Posted on 09/13/2016 9:50:06 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Boeing unveiled the first prototype of its trainer aircraft for U.S. Air Force T-X advanced pilot trainer program co-developed with the Saab.
The aircraft was rolled out from Boeing's facility in St.Louis, Missouri were the F/A-18 and F-15 fighters are assembled.
The clean sheet design will be offered to replace the 55 year old Northrop Grumman T-38 fleet operated by USAF for pilot training.
The aircraft features anhedral wings and tail fin with side mounted engine air intakes. What makes the Boeing's T-X design unique from the other three competitors is the twin canted tail plane.
Other competitors in the program include the Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
Northrop and Boeing are offering clean sheet designs while the other two are pitting pre-existing designs. Northrop's design was revealed during high speed taxi trials in Mojave in August, who have partnered with BAE Systems and L-3 for the bid.
Lockheed Martin is offering a modified version of the T-50 fighter co-developed with South Korean KAI, while Raytheon partnering Honeywell and CAE is offering the Italian Leonardo M-346 trainer as the T-100.
Final assembly of theses T-X trainers will be shifted to U.S. from South Korea and Italy respectively if Lockheed/Raytheon's bid wins.
Around 500 Talons are to replaced with the new T-X trainers, which will train USAF's fifth generation fighter pilots.
Except the T-100, all the other three T-X trainers are powered by a single GE F404 after-burning turbofan engine with around 80 kN thrust.
80kN = ~18000 lbs.
NGs T-X looks more "traditional".
All in all though, if it lookas and more importantly, acts like an F-16 it will be sweet to fly. Just what you want in a trainer.
The F404's thrust specs are almost exactly the same as the venerable J-79 of fifty years ago; about 11,000 lbs dry, 18,000 lbs with afterburner.
The F404 has just a little bit better fuel consumption than did the J-79, 0.81 lb/lb-hr vs 0.85 for the J-79 (dry).
Big difference seems to be in weight and size.
F404 is about four feet shorter than the J-79, and is about half the weight.
Looks like they’re pushing the envelope with that eensey weensey nose wheel! Short coupled too, with close proximity to the CG maybe.
A nice toy for the wealthy; like a high end sports car is for drivers.
Makes you wonder what else Boeing screwed up with the plane if they can’t even get the press release right.
“The aircraft was rolled out from Boeing’s facility in St.Louis, Missouri were the F/A-18 and F-15 fighters are assembled.”
Someone should have yelled, “Where the ‘h’ is the ‘h’? in ‘where’”
Checked the site - they still haven’t fixed it.
Pics?
Checked the site - they still havent fixed it.
The word wasn't highlighted with a red squiggly underline, so it's fine.
Pics are in the post on my computer.
I dont see pics for the lockheed f16 lookalike.
This error is the result of people relying on spell check.
No actual, eyeball, editing might be cheaper but embarrassing mistakes will happen.
Lockheed T-50 and F-16:
Except that particular line is not in the official Boeing press release -at all. It is direct copy from the host site this posting links back to.
But go ahead and trash Boeing anyway since you obviously have some axe to grind.
Maybe I’m seeing things, but that airplane looks like it could become an actual fighter plane with the addition of weapons.
I’m referring specifically to the full-area control surfaces on the tail. These make it suitable for supersonic flight, correct?
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/aero/documents/t-50/t50_product_card_dom_a11-34324d001.pdf
Northrop Grumman T-X Data:
http://www.combataircraft.net/2016/08/19/northrop-grummans-t-x-breaks-cover/
Boeing Data in thread and here:
http://www.aviationanalysis.net/2016/09/boeing-rolls-out-t-x-trainer-prototype.html
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