Your favorite "what could have been" military AC

[malcrf]

Except when it comes up against a modern IADS.

Pourquoi?

Seriously why?

The Buccaneer has a proven ability to fly fast and low. By the time you stick a reasonable amount of weapons on the F35 it's lost much of it's stealth. Modern engines on the Buccaneer would give better range and speed (possibly supercruise) than the original planes. No afterburners is better for IR. And you can stick any modern avionics and weapon systems in that airframe.

So in what ways would it be worse at dealing with modern IADS than a different (more modern) airframe?

[malcrf]

its not a "new" aircraft but would like to have seen an updated Buccaneer with new Nav attack system updated radar and avionics possibly updated engines. There was rumours of the Nav/attack system from the Jaguar being put in to them.

A Buccaneer with EJ200s, modern avionics and weapon systems would be awesome now!

If your gonna do that, could I suggest EJ200's in the Lightning? Could you imagine the stage 2 version with 27,000lbs and thrust-vectoring?

Like your thinking!

[marktigger]

Buccaneer with tornado avionics could have been interesting

[GastonGlocker]

Too bad this wasn't considered. Super Tomcat: http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/top-gu ... 1575814142

[Tony Williams]

My second nomination is completely different: the Fairey Rotodyne. The emphasis in its development was on its civilian use - wrongly, with the benefit of hindsight - but a military version was planned and the US Army was extremely interested, with a potential order for a couple of hundred being talked about. Sadly, the British Army couldn't see the point of a VTOL transport with a speed, range and payload vastly superior to any contemporary helicopter, so it was cancelled.

Nice. It seems less complex than the Osprey type of system?

Very much so. After all, it dates back to the days when computing was in its infancy, so it was slide rules for the designers and manual control for the pilots. The technology was essentially simple, and I am amazed that no-one picked up the idea (the Groen Brothers have tried to revive it in recent years). Only now are we beginning to see compound helo designs appear, with propellers for thrust as well as a rotor for lift.

[ArmChairCivvy]

Enjoyable read, that linked article by GastonGlocker. And it was considered, but instead of cutting carrier numbers, the USN opted to maintain the numbers and carry smaller airwings, with cheaper to operate all-round aircraft.

It still is a pity that they didn't build a "Su-34" already then, but rather opted for more of a bomb truck that can double as a fighter:
["There is no doubt that] the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and E/A-18G Growler programs [are impressive. They] have delivered a so called "80% solution" to NAVAIR on time and on budget consistently for a decade and a half. The jets are comparatively reliable and have good commonality with the legacy Hornet for aircrew and maintenance crossover familiarity. Although as a replacement for both the F-14 and the A-6, the Super Hornet lacks greatly in some very important respects. These being mainly range and speed.

The Super Hornet, or "Rhino" as it is now called, is not nearly as thirsty as its smaller A/B/C/D "legacy" hornet brethren, but it still lacks range and endurance. It is also a bit of a pig aerodynamically."

[GastonGlocker]

Or this...



Looks like a MI24 Hind/A on weight watchers but made by Sikorsky

This is another with much potential, and very sleek aesthetically. I gather the A-10 really put an end to the "super helicopter gunships" when the AF took a stand with its ownership of CAS. Too bad as I think there's room for both, at the expense of something else I suppose.

The retro soundtrack is amusing too!

[IrishT]

Having a well-funded Irish military ;_;

[617]

The BAE Replica which would of replaced the Tornado. Its was due to enter service in 2017...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BAE_Replica

[GastonGlocker]

In depth look at the YF23 Black Widow II:

[arfah]

.............

[GastonGlocker]

This one got close...am curious if this influenced the design of the birds used in the raid to kill Osama.

[arfah]

.............

[ArmChairCivvy]

It doesn't explain why the Osama raid H60's are top secret and not for T.V. etc?

Blow up a std H60, insert a pre-blackened tail from the Comanche parts bin... it is all Hollywood.

Pakistan decides the leadership for Taleban. They all sit in Quetta, arrests seem very random over the years, but they, just like Osama being "found" are no coincidences, but rather a steer as to who's going to sit at the top (m. Omar died a natural death; or was removed?).

And right on cue, today al-Jazeera reports:
"The two rival factions within the Afghan Taliban have agreed in a meeting in Quetta, Pakistan, to a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

Leadership of the Taliban has been in dispute since the confirmation last July of the death of the armed group's founder, Mullah Omar - with new leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor struggling to keep the group united."
- that might even mean peace; someone to negotiate with!

[Tony Williams]

My second nomination is completely different: the Fairey Rotodyne. The emphasis in its development was on its civilian use - wrongly, with the benefit of hindsight - but a military version was planned and the US Army was extremely interested, with a potential order for a couple of hundred being talked about. Sadly, the British Army couldn't see the point of a VTOL transport with a speed, range and payload vastly superior to any contemporary helicopter, so it was cancelled.

There's now an article on the BBC News website: h[url]ttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35521040[/url]

[GastonGlocker]

Regardless if interceptor by requirements or just a cover for the program, this is intriguing. Missile launch at speed an engineering feat:

[cky7]

617,

Only the bottom of those two images was replica. The top one was the McDonnell Douglas/Northrop/Bae entry for the jsf that eliminated to leave just the x35 and 32 in the running. I always thought it was real shame as if nothing else on looks alone it was by the best design! Of course that doesn't mean much but from what I've heard the reason they eliminated was a mixture of over confidence, swapping features late on and predominantly their design requiring a separate engine for the STOVL variant. The design featured a nozzle at the back that gave in flight tvc and appeared better aerodynamically and was apparently much lower drag with a bigger predicted range. It also had the back up of great pedigree in fighter, STOVL and naval aircraft design from the 3 firms that designed her. Bae clearly really believed in the design as you can clearly see its influence in replica and several other p. Series designs that have surfaced from the following years. I've often wondered if the jsf program would have overcome some of its design criticisms had this one been selected....

[GastonGlocker]

The amphibious Hercules:



http://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/a-c-13 ... 1716610531



I didn’t realize it was even considered. Perhaps another look for firefighting at least?

[arfah]

.............

[GastonGlocker]

^

Wow, is there some sort of maintenance inspection that would pick up on structural cracking of wings spars? That is quite catastrophic.

This may be of interest:



One wonders if these types of water bombers that have been around for so long remain airworthy. This is what I had in mind for water bombing via amphibious type. The Martin Mars:

[arfah]

.............

[Little J]

I was just reading about the 146 / Avro RJ becoming popular as a firebomber, also there's a DC-10 and a 747 that have been converted

[handal]

This little lady, how perfect would she be insted of lynx's and merlins..?

> Range, payload, speed, economy, reliability, and lower maintenance so what was not to not just to like but to die for ?
How perfect for close support/coin with low collateral damage would she be, even compared to a bronco, let alone a dumb A10 ?

Even sadder that the brilliant Canadair lost not only the arrow but this also :[

[Dahedd]

That CL84 was amazing. Such a missed opportunity. Wonder if the design could be modernized. Ditch the tail rotor for airducts like the harrier had or a Feinstein rotor.

[The Armchair Soldier]

Never seen this posted before, so I'll share it for those interested:

EXCLUSIVE – 1980s UK secret stealth attack helicopter project revealed

How the UK had a stealth attack helicopter design proposal almost a decade before the US RAH-66 Comanche. Former Leonardo Helicopters Chief Engineer on the Merlin Mk3 and Apache, JEREMY GRAHAM FRAeS reveals archive details of this never-before publicised Westland Helicopters low observable chopper proposal from the 1980s that have just come to light

Read More: https://www.aerosociety.com/news/exclus ... -revealed/