Bring Back WW2 Fighters Into Production

[saggs]

I agree there is still a place in the military, (especially of poorer nations) for small "affordable" prop fighters. 

But why try to revive/update a 70yr old design when we already have a far superior aircraft to fill that role in either the Super Tucano, or the PC-9? 

[Puma44]

You guys weren't paying attention.

A really great idea for all of us who have millions of dollars of disposable income.  Only one problem though, your idea serves to dummy down the military to the weakest link.  Speed and force multipliers have been proven over and over throughout history to be the most effective method of warfare. 

And, oh, by the way, a spinning prop is a huge radar reflector.

[Nathan60]

I thought about smoking crack then I saw this thread.

[RedBull1]

You guys weren't paying attention.

No 80 year old parts or an exact production copy.  Nothing about plastic.


Drones?


That's what the stealth aircraft do best.  Take out command and communication bunkers.  Even remote stations for drones won't have enough quantity to be effective.

Jets and props work together.  One doesn't replace the other.  When ground pounders look up and see thousands of enemy planes over their heads, they don't have a good day when bombs begin to fall on them.

Avionics have vastly improved over the last 80 years and would be incorporated into the brand new airframes.  Even ejection seats can be modified.  Since WW2 fighter airplanes are much smaller than present day fighter aircraft, they tend to present smaller cross sections to any enemy radars especially given some of that radar resistant paint.

Sound military tactics and strategy. 

The overall strategy is to build thousands and thousands of lethal prop aircraft to make the other guy not to poke the hornet's nest.  Use massive quantity to transform into solid quality.

The cost of present day jet fighters and maintenance are so high.  Smaller friendly countries with less money would turn to the props for a good defense. 

In the event of a total war, prop aircraft would be built faster than the jet aircraft.  Wartime prop aircraft would be more flexible to other materials in construction if shortages became a reality.

You need to think up better arguements.  Crack?  You would have to be on crack to not see the awesome power of putting people to work building WW2 fighters.

I need to think up better arguments? Sir...with all due respect... I think you need to check your facts

Let me just start with this one:

Drones?

....

Even ejection seats can be modified. 

Which one? somehow make them drones (which would probably be near impossible to take off/land if you've ever seen how drones take off and land) or give them ejection seats, again, which will only be a big easy slow target for any enemy A/A?

 Since WW2 fighter airplanes are much smaller than present day fighter aircraft, they tend to present smaller cross sections to any enemy radars especially given some of that radar resistant paint.

Your argument against enemy A/A being able to hit them is this.

Let me compare the P51D (USAAF's premiere WWII fighter) to the F16C/D (USAF's Modern Day Fighter)

P-51D
Wing span: 37 ft (11.27 m)
Length:      32 ft 3 in (9.82 m)
Height:      13 ft 8 in (4.16 m)


F16C/D
Wingspan:  32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)
Length:      49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)
Height:      16 feet (4.8 meters)
 
F16 has a smaller wingspan by about 5ft, yet is about 5m longer, 3ft higher, which will make little no difference once gear up and in the fight.

I'm glad this guy isn't a military Defense Contractor! 

 

[cpxxx]

I'd love it but realistically it would never work.

Actually just to make it very silly you have to look at aircraft like the PC9 and T6 Texan which are near similar too WW2 aircraft with similiar perfromance. In fact I have been reliably informed that Irish Air Corps pilots flying the PC9 have described themselveved's as 'combat pilots' . I restrain my laugther in respect of the long tradition of my air arm. Even if they are off the the wall.

Like our friend, who has no idea how easily non stealth aircraft would be wiped out of the sky with the simplest technology available to us today. I do think we should leave the USAF, USN and USMC to work out what's required to fight the next gen of aerial warfare.

[Weirdguy]

The USAF has PLENTY of propeller combat aircraft.

They're called Reapers and Predators.

[bagrat]

This is a great idea, we just need to go back a little farther an use ww1 birds instead and bring in the quad winged twittler (dr-1). Yes it won't matter how accurate the enemies missiles are if the just fly through one of the many wings. Did I say 4 wings, better make it 5 and spread em out.