Author Topic: arrestor and wires on F117 (!?) (Read 593 times)

Octavius · « **on:** May 13, 2005, 03:06:05 PM »

Not sure exactly of the event, but the Wisconsin national guard is currently preparing for a military display this weekend at Gen. Mitchell Int'l (MKE). All afternoon various jets and helos have been landing. An F117 is also making an appearance this weekend and I had the opportunity to watch this thing land. Crews were working on a portion of the runway this morning. I asked what was going on, and I was told that arrestor wires were being installed so the stealth can trap instead of a normal approach, due to crap weather.

Cautious, ok. Makes sense, but... I had no freakin clue this bird was fitted with a hook. I saw it land without a problem. Was amazing

Does this mean the F117 is able to operate from a carrier? Is it able to launch from a catapult?

JB73 · « **Reply #1 on:** May 13, 2005, 03:29:06 PM »

dont knwo about that, but quick speaking of gen mitchell...

from this thread

Quote

Wisconsin

Gen. Mitchell International Airport ARS

is the the air refueling wing (AR ?S?)

Krusty · « **Reply #2 on:** May 13, 2005, 03:35:54 PM »

No. All USAF planes have hooks (F16, F15, etc etc) but they are not capable of trapping on carriers. Their gear and airframe isn't meant for that type of abuse. Nor could they ever launch again.

The hooks are for emergency landings, where runways have arrestor cables to safely stop aircraft in damaged conditions or bad landing conditions.

Furball · « **Reply #3 on:** May 13, 2005, 05:45:22 PM »

bah, of course it can!

it can take off vertically but they keep that bit classified.

oops, i have said too much.

Sikboy · « **Reply #4 on:** May 13, 2005, 06:24:59 PM »

A little off topic, but didn't the Navy conduct Carrier trials with the F-117?

[edit] Sorry, I'm on crack, was thinking F-111, not F-117
[/edit]

-Sik

Tails · « **Reply #5 on:** May 13, 2005, 07:29:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Sikboy
A little off topic, but didn't the Navy conduct Carrier trials with the F-117?

[edit] Sorry, I'm on crack, was thinking F-111, not F-117
[/edit]

-Sik

F-111 could, structurally, survive carrier landing. I think they had a problem with the approach angles and resulting tail-strikes though. Would of been neat if they made it as a Navy plane, though. Then maybe they wouldn't of needed to build those damned ugly Hornets!

kevykev56 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 13, 2005, 08:03:36 PM »

Even further off topic but here is another fragile aircraft on a carrier, the USS America.

bunch · « **Reply #7 on:** May 13, 2005, 09:03:29 PM »

at sea level with a 30 - 40 kt headwind & that wingspan I would be too surprised to see it back into the wires...more surprised it could fit on the deck w/out hitting the Island with the starboard wing

bob149 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 13, 2005, 11:16:22 PM »

http://www.anft.net/f-14/grumman-f111b.htm
Gives you a short history of the navy F111

FUNKED1 · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2005, 01:46:59 AM »

Lockheed did a lot of internal studies on a navalized 117. It would have needed a lot more wing area and high-lift devices to get the landing speed low enough.

The wires for the airshow appearance is just something that the black jet guys always require. If they break an airplane there are no more new ones going to be made, and they occupy a pretty important niche in the USAF's strike arsenal until JSF becomes operational.

Octavius · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2005, 02:05:29 PM »

That makes sense Funked. They were taking extreme precautions and whatnot.

We were watching just off one of the taxi ways. He screamed in very low, rolled over the main runway, circled around, and made his true approach... with the commercial planes waiting to take off most likely flipping the bird. I thought it was a very high rate of speed when he touched down. It didn't trap like a normal carrier. It touched down, released the chute, slammed the brakes, and THEN hit the wires for a complete stop. It was neat.