, and was suited to any role we could think up. And call me crazy, but I like its off-beat looks.
Two of my favorite jets are the F-22 and the A-10. I love the sleekness and stealthiness of the 22, but I do enjoy the raw power of the A-10.
The A-10 is an interesting plane. While most planes are developed before the gun is considered, the Warthog was the other way around. It is a plane that was built around a gun. A gun that is half the plane's length, and can actually slow the plane if fired enough. Plus it fires depleted uranium bullets the size of Coke bottles at almost 4000 rounds a minute. It's also the only non fly-by-wire combat aircraft still in US military service.
My all-time favorite jet is still the F-4 Phantom. Fast as hell, could take a beating, and was suited to any role we could think up. And call me crazy, but I like its off-beat looks.
- 21,286
- GR-MI-USA
- YSSMAN
- YSSMAN
The A10 continues to impress, and it certain is a testament to how well-designed a plane it is. They come back torn to pieces, and yet they're still flying, and they fix them up, and they send them right back out. Its just awesome. Plus, you've got to love the sound of the big gun...
I wouldn't call you crazy, as it was a good plane. It just isn't my favorite...
- 6,977
- old-guy64
While I llike the Old F14, it was an airframe in need of replacement. The F14 has been around since the 1970's, and even through all the updates, its age was beginning to show.
The F14 takes an inordinant amount of time to maintain pre and post mission compared to the F/A18. The F/A 18 is also a bit more multi-purpose. However, the RIO concept is one that I believe should still be in use in fighter/attack planes.
At the sheer speed that "dog-fights" and attck runs take place, the pilot NEEDS an extra set of eyes to watch the screens while he "drives" and pays attention to what's happening outside the windows.
I believe that is one of the main factors that made the F-14 such a successful craft. It is sad to see her retired. The F14 was the stuff of legend in the 80's when my young butt was sitting off the coast of Beirut.
The F14 takes an inordinant amount of time to maintain pre and post mission compared to the F/A18. The F/A 18 is also a bit more multi-purpose. However, the RIO concept is one that I believe should still be in use in fighter/attack planes.
At the sheer speed that "dog-fights" and attck runs take place, the pilot NEEDS an extra set of eyes to watch the screens while he "drives" and pays attention to what's happening outside the windows.
I believe that is one of the main factors that made the F-14 such a successful craft. It is sad to see her retired. The F14 was the stuff of legend in the 80's when my young butt was sitting off the coast of Beirut.
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- Ealing-London
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My fovorite will always be a P51 Mustang ...but call me crazy ......... I am a Fan of the F-111 .
Of the most recent planes ..I am Impressed with the B-2 and the F-22
Iriony is I just watched the anotomy of an aircraft . About the F 18's ... and it was sad to see how the Tomcat was being used..considering the massive amount of work that it needs to keep it flying ..but proud to see that we made such an awsome airframe that has paid for itself many times over.
A-10 will always be a Favorite , just for the raw power of the thing ...and many forget before the Gulf war ( one ) . The A-10 was considered obsolete and was being retired from service as it was designed to face mass armored formations of Soviet style warfare . and the cold war was over..no one envisioned it still had a role to play ...
I'm Suprised the most Lethal aircraft ever built the F-15 with a kill ratio of 100 percent ...never was one lost in air to air combat ..doesn't get much love .
As far as the Phantom goes..I still have one flying on string ..I think I built it in 1976 ( the model ) its shooting down a ME 109 .
Of the most recent planes ..I am Impressed with the B-2 and the F-22
Iriony is I just watched the anotomy of an aircraft . About the F 18's ... and it was sad to see how the Tomcat was being used..considering the massive amount of work that it needs to keep it flying ..but proud to see that we made such an awsome airframe that has paid for itself many times over.
A-10 will always be a Favorite , just for the raw power of the thing ...and many forget before the Gulf war ( one ) . The A-10 was considered obsolete and was being retired from service as it was designed to face mass armored formations of Soviet style warfare . and the cold war was over..no one envisioned it still had a role to play ...
I'm Suprised the most Lethal aircraft ever built the F-15 with a kill ratio of 100 percent ...never was one lost in air to air combat ..doesn't get much love .
As far as the Phantom goes..I still have one flying on string ..I think I built it in 1976 ( the model ) its shooting down a ME 109 .
- 5,080
- Panama City, FL
We still see Phantoms around here from time to time. You can tell without looking by its sound!
You don't want to hear this, but they use them as full-scale target drones. There's a bunch of them in pieces at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico south of here.
- 1,795
- 5,080
- Panama City, FL
I saw the Thunderbirds back when they were flying Phantoms (yes, I'm that old - I was in high school), although I never saw the Blue Angels in them. All I can say is that the 4-ship formations were LOUD
The loudest single plane I can recall seeing (hearing) is the B1-B in an afterburner pass. It came in level, went at least 45 degrees nose up, rolled inverted and pulled back-stick to get back level, then rolled upright, all 4 burners flaming the whole time. This is a BOMBER!!!! With a load capacity that makes WWII B-17s and -24s look like Cessnas!
Next loudest is the Tomcat, maybe Phantom. (Too many years between seeing them to really compare!) I got to a show late at Pensacola NAS, the F-14 was already flying. Car alarms were blaring all over the parking lot as we walked in!!!
I like the Phantom's looks, with that flat wing and turned-up tips, but I always felt the rudder was wrong; somehow insufficient. And once in a while the Tyndall air show (Gulf Coast Salute) will give us at least a flat pass from an F-4.
The loudest single plane I can recall seeing (hearing) is the B1-B in an afterburner pass. It came in level, went at least 45 degrees nose up, rolled inverted and pulled back-stick to get back level, then rolled upright, all 4 burners flaming the whole time. This is a BOMBER!!!! With a load capacity that makes WWII B-17s and -24s look like Cessnas!
Next loudest is the Tomcat, maybe Phantom. (Too many years between seeing them to really compare!) I got to a show late at Pensacola NAS, the F-14 was already flying. Car alarms were blaring all over the parking lot as we walked in!!!
I like the Phantom's looks, with that flat wing and turned-up tips, but I always felt the rudder was wrong; somehow insufficient. And once in a while the Tyndall air show (Gulf Coast Salute) will give us at least a flat pass from an F-4.
- 1,218
Oh yeah, the B1-B is the single loudest plane I've ever heard. In 2004 I was lucky enough to get runway-side seats at RIAT through school - every day since I've kicked myself for not taking a camera - and near the end a B1-B took off ahead of the B-52 that had been sitting on a ramp all day. You don't so much hear those four engines as feel them, absolutely everything vibrates. Then it takes off at an angle that would make a Vulcan jealous and you get a look into those four aterburning engines. The whole experience is just "Wow!", and the B-52 pales in comparison. 
*Edit* Oh god I love the Internet, this is what I saw: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/RIAT2004-B1B.jpg
It's practically the same shot, I think I even spotted the guy that took the photo.
*Edit* Oh god I love the Internet, this is what I saw: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/RIAT2004-B1B.jpg
It's practically the same shot, I think I even spotted the guy that took the photo.
ExigeEvan
Premium
- 17,192
Did anyone watch the Falklands fly past?
I couldn't believe they didn't fly Harriers on the grounds that they are single engined. I know there's been a few incidents in the past at shows but this was the Harriers show for christ sake. They still flew Hawker Gnats though
I couldn't believe they didn't fly Harriers on the grounds that they are single engined. I know there's been a few incidents in the past at shows but this was the Harriers show for christ sake. They still flew Hawker Gnats though
- 1,795
Oh yeah, the B1-B is the single loudest plane I've ever heard. In 2004 I was lucky enough to get runway-side seats at RIAT through school - every day since I've kicked myself for not taking a camera - and near the end a B1-B took off ahead of the B-52 that had been sitting on a ramp all day. You don't so much hear those four engines as feel them, absolutely everything vibrates. Then it takes off at an angle that would make a Vulcan jealous and you get a look into those four aterburning engines. The whole experience is just "Wow!", and the B-52 pales in comparison.
*Edit* Oh god I love the Internet, this is what I saw: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/RIAT2004-B1B.jpg
It's practically the same shot, I think I even spotted the guy that took the photo.
Truly an awesome sight. I saw the B-1 afterburner takeoff at RIAT back in '98. Also got to see the B-2 and its first ever landing on foreign soil.
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