Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

Von Richtofen didn't get more Hs 123s because the jigs and tools were scrapped in 1940.

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

Exactly ..... but they continued to use them until they ran out of wreaks to scavenge parts from. The Hs 123 was kept in service because it was so extremely successful as close air support aircraft.

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

The HARRIER will survive our deadline and beyond by a couple of years. The A-10 will likely make it to about 2030, by now they all should've been "re-winged" a project started about 3 or 4 years ago.

But after my last post in this thread, I check "my morning papers" and finally someone is confident enough to make a call on the F-35B meeting Full Operational Capability FOC standards, and no it's not the CORPS!! The next will give it away only because I cited this issue in the last post, BREXIT. Yesterdays vote was a disaster for the May government with a no confidence vote to be held later today on the current government.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887

These type of issues to this extent are never really a good thing for the military in general. But if this can be worked out by all parties under the current deadline of 29 March, just maybe, Britain by way of the RN will be the first country to declare their F-35s(B) fully operation in 2021-2023. I bet the CORPS & NAVAIR will get off their "butts" and finally declare it before the Brits to save face.

We'll see even the CORPS had admitted some time back they might've "pulled the trigger" a little soon in declaring Initial Operational Capability IOC when they did. This should be an interesting year for these planes. So FOC 2021-2023 for the RN here's your stories...
https://www.savetheroyalnavy.org/tim...arrier-strike/
https://fightersweep.com/10815/uks-r...rder-of-f-35s/

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

As long as they can scavenge parts why not continue to use a system that works? I certainly wouldn't try using an OV-10 or an AC-130 vs the Russian air defense system, but against ISIS, why not.

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

It's been like that from the dawn of time...if you have a rock and the other guy doesn't well then..... chances are you win.... if all you have is an OV-10 but the other guy only has limited small arms well then chances are you win no matter who the other guy is and if you have a slow putt-putt aircraft and the other guy is all ready for high speed jets with a high heat signature well then maybe the other guy is in for a surprise

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

FASTBOAT

Since you're looking into the A4 Skyhawk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLMM...dex=14&list=WL

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

I'm not going to spend much time about the attached Ref. except as it stands it speaks volumes of it's own. It makes me wonder if the USAF didn't run those capability tests in secret between the A-10/F-15SE & F-35A. I'm sure they didn't, but some of you might remember from a couple of years ago, I posted many articles on the planned "competition" between those jets and I'm still waiting for it to happen. Also nothing more has been said about the A-10 except they're still being modernized. Judge for yourself, but to me, the writings on the wall.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/comp...Shv?li=BBnb7Kz
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/
(This pretty much covers most of the above. The video at bottom was pretty good to in how the F-15FX will compliment the F-22. Also note the propulsion testing for all F-35's is running through DEC 2023 ahead of FOC per the contract just signed.)
https://www.airforce-technology.com/...ries-airforce/
(A "BIG" hit in the first article.)

Almost makes me think I own a crystal ball, just maybe, I do!?! :dk: :cool:

Have a good something! Back to the grind later today!?! :D

Regards,
Pat
:capt:

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

That "competition" you are speaking of already happened, but had controversial results. Most envolved complained that it was not composed properly and to the fullest extent it should have been and was biased towards the F-35. I read about that on Military.com. It was never intended to actually put them truly head to head but to satisfy officials. Kind of a "see, we tested them." thing. It was an unfortunate event. Just a FYI.

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

In Poland are plans to replace last 16 operational Su-22 and probably ageing Mig-29. They are serious talks that as a 5th generation aircraft F-35 will be chosen.


https://theaviationist.com/2019/01/1...nd-su-22-jets/


Additionally in December 2017 Poland receive first eight advanced jet trainer's Italian M-346

https://translate.google.pl/translat...w-m-346-master

Photos of polish M-346 Bielik

https://www.airplane-pictures.net/ty...ked.php?p=6498

They were buy to replace ageing TS-11 Iskra after half of the century of service as a trainer and cheap second line strike aircraft
https://alchetron.com/PZL-TS-11-Iskra

In Warsaw Pact countries including Soviet Union there were standard trainer Czechoslovak Aero L-29 Delfin then L-39 Albatross. Poland was only country which not follow rules in that subject and build their own trainer aircraft for themselves. Except Poland also India buy TS-11 Iskra and they were retried earlier than in Poland in 2004.https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...447281659).jpg

Re: Jets & Planes but no UAV's here.
 

We've long known top USAF commanders have very little interest in anything that's not an air superiority fighter or long range bomber. Ground support exists primarily because they don't want the US Army having fixed wing aircraft. And let's not even get into their attempts to bring naval aviation under their control. Transport mostly because they need to move parts, tools, and bombs; moving troops and combat equipment is something they do if they're not doing something more important ... like moving a USAF generals golf clubs.

As a replacement for a medium bomber, i.e. the Tornado or Aardvark, the F-35 is a poor choice. It's also a poor replacement for an air superiority fighter, the F-15. It's a tactical ground support aircraft, and at that job it excels.

YES, I have a chip on my shoulder concerning the USAF. They keep telling everyone that will listen they'll bomb the opposition into submission, and it never, ever, works. That's not to say they don't fulfill a valuable role, but in most cases it's one they're forced to fill not one they want to (on an institutional level).