Posted on 04/11/2018 4:20:05 PM PDT by gaijin
The new JT15D-5 turbofan-powered "401 Jet" of Burt Rutan's Scaled Composites in Mojave, Calif is a small, stealthy, single-engine jet variation on the very novel, 30 year-old "Ares" light attack jet. Never having entered production, Ares was actually an acronym, standing for Agile Responsive Effective Support:
Experts note that the X401 would have piloted and drone versions, leading to speculation that the pair could work together synergistically in a "loyal wingman" arrangement, possibly with some form of laser or directed energy weapon occupying the weapons bay, partially visible in the landing flare photo below.
A 6-minute YouTube vid explains more about the X401 in the first comment below.
I have read that they asked for and received input from Hans Rudel.
From Wiki:
"During the war, Rudel was credited with the destruction of 519 tanks, as well as a number of ships. He claimed 9 aerial victories and the destruction of more than 800 vehicles of all types. He flew 2,530 ground-attack missions exclusively on the Eastern Front, usually flying the Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bomber, and 430 missions flying fighter aircraft. Rudel was the most decorated German serviceman of World War II receiving the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds in January 1945; the decoration was created specifically for him."
Some say he was the greatest combat pilot of all time.
He was a puzzle, since when he first began he earned very low ratings and was almost drummed out of service.
see post 22, above.
“Great minds...”
“I want a solid, durable one...”
...with a BigArse Gatlin gun.
I need to read his book.
The fact that he and Hartmann both survived the war is remarkable.
The A-10 is designed to be refueled, rearmed, and serviced with minimal equipment. This “composite” glider isn’t going to be patched up and put back on line at the front. It also doesn’t have a chance of being able to carry a tenth of the munitions that the warthog can. At best it could be an observation platform, but we already have those.
an AK could bring it down
....the A-10 is too mean....too effective...too well liked by the troops...that’s why Odungos generals
wanted to scrap it....
The only stealth is the tail and the paint. Not with that big pie hole exhaust. Maybe the wings will be somewhat stealth. One engine not good. A m16 for a weapon. Long time ago I build a stick model sail plane. Powered by an OK cub 409 (I think but can not remember) engine. It had a six foot wing with Dihedral tip wing ends. The tail had a timer that would pop the tail up and cause the plane to circle and crash land. Their as a timer hooked to the gas line that would shut the engine down. Well something did not work out and the plane keep flying. It got in a updraft wind and I never did find the plane. The Dihedral effect in a wind draft will make the plane fly like a gilder. LOL This 401 can not replace the A-10.
I cannot believe composites can survive damage like the A-10.
The kicker:
Flyaway Cost: 1 to 5 Million USD
* Burt is retired from Scaled, good team in place.
* It is now owned by Northrup.
* So the question begs, is it and internal project for Northrup or an external one.
Tyler Rogaway over at the drive has a great story on this bird.
Their are 2, one might be unmanned and some have noted other than the dihedral the wing is very Predator C-ish. The Stealth has elements of the Northrup "Tacit Blue" and Boeing's Stealth concept from the 50's.
IMHO it is an R & D project for a lighter duty application that is not A-10ish.
Same thing happened to the AD Skyraider. USAF wanted them for close air support; couldn’t get any, so they flew what the Navy gave them and literally flew the wings off them.
Amazing that in this computer age that nobody had the foresight to store the plans; especially when they were being so heavily used.
This is just another excuse not to buy a real A-10 successor. It’s just more stalling while the air force continues to pour more money into F-35’s.
That is why the pretty boy fighter pilots who now run the Air Force will love it, even though it will not fulfill the mission properly and put the pilots flying them in danger.
Glad to see everyone here LOVES THE WARTHOG!
The greatest CAS aircraft ever designed to date.
Exactly! The future of warfare belongs to the outfit that builds the deadliest drones that can behave as cooperative swarms.
The A-10 and AC-130 are both dangerous for their crews and are used in areas without advanced AA.
I know, the A-10 has redundant systems and titanium armor but it is dead meat in some scenarios.
Of course they both pack a punch.
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