The plane enthusiasts thread

[plantfit]

Israeli airforce F 15c


Israeli airforce F 15 D,both pictures took at RAF Waddington at the beginning of September

 

[Drago]

A DC3 or one of its derivatives flew over today. Low cloudbase and distance prevented a really good look.

 

[Handlebar Moustache]

So... thoughts on the F35 in UK service? A lame and expensive duck with limited range, excess weight and little manoeuvrability or a technological marvel which will give us unprecedented control over the battle space?

 

[Houthakker]

undoubtedly a capable and agile jet, but when watching the recent fighter pilot training documentary it was a little surprising that t least one one sortie had to be cancelled because the pilot couldn't "log into" the jet, despie trying several times. Cant see that going down well on QRA!

 

[Drago]

F35 is fine, but it's a one trick pony. The moment someone figures out how to reliably track it - its reckoned China isn't far off and researchers in the west have had some limited success - then it doesn't have speed or agility to fall back upon.

Israel has the right idea. They've fitted metal plates to theirs at strategic locations, RCS enhancers, so Iran cant spend time testing out tracking methodologies by observing them in flight - any attempt is pointless because they're tracking a big metal plate deliberately designed to be detected. The moment they need to use them in serious anger then the tinware comes off and the planes disappear from the screens, and Iran won't know what to do about it.

 

[Handlebar Moustache]

F35 is fine, but it's a one trick pony. The moment someone figures out how to reliably track it - its reckoned China isn't far off and researchers in the west have had some limited success - then it doesn't have speed or agility to fall back upon.

Israel has the right idea. They've fitted metal plates to theirs at strategic locations, RCS enhancers, so Iran cant spend time testing out tracking methodologies by observing them in flight - any attempt is pointless because they're tracking a big metal plate deliberately designed to be detected. The moment they need to use them in serious anger then the tinware comes off and the planes disappear from the screens, and Iran won't know what to do about it.

That does sound sensible. IIRC I remember that the B2 does something similar but electronically makes itself ‘noisy’ until it needs to go properly quiet.

 

[Handlebar Moustache]

undoubtedly a capable and agile jet, but when watching the recent fighter pilot training documentary it was a little surprising that t least one one sortie had to be cancelled because the pilot couldn't "log into" the jet, despie trying several times. Cant see that going down well on QRA!

computer says no, eh? I’m sure in wartime the subsequent call to IT Support would be quite a heated one!

 

[Handlebar Moustache]

Israeli airforce F 15c
View attachment 487022

Israeli airforce F 15 D,both pictures took at RAF Waddington at the beginning of September
View attachment 487023

presume you all know the story about the Israeli F15 that lost a wing and still landed safely? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Negev_mid-air_collision

 

[Drago]

The F15 is an astonishing war machine. Zero air to air combat losses, despite being in a good few dust ups over the years. The very few - and it is bit a few - that have been downed have all been taken out by ground fire.

 

[Cycleops]

Anyone fancy a control line Spitfire? This popped up on my Google news feed. I remember doing a profile fuselage version back in the sixties with Davis Charlton diesel;
https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=11630
Time to relive your youth!

 

[midlife]

I had a plastic green control line Hurricane way back in the 70's. Going to have to Google what it was

 

[Cycleops]

Interesting footage of a Griffon engined Mk 18 Spitfire;

37 litre GRIFFON Spitfire Mk.18 | Hangar10:
View: https://youtu.be/8POTLnXuS_I

 

[Cycleops]

I had a plastic green control line Hurricane way back in the 70's. Going to have to Google what it was

I'll bet that was a Testors , they did several models all with a Cox 049 glow engine. I had a P40. Great little planes but poor crash resistance!

 

[steveindenmark]

Here are some planes I saw at the Yeovilton Air Day. View attachment 477669 View attachment 477670 View attachment 477671

I worked for 3 years in Germany with the Harrier jump jet and watched them fly most days. 😁

 

[DaveReading]

Interesting footage of a Griffon engined Mk 18 Spitfire;

37 litre GRIFFON Spitfire Mk.18 | Hangar10:
View: https://youtu.be/8POTLnXuS_I

Ironically, it's German-registered.

For sale, too, if you have a few bob to spare: https://www.boschungglobal.com/Inventory/Warbirds/Supermarine-Aviation-Works/Spitfire-MkXVIII/D-FSPT