new warbird, looks cool

[JOHN MILLER]

http://defense.aol.com/2012/02/03/air-w ... latestnews

[aeroeng]

That is a neat photo.

aeroeng

[pjpahs]

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

[gary1954]

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

[WallyB]

This is even more cool



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

[gale_dono]

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.

[Russ Blow]

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

[Dave Hadfield]

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

[Dave Hadfield]

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

[AG pilot]

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

[Dave Hadfield]

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

Dave

[CAPFlyer]

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.

[Forgotten Field]

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?

[P51Mstg]

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

[helinut]

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.