Posted on 04/17/2012 9:24:43 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Boeing shows off new Super Hornet display
Boeing is showing off some of the advanced features it is proposing for the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Some of these include conformal fuel tanks, an external weapons pod to reduce the jet's radar cross-section, better engines, and a new missile warning system among other improvements.
Inside the cockpit (both cockpits in the case of the F-model) is a new single-screen color LCD display. But what is truly impressive is a new 3D situational awareness display mode--it overlays various threats and displays them in an easy to understand graphic. Terrain can be overlaid on the display along with color-coded contours.
What's more, airborne enemy threats are displayed as color-coded aircraft-shaped icons appropriate to their type. The same goes for the engagement radius of surface-to-air missile systems and the like. Apparently, according to the Boeing engineer who was showing me the setup, the jet already collects that data, it's just that there is no way to display it in the current Block II cockpit.
Here are a few images I took of the cockpit the company was showing off at the Navy League's Sea Air Space Exposition. Forgive the poor quality; I was using a Blackberry camera...
Sorry the flash caused some problems...
Anyways, the demonstrator actually runs the real flight-model for the F/A-18E/F according to the Boeing software engineer, who works on the system. But it doesn't model the new engines or other proposed mods and, of course, the avionics and weapons are dumbed down for public display.
Nonetheless, when I flew the demonstrator, the aircraft handled remarkably well (at least compared to anything I have flown). Incidentally, using that 3D situational awareness display, I shot down three Flankers with AMRAAMs effortlessly, but of course, they weren't shooting back. I then killed the last one with the gun, again, a piece of cake... but alas, it was dumbed down since he wasn't shooting back.
But I did land on the carrier with no help whatsoever or even having the dude talk me down on my first (and only try). I wonder if it was dumbed down, even if my engineer acquaintance insists that it's not. The Boeing demo pilots practice on it, he says. Still seems too easy...
Does it have a USB port so I can charge my smartphone?
Bang for the buck, the F/A 18, F16 and F15 are still the best in their roles. They should probably bring back the (IMHO beloved) F14.
The golden age of aircraft design was in the 70s and they pushed the edge of physics. Absent a game-changing technology like anti-grav, we probably won’t see anything better.
The vector-thrust capabilities of the F22 and F35 are incremental at best. Today all the battles are BVR and you can equip a Cessna with avionics needed to conduct mission operations.
And I am pretty sure there are as yet no factual evidence of close up dogfighting that show the F22 (much less the flying anvil of the F35) besting the F15 in real head to head combat.
>>Does it have a USB port so I can charge my smartphone?<<
Bluetooth rocket launchers baby...
You could really reach out and touch someone with one of those.
Thanks for the info.
Ok. Most outstandingly cool.
When can I rent the DVD at Redbox?
.
Ok. Most outstandingly cool.
When can I rent the DVD at Redbox?
.
If you bring back the F-14, better bring back those there 55 gallon drums on wheels to catch the hydraulic fluid that leaks out when you shut them down...
That's what was thought when they designed the F4 Phantom without a gun. Then Democrat Rules of Engagement forced pilots to visually identify targets first, which meant that you had to be within dogfighting range.
Better engines? F414-EPE?
>>That’s what was thought when they designed the F4 Phantom without a gun.<<
Outside of the movie Top Gun (20+ years ago?) has there been a real hot guns dogfight officially recorded between ANY milcraft? Even the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan were BVR (from what I understand).
Rumors leaked out a few years back about an F15 defeating an F22 (or the converse, depending on who was telling the story) in mock dogfight combat, but I don’t think we have seen bullet holes in an American milcraft from another aircraft in a LONG time.
But I would NEVER ask a pilot to be in an aircraft without a gun. Too many SEAD missions need it and it is just wrong for many reasons.
>>If you bring back the F-14, better bring back those there 55 gallon drums on wheels to catch the hydraulic fluid that leaks out when you shut them down...<<
Hey, do you dump your red hot g/f because she has a mole on her thigh? ;)
The F-35 doesn't have vectored thrust, except for the F-35B STOVL version, and it's vectoring is strictly for takeoff/landing.
>>The F-35 doesn’t have vectored thrust, except for the F-35B STOVL version, and it’s vectoring is strictly for takeoff/landing.<<
My point is the fundamental platform, not the capabilities.
Several A-A gun kills were recorded in Vietnam by both sides, and several A-A gun kills were scored during the many Middle East wars against Israel. One A-10 A-A gun kill was scored agaist an Iraqi helicopter during Desert Storm.
Also, a gun is not only for A-A use; there are countless examples of air-to-ground gunfire in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Well, you said "thrust vectoring of the F-22 and F-35."
The "fundamental platform" difference between the F-22/F-35 and earlier generation aircraft is stealth.
The "Air Combat Information Group" maintains a list of every air-to-air incident that US forces have been involved in in a number of conflicts. In Vietnam there were a fair number of gun shootdowns, although most were missiles.
Desert Storm had three gun shootdowns, with the rest being missiles.
>>Well, you said “thrust vectoring of the F-22 and F-35.”<<
I stand corrected (sort of) — the fact both have thrust vectoring, no matter how it is used, is an example of the incrementalism I decry. But I concede the point that the thrust vectoring on the F-35 is much more limited than how it was designed to be used on the F-22.
>>The “fundamental platform” difference between the F-22/F-35 and earlier generation aircraft is stealth.<<
Then why was the F-117 retired so soon?
Stealth is a great technology but it isn’t even close to the fundamental game-changing understanding of physics and engineering (complementary but not equal) that produced the F/16, F(A)/18, F/14 and the F/15. The F/22 “goosed” the platform but wasn’t fundamental at all.
1) What a COOL site!!! Thanks!
2) As you note, head to head has not happened for a LONG time.
3) I would love to meet “R. Greater” in person
Wow — just wow. The last guns battle in the list was an F-111 Raven — as I said in this (or maybe another) thread, always give pilots their guns. The Raven was a freaking surveillance craft and still pegged a bandit! (if I am reading the chart correctly) :)
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