Author Topic: Nova JSF Show (Read 346 times)

funkedup · « **on:** February 05, 2003, 01:04:31 AM »

That was awesome.

Dead Man Flying · « **Reply #1 on:** February 05, 2003, 01:58:15 AM »

Do tell?

mietla · « **Reply #2 on:** February 05, 2003, 02:09:32 AM »

Saw it too. Very interesting. The Lockheed solution seemed much better. A column of a cold air from the lifting fan protecting the intakes from the hot exhaust from the jet.

Ingenious!

And the first time in history. A super-cruise and a vertical landing in a single flight.

funkedup · « **Reply #3 on:** February 05, 2003, 02:17:37 AM »

As a mechanical engineer, the lift fan was really impressive to me. The reliability on that thing has to be awesome, because a failure during hover will almost certainly destroy the aircraft and will probably kill the crew.

Also I loved that huge titanium bulkhead on the X-35. What an awesome piece of machining work. Can you imagine the value of the recycled titanium chips for each one of those they make?

I tell you though, looking at the stress those engineers were under, and seeing the look on the losing team's face, makes me not miss my old job at all.

funkedup · « **Reply #4 on:** February 05, 2003, 02:21:22 AM »

Todd it's a show on PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/xplanes/

mietla · « **Reply #5 on:** February 05, 2003, 02:28:33 AM »

As most NOVA programs it's available n VHS. They will almost certainly air it again. If not on PBS, it'll be on DSCWING

mietla · « **Reply #6 on:** February 05, 2003, 02:58:25 AM »

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/minutes/r_3004_220.html

mietla · « **Reply #7 on:** February 05, 2003, 03:05:31 AM »

Just checked my DTV

Thu 2/6 1:00-2:00 AM
Sat 2/8 2:00-3:00 PM

mietla · « **Reply #8 on:** February 05, 2003, 03:07:42 AM »

read my last message. BTW, it's an hour show.

Replicant · « **Reply #9 on:** February 05, 2003, 04:54:26 AM »

Very interesting. We'll be getting the F-35 based at RAF Cottesmore when it enters RAF service.

Although the X-35 (now F-35) has three variants (USAF, USN, USMC), I still think that the VSTOL variant is limited in its use. I say this through experience of working with the Harrier GR7.

The problem I see is that the lift fan is occupying valuable fuel space and also increasing the aircrafts weight. That means it will almost definitely have to carry external fuel tanks taking up valuable wing pylon space. Additionally will it have to carry water within the airframe (Harrier carries 500lbs water, lasting 90 secs) to help cool the engine and increase thrust (during the hover)?

I had hoped the RAF/RN would choose the carrier variant of the F-35, which uses the catapult system to launch it from a carrier. I really don't see a need for VSTOL aircraft in the current climate. It has some advantages but the conventional type is much better imo.

Replicant · « **Reply #10 on:** February 05, 2003, 04:57:33 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by mietla
Saw it too. Very interesting. The Lockheed solution seemed much better. A column of a cold air from the lifting fan protecting the intakes from the hot exhaust from the jet.

Ingenious!

And the first time in history. A super-cruise and a vertical landing in a single flight.

The current Harrier (GR7/AV8B) has four engine nozzels, the forward two are cold air, the rear two hot air.

Hangtime · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2003, 06:34:16 AM »

Both planes seemed very limitied in fuel capacity. The lift fan and rear engine nozzel on the Lockheed bird was superior engineering.. truly innovative. Looked Like Boeings bird may have had a manuverability advantage.

The lockheed bird was a mighty slick looking plane.. boeings was butt-ugly. kinda like rip.

With Raptor on hold, the JSF project had to be won by lockheed or it would have killed the company. Boeing; while dissapointed, ain't crippled by the loss... and they wound up with the RPV contract... where butt-ugly don't matter.