[Little Ray]

Figures the USAF would go for an expensive aircraft with overly complicated transmission setup. That would be nightmare to support on the front lines. I think they just like it ‘cause it looks like a fighter.

I don’t think any fixed-wing aircraft with counter-rotating props has ever served very long, except maybe the TU-95 Bear.

The USAF should hand over the air to mud role to the ground forces - and they should consider the armored crop-duster approach!

[gaijin]

Good critique.

yeah I once saw a proposal for a variation on an air tractor that looked really interesting

[niteowl77]

I don’t think any fixed-wing aircraft with counter-rotating props has ever served very long, except maybe the TU-95 Bear.

The only ones I can think of off the top of my head are the Avro Shackleton and the Fairey Gannet.

[taildragger]

"Figures the USAF would go for an expensive aircraft with overly complicated transmission setup."

If it is a variant of Pratt and Whitney's "Geared Turbofan" technology with what looks like a floating assembly ( google the patents ) making a Counter Rotating Version would be even cooler. If the GTF is reliable, I can't see why this wouldn't be.