Warbird Information Exchange

That is a neat photo.

aeroeng

355 million for 20 planes? Heck, sell them 35 surplus T-37 Super Tweets and save the U.S. A. some big big bucks $$$$.

pjpahs wrote:355 million for 20 planes? Heck, sell them 35 surplus T-37 Super Tweets and save the U.S. A. some big big bucks $$$$.

Amen on that one Brother Amen

This is even more cool



OK, the Texan II is built in Wichita but it ain't really American now is it ?

pjpahs wrote:355 million for 20 planes? Heck, sell them 35 surplus T-37 Super Tweets and save the U.S. A. some big big bucks $$$$.

Yes but you see that wouldn't make anyone any money.

I say go with this...

http://802u.com/

The Air Tractor® AT-802U is an economical single engine turboprop aircraft designed for surveillance, precision strike, and rugged dirt strip utility missions. The AT-802U combines an 8,000-lb. (3,629 kg) payload and 10-hour ISR mission capability with the flexibility and responsiveness of a manned weapon system – for a fraction of the cost of unmanned aerial vehicle systems.



» Real-time eye in the sky for ground troop support
» Integrated fire control system
» Training-focused force support
» Small logistics footprint

That Thrush looks like it makes a lot of sense. There is always a lot of airframe-evolution, and design maturity, in a long-lived commercial aircraft. Taking advantage of that would seem to be a low economic risk.

But the other side of the coin is the unmanned missile-carrying aircraft. These seem to be taking over, since the opposition sometimes doesn't see them coming, and since you never have to go back and rescue a downed aviator. No sad funerals on your side. No awkward articles in home-town papers.

Still, I think it's unwise to depend entirely on an unmanned program which requires a continuous hi-grade datalink. If that uplink is ever interrupted or jammed by some new technology, it would be unfortunate to suddenly be without close-in support.

On the Thrush, you'd want armour for the cockpit and the engine, and the ability to do 200+ kts to make targeting at least a little difficult. For a start.

Dave

Oh! I see that was my 500th post!
Dave

Dave, the AT-802U is an Air Tractor. It does have armor around the cockpit and engine, and self sealing fuel tanks. Awesome aircraft.

Oops. I see my 501st post was more accurate than my 500th. Thanks.

Dave

Funniest part of it all is that the Super Tucano and the Texan II are basically the same plane - the PC-7/9.

I don't care what people say about the Tucano being different from the PC-7, they look almost identical externally with the only exception being the powerplant. You don't get 2 identical airplanes unless someone steals the others' plans or they share information

If they really wanted a competition, they should have allowed in Air Tractor, who they omitted on a technicality.

If they really wanted a competition, they should have allowed in Air Tractor, who they omitted on a technicality.

What they didn't want their USAF instructors to be embarrassed by not being able to fly tail-wheel?

We had one of those Air Tractors here in WV as a water bomber a few years back, really an amazing airplane.....

But this caught my eye.....
http://defense.aol.com/2012/02/03/preci ... d=related1


Mark H

Hi there Mark ,good to see you on here ,do you still have the bell 47, and do you still have the quarter with the beaver on it , only in Canada eh.