The engines on the F22 are absolutely fantastic. Tremendous, really. That said… same technology is being used on the F35. Do I believe the Performance/Reliability specs? (I’m wishing right now I still worked in Performance…) I’m not sure. I know anytime a new motor goes out on the market there are growing pains. That left side of the old bathtub curve. Reliability will continue to improve and unless there is a serious design flaw in the motors, I think its going to be pretty damn reliable. There is always a BIG SELL though… so, take that into consideration for the specs.

There are issues though, that I won’t go into, and I’m wondering how they’re going to work them out. There are some big issues. But… that happens with every new generation a/c.

I think Rolls is doing the Vert Lift. That’s what I had been told… I’m pretty sure the Brits have that part.

the engines though… absolutely amazing.

LM (F-35 winner) developed the vert lift capability and will build it, right? Very elegant design (that big fan), totally unlike the Boeing competitor for award that didn’t win. That design was similar to Harrier. Both prototypes are in the PAX museum.

My understanding is that there are 3 versions, CTOL, (USAF), carrier (Navy) and VSTOL/STOL (USMC/RN). I think of ‘em as little gear, big gear and gear on the wingtips!

Gotta ask. Is that big engine all it’s cracked up to be? The company performance and reliability specs are, well, hard to believe.

This is gonna takes decades. Maybe we ought to jump a generation and go to a UAV/UCAV/BAMS/MMA/Helos for Naval Aviation’s toolbox?

LOL. Sorry I said that. Wash my mouth out w/soap.

I’m just kidding but THERE ARE Naval officers ready and poised to propose just that! Ain’t that scary?

b2

While some might question the “successful” aspect of the re-design, the fact is that the T-45 was redesigned from the BaE Hawk which was/is a land-based dsign. Of course the gestation period was much longer and more fraught w/difficulty than originally envisioned too…
- SJS

I wish I could fix up my favorite pet B-57, sometimes, so it could fly again, with bombs, and everything, and drop said bombs on the houses of whomever wrote these stupid blog programs which don’t work like I’d like them to work.

Just Kiddin!

But very grumpy. It’s still not against the law to be grumpy. Right?

Any of y’all who like to hang out with, and talk about, old military airplanes, can not go wrong by visiting the Warner Robins museum.

It is a petting zoo for old bombers.

Speaking of which, I’m worried about their B-57. When I’ve been there, I rubbed it and said, “It’s OK,somebody will come along and look out for you!” They still have left it out in the weather, last time I looked.

That’s just wrong!

What I am waiting to see for the F-35 is… do they really single source the motor or are they going to go GE/Pratt with GE providing Navy propulsion and Pratt providing USAF. It was supposed to be dual source, but now… hmm. I think it could go either way, single or dual.