Goodbye A10, hello JSF

[tndrwarrior]

The Joint Strike Fighter is a pretty sweet aircraft,
http://www.afmc.wpafb.af.mil/HQ-AFMC/PA/news/archive/2002/sep/Edwards-JSFsafety.jpg
but will anyone else be sad to see the Warthog put to rest?

Oh and just a quick question, I thought the JSF was supposed to be VTOL (vertical take off and landing) and from the pictures I see, I don't know how it could do that. Anyone know how?

 

[daveleau]

There are some VTOL models. Each branch's JSF has different options. I can't remember who gets the VTOL models, but every branch didn't ask for that option. On the ones that are VTOL equipped, there is a fan that has doors that retract to open up the VTOL engine. That, and the thrust vectoring of the engine give it the VTOL capability. This shows the doors opening and thrust vectoring: http://www.military-wallpaper.com/-feiji/zhandouji/f-35/014.JPG
(for those who don't know what VTOL is, it is vertical take off and landing- like the Harrier)

I am amazed that the JSF only has one engine. I would think that the US military had learned from the F-16 that 2 engines are necessary. The Navy seemed to have gotten the picture when they asked that the F-18 have 2 engines. Let's hope the JSF's engines are less proned to FOD and are more reliable. Otherwise, we'll have the Lawn Dart 2 as its functioning moniker.

I hate that they are getting rid of the A-10. The A-10 training unit is here at Barksdale and they are awesome aircraft. Gen Horner was a big player in its retirement, despite their success in DS. It is not going to be easy to fly CAS and to do tank plinking without the A-10. I guess our role of CAS in the B-52 will be expanded.

 

[jhollas]

Oh, this is what we're foolishly replacing our Sea Harriers with in the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm.
Sorry, but I personally think it's a waste of money for us.

 

[WarSong]

...
I am amazed that the JSF only has one engine. I would think that the US military had learned from the F-16 that 2 engines are necessary. The Navy seemed to have gotten the picture when they asked that the F-18 have 2 engines. Let's hope the JSF's engines are less proned to FOD and are more reliable. Otherwise, we'll have the Lawn Dart 2 as its functioning moniker.
...

THANK YOU! I have been saying that since the JSF prototypes came out with only one engine. The F-16 is the biggest mistake the Air Force ever made. Besides, the F-15E makes it obsolete.

I hate that they are getting rid of the A-10. The A-10 training unit is here at Barksdale and they are awesome aircraft. Gen Horner was a big player in its retirement, despite their success in DS. It is not going to be easy to fly CAS and to do tank plinking without the A-10. I guess our role of CAS in the B-52 will be expanded.

The Air Force tried to get rid of the A-10 Thunderbolt II before the first Gulf War, and the Army wanted to buy it. After it proved it's worth, the Air Force decided to keep it.

I really wish the Air Frce would invest the time and money to update the A-10s and even start rolling some more off the assembly line. Army and Marines love them, it doesn't make sense to me to see them go. I believe they represent the epitome of air to mud warfare.

 

[The Unforgiven]

I am sorry, but I fail to see how this new aircraft can replace the A-10. The A-10 was made for 1 purpose only. To kill tanks and armored vehicles. It was built around the gun. The JSF does not have the same low speed characteristics nor the armorment to protect the pilot. They tried this same concept of 1 design for all branches during the Kennedy era, and that didn't work at all.

Just my opinion

 

[tndrwarrior]

A few updates, the JSF comes with an internally mounted four barrell 25 mm gatling gun on the Conventional Takeoff and Landing (CTOL) and with an externally mounted one for the Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) not VTOL. Which makes more sense because it gets its upward thrust with thrust vectoring. The A-10's had a seven barrell 30 mm gatling gun, 3 more barrells than the new one. However, the rate of fire is very similar. The JSF fires 3300 rounds/min whereas the A-10 fired 1800 rounds per minute with a variation that fired 3900 rounds/min. I uess that is how they'll kill the tanks. As for the slow approach, it has a glide speed of 120 mph (192 kph). As for a replacement for the titanium bathtub, I haven't heard anything but I'll be on the lookout.

 

[tndrwarrior]

And oh yeah, my getup is so ghetto.

 

[gop_ryan]

Of the aircraft the US military is replacing with the JSF, the A-10 will be the last aircraft replaced. With the introduction of the SDB (250lb GPS bomb), the art of tank destruction will change greatly.

The one engine design of the F-16 cannot be that big of a problem seeing how it has outsold the F/A-18 almost every time they were both offered to a nation. Israel can receive any aircraft it wants, and it always has purchased F-16's over several attempts by MD and Boeing to sell them the F/A-18.

 

[WarSong]

...
The one engine design of the F-16 cannot be that big of a problem seeing how it has outsold the F/A-18 almost every time they were both offered to a nation. Israel can receive any aircraft it wants, and it always has purchased F-16's over several attempts by MD and Boeing to sell them the F/A-18.

It's a huge problem. The Air Force has lost so many F-16s due to engine failures they no longer have spare airframes to replace them. The F-15 has longer range, more armaments, better avionics, and is faster.

The F-16 is cheap, which is why some nations prefer them.

 

[tndrwarrior]

Yeah, that's why I want to be an eagle pilot. Vipers don't even compare.

 

[tndrwarrior]

And ryan, there is no question that the A-10 is leaving the active inventory.

 

[daveleau]

The F-18 has such a short range that most go with the F-16, despite the single engine. The F-16's are extremely picky about their runway environment because of the location of the air intake and their susceptibility to engine problems. We would have to take off way early and land last at Red Flag so they could do a runway sweep before the F-16s took the active. Granted, our 8 engines DO blow up a lot of dust and FOD. They hated it the couple of times that we had maintenance delays that made us take off closer to their take-off times.
Eagle pilots run the USAF. I hope you get what you desire, but please remember that the USAF doesn't revolve around the Eagle when you get higher in rank.

 

[WarSong]

*loves his Eagles*

 

[Jcleesport]

The Joint Strike Fighter is a pretty sweet aircraft,
http://www.afmc.wpafb.af.mil/HQ-AFMC/PA/news/archive/2002/sep/Edwards-JSFsafety.jpg
but will anyone else be sad to see the Warthog put to rest?

Oh and just a quick question, I thought the JSF was supposed to be VTOL (vertical take off and landing) and from the pictures I see, I don't know how it could do that. Anyone know how?

They'll be around for awhile yet. As far as I've heard they don't go operational until 2010 or so...hopefully enough time for me to drive some Hawgs for a few years when I get out of the Aluminum Womb here.... (USAFA AKA the University of Science And Fine Arts AKA The Zoo AKA A small technical institute in Colorado AKA the United States Air Force Academy)

 

[Jcleesport]

I am sorry, but I fail to see how this new aircraft can replace the A-10. The A-10 was made for 1 purpose only. To kill tanks and armored vehicles. It was built around the gun. The JSF does not have the same low speed characteristics nor the armorment to protect the pilot. They tried this same concept of 1 design for all branches during the Kennedy era, and that didn't work at all.

Just my opinion

It will definately lack the fire power and the survivablility. It's stealth characteristics and range, as well as the STOVL capabilites will be postives though. My hope is that they integrate them along side the a-10's instead of trying to replace them.

 

[daveleau]

Does the JSF have supercruise like the F/A-22?

 

[Billnew]

The JSF built to serve the needs of all the services, will be useful to none.

The A10 is built for low level quick attack, similar to an attack helicopter.

The F16 is built for multiple roles over ground, fighter bomber,

The F15 is built for quick change in speed and lift.

These aircraft have their own strengths and weaknesses, when you build something for everyone no one has a good strength.
They have done this before and failed with wwII aircraft and later.
"Hey, lets save money by having one plane for everyone...."
"yea,Myron go back to sleep"

 

[Touring3D]

The Warthog is a GREAT plane. I love seeing them fly over head all the time in the Shreveport/Bossier area. God bless our military!

 

[WarSong]

We used to have them at Myrtle Beach. Beautiful jets just flying overhead. Intimidating too.

 

[Billnew]

They were going to be done away with because they didn't look like other planes.
They were considered ugly.
I have always loved them. Kind of like a defending hornet, swoop and and defend the hive.