How to develop a combat aircraft...

[artik]

Textron AirLand’s Scorpion had performed an Atlantic crossing yesterday and landed in UK to take a part in the Farnborough International Airshow.

To those who do not follow, Scorpion is a light attack aircraft designed for a low cost operations with target flight hour price of $3,000.



What is even more remarkable that its maiden flight was performed in December 2013! According to the Wikipedia, it was designed by a small (less than 200) and very focused team. Its flight testing was so far very smooth. I think it is a remarkable achievement even for a relatively simpler aircraft.

It becomes even more outstanding, when you look at another high profile example that should perform first and very complex Atlantic crossing to show up in Farnborough, the aircraft that is under development for more than a decade with an unprecedented investment and was recently grounded (once again) due to engine problems (so it isn't clear if it would make to Farnborough at all).

It makes me think of some other spectacular aircraft that had simplicity and cost efficiency in their mind and become quite a success: Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.

[FLOOB]

Thems is toejam planes bruh

[morfiend]

 Looks like an F18 and an italian jet that the name escapes me had an affair! It has it's mothers nose and it's fathers butt!



   

[715]

I'm curious: how much does non swept wings limit it's top airspeed?  (Or does it not need high airspeed in its intended role?)

(And $3000/hr is considered cheap for fighter operation?!  Yikes... what does it cost to run an F35 or Super Hornet?)

[DaveBB]

SAM/AA fodder.

[Widewing]

I'm curious: how much does non swept wings limit it's top airspeed?  (Or does it not need high airspeed in its intended role?)

(And $3000/hr is considered cheap for fighter operation?!  Yikes... what does it cost to run an F35 or Super Hornet?)

$25,000 per hour to fly an F-16....

[bozon]

SAM/AA fodder.

and what brought you to that conclusion? the fact that it is not laminated with dollars?
You missed the main purpose of this plane.

It makes me think of some other spectacular aircraft that had simplicity and cost efficiency in their mind and become quite a success: Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter, Douglas A-4 Skyhawk.

I know very little about the Scorpion, but the F-5 (+ could-have-been F-20) and A-4 are strong contenders to the title of most under-appreciated plane in history.

[artik]

I know very little about the Scorpion

Yes... but I really like its idea and its development progress. Besides, the plane looks very nice

the F-5 (+ could-have-been F-20) and A-4 are strong contenders to the title of most under-appreciated plane in history.

I must say that I wanted to open a thread about "most under-appreciated" aircraft... and I wanted to talk about F-5.

I think the USAF/USN fetish to "BIG" planes finally made them miss some spectacular planes. F-5 had a significant commercial success (1000+ airframes) despite the fact that USAF didn't even consider buying it... This plane upgraded still flies in many countries, like Switzerland or Brazil that expects to keep them till 2030.

F-5 could become as significant in history as the Soviet MiG-21 or French Mirage... but USAF missed the opportunity.

A-4 was exceptionally durable and efficient aircraft with very high sortie generation rate. And yes it was much underestimated in USN that preferred "bigger" planes.

[danny76]

The Northrop F5 was outstanding, I have yet to read a bad thing about it, but I would suggest that there were some brown envelopes heading the direction of Procurement Officers from MD at the time

[wpeters]

I'm curious: how much does non swept wings limit it's top airspeed?  (Or does it not need high airspeed in its intended role?)

(And $3000/hr is considered cheap for fighter operation?!  Yikes... what does it cost to run an F35 or Super Hornet?)

F-22is $52,800

[danny76]

F-22is $52,800

Holy Hell

Well that's scuppered my idea of renting one over the summer 

[Blinder]

Kids. Let this be a warning. This is what happens when an F/A-18 Hornet and Cessna 172 Skyhawk have unprotected sex. 

[GScholz]

Looks like a fairly nice advanced jet trainer that can double as a light ground attacker in times of war. However, my favorite plane in that role is the beautiful BAe Hawk. The Hawk is faster and can carry more ord, and is in the same price range.


There's just something about those lines that's so right!

[GScholz]

The Northrop F5 was outstanding, I have yet to read a bad thing about it...

The engines were terrible on the A/B/C models. We had several incidents were both engines failed in flight! The E/F models had better engines.

[Blinder]

Looks like a fairly nice advanced jet trainer that can double as a light ground attacker in times of war. However, my favorite plane in that role is the beautiful BAe Hawk. The Hawk is faster and can carry more ord, and is in the same price range.


There's just something about those lines that's so right!

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That's my company!