new warbird, looks cool

JOHN MILLER · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:18 am

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

aeroeng · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:10 am

That is a neat photo.

aeroeng

pjpahs · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 9:36 am

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 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 10:54 am

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 :axe:

WallyB · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:09 am

This is even more cool :wink:

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

gale_dono · **Joined:** Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:32 pm **Posts:** 328

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.

Russ Blow · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 7:47 pm

I say go with this... :drink3:

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 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

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 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

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

AG pilot · **Joined:** Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:13 am **Posts:** 552

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 · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

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

Dave

CAPFlyer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:10 pm

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 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 05, 2012 12:25 am

Quote:

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 · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2005 11:36 am **Posts:** 1202

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 · **Joined:** Tue May 25, 2004 11:57 am **Posts:** 166

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.

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new warbird, looks cool

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