Posted on 03/11/2016 3:08:45 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
It is one of the oddest plane designs ever created - a tiny propeller-driven craft with twin tails and two pilots sitting almost on top of each other.
However, Boeing and a South Africa's Paramount Group firm hope the wacky design, currently used to patrol borders, could be turned into a low cost fighter plane.
The two firms plan to add missiles and a slew of sensors to the advanced, high-performance, reconnaissance, light aircraft, which has been named Mwari after an all-seeing mythological being in Southern African folklore.
The advanced, high-performance, reconnaissance, light aircraft (AHRLAC) is a high-wing aircraft, with stadium seating for the pilot and sensor operator and tops out at 310 mph.
The duo will strap the planes with weapons and use Boeings mission systems, which will allow this military variant to hunt insurgents, poachers and respond to low-intensity conflicts.
This announcement was unveiled at the Global Aerospace Summit in Abu Dhabi this week, as both firms motioned to expand their 2014 agreement to cooperate on an advanced mission system for AHRLAC.
Boeing will use its capabilities to design a mission system that will integrate the avionics and payload systems on the safety-and-security variant of the AHRLAC, as well as the weapons on the military version, which has been named Mwari after an all-seeing mythological being in Southern African folklore. 'Through AHRLAC, we'll not only bring a flexible, persistent and affordable aircraft to the international market, but we'll also be developing world-class technology in Africa,' Jeffrey Johnson, vice president, Business Development, Boeing Military Aircraft, said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3486266/The-oddest-fighter-plane-ve-seen-Radical-low-cost-twin-tailed-design-manoeuvrable-rival-helicopters.html#ixzz42akQTLVP Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
How is this design “radical”?
It’s a “Pusher Version” of the North American/Rockwell OV-10!
Which still may be in USMC Aviation inventories.
Hell of a Walk Around/Pre-Flight there, John!
No way. Maybe heading straight down it hits 310...maybe.
"On January 26, 1999, the National Transportation Safety Board agreed on an Executive Summary of its final report into the Denver crash, determined its probable cause and made its safety recommendations. Earlier, the Board published its factual report. The following is a combination of the two documents: the NTSB's executive summary and its factual report."
That was interesting report about John Denver. Thanks.
That was my thought. OV-10 update. Which is not a bad idea at all.
No spears. Boxes of cherry bombs.
I think he missed the point...
,,,and it WAS deadly......once
Basically a junior varsity version of the old OV-10 Bronco which is still being used by Special Forces fighting ISIS.
Perfect for me when I was 10.
Kinda reminds me of an Ultralight, actually.
Mrs BN & I were great John Denver fans until he dumped his wife. We kinda glossed over his hippy, love Mother Earth stuff.
I bought a set of plans for the VariEze, the predecessor of the Long-EZ, from Burt Rutan in 1976. Burt was kind enough to give me a 45 minute tour of his hangar and the VariEze, so I've followed his amazing career since then.
As a pilot, I'm a bit skeptical every time an accident is labeled "pilot error", but in this case I believe that is an accurate description.
Sorry to see John Denver go, especially in the Long-EZ.
I have 16,000 hours over the ocean. Single engine. So I get the double whammi! lol
I’d say about 90 to 95 percent of airplane wreaks are pilot error. I used to pick them up.
WOW!
Are you a SAR pilot? Type(s) aircraft & mission(s)?
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