THMMY.gr

Πάθος για ...νυφούλες υπάρχει, πάθος για αυτοκίνητα υπάρχει, αλλά πουθενά πάθος για αεροπλάνα ρε αδερφέ! TOP GUN ξαναχτυπά με γυαλί Rayban  8)  ;D
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Η τεχνολογία του Βλαντιμίρ Πούτιν ξεκινάει με τα Sukhoi:




Primary Function: Interceptor
Contractor: Sukhoi
Crew: One
Unit Cost: ~$35 million

Powerplant
  Two Saturn/Lyulka AL-37F afterburning turbofan engines rated at 30,865 lb each with afterburning

Dimensions
Length: 72 feet, 10 in
Wingspan: 49 feet, 8 in
Height: 20 feet, 10 in

Weights
Empty: 37,479 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 74 957 lb

Performance
Speed: 1,553 mph (Mach 2.3)
Ceiling: 59,055 ft
Range: 4,038 mi (max)

Armament
  One 30mm GSh-30 cannon, 14 storage mounts for Alamo, Acrid, Aphid, Archer, Adder AAMs, Karen, Kegler, Kedge, Krypton, Kazoo ASMs, laser-guided rockets and bombs, IR-guided rockets, cluster bombs, and TV-guided bombs.
 

The Su-35 is an advanced development on the Su-27 airframe, and many of the features tested on this aircraft can be found on the Su-37.

Su-35 Flanker Photos:

Οι νυφούλες δεν σκοτώνουν (αν και έχουν ειπωθεί αντίστοιχα άσματα : "Για τον έρωτά σου θα πεθάνω..λαλαλα" κτλ )

Τα αυτοκίνητα υπάρχουν για να μεταφέρουν, άσχετα αν στα χέρια ορισμένων μπορεί και να σκοτώνουν...

Τα αεροπλάνα όμως και μάλιστα τα συγκεκριμένα είναι φτιαγμένα για να σκοτώνουν. Τεχνολογικά είναι άξια θαυμασμού αλλά να παθιαστείς με μία πολεμική μηχανή είναι κάπως...

Πάμε τόπικ: "Πάθος για Πολιτικά Αεροπλάνα" (Airbuss και τα ρέστα.) :D

Μετά το παθος για τους κινούμενους υπερκαταναλωτές ενέργειας, τώρα να εκδηλώσουμε και την αγάπη μας για τους ιπτάμενους μαζικούς δολοφόνους....



καλά σταματάω την γκρίνια...

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Σαν μηχανικοί που είμαστε (είσαστε), η τεχνολογία είναι αυτή που πρέπει να ξέρουμε... Αλλά πάρτον σαν αμυντικές μηχανές και όχι σαν όπλα που σκοτώνουν!
Ή μήπως δεν είναι στην επικαιρότητα? (θυμήσου τί έγινε στην Καρπαθο πριν λίγο καιρό.) Γενικά πιστεύω ότι δεν είναι κακό να γνωρίζουμε....   ::)
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Από όλα θα έχει ο μπαχτσές! Ακόμα και πολιτικά αεροπλάνα. γιατί όχι?




Primary Function: Passenger Transport
Contractor: Boeing Aircraft Company
Crew: 368 (typical type 3-class)
451 (typical type 2-class)
550 (typical type 1-class)
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Pratt & Whitney PW4098 engines rated at 97,900 lb

Dimensions
Length: 242 ft, 4 in (73.9 m)
Wingspan: 199 ft, 11 in (60.9 m)
Height: 60 ft, 8 in (18.5 m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 660,000 lb (299,370 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 0.84 -- cruise
Ceiling: 43,100 ft
Range: 5,955 nm (11,029 km)

Armament
  N/A


The B777 was the first jetliner to be 100 percent digitally designed using three-dimensional computer graphics.
The B777 is larger than all other twinjet or trijet airplanes.
The B777 landing gear is the largest ever incorporated into a commercial jetliner.

Turambar αφήστε τους ρομαντισμούς και θυμηθήτε ότι μετά την 11η Σεπτεμβρίου (που εγώ πιστεύω οι ίδιοι οι Αμερικάνοι σκηνοθέτησαν ώστε στο όνομα του πολέμου κατά της τρομοκρατίας να εφαρμόσουν την επεκτατική πολιτική τους-ΑΦΓΑΝΙΣΤΑΝ-ΙΡΑΚ-ΛΙΒΑΝΟΣ-και μεθαύριο ΙΡΑΝ  :o ), όλος ο πλανήτης είναι ένα απέραντο πεδίο μάχης, καθώς τα τρομοκρατικά χτυπήματα δεν έχουν ούτε τόπο ούτε χρονική στιγμή. Το να ξέρουμε, έστω και αυτά τα λίγα περί "φονικών μηχανών" δεν είναι κακό...  ::)
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Primary Function: Fighter, air dominance
Contractor: Boeing and Lockheed Martin
Crew: Model F-22A will carry one crewperson
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 engines (155.69 kN / 35,000 lb st with afterburning each)

Dimensions
Length: 62 ft 1 inch
Wingspan: 44 ft 6 inches
Height: 16 ft 5 inches

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 60,000 lb (27216 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 2 class
Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15240 m)
Range: N/A

Armament
  One internal M61A2 20-mm cannon, three internal weapons bays, underside bay for four AIM-120A AMRAAMs and two lateral intake bays each with two AIM-9M sidewinder AAMs. Revised bays for 1,000 lb JDAMs replacing two AIM-120s and AIM-9X AAMs. Four underwing stores stations with provision for two AGM-137A Tri-Service Standoff Arrack Missiles and / or fuel tanks.


The F-22 has the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds.
The Raptor will be the leading American air-to-air fighter of the new century.


Prior to its selection as winner of what was then known as the Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) competition, the F-22 team conducted a 54-month demonstration/ validation (dem/val) program. The effort involved the design, construction and flight testing of two YF-22 prototype aircraft. Two prototype engines, the Pratt & Whitney YF119 and General Electric YF120, also were developed and tested during the program. The dem/val program was completed in December 1990.

Much of that work was performed at Boeing in Seattle, Lockheed (now known as Lockheed Martin) facilities in Burbank, Calif., and at General Dynamics' Fort Worth, Texas, facilities (now known as Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems). The prototypes were assembled in Lockheed's Palmdale, Calif., facility and made their maiden flight from there. Since that time Lockheed's program management and aircraft assembly operations have moved to Marietta, Ga., for the EMD and production phases.

A $9.55 billion contract for Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) of the F-22 was awarded to the industry team of Boeing and Lockheed Martin in August 1991. Contract changes since then have elevated the contract value to approximately $11 billion. Under terms of the contract, the F-22 team will complete the design of the aircraft, produce production tooling for the program, and build and test nine flightworthy and two ground-test aircraft.

In February 1995, the Air Force customer approved the final design of the F-22 air vehicle and confirmed that the program was ready to proceed to fabrication and assembly. The Air Force plans to procure 339 F-22s, and production is scheduled to run through 2013.

Όταν επιτέθηκαν οι Αμερικάνοι στην Σερβία, οι αδερφοί μας οι Σέρβοι ρίξανε ένα τέτοιο με απλές αντιαεροπορικές σφαίρες και μάλιστα νύχτα!!!!  ^hello^
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Primary Function: Attack
Contractor: Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Co.
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $FY98 [Total Program] $122 million 

Powerplant
  Two General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 non-afterburning turbofan engines (10,800 lb (48.04 kN) each)

Dimensions
Length: 65 feet, 11 inches (20.3 meters)
Wingspan: 43 feet, 4 inches (13.3 meters)
Height: 12 feet, 5 inches (3.8 meters)

Weights
Empty: 30,000 lb (13,608 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 52,500 pounds (23,625 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: High Subsonic
Ceiling: N/A
Range: Unlimited with air refueling

Armament
  Internal weapons carriage

Two each of:
2 MK84 2000-pound
2 GBU-10 Paveway II
2 GBU-12 Paveway II
2 GBU-27 Paveway III
2 BLU 109
2 WCMD
2 Mark 61 


The F-117 was the first true stealth aircraft released.
Although the F-117's flew through some of the most heavily defended areas in Desert Storm, not one aircraft was shot down or damaged.
On their first trip, the F-117's flew non-stop from Holloman AFB to Kuwait, taking around 18.5 hours -- a record for single-seat fighters still standing today.
 

The unique design of the single-seat F-117A provides exceptional combat capabilities. About the size of an F-15 Eagle, the twin-engine aircraft is powered by two General Electric F404 turbofan engines and has quadruple redundant fly-by-wire flight controls. Air refuelable, it supports worldwide commitments and adds to the deterrent strength of U.S. military forces.

The F-117A can employ a variety of weapons and is equipped with sophisticated navigation and attack systems integrated into a digital avionics suite that increases mission effectiveness and reduces pilot workload. Detailed planning for missions into highly defended target areas is accomplished by an automated mission planning system developed, specifically, to take advantage of the unique capabilities of the F-117A.


The F-117A production decision was made in 1978 with a contract awarded to Lockheed Advanced Development Projects, the "Skunk Works," in Burbank, Calif. The first flight over the Nevada test ranges was on June 18, 1981, only 31 months after the full-scale development decision. Streamlined management by Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, combined breakthrough stealth technology with concurrent development and production to rapidly field the aircraft.

The first F-117A was delivered in 1982, and the last delivery was in the summer of 1990. Air Combat Command's only F-117A unit, the 4450th Tactical Group, (now the 49th Fighter Wing, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.), achieved operational capability in October 1983.

During Operation Desert Storm in 1991, F-117A's flew approximately 1,300 sorties and scored direct hits on 1,600 high-value targets in Iraq. It was the only U.S. or coalition aircraft to strike targets in downtown Baghdad. Since moving to Holloman AFB in 1992, the F-117A and the men and women of the 49th Fighter Wing have deployed to Southwest Asia more than once. On their first trip, the F-117s flew non-stop from Holloman to Kuwait, a flight of approximately 18.5 hours -- a record for single-seat fighters that stands today.

In 1999, 24 F-117A's deployed to Aviano Air Base, Italy, and Spangdahlem AB, Germany, to support NATO's Operation Allied Force. The aircraft led the first Allied air strike against Yugoslavia on March 24, 1999.

The F-117A program demonstrates that stealth aircraft can be designed for reliability and maintainability. It created a revolution in military warfare by incorporating low-observable technology into operational aircraft. The aircraft receives support through a Lockheed-Martin contract known as Total System Performance Responsibility.

Πρώτων... άλλο αυτό που λες, και άλλο το πάθος για τα αεροπλάνα.

Δεύτερων... η δικαιολόγηση πάλι μπάζει, σκοπός είναι να σταματήσει ο πόλεμος, όχι να προετοίμαστούμε για αυτόν

Τρίτων... παραμένουν φονικές μηχανές...άμυνα ή επίθεση λίγη σημασία έχει.

Χωρίς τα "φονικά αυτά" όπλα , οι Τούρκοι θα φτάνανε μέχρι την Σαλονίκη κάθε μέρα. Δεύτερον, μου θυμίζεις παιδί των λουλουδιών της δεκαετίας του 60 που ονειρεύεται έναν όμορφο κόσμο χωρίς πολέμους. Λες εμένα να με αρέσουν οι πόλεμοι? Αλλά μετά την 11η Σεπ. όλα είναι φλου και ζούμε με μια αβεβαιότητα, η οποία θα μεγάλωνε αν δεν υπήρχαν αυτές οι ΑΜΥΝΤΙΚΕΣ μηχανές.
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Primary Function: Air superiority fighter
Contractor: Sukhoi Design Bureau
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Lyulka AL-37FU vectored-thrust afterburning turbofans, 30,855 lb thrust each

Dimensions
Length: 21.94 m (72 ft)
Wingspan: 15.16 m (49 ft 9 in)
Height: 6.84 m (22 ft 5 in)
 
Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 34,000 kg (74,960 lbs)

Performance
Speed: 2,500 km/h (1,553 mph / 1,350 Kts / mach 2.35) -- altitude
1,400 km/h (870 mph / 756 Kts / mach 1.32) -- sea level
Ceiling: 59,055 ft
Range: 1,390 km (863 mi / 750 nm) -- low altitude at 497 mph
3,300 km (2,051 mi / 1,782 nm) -- high altitude at 590 mph
Climb Rate: 230 m/sec (45,300 ft/min)

Armament
  One GSh-30-1 30mm cannon, plus up to 18,075 lb including R-73/R-77 AAMs, AGMs, bombs, rockets, drop tanks, and ECM pods carried on fourteen external points

Competitors
F-117A Nighthawk
 

The Su-37 is first Russian aircraft to feature thrust vectoring control comparable to the F-22 Raptor.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D
Turambar make war, not love!!!!! :D :D
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Primary Function: Multi-role fighter
Contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Klimov/Sarkisov RD-33 turbofans at 18,298 afterburning pounds of thrust each

Dimensions
Length: 56 feet and 10 inches
Wingspan: 37 feet and 3.25 inches
Height: 15 feet and 6.2 inches

Weights
Empty: 24,030 pounds
Maximum Takeoff: 40,785 lb (18500 kg) -- Fulcrum-A

Performance
Speed: Mach 2.3 (1,520 mph)
Ceiling: 55,775 ft (17000 m) -- Fulcrum-A
Range: 932 miles (810 nm / 1500 km) with internal fuel -- Fulcrum-A

Armament
  One 30mm GSh-301 cannon with 150 rounds, Six AAMs including a mix of SARH and AA-8 Aphid (R60), AA-10 Alamo (R27T), AA-11 Archer, (R73), FAB 500-M62, FAB-1000, TN-100, ECM Pods, S-24, AS-12, AS-14


The MiG-29 Fulcrum is Russia's most important tactical fighter and is said to equal or surpass the F-15 Eagle.

Να τι χρειάζονται τα αεροπλάνα σου....

XAXAXAXAXA!!! Και ποιός σου είπε ότι τα αεροπλάνα μου έρχονται με κακές προθέσεις? Να προστατέψουν την ειρήνη θέλουν!!  :D :D :D
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Primary Function: Tactical fighter
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: F-15A/C: one
F-15B/D/E: two
Unit Cost: A/B models - $27.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
C/D models - $29.9 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)

Powerplant
  Two P&W F100 turbofan engines in 29,000 lb (13,154 kg) thrust class with afterburning

Dimensions
Length: 63.8 ft (19.45 m)  
Wingspan: 42.8 ft (13.05 m)
Height: 18.5 ft (5.65 m)

Weights
Empty: 28,600 lb (12793 kg) -- F-15C
Maximum Takeoff: (C/D models) 68,000 pounds (30,844 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: 1,875 mph (Mach 2.5 plus)
Ceiling: 65,000 feet (19,812 meters)
Range: 3,450 miles (3,000 nautical miles) ferry range with conformal fuel tanks and three external fuel tanks

Armament
  One internally mounted M-61A1 20mm 20-mm, six-barrel cannon with 940 rounds of ammunition; four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder and four AIM-7F/M Sparrow air-to-air missiles, or eight AIM-120 AMRAAMs, carried externally.

The F-15 Eagle has a perfect combat record of 101 victories and zero defeats.
During the Balkan conflict, the F-15E was the only fighter able to attack ground targets around the clock, in all weather conditions. (για το 'προηγμένης τεχνολογίας' F-117 stealth που ρίξανε οι Σέρβοι με απλές σφαίρες, δεν το γράψανε!  :D )

και τα αντιαεροπορικά μου να προστατεύσουν τους λαούς από τους μαχόμενους ειρηνοποιούς.

piece of  cake, TURAMBAR!   :D
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Για τους τηλεπικοινωνιακούς είναι αυτό:




Primary Function: Airborne surveillance, command, control and communications
Contractor: Boeing Aerospace Co.
Crew: Flight crew of four plus mission crew of 13-19 specialists (mission crew size varies according to mission)
Unit Cost: Approximately $270 million

Powerplant
  Four Pratt and Whitney TF33-PW-100A turbofan engines at 21,000 pounds each.
 
Dimensions
Length: 145 feet, 6 inches (44 meters)
Wingspan: 130 feet, 10 inches (39.7 meters)
Height: 41 feet, 4 inches (12.5 meters)

Weights
Empty: 171,950 lb (77996 kg) -- operating E-3C
Maximum Takeoff: 347,000 pounds (156,150 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: Optimum cruise 360 mph (Mach 0.48)
Ceiling: Above 29,000 feet (8,788 meters)
Endurance: More than 8 hours (unrefueled)

Armament
  N/A


The E-3 can fly a mission profile for more than 8 hours without refueling.


The E-3 Sentry is a modified Boeing 707/320 commercial airframe with a rotating radar dome. The dome is 30 feet (9.1 meters) in diameter, six feet (1.8 meters) thick, and is held 14 feet (4.2 meters) above the fuselage by two struts. It contains a radar subsystem that permits surveillance from the Earth's surface up into the stratosphere, over land or water. The radar has a range of more than 250 miles (375.5 kilometers) for low-flying targets and farther for aerospace vehicles flying at medium to high altitudes. The radar combined with an identification friend or foe subsystem can look down to detect, identify and track enemy and friendly low-flying aircraft by eliminating ground clutter returns that confuse other radar systems.

The E-3 fleet will complete its largest upgrade in 2001. Known as the Block 30/35 Modification Program, the upgrade includes four enhancements: - Electronic Support Measure for passive detection, an electronic surveillance capability to detect and identify air and surface-based emitters.

- Joint Tactical Information Distribution System to provide secure, anti-jam communication for information distribution, position location and identification capabilities.

- An increase in the memory capability in the computer to accommodate JTIDS, EMS and future enhancements.

- Global Positioning System, a satellite-based positioning capability to provide precise global navigation.

Other major subsystems in the E-3 are navigation, communications and computers (data processing). Consoles display computer-processed data in graphic and tabular format on video screens. Console operators perform surveillance, identification, weapons control, battle management and communications functions.

The radar and computer subsystems on the E-3 Sentry can gather and present broad and detailed battlefield information. Data is collected as events occur. This includes position and tracking information on enemy aircraft and ships, and location and status of friendly aircraft and naval vessels. The information can be sent to major command and control centers in rear areas or aboard ships. In time of crisis, this data can be forwarded to the president and secretary of defense in the United States.

In support of air-to-ground operations, the Sentry can provide direct information needed for interdiction, reconnaissance, airlift and close-air support for friendly ground forces. It can also provide information for commanders of air operations to gain and maintain control of the air battle.

As an air defense system, E-3s can detect, identify and track airborne enemy forces far from the boundaries of the United States or NATO countries. It can direct fighter-interceptor aircraft to these enemy targets.

Experience has proven that the E-3 Sentry can respond quickly and effectively to a crisis and support worldwide military deployment operations. It is a jam-resistant system that has performed missions while experiencing heavy electronic countermeasures.

With its mobility as an airborne warning and control system, the Sentry has an greater chance of surviving in warfare than a fixed, ground-based radar system. Among other things, the flight path can quickly be changed according to mission and survival requirements. The E-3 can fly a mission profile for more than 8 hours without refueling. Its range and on-station time can be increased through inflight refueling and the use of an on-board crew rest area.

The aircraft are used as a surveillance asset in support of counter drug missions. U.S. Customs Service officers may fly aboard the E-3 Sentry on precoordinated missions to detect smuggling activities.
 

   The Boeing E-3 Sentry is the West's principal AWACS platform. The EC-137D prototype first flew on February 5, 1972, followed by the E-3A first flight on October 31, 1975. The E-3A uses the 707-320B airframe and a massive payload of radar and electronic sensors. The E-3 can scan the skies of all aircraft and missiles and report what it sees electronically to all friendly aircraft, ground fleet, satellites, and to any main headquarter bases. The E-3 is exported to many different countries including France, NATO, Saudi Arabia, and UK. France operates 4 E-3F, Saudi Arabia operates about 5 E-3A, the UK operates around 7 Sentry aircraft, NATO operates about 18 E-3A, and the USAF operates about 32 E-3.

Primary Function: Orbiter Vehicle (OV-101)
Contractor: Various; Rockwell International’s Space Transportation Systems Division
Crew: Up to eight (typically 2)
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Three main engines running on liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen propellant, rated at 512,950 lb thrust each
 
Dimensions
Length: 121 ft
Wingspan: 78 ft
Height: 57 ft

Weights
Empty: 151,205 lb (68,586 kg)
With main engines: 172,000 lb (78,019 kg)

Performance
Speed: N/A -- glide tests at 157 mph
Ceiling: N/A
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A
 

Shuttle Enterprise was the first Space Shuttle Orbiter made, though it has never flown in space.

Οσες 11 Σεπτεμβρη κι αν συμβουν, οσα αεροπλανα κι αν αγοραστουν, η ειρηνη δεν θα ειναι ποτε εξασφαλισμενη οσο κουμαντο στον πλανητη κανουν οι κεφαλαιοκρατες.

Τα παιχνιδακια μεταξυ ελληνων και τουρκων γινονται γιατι ο αμερικανος εμπορος πολεμικων αεροσκαφων θελει να πλουτιζει. Οσο κυβερνουν τα τσιρακια του, αυτος θα πλουτιζει, και οι λαοι θα σκοτωνονται.

Ποια ειναι η λυση λοιπον?

Οι λαοι να στρεψουν ενωμενοι τα ντουφεκια τους εναντιον των μεγαλεμπορων πολεμικων μηχανων και των μαριονετων τους...

<<...μου θυμίζεις παιδί των λουλουδιών της δεκαετίας του 60 που ονειρεύεται έναν όμορφο κόσμο χωρίς πολέμους...>>

Πρωτα μας στερησαν τον κοσμο που ονειρευομαστε.
Και τωρα προσπαθουν να μας στερησουν και τα ιδια μας τα ονειρα...

Ας ειναι ομως, θα 'ρθει η ωρα...........................

Πολύ σωστά τα λες aliakmwn, αλλά πρακτικά αυτό για να γίνει και όταν γίνει εσύ και εγώ θα έχουμε πεθάνει...

Ή όταν όλος ο κόσμος θα έχει πεθάνει ;D

Ξεκινα λοιπον κι εσυ να προσπαθεις και να αγωνιζεσαι, για να μην ερθει σε 60 χρονια το εγγονι σου, στο μελλοντικο forum, και να λεει "Πολυ σωστα τα λες aliakmwn Γ', αλλα πρακτικα αυτο για να γινει και οταν γινει εσυ και εγω θα εχουμε πεθανει..." ;)

Aliakmwn, εδώ τόσα χρόνια δεν δόθηκε λύση στο Κυπριακό ή στο Μεσανατολικό ή ακόμα και στο Ελληνοτουρκικό (με τον ορισμό της υφαλοκρυπίδας)-προβλήματα που αφορούν κάποιες μόνο χώρες, θα δοθεί λύση στο να σταματήσει η ξέφρενη επεκτατική πολιτική των Αμερικάνων που θέλουν να κατακτήσουν όλο τον κόσμο? ΄Δεν λέω να σταματήσουμε κάθε αγώνα, αλλά ας είμαστε και λίγο ρεαλιστές και μην αιθεροβατούμε.
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Primary Function: Tactical and intratheater airlift
Contractor: Lockheed
Crew: Five (two pilots, a navigator, flight engineer and loadmaster)
Unit Cost: C-130J, $48.5 million (FY98 constant dollars)

Powerplant
  Four Allison T56-A-15 turboprops; 4,300 horsepower, each engine

Dimensions
Length: 97 feet, 9 inches (29.3 meters)
Wingspan: 132 feet, 7 inches (39.7 meters)
Height: 38 feet, 3 inches (11.4 meters)

Weights
Empty: 69,300 lb (31434 kg) -- equipped C-130F
Maximum Takeoff: 155,000 pounds (69,750 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: 374 mph (Mach 0.57) at 20,000 feet (6,060 meters)
Ceiling: 33,000 feet (10,000 meters) with 100,000 pounds (45,000 kilograms) payload
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A


The C-130 Hercules is the West's most widely used and versatile military transport.
 

  Using its aft loading ramp and door the C-130 can accommodate a wide variety of oversized cargo, including everything from utility helicopters and six wheeled armored vehicles to standard palletized cargo and military personnel. In an aerial delivery role, it can air drop loads up to 42,000 pounds or use its high-floatation landing gear to land and deliver cargo on rough, dirt strips.

  The flexible design of the Hercules enables it to be configured for many different missions, allowing for one aircraft to perform the role of many. Much of the special mission equipment added to the Hercules is removable allowing the aircraft to revert back to its cargo delivery role if desired. Additionally, the C-130 can be rapidly reconfigured for the various types of cargo such as palletized equipment, floor loaded material, air drop platforms, container delivery system bundles, vehicles and personnel or aeromedical evacuation.

  The C-130J is the latest addition to the C-130 fleet and will replace aging C-130E's. The C-130J incorporates state-of-the-art technology to reduce manpower requirements, lower operating and support costs, and provide life cycle cost savings over earlier C-130 models. Compared to older C-130s, the J model climbs faster and higher, flies farther at a higher cruise speed, and takes off and lands in a shorter distance. The C-130J-30 is a stretch version, adding 15 feet to fuselage, increasing usable space in the cargo compartment.

  C-130J/J-30 major system improvements include: advanced two-pilot flight station with fully integrated digital avionics; color multifunctional liquid crystal displays and head-up displays; state-of-the-art navigation systems with dual inertial navigation system and global positioning system; fully integrated defensive systems; low-power color radar; digital moving map display; new turboprop engines with six bladed, all composite propellers; digital auto pilot; improved fuel, environmental and ice protection systems; and an enhanced cargo handling system.


  Four decades have elapsed since the Air Force issued its original design specification, yet the remarkable C-130 remains in production. The initial production model was the C-130A, with four Allison T56-A-11 or -9 turboprops. A total of 219 were ordered and deliveries began in December 1956. The C-130B introduced Allison T56-A-7 turboprops and the first of 134 entered Air Force service in May 1959.

  Introduced in August of 1962, the 389 C-130E's that were ordered used the same Allison T56-A-7 engine, but added two 1,290 gallon external fuel tanks and an increased maximum takeoff weight capability. June 1974 introduced the first of 308 C-130H's with the more powerful Allison T56-A-15 turboprop engine. Nearly identical to the C-130E externally, the new engine brought major performance improvements to the aircraft.

  The latest C-130 to be produced, the C-130J entered the inventory in February 1999. With the noticeable difference of a six bladed composite propeller coupled to a Rolls-Royce AE2100D3 turboprop engine, the C-130J brings substantial performance improvements over all previous models, and has allowed the introduction of the C-130J-30, a stretch version with a 15-foot fuselage extension. Air Force has selected the C-130J-30 to replace retiring C-130E's. Approximately 168 C-130J/J-30s are planned for the inventory. To date, the Air Force has purchased 29 C-130J aircraft from Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company.
 

Primary Function: Medium-lift helicopter
Contractor: Boeing
Crew: Cockpit-crew seats: 2
Cabin-troop seats/litters: 33/24
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Textron Lycoming T55-L-712 turboshafts each rated at 3,750 shp for takeoff and 3,000 shp for coninuous running

Dimensions
Length: 98ft 10.75 in
Rotor Diameter: 60 feet (18.29 m) each -- CH-47D
Height: 18 ft 11 in

Weights
Empty: 22,379 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 50,000 lb

Performance
Speed: 159 mph (cruising)
Ceiling: 22,100 ft
Range: N/A
 
Armament
  N/A


During Desert Storm the CH-47D often provided the only means of transportation to shift large numbers of personnel, equipment, and supplies quickly.

Όπως και να έχει αυτά τα αεροπλάνα παρουσιάζουν τεχνικό ενδιαφέρον...Αφήστε τα περί ειρήνης κατά μέρος...Αν βλέπατε εκείνο το ντοκυμαντέρ στην ΕΤ1 για το βομβαρδιστικό Β-2 και τις συνεντευξεις κάποιων πιλότων θα είχατε φρικάρει τόσο πολύ που αυτό το topic θα σας φαινόταν μια χαρά....

Άντε να μη κάνω ένα topic με κιθάρες.... ;D ;D ;D

Primary Function: Multi-role heavy bomber
Contractor: Northrop Grumman Corp.
Crew: Two pilots
Unit Cost: Approximately $1.157 billion

Powerplant
  Four General Electric F-118-GE-100 engines (17,300 lb each)

Dimensions
Length: 69 feet (20.9 meters)
Wingspan: 172 feet (52.12 meters)
Height: 17 feet (5.1 meters)

Weights
Empty: 162,000 lb (73,482 kg)
Typical Takeoff: 336,500 lb (152,634 kg)

Performance
Speed: High subsonic
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,152 meters)
Range: Intercontinental, unrefueled

Armament
     NUCLEAR    CONVENTIONAL              PRECISION
     16 B61                  80 MK82                   16 JDAM (2,000 lb GBU-31)
     16 B83                  16 MK84                    8 AGM-154 JSOW
                                36 CBU87                   8 GBU-37 Bunker Busters
                                36 CBU89                8 EGBU-28 (Enhanced GBU-37)
                                36 CBU97                   AGM-158 (JASSM)

Service Life
First Flight: July 17, 1989 (B-2)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: [21 total]


In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-2 flew one of its longest missions to date from Whiteman to Afghanistan and back.

  Along with the B-52 and B-1B, the B-2 provides the penetrating flexibility and effectiveness inherent in manned bombers. Its low-observable, or "stealth," characteristics give it the unique ability to penetrate an enemy's most sophisticated defenses and threaten its most valued, and heavily defended, targets. Its capability to penetrate air defenses and threaten effective retaliation provide a strong, effective deterrent and combat force well into the 21st century.

  The revolutionary blending of low-observable technologies with high aerodynamic efficiency and large payload gives the B-2 important advantages over existing bombers. Its low-observability provides it greater freedom of action at high altitudes, thus increasing its range and a better field of view for the aircraft's sensors. Its unrefueled range is approximately 6,000 nautical miles (9,600 kilometers).

  The B-2's low observability is derived from a combination of reduced infrared, acoustic, electromagnetic, visual and radar signatures. These signatures make it difficult for the sophisticated defensive systems to detect, track and engage the B-2. Many aspects of the low-observability process remain classified; however, the B-2's composite materials, special coatings and flying-wing design all contribute to its "stealthiness."

  The B-2 has a crew of two pilots, a pilot in the left seat and mission commander in the right, compared to the B-1B's crew of four and the B-52's crew of five.

 The first B-2 was publicly displayed on Nov. 22, 1988, when it was rolled out of its hangar at Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, Calif. Its first flight was July 17, 1989. The B-2 Combined Test Force, Air Force Flight Test Center, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., is responsible for flight testing the engineering, manufacturing and development aircraft as they are produced. .

  Whiteman AFB, Mo., is the B-2's only operational base. The first aircraft, Spirit of Missouri, was delivered Dec. 17, 1993. Depot maintenance responsibility for the B-2 is performed by Air Force contractor support and is managed at the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker AFB, Okla..

  The success of the B-2 was proved in Operation Allied Force, where it was responsible for destroying 33 percent of all Serbian targets in the first eight weeks, by flying nonstop to Kosovo from its home base in Missouri and back. In support of Operation Enduring Freedom, the B-2 flew one of its longest missions to date from Whiteman to Afghanistan and back..

  The prime contractor, responsible for overall system design and integration, is Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems Sector. Boeing Military Airplanes Co., Hughes Radar Systems Group, General Electric Aircraft Engine Group and Vought Aircraft Industries, Inc., are key members of the aircraft contractor team. Another major contractor, responsible for aircrew training devices (weapon system trainer and mission trainer) is Hughes Training Inc. (HTI) - Link Division, formerly known as CAE - Link Flight Simulation Corp. Northrop Grumman and its major subcontractor HTI, are responsible for developing and integrating all aircrew and maintenance training programs.

jimi δεν το είδα το ντοκυμαντέρ αλλά φαντάζομαι  :o
==============================================



Primary Function: N/A
Contractor: Sukhoi
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  two Aviadvigatel D-30F6 afterburning turbofans at 68,340 lb (303.8 kN) each (original)

two Saturn/ Lyul'ka AL-37FU afterburning turbofans at 63,930 lb (284.4 kN) each w/ afterburner (planned)
 
Dimensions
Length: 72.83 ft (22.60 m)
Wingspan: 74.00 ft (16.70 m)
Height: 19.33 ft (5.90 m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 74,955 lb (34,000 kg)
 
Performance
Speed: 1,555 mph (2,500 km/h)
Ceiling: 61,680 ft (18,800 m)
Range: 2,100 nm (3,880 km) -- typical

Armament
  N/A


The S-37 was built to validate and gain experience with various advances in technology that could be incoorperated in a future Sukhoi fighter.
 

Primary Function: Interceptor [Mirage 2000C]; All weather night and day missions [Mirage 2000D]
Contractor: Dassault
Crew: One, trainer--two
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  SNECMA M 53 P2 jet engine / 9.7 t with afterburner

Dimensions
Length: 50 ft, 3 in (14.36 m)
Wingspan: 29 ft, 5 in (9.13 m)
Height: 17 ft, 0.75 in (5.20 m) -- Mirage 2000C
 
Weights
Empty: 7,600 kg -- Mirage 2000C
Maximum Takeoff: 37,478 lb (17,000 kg) -- Mirage 2000C

Performance
Speed: Maximum level speed 'clean' at 36,090 ft (11000 m) more than 1,453 mph (1,262 kt / 2338 km/h) -- Mirage 2000C
Ceiling: Above 50,000 ft / 16,500 m
Range: Combat range over 920 miles (800nm / 1480 km) -- Mirage 2000C
 
Armament
  2 AM.39 Exocet, 1 1300 L drop Tank (855 nm)
1 1300 L drop tank, 2 ARMAT, 2 R.550 Magic (885 nm)
1 1300 L drop tank, 2R.500 Magic, 2 R.530D (885 nm)
4 Belouga, 2 1700 L drop tank, 2 R.550 Magic (1094 nm)
18 EU2 250 kg bombs (756 nm)


No known major achievements

Primary Function: Attack
Contractor: Ling-Temco-Vought (Prime, now Northrop Grumman Corp.)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $2,860,000 (A-7D)

Powerplant
  Single Allison/Rolls Royce TF41-A-400 non-afterburning turbofan engine with a static thrust rating of 15,000 pounds

Dimensions
Length: 46 feet 1.5 inches
Wingspan: 38 feet 9 inches
Height: 16 feet 1 inch

Weights
Empty: 19,111 lb (8668 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 42,000 lb (19050 kg)

Performance
Speed: 595 knots (685 mph / 1102 km/h)
Ceiling: 45,000 ft
Range: 3,224 miles

Armament
  One internally mounted M61A1 20 mm six barrel cannon
Six wing pylons
Two fuselage launch stations
Pylons can carry a large single weapon, multiple racks capable of six weapons per rack, or triple racks with three weapons per rack.
Can carry 15,000 pounds of payload
Compatible with practically all first line ordnance used by the U.S./USAF/NATO.
 
Service Life
First Flight: September 27, 1965 (A-7A)
End of Service: 1993 (still in service with Greece and Portugal)
Number Built: A-7A (199) + A-7B (196) + A-7C (67) + 1,107 others [~1,569 total]


One of the most accurate strike aircraft ever built


  The A-7 Corsair II was built on the F-8 Crusader airframe, and was a subsonic attack version of this fighter. It was exceptionally accurate, and was purchased by the US Navy and Marines, and later on by the US Air Force. The A-7 was first flown on September 27, l965, and initial deliveries began on October 14, l966. With a typical weapons load, the A-7E would have a tactical radius of 700 miles. It carried one 20-mm M61A1 multi-barrel cannon and up to 15,000 lb. of mixed stores externally.


  The A-7 Corsair II was one of a few US Navy aircraft to be operated by the US Air Force. It was created in response to the US Navy's 1963 light attack aircraft specification, which required light attack aircraft to replace the A-4 Skyhawk and with about twice the payload. 35 production A-7A's were ordered on March 19, 1964, powered by a non afterburning 12,200lb Pratt & Whitney TF-30-P-8 turbofan engine. It first flight occurred on September 27, 1965, and in 1966, the USAF ordered the A-7D (airforce version) with the Allison TF41 turbofan engine. The US Navy later developed the A-7E with TF41 engines also. The A-7 was used widely during the Vietnam War and the US Navy used them during the Gulf War as well. The A-7 was later replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet.

Primary Function: Carrier Based Interceptor
Contractor: Yakovlev
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  One Kobchenko/Soyuz R-79-300 turbofan engine rated at 34,170lb for takeoff, two Rybinsk RD- 41 turbofan engines rated at 9,039lb for lift

Dimensions
Length: 60 ft 2 in
Wingspan: 33 ft 1.5 in (spread)
19 ft 4 in (folded)
Height: 16 ft 4 in

Weights
Empty: 25,684 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 34,833 lb vertical, 42,990 lb short

Performance
Speed: 1148.4 mph (Mach 1.8 )
Ceiling: 49,000 ft
Range: 1306.8 mi

Armament
  One 30mm cannon, Alamo and Archer AAMs, bombs, and rockets


The Yak-141 is the world's first supersonic STOVL aircraft
 

Primary Function: Multi-role fighter / reconn.
Contractor: Dassault 
Crew: Single or twin seater 
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two SNECMA M88-3 turbofans each rated at 19,555 lb (86.98 kN) with afterburning -- Rafale C

Dimensions
Length: 50 ft 3 in (15.3 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 9 in (10.9 m)
Height: 17 ft 6 in (5.34 m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 47,399 lb (21500 kg) -- Rafale C

Performance
Speed: Maximum level speed 'clean' at 36,090 ft (11000 m) 1,321 mph (1,147 kt / 2125 km/h) -- Rafale C
Ceiling: 60,000 ft
Range: 1000 nm

Armament
  Cannon: 1 30mm DEFA 554; Mica, R.550 Magic 2, BGL 400


No known major achievements

Primary Function: Multirole fighter
Contractor: Lockheed
Crew: F-16C: one
F-16D: one or two
Unit Cost: F-16A/B: $14.6 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)
F-16C/D: $18.8 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)

Powerplant
  F-16C/D: one Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or one General Electric F110-GE-100/129

Dimensions
Length: 49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)
Wingspan: 32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)

Weights
Empty: 19,100 lb (8663 kg) -- F-16C
Maximum Takeoff: 37,500 pounds (16,875 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)
Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)
Range: Over 2,100 nm (2,425 mi; 3,900 km)

Armament
  One M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with 500 rounds; external stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and electronic countermeasure pods.


The F-16 flew more sorties in Operation Desert Storm than any other aircraft.
The F-16 is the most numerous fighter in the West.


In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.

In designing the F-16, advanced aerospace science and proven reliable systems from other aircraft such as the F-15 and F-111 were selected. These were combined to simplify the airplane and reduce its size, purchase price, maintenance costs and weight. The light weight of the fuselage is achieved without reducing its strength. With a full load of internal fuel, the F-16 can withstand up to nine G's -- nine times the force of gravity -- which exceeds the capability of other current fighter aircraft.

The cockpit and its bubble canopy give the pilot unobstructed forward and upward vision, and greatly improved vision over the side and to the rear. The seat-back angle was expanded from the usual 13 degrees to 30 degrees, increasing pilot comfort and gravity force tolerance. The pilot has excellent flight control of the F-16 through its "fly-by-wire" system. Electrical wires relay commands, replacing the usual cables and linkage controls. For easy and accurate control of the aircraft during high G-force combat maneuvers, a side stick controller is used instead of the conventional center-mounted stick. Hand pressure on the side stick controller sends electrical signals to actuators of flight control surfaces such as ailerons and rudder.

Avionics systems include a highly accurate inertial navigation system in which a computer provides steering information to the pilot. The plane has UHF and VHF radios plus an instrument landing system. It also has a warning system and modular countermeasure pods to be used against airborne or surface electronic threats. The fuselage has space for additional avionics systems.



The F-16A, a single-seat model, first flew in December 1976. The first operational F-16A was delivered in January 1979 to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

The F-16B, a two-seat model, has tandem cockpits that are about the same size as the one in the A model. Its bubble canopy extends to cover the second cockpit. To make room for the second cockpit, the forward fuselage fuel tank and avionics growth space were reduced. During training, the forward cockpit is used by a student pilot with an instructor pilot in the rear cockpit.

All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in structural and wiring provisions and systems architecture that permit expansion of the multirole flexibility to perform precision strike, night attack and beyond-visual-range interception missions. This improvement program led to the F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are the single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16A/B, and incorporate the latest cockpit control and display technology. All active units and many Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units have converted to the F-16C/D.

The F-16 was built under an unusual agreement creating a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway. These countries jointly produced with the United States an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces. Final airframe assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands. The consortium's F-16s are assembled from components manufactured in all five countries. Belgium also provides final assembly of the F100 engine used in the European F-16s. Recently, Portugal joined the consortium. The long-term benefits of this program will be technology transfer among the nations producing the F-16, and a common-use aircraft for NATO nations. This program increases the supply and availability of repair parts in Europe and improves the F-16's combat readiness.

USAF F-16 multi-mission fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of other targets.

Most recently in the Spring of 1999 during Operation Allied Force, USAF F-16 multi-mission fighters flew a variety of missions to include suppression of enemy air defense, offensive counter air, defensive counter air, close air support and forward air controller missions. Mission results were outstanding as these fighters destroyed radar sites, vehicles, tanks, MiGs and buildings.

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a mid-sized wide body passenger airliner currently under development by Boeing Commercial Airplanes and scheduled to enter service in 2008. It will carry between 210 and 330 passengers depending on the seating configuration, and will be more fuel-efficient than comparable earlier airliners. It will also be the first major airliner to use composite material for most of its construction.

Περισσότερες πληροφορίες http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_787)

Καλό και αυτό!
===============================================




Primary Function: close air support (A-10), airborne forward air control (OA-10)
Contractor: Fairchild Republic Co.
Crew: One 
Unit Cost: $9.8 million (fiscal 98 constant dollars)

Powerplant
  Two General Electric TF34-GE-100 turbofans (9,065 pounds each)

Dimensions
Length: 53 feet, 4 inches (16.16 meters)
Wingspan: 57 feet, 6 inches (17.42 meters)
Height: 14 feet, 8 inches (4.42 meters)

Weights
Empty: 25,600 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 51,000 lb (22950 kg)

Performance
Speed: 420 mph (Mach 0.56)
Ceiling: 45,000 feet (13636 meters)
Range: 800 miles (695 nm)

Armament
  One 30 mm GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun; up to 16,000 pounds (7,200 kilograms) of mixed ordnance on eight under-wing and three under-fuselage pylon stations, including 500 pounds (225 kilograms) of Mk-82 and 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms) of Mk-84 series low/high drag bombs, incendiary cluster bombs, combined effects munitions, mine dispensing munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and laser-guided/electro-optically guided bombs; infrared countermeasure flares; electronic countermeasure chaff; jammer pods; 2.75-inch (6.99 centimeters) rockets; illumination flares and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

Service Life
First Flight: May 10, 1972 (prototype)
April 5, 1972 (A-10)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: A-10A (721) + A-10B (30) [~751 total]


The A-10's survivability in close air support greatly exceeds that of previous air force aircraft.
The A-10 was the first Air Force aircraft specially designed for close air support of ground forces.


  The Warthog is literally built around its 30-mm General Electric GAU-8 Avenger seven barrel cannon, the most powerful gun ever fitted to an aircraft of this class. The A-10 features eleven underwing/underfuselage hardpoints and can carry 16,000lb or ordinance -- including AGM-65 Maverick anti-armor missiles, cluster bombs, LGBs, and AIM-9 AAMs.


  The A-10 was designed for close support in low intensity conflicts during the Vietnam War, yet it came to be seen as a dedicated anti-armor platform by the early 1970s. Early before the A-10 came into production, however, the USAF held a flyoff between the Northrop YA-9 and the Fairchild Republic A-10. The A-10 was chosen and 707 A-10A's went into production. The Warthog, as it came to be known, was designed for high-survivability with a large-area wing, rear-mounted engines, and redundant and armored flight controls. A titanium covering surrounds both the cockpit and ammunition tank. As A-10's entered service in the USAF around 1977, and as vulnerability of the A-10 was questioned it was slowly withdrawn in favor of the F-16. Although the A-10 was never exported, it was redesignated OA-10 for the Forward Air Control role. The only difference between the A-10 and OA-10 is that the OA-10 only carries smoke rockets and AIM-9 Sidewinder AAMs for self-defense.

Primary Function: Passenger Aircraft
Contractor: Aerospatiale and British Aerospace
Crew: 9 (3 Flight crew and 6 Cabin crew); up to 128 passengers
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Four Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593 Mk910 turbojet engines rated at 38,050 lb afterburning and 10,000 lb cruise thrust each

Dimensions
Length: 204 ft. 4 in.
Wingspan: 83 ft 10 in
Height: 28 ft. 8.5 in.

Weights
Empty: 173,500 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 408,000 lb

Performance
Speed: 1333 mph (Mach 2.04)
Ceiling: 63,000 ft
Range: 4,500 miles (max)

Armament
  N/A

Service Life
First Flight: October 1, 1969 
End of Service: October 24, 2003 
Number Built: 2 (prototypes), 2 (pre-production), 16 (production) [20 total]


The Concorde was the first civil airliner equipped with an analogue fly-by-wire flight control system.
The Concorde was one of only two commercial passenger airliners to fly faster than the speed of sound.

Primary Function: Fighter
Contractor: Germany, Italy, Spain, UK
Crew: Pilot
Unit Cost: N/A


  Two EJ200 Turbofan Engines rated at 20,000 lbf (90 kN) afterburning each

Dimensions
Length: 49.08 ft
Wingspan: 35.93 ft
Height: 5.28m

Weights
Empty: 21,495 lb (approx.)
Maximum Takeoff: 46,297 lb (approx.)
 
Performance
Speed: 1,320 mph (2125 km/h)
Ceiling: 60,000 ft
Combat Radius: air defence with 10-min loiter : 1389 km

Armament
  Internally mounted 27mm Mauser gun; Mix of Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missiles (BVRAAM) and Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (SRAAM) carried externally; Four BVRAAM under fuselage in semi-conformal carriage configuration; Laser guided bombs; Advanced anti-armour weapons; Conventionally armed stand-off missiles

Service Life
First Flight: August 1986 (prototype)
March 27, 1994 (EF-2000)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: [~698 in production]


No major achievements known 

Από τα αγαπημένα μου  :)

Primary Function: Fighter Prototype
Contractor: Northrop
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100's of approximately 35,000 lbs. thrust each with afterburner or two General Electric F120-GE-100 turbofans. Engine competition won by Pratt & Whitney

Dimensions
Length: 67 ft. 5 in.
Wingspan: 43 ft. 7 in.
Height: 13 ft. 11 in.

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: approx. 54,000 lbs.

Performance
Speed: approximately Mach 2.0
Ceiling: approximately 65,000 ft
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A
 

The YF-23 was the newest technology demonstrator from the Northrop company.


The YF-23 prototypes are 67.4 feet in length and have wingspans of 43.6 ft. During the Advanced Tactical Fighter program, one YF-23 was powered by twin Pratt and Whitney YF119 turbofan engines, while the other had two General Electric YF120 turbofan engines installed. The aircraft achieved a speed of around Mach 1.8 throughout the program.


The Northrop contender for the ATF contract, the "YF-23A", was formally rolled out first, on 22 June 1990, and made its initial flight on 27 August 1990. The aircraft was informally named the "Black Widow II", in memory of Northrop's P-61 Black Widow night fighter of World War II.

The YF-23A was unorthodox in appearance. The YF-23A was obviously a "stealth" design, with a diamond-shaped wing, a wide and flattened vee tail, engine exhausts hidden from view from below, a sawtooth rear fuselage across the tail and exhausts, and blended contours. The engine air intakes were underneath the wings, with the two engines buried well back from the inlets to keep them from reflecting radar signals. Air-to-air missiles (AAMs), such as the advanced AIM-9X Sidewinder and the AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), were to be carried in internal weapons bays, not externally. Such a design was clearly meant to give enemy radars very little to lock onto.

The YF-23A was 20.6 meters (67.4 feet) long, had a 13.3 meter (43.6 foot) wingspan, and a height of 4.27 meters (14 feet). The aircraft had a top speed of at least Mach 2.0 and supersonic cruise at about Mach 1.5.

The YF-23A featured a "Vehicle Management System (VMS)" to keep it in the air. The VMS handled the YF-23A's flight control surfaces, including all-moving tailplanes and flaps on both the leading and trailing edges of the wings. The VMS could also monitor the aircraft's hydraulic systems, detecting and isolating damage to keep the fighter airborne.

The Lockheed design, the "YF-22A", was rolled out on 29 August 1990, and first flew on 29 September. The aircraft was given the informal name of "Lightning II", after the famous Lockheed P-38 Lightning of World War II, but the name didn't stick.

The YF-22A had a more conventional configuration than the YF-23A, similar in general plan to the current F-15 fighter: high-set cockpit, air intakes behind either side of the cockpit and extending to engines on either side of the fuselage, and twin vertical tailplanes.

The YF-22A was less stealthy than the YF-23A, though more stealthy than the F-15. The YF-22A design was more optimized for maneuverability, featuring design elements such as thrust-vectoring engine exhausts that swiveled in the vertical plane.

The YF-23A met USAF requirements for survivability, supersonic cruise, stealth, and ease of maintenance. However, the YF-22A was more maneuverable than the YF-23A, and won the competition in April 1991. Another factor was that the YF-22A was also seen as more adaptable to the Navy's NATF, though as it turned out the Navy abandoned NATF a few months later.

The engine selected for the winning YF-22A was the P&W F119, which was judged a lower-risk path. The contract specified that Lockheed provide seven single-seat F-22As, two tandem-seat dual-control F-22Bs, and two nonflying test examples. First flight of a true F-22 was scheduled for 1996, with operational introduction in 2003.

The second YF-22A prototype, powered by the P&W F119, quickly followed the first into the air. Although the first prototype was powered by two GE F120s, it was quickly modified to take the P&W F119. Flight tests of the two YF-22A prototypes were augmented by avionics tests using a Boeing 757 configured as a flying laboratory.

The flight tests went well until 1991, when one of the prototypes suffered a landing accident and was badly burned. The other prototype had been relegated to ground tests by that time, and neither of the two initial prototypes ever flew again.

Primary Function: Carrier-based multi-role strike fighter
Contractor: Grumman
Crew: Two (pilot and radar intercept officer)
Unit Cost: $38 million

Powerplant
  F-14A: Twin Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-41A turbofan engines (20,900 pounds of thrust w/ afterburner)
F-14B/D: Twin General Electric F110-GE-400 turbofan engines (29,080-high/27,948 average pounds each w/ maximum afterburner)

Dimensions
Length: 61 feet 9 inches (18.6 meters)
Wingspan: 64 feet (19 meters) unswept, 38 feet (11.4 meters) swept
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)

Weights
Empty: 41,780 lb (18951 kg) -- F-14D
Maximum Takeoff: 72,900 pounds (32,805 kg)

Performance
Speed: 2.34 Mach (1.2 Mach sea level)
Ceiling: 56,000+ feet
Range: Deck launched intercept F-14A - 915 nautical miles radius with two 280-gallon drop tanks jettisoned when empty
Deck launched intercept F-14D - 656 nautical miles radius combat range with two 280-gallon drop tanks
F-14D - With two 280-gallon drop tanks retained, 1,591 nautical miles ferry range

Armament
  Up to 13,000 pounds of:

Air-to-Air Missiles (up to):
6 AIM-7 Sparrows
4 AIM-9 Sidewinder
6 AIM-54 Phoenix

Air-to-Ground Ordnance:
MK-82 (500 lbs.)
4 MK-83 (1,000 lbs.)
4 MK-84 (2,000 lbs.)
MK-20 cluster bomb
4 GBU-10 LGB
GBU-12 MK-82 LGB
4 GBU-16 MK-83 LGB
4 GBU-24 MK-84 LGB

one MK-61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon


The F-14 Tomcat has the ability to fire the AIM-54 Phoenix -- the longest ranged AAM in the world. 


The F-14 has visual and all-weather attack capability to deliver Phoenix and Sparrow missiles as well as the M-61 gun and Sidewinder missiles for close in air-to-air combat. The F-14 also has the LANTIRN targeting system that allows delivery of various laser-guided bombs for precision strikes in air-to-ground combat missions. The F-14, equipped with Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) is the Navy's only manned tactical reconnaissance platform.


The F-14 entered the fleet in 1973, replacing the F-4 Phantom II. The F-14B, introduced in November 1987, incorporated new General Electric F-110 engines. In 1995, an upgrade program was initiated to incorporate new digital avionics and weapon system improvements to strengthen its multi-mission competitive edge. The F-14D, delivered in 1990, was a major upgrade with F-110 engines, new APG-71 radar system, Airborne Self Protection Jammer (ASPJ), Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) and Infrared Search and Track (IRST). Additionally, all F-14 variants were given precision strike capability using the LANTIRN targeting system, night vision compatibility, new defensive countermeasures systems and a new digital flight control system.

Primary Function: Air superiority fighter
Contractor: Sukhoi
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two NPO Saturn AL-31F turbofans each rated at 17,857 lb (79.43 kN) dry thrust and 27,557 lb st (122.58 kN) with afterburning 

Dimensions
Length: 71 ft, 11.5 in (21.935 m)
Wingspan: 48 ft, 2.75 in (14.7 m)
Height: 19 ft, 5.5 in (5.932 m)

Weights
Empty: 39,021 lb (17700 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 66,138 lb (30000 kg) -- Flanker-B

Performance
Speed: Mach 2.35 (1,553 mph; 2500 km/h)
Ceiling: 59,055ft (18,000m)
Range: N/A
Rate of Turn: 22.5° / sec Sustained
28.5° / sec Instant

Armament
  One 30 mm GSh-301cannon, up to 6,000 kg payload of missiles and bombs including AA-10 (Alamo) air-to-air missiles, AA-11 (Archer) air-to-air missiles, FAB-100


The Su-27 is one of the most imposing fighters ever built.
 

Primary Function: Day/night, twin-engined, attack/reconnaissance helicopter.
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas (Boeing)
Crew: Two
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two T700-GE-701C turboshafts each rated at 1,800 shp (1342 kW)

Dimensions
Length: 58.17 ft (17.73 m)
Wingspan: 17.15 ft (5.227 m)
Height: 15.24 ft (4.64 m)

Weights
Empty: 11,387 lb (5165 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 15,075 lb (6838 kg) -- gross

Performance
Speed: 153 kt (284 kph)
Ceiling: N/A
Range: 400 km - internal fuel
1,900 km - internal and external fuel

Armament
  M230 30mm Gun
70mm (2.75 inch) Hydra-70 Folding-Fin Aerial Rockets
AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles
AGM-122 Sidearm anti-radar missile
AIM-9 Sidewinder Air-to-Air missiles
 

Apaches fired the first shots of the Desert Storm War -- attacking Iraqi radar sites.


   Around the world, defense forces fly two variants of the AH-64 Apache multi-mission combat helicopters: the AH-64A Apache and the next-generation version, the AH-64D. Equipped with radar, the aircraft is known as the AH-64D Apache Longbow, without radar it is the AH-64D Apache.

   The AH-64A Apache was widely recognized as the most advanced combat-proven attack helicopter in the world for the past decade and is the predecessor of today's unmatched AH-64D Apache Longbow multi-mission combat helicopter. Some 900 AH-64As are in service worldwide for the U.S. Army and five international customers. The Apache uses laser, infrared and other high technology systems like the Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor to find, track and attack armored and other targets. The AH-64A were 85% or more combat ready when called upon in the Gulf War.

   In all, Boeing delivered 937 AH-64A, 821 of which were delivered to the US Army and 116 to international customers, including Egypt, Greece, Israel, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates between 1984 and 1997.

Primary Function: Bomber / maritime strike aircraft
Contractor: Tupolev Design Bureau
Crew: N/A
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Kuznetsov NK-25 afterburning turbofans, 55,115 lb thrust each

Dimensions
Length: 139 ft 4 in (42.46 m)
Wingspan: 112 ft 6 in (34.28 m) -- Fully spread
76 ft 6 in (23.3 m) -- Fully swept
Height: 36 ft 3 in (11.05 m)
 
Weights
Empty: 119,048 lb 
Maximum Takeoff: 278,660 lb
 
Performance
Speed: 1,242 mph (2,000 km/h) -- high altitude
652 mph (1,050 km/h) -- low altitude
Ceiling: 43,635 ft
Range: 7,456 miles (12,000 km)

Armament
  One GSh-23 23mm twin-barrel cannon, plus 52,910 lb including Kh-15P SRAMs, Kh-22/27 ASMs, bombs, and sea mines


The Tu-22M is capable of a Mach 2 dash at high altitude and speeds up to Mach 0.9 at low level.
 

Primary Function: Interceptor / tactical fighter
Contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  One MNPK 'Soyuz' (Khachatourov) R-35-300 turbojet rated at 18,849 lb (83.84 kN) dry and 28,660 lb (127.49 kN) with afterburning.

Dimensions
Length: 54 ft 10 in (16.6 m)
Wingspan: fully spread: 45 ft 10 in (13.965 m)
fully swept: 25 ft 61/4 in (7.779 m)
Height: 15 ft 9.75 in (4.82m)

Weights
Empty: 22,487 lb (10200kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 39,242 lb (17800 kg)

Performance
Speed: 1,553 mph (2500 km/h)
Ceiling: 60,695 ft (18500 m) -- MiG-23ML
Range: N/A

Armament
  GSh-23L 23mm cannon, AS-7 Kerry, UV-16-57, FAB-500, AA-7, ,AA-8, AA-10, AA-11


From the 1970s to the 1980s, the MiG-23 was the Soviet Union's most capable tactical fighter.
 

χαχα!

MIG rules!

Αν είχαμε MIG δεν θα χάναμε 1 αερομαχία στις 40 αλλά 1 στις 1000!
Μας φορτώσανε την αμερικανική σαβούρα....  φτου!
Με τα ρωσικά TOR M1 και S-300 έχουν χάσει τον ύπνο τους, φανταστείτε να είχαμε και ανάλογα μαχητικά...

6 Αυγούστου 1945- Μια ημερομηνία που η ανθρωπότητα δεν θα ξεχάσει ποτε

ΤΟ ΑΕΡΟΠΛΑΝΟ :




Primary Function: Bomber
Contractor: Boeing
Crew: 10 crew
Unit Cost: $639,000

Powerplant
  Four 2,200-horsepower Wright Double Cyclone engines

Dimensions
Length: 99 feet
Wingspan: 141 feet 3 inches
Height: 27 feet 9 inches
Weights
Empty: 69,610 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 105,000 pounds (140,000 pounds postwar) -- gross

Performance
Speed: 365 mph (mach 0.55)
Ceiling: 31,850 feet
Range: 5,830 miles

Armament
  Eight .50-cal. machine guns in remote controlled turrets plus two .50-cal. machine guns and one 20mm cannon in tail; 20,000 lbs. of bombs.

Service Life
First Flight: September 21, 1942 (B-29)
End of Service: 1960
Number Built: [3,970 total]


The B-29 was the heaviest production plane because of increases in range, bomb load and defensive requirements.
The B-29 Enola Gay dropped the world's first atomic bomb on Hiroshima.
B-29 Bockscar dropped the second atomic bomb on Nagasaki  

ΤΟ ΠΛΗΡΩΜΑ ΤΟΥ ENOLA GAY

Lt. Col. John Porter, ground maintenance officer; Capt. Theodore J. Van Kirk, navigator; Maj. Thomas W. Ferebee, bombardier; Col. Paul Tibbets, pilot and commander of 509th Group; Capt. Robert A. Lewis, copilot; and Lt. Jacob Beser, radar countermeasure officer; Sgt. Joseph Stiborik, radar operator; SSgt. George R Caron, tail gunner; Pfc. Richard H Nelson, radio operator; Sgt. Robert H. Shumard, assistant engineer; and SSgt Wyatt Duzenbury, flight engineer. Col. Porter was not on the aircraft during the flight.

H ΒΟΜΒΑ


ΛΙΓΟ ΠΡΙΝ:

At approximately 2:00 on the morning of August 6th, the Enola Gay, which was carrying an atomic bomb (Little Boy), started on the long flight from Tinian. Two observation planes carrying cameras and scientific instruments followed behind her.

After 6:00, the bomb was fully armed on board the Enola Gay. Tibbets announced to the crew that the the plane was carrying the world's first atomic bomb.

The trip to Japan was smooth. At about 7:00 o'clock, the Japanese radar net detected aircraft heading toward Japan, and they broadcast the alert throughout the Hiroshima area. Soon afterward an American weather plane circled over the city, but there was no sign of bombers. The people began their daily work and thought that the danger had passed.

At 7:25, the Enola Gay, at 26,000 feet, was cruising over Hiroshima. At 8:00 the Japanese detected again two B-29's heading toward Hiroshima. The radio stations quickly broadcast a warning for the people to take shelter, but many did not follow the advice. They thought that it was the same as first time.

At 8:09, the crew of the Enola Gay could see the city appear below; it was time to drop the bomb. Just then, they received a message indicating that the weather was good over Hiroshima. The bomb was released at 8:16 a.m.

A terrible, strong and unimaginable explosion occurred near the central section of the city. The crew of the Enola Gay saw a column of smoke rising fast and intense fires springing up.

ΛΙΓΟ ΜΕΤΑ:
ΤΟ ΑΠΟΤΕΛΕΣΜΑ:

 >:( X 1000


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edit: Μου ζητήθηκε ευγενικά να αλλάξω το ποστ και το έκανα γιατί δεν έχουν κάνει κάτι οι υπόλοιποι να ασχολούνται μαζί μας... ας το συζητήσουμε σε προσωπικό επίπεδο από εδώ και πέρα.

Συμφωνώ με σένα chabos4 και Turambar  ;) Αλλά ρε Turambar ρωσικό αεροπλάνο κατέρριψαν τα αντιαεροπορικά σου!! Αμερικανόφιλος είσαι??  :o
================================================



Primary Function: Interceptor, air superiority
Contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Crew: Two
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Tumanski R-15BD-300 turbojet engines rated at 11,191 pounds thrust each 

Dimensions
Length: 70 ft 5 in (21.5 m)
Wingspan: 45 ft 9 in (14 m)
Height: 21 ft 8 in (6.6 m)

Weights
Empty: 48,502 lb (22,000 kg)
Normal: 80,954 lb (36,720 kg)

Performance
Speed: 2,154 mph (Mach 2.83)
Ceiling: 80,052 feet (24,400 m)
Range: 777 miles (1,250 km)

Armament
  Typically four R-33 (AA-9) long range AAMs, two R-40T (AA-6) infrared AAMs, four R-60 (AA-8) AAMs, one GSh-6-23 six-barrel 23mm Gatling gun with 260 rounds.


The MiG-31 was the first Soviet fighter to have true look-down, shoot-down capabilities.
The Foxhound is fitted with the SBI-16 Zaslon phased array radar system, which is one of the most powerful fighter radars in the world.

στην τύχη τελείως το επέλεξα... μήπως ήταν το πρώτο που έβαλες? βασικά μου άρεσε γιατί φαινόταν σαν να απογειώθηκε πριν από λιγο

Primary Function: Experimental hypersonic aircraft
Contractor: Boeing
Crew: None
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  One scramjet engine

Dimensions
Length: 14 feet, 4 in
Wingspan: 5 feet
Height: 2 feet, 2 in
 
Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum: 3,000 lb

Performance
Speed: Mach 9.6 (~7,000 mph)
Ceiling: 95,000+ ft
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A
 

The X-43 is currently the fastest aircraft in the world.
 

Primary Function: Joint Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator
Contractor: Boeing
Crew: None
Unit Cost: $10 - $15 million

Powerplant
  N/A

Dimensions (X-45C)
Length: 39 feet
Wingspan: 49 feet
Height: N/A

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Payload: 4,500 lb

Performance
Speed: Mach 0.85
Ceiling: 40,000 ft
Range: 1,300 nm

Armament
  Various smart bombs


No known major achievements

  :( :( :(

 :-[

Primary Function: All-weather fighter-bomber
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: F-4G -- Two (pilot and electronic warfare officer)
Unit Cost: $18.4 million

Powerplant
  Two J79 General Electric engines rated at 17,900 lb of thrust

Dimensions
Length: 62 feet, 11 inches (19.1 meters)
Wingspan: 38 feet, 11 inches (11.8 meters)
Height: 16 feet, 5 inches (5 meters)

Weights
Empty: 30,328 lb (13757 kg) -- F-4E
Maximum Takeoff: 62,000 pounds (27,900 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: 1,498 mph at 40,000 ft
Ceiling: 60,000 feet (18,182 meters)
Range: 1,300 miles (1,130 nautical miles)

Armament
  Four AIM-7 Sparrow and four AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, AGM-88 HARM missile capability, and one fuselage centerline bomb rack and four pylon bomb racks capable of carrying 12,500 pounds (5,625 kilograms) of general purpose bombs.

15 CBU-52
15 CBU-58
15 CBU-71
15 CBU-87
15 CBU-89
12 MK-20
6 BL-755


The Phantom was the first multiservice aircraft, flying concomitantly with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.
The Phantom was the first and only aircraft to be flown concomitantly by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.


The F-4G "Advanced Wild Weasel," the only model still in the active Air Force inventory, increases the survivability of tactical strike forces by seeking out and suppressing or destroying enemy radar-directed anti-aircraft artillery batteries and surface-to-air missile sites. F-4G's are E models modified with sophisticated electronic warfare equipment in place of the internally mounted 20mm gun. The F-4G can carry more weapons than previous Wild Weasel aircraft and a greater variety of missiles as well as conventional bombs. The primary weapon of the F-4G, however, is the AGM-88 HARM (high speed anti-radiation missile). Other munitions include cluster bombs, and AIM-65 Maverick and air-to-air missiles.


The F-4C first flew for the Air Force in May 1963 and the Air National Guard began flying the F-4C in January 1972. The Air Force Reserve received its first Phantom II in June 1978. The F-4D model, with major changes that increase accuracy in weapons delivery, was delivered to the Air Force in March 1966, to the Air National Guard in 1977, and to the Air Force Reserve in 1980.

The first F-4E was delivered to the Air Force in October 1967. The Air National Guard received its first F-4E in 1985, the Air Force Reserve in 1987. This model, with an additional fuselage fuel tank, leading-edge slats for increased maneuverability, and an improved engine, also has an internally mounted 20mm multi-barrel gun with improved fire-control system.

Starting in 1973, F-4E's were fitted with target-identification systems for long-range visual identification of airborne or ground targets. Each system is basically a television camera with a zoom lens to aid in positive identification, and a system called Pave Tack, which provided day and night all-weather capability to acquire, track and designate ground targets for laser, infrared and electro-optically guided weapons. Another change was a digital intercept computer that includes launch computations for all AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles. Additionally, on F-4E/G models, the digital ARN-101 navigation system replaced the LN-12 inertial navigation system.

The F-4G 'Advanced Wild Weasel,' which inherited most of the features of the F-4E, is capable of passing real-time target information to the aircraft's missiles prior to launch. Working in "hunter-killer" teams of two aircraft, such as F-4G and F-16C, the F-4G "hunter" can detect, identify, and locate enemy radars then direct weapons that will ensure destruction or suppression of the radars. The technique was effectively used during Operation Desert Storm against enemy surface-to-air missile batteries. Primary armament includes HARM (AGM-88) and Maverick (AGM-65). F-4G's deployed to Saudi Arabia also were equipped with ALQ-131 and ALQ-184 electronic countermeasures pods.

Οι φώτο όμως που παράθεσες είναι από την επιχείρηση "Σοκ και Δέος"

Ε, ακριβώς αυτό επεσήμανα και στο F-117 που είπα ότι γράφουν μόνο ότι στους συμφέρει!!!  ;D Αυτό το τόοσο προηγμένης τεχνολογίας 'αόρατο' μαχητικό, έπεσε από απλές αντιαεροπορικές σφαίρες και ΜΕΣΑ ΣΤΗΝ ΝΥΧΤΑ! Φαντάσου...
Όσο για το απάτσι, μπράβο στους Ιρακινούς!  ;)
Αυτό που πρέπει να γίνει θα γίνει. Το θέμα είναι ποιας πλευράς το πρέπει θα γίνει...  :D
==============================================




Primary Function: Fighter-interceptor
Contractor: Mikoyan-Gurevich
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  One Tumansky R-11F-300 rated at 12,675 lb (w/ afterburner)
 
Dimensions
Length: 51 ft, 8.5 in (15.76 m)
Wingspan: 23 ft, 5.5 in (7.15 m)
Height: 13 ft, 5.5 in (4.10 m)

Weights
Empty: 12,882 lb (5843 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 21,605 lb (9800 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 2.05 (2175 km/h / 1,353 mph)
Ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,250 m)
Range: 600 nautical miles -- MiG-21bis

Armament
  One twin-barrel 23 mm GSh-23 cannon with two K-13A Atoll AAMs, two AA-2C Atoll or rocket packs. 500kg and 250kg bombs on ground attack missions.


The MiG-21 is perhaps one of the most widely produced modern jet aircraft in the world, with over 8,000 built.
Fishbeds operate for the air forces of more than forty countries worldwide.
 

Primary Function: Multi-role attack and fighter aircraft
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: A,C and E models: One
B,D and F models: Two 
Unit Cost: $29 million

Powerplant
  Two F404-GE-402 enhanced performance turbofan engines (17,700 pounds (8,027 kg) static thrust each)

Dimensions
Length: 56 feet (16.8 meters)
Wingspan: 40 feet 5 inches (13.5 meters)
Height: 15 feet 4 inches (4.6 meters)

Weights
Empty: 23,050 lb (10455 kg) -- F/A-18C
Maximum Takeoff: 51,900 pounds (23,537 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 1.7+
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Range: Combat: 1.089 nautical miles (1252.4 miles/2003 km), clean plus two AIM-9s
Ferry: 1,546 nautical miles (1,777.9 miles/2844 km), two AIM-9s plus three 330 gallon tanks retained 

Armament
  One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon; AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER, Maverick missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); various general purpose bombs, mines and rockets.


The F/A-18 Hornet broke all records for tactical aircraft in availability, reliability, and maintainability during Operation Desert Storm
 

The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather aircraft and is used as an attack aircraft, as well as a fighter. While in fighter mode, the F/A-18 Hornets are used mainly as fighter escorts and fleet air defense. While in attack mode, it is used for force projection, interdiction and close and deep air support.
 

  The F/A-18 Hornet is derived from the YF-17 (Northrop) Cobra, which lost the LWF competition for the USAF against the Lockheed F-16 Falcon. The F/A-18 was designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft and soon took the place of the USN A-7 and the USMC F-4. The first of 11 pre-production aircraft made the type's maiden flight on November 18, 1978 and production followed of 371 F/A-18A. The F/A-18 introduced a genuine multi-role capability with a well designed cockpit which has three multi-function CRT type displays and true HOTAS controls enabling the pilot to easily switch from attack to fighter mode. The F/A-18 has remarkable dogfighting capabilities and excellent high-alpha capability.

Βασικά χάμπος mig μπορουσαμε να είχαμε μόνο μετά το 90 όπου έπεσε το σοβιετικο μπλοκ,ή 95 και μετά αφού μας είχε φύγει η καχυποψία...................
Πάντως τώρα είναι ευκαιρία να συμμετέχουμε γιατί όχι στο PAK FA το ρωσικό μελλοντικό αεροσκάφος στο οποίο αν δεν είναι ..............ελληνάκια και οι Ινδοί θα συμμετέχουν και αυτοί
Το Pak FA θα στηρίζεται στο S-37 αν βέβαια ξεπεραστούν τα όποια οικονομικά προβλήματα(πάντως φέτος οι αγορές των ρωσικών ενόπλων δυνάμεων άγγιξαν τα 8,74δις%body%#942; ευρώ)όπως και να έχει μάλλον πάνε να μας πασάρουν την κλανιά το JSF.......................

Και το F-117 δεν έπεσε από χαζά αντιαεροπορικά
Αρκούν μερικοί Ισχυροί υπολογιστές και μερικά βλήματα με τερματική καθοδήγηση (IIR ή CCD κάμερα καλύτερα)
για να τα μετατρέψουν σε παλιοσίδερα αν πετάν σε μεσαία ύψη βέβαια

Μπράβο για το τόπικ ασόψετε η Σκιάθος ολέ

check this out www.india-defence.com/reports/894

(Source: French Ministry of Defence; issued Feb. 9, 2006)

(Issued in French only; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)
 
 (http://www.air-attack.com/MIL/_EXP/neuron/neuron_dassault1_sm.jpg)
   
   Sweden, Italy, Greece, Switzerland and France have decided to pool their efforts to jointly develop a demonstrator of an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) dubbed Neuron. 
 
These countries have opted to pool their industrial and technological know-how to ensure European independence in the field of military aviation by strengthening synergies between aerospace companies. 
 
The Neuron project was formally launched in 2003, during the Paris air show, by French Defence Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie. 
 
The Neuron project is now effectively launched. The French defence procurement agency, DGA, acting as the program executive on behalf of the participating countries, has awarded Dassault Aviation a contract for the projectʼs prime contractorship -- in cooperation with Thales and other European manufacturers including Saab, Alenia, EADS Casa, HAI and RUAG Aerospace – for the design and development of the Neuron demonstrator. 
 
The contract is valued at 405 million euros. 
 
This contract award allows industry to begin a three-year system definition and design phase, which will include related low-observability studies. This phase will be followed by the development and assembly phase, and by a first flight in 2011. 
 
Flight tests will be carried out in France, Italy and Sweden. (ends) 
   
   
   Additional Information on Neuron Project
   
   
(Compiled by defense-aerospace.com; issued Feb. 10, 2006)
 
 
   
   Neuron will be of a size comparable to a Mirage 2000 fighter, with a weight of approximately 6 tonnes, a wingspan of 10-12 meters and a length of 6 meters. 
 
Its main design goals are low-observability (its radar cross-section will be comparable to that of an object the size of a tennis ball), weapon payload (in an internal bay) and launch of air-to-ground weapons. 
 
Neuron will be powered by a single engine, and have a top speed of about Mach 0.8. 
 
 
It is planned that the 2-year flight-test program (2011-2013) will entail about 100 sorties, including the launch of a laser-guided bomb tentatively scheduled for 2012. 
 
Franceʼs share of the development funding is 185 million euros. Swedenʼs defense ministry announced in December that its share would be 75 million euros, of which 66 million financed by Saab AB. 
 
The break-down of development work by company is as follows: 
 
- Dassault Aviation (France): Prime contractor; general design authority; flight controls; final assembly; static and flight testing; 
 
- EADS Casa (Spain): wing; ground control station; data-link integration; 
 
- Alenia Aeronautica (Italy): weapon firing system; air data system; electrical system; flight testing; 
 
- Saab (Sweden): overall design; fuselage; avionics; fuel system; flight testing; 
 
- RUAG Aerospace (Switzerland): wind tunnel tests; weapons carriage; 
 
- Thales (France): data-link; command and control interface; 
 
- HAI (Greece): rear fuselage; tail pipe; systems integration bench. 
 
(http://www.air-attack.com/MIL/_EXP/neuron/neuron_dassault2_sm.jpg)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e9/Neuronuav.JPG/300px-Neuronuav.JPG

Διαθέτει τέτοια η σερβική αεράμυνα? Δεν το ήξερα. Πάντως θυμάμαι που τα κανάλια -τα ελληνικά- μιλούσανε για απλές αντιαεροπορικές σφαίρες (με όση (α)σχετοσύνη έχουν οι δημοσιογράφοι μας)
Καιρός είναι να υπάρξει απάντηση στην αμερικάνικη κυριαρχία και στα μη επανδρωμένα αεροσκάφη.
Μιλώντας σε μια κοινή συνέντευξη τύπου, o Mukherjee είπε ότι η Ινδία θα συμμετάσχει στην ανάπτυξη και τη χρηματοδότηση ενός  προγράμματος έξοχων μαχητικών αεροσκαφών  πέμπτης γενiάς με τη Ρωσία.
 :o
Το S-37 (http://www.thmmy.gr/smf/index.php?topic=6604.msg98583#msg98583) Berkut και το παρακάτω ανήκουν σαυτήν την λεγόμενη 5th Generation Russian Aircraft:
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Primary Function: Multirole Fighter. Mikoyan article 1.42 also known as MFI (Mnogofunktsionalny Frontovoi Istrebitel - Multifunctional Frontline Fighter), and sometimes referred to in the West as "ATFski" is a low-observable (LO) multirole fighter. The primary mission of the 1.42 is air-superiority as the primary mission, which makes 1.42 a direct Russian equivalent of the USAF F-22

Contractor: MiG/MAPO
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $70 million USD

Powerplant
  Two three-dimensional thrust-vectoring Saturn/Lyulka AL-41F turbofans rated at 44,100 lb of thrust in afterburner

Dimensions
Length: 65.6 ft
Wingspan: 53.81 ft
Height: 18.37 ft

Weights
Empty: 36,376.27 lb
Max. Takeoff: 76,059.48 lb

Performance
Speed: 1,522.36 mph
Ceiling: 62,155.51 ft
Range: 2 485.48 miles

Armament
  One 30-mm cannon, 13,227 lb on 12 internal hardpoints

Competitors
F-22 Raptor


No known achievements yet.



Russia is working to develop
- plasma-cloud-generation technology
for stealth applications
and achieved highly promising results,
- reportedly reducing the radar cross-section (RCS)
of an aircraft by a factor of 100. (!!!)

Russian research into plasma generation is spearheaded by a team of scientists led by Anatoliy Korotoyev, director of Keldysh Research Center.

The institute has developed
- a plasma generator weighing only 100 kg,
which could easily fit onboard a tactical aircraft. "


The chief designer of MiG MAPO Mr. Belosvet stated that 1.42 would have a greater range than the F-22 and would be more versatile. While F-22 primary task is achievement of the air superiority, the 1.42 will be as capable in strike mission as in air combat. The 1.42, like the F-22, can carry weapons both internally and externally, will be capable of supercruise and powered by trust-vectored control (TVC) engines.

The Roots

In early 1980s the Soviet Design bureaus were to start development of replacements for the forth-generation MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker, capable of challenging the future Advanced Tactical Fighter (AFT) planned as a successor of F-15 Eagle. Analysis of the scarce ATF data provided a set of requirements for the Soviet fifth-generation air-superiority fighter, materializing in MFI. The Mikoyan's entry, designated Istrebitel'90 (Fighter 90), was built around the Soviet projections of ATF advances. After selection of the Mikoyan project over competing Sukhoi (very little known about Sukhoi's MFI), the MFI was reshaped and assigned new index -- 1.42. The first blow came with a cancellation of the related Project 7.01 (Project 701) in mid 1980s, a heavier and steal
thier interceptor designed along similar lines and intended as a replacement of MiG-31 and MiG-31M. The 7.01 was to become vPVO (Soviet air defence forces) new interceptor, taking vPVO to new qualitative level the very same way as 1.42 was to change VVS (Soviet Air Force) potential. It is speculated that both 1.42 and 7.01 had similar origins, owning much to a MiG-31 Foxhound based canard-delta platform. Due to the lack of the performance required by VVS for its fourth-generation fighter, this heavy twin-engined MiG-31 based project lost to Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker.

On again, Off again...

Although its schedule has apparently been slowed by shortage of funds as well as technical problems, the first airframe is reported to be already complete, but problems with the engines have delayed the first flight. The 1.42 is one of the few Mikoyan projects which survived the multiple waves of defence budget cuts from the Kremlin, up until late spring of 1997 when it was announced that the funding for the unspecified fighter program is officially terminated. Many analysts suggested that this unspecified fighter program is Mikoyan's Project 1.42. However, at Le Bourge 97 MAPO MIG officials made it clear that the project is far from being dead and it proceeds at affordable pace funded by MAPO. In a separate event another MAPO official announced that the 1.42 (the fligh-test airframe(s) is often referred to as the 1.44) made its maiden flight at Zhukovsky and the aircraft might be revealed to public at upcoming Moscow Aerospace in two month (MAKS 97) pending on the decision of the Genshtab. This news was quickly picked by western aviation magazines and by the late summer 1997 it was believed that 1.42 (1.44) logged about 100 flight hours. However, several alternative sources suggested that 1.44 never left its hanger at Zhukovsky where two prototypes are stored other than for the high speed taxi tests. Its appearence at MAKS 97 as well as two years earlier at MAKS 95 failed to materialize, although it is known that the aircraft was shown to the government officials on both occasions. According to some sources MAPO MIG printed a brochure about new fighter, to be distributed at MAKS 97, but last moment changes kept both fighter and fliers from daylight. It is anticipated that first flight of the rival Sukhoi S-37 will accelerate "declassification" of the 1.42.

The 1.42 remains under the veil of secrecy but expected to made its first flight by the end of the 1997 piloted by Roman Taskayev. MAPO stated that the project will became advanced technology demonstrator and testbed for further MAPO MIG project such as LFI (Legkii Frontovoij Istrebitel').
The T-203 low-speed wind tunnel located at Siberian Research Institute of Aviation (SibNIA). All-black scale model mounted in the working section of the tunnel is a twin fin, delta winged aircraft. Note that fins are positioned atop of the twin booms. Aviastroenie Rossii, p. 236.

The Canard Delta

The origins of the 1.42 aerodynamic configuration can be traced back to November 1945, when Mikoyan test pilot Grinchik took in the air ungainly looking MiG-8 Utka (Duck, Canard). First flown just half year after the end of the war, MiG-8 was build to tests the canard-swept wing combination as a potential future fighter configuration. Although build by a team of students with little or no interference from OKB MiG, Utka provided Mikoyan with low-speed data of unusual layout.

In spite of the success of the winged delta MiG-21 Fishbed, which proved to be an exceptional platform for the second-generation Mach 2.0+ fighter, Mikoyan continued tests of destabilizing canard (Ye-6T/3, Ye-8, Ye-152M) and pure delta (MiG-21I Analog) configurations.

By the start of the MFI project in 1983, Belyakov had sufficient data on canard-delta aerodynamics. The intelligence sources suggesting that European new-generation fighters had a close coupled canard-delta layout, triggered intense studies of the layout in wind tunnels of Central Aero- Hydrodynamics Institute (TsAGI). The aerodynamic benefits of unstable canard-delta, its shear volume available for fuel and internal weapon storage, proved to be decisive in the choice of the 1.42 configuration. The 1.42's twin fins positioned at delta's trailing edge added to battle damage resistance and control of the aircraft at high angles of attack (AOA).

How Well Can you Draw?

Western sources published number of ever evolving artists' impressions of the 1.42 which can be sorted in two groups. The first shows an aircraft with two engines with vectored-thrust nozzles, inward-canted twin tails, slightly downturned wingtips, Rafale-like rounded intakes, and possibly foreplanes. The second group describes a more conventionally looking delta-winged twin-engined aircraft with outward-canted twin tails and MiG-29 style intakes. Some of the impressions show the elements of the low observable technology - flattened front fuselage and nozzle shape.

Another clue to a possible appearence of the 1.42 was published in the Flight International and Air Fleet Herald. The photograph taken at Fulkovo test range shows the mockup of the front end of the fighter aircraft mounted on the high speed cart used in the ejection seat tests. From the picture it is clear that the fighter's forward fuselage is a triangular in crossection with large sets of the canards behind the cockpit line. No indication of the developed leading edge extension similar in appearence to that of the MiG-29 or Su-27 can be found. While it is tempting to link this mockup to 1.42, Moscow sources indicate that it has little or no relevance at all. The forward section may also be one of the evolutionary steps with eventually led to the 1.42. Nevertheless, all post-Fulkovo artist impressions of 1.42 show an aircraft with triangular cross section of the forward fuselage.

The Powerplant

Saturn-Lyulka was to develop an engine for the new fighter. This task turned out to be very demanding and Al-41F development experienced number of the setback stalling the whole 1.42 program. The new engine had a higher combustion chamber temperature -- 250 degrees than that of Su-27 Flanker's Al-31F -- which provided an outstanding performance. Although the original plans called for a 2D F-22 style trust-vectoring nozzles, the recent reports suggested that Al-41F TVC was similar to Al-37FU powering the superagile Su-37. The secrecy and controversy surrounded 1.42 and its engines produced many speculations about 1.42 TVC. The fuzziest comment was given in 1995 by RIA: "specially arranged nozzles to enable it [1.42] to hover over a target for pinpoint strike accuracy."

A Word from Inside

In the 1995, Alexander Velovich whose former position at Mikoyan OKB was "avionics engineer" (Ben Lambeth words) posted the message quoted below to one of the military aviation newsgroups. After leaving MiG, Alexander used his English skills and industry connections and became a well known for his articles in western and russian periodicals.

From: Alexander Velovich (alexvel@ravis.msk.su)

Dr. Silicon (pross@soho.ios.com) wondered:
>Any news on whether the MiG 1-42 was unveiled to the public?

No, it has not been unveiled and it has not flown. And most probably, it never will. I believe I have the right for such statement with my 13 years working experience in Mikoyan design bureau (1978-1991) at relatively high position.

In March this year I talked with MAPO MIG general director Vladimir Kuzmin, asking him about the reasons of delays of the programme. He said: "Not everything depends on us, much depends on Russia's ministry of defence. If all problems with the ministry of defence would have been solved, I believe everything depends on us, much depends on Russia's ministry of defence. If all problems with the ministry of defence would have been solved, I believe we could take the MFI into the air
 in about six months". The MFI (object 1.42) stands in Russian for Mnogofunktsionalny Frontovoi Istrebitel (Multifunctional Frontline Fighter).

One of the generals of the RusAF headquarters confirmed that there is no money to continue the programme. For me it is absolutely obvious that even if the technology demonstrator called 1-44 and sitting in a hangar at Zhukovsky would fly some day, and I have strong doubts even about that, Russia cannot afford a 30+ ton new generation combat jet with its current defence budget, it is extremely unlikely that the situation would change in the coming 10-15 years regardless of any possible changes in political leadership, and there is no hope that this programme would ever reach squadron service.

The best the RusAF could get in the foreseeable future are modifications of the current Sukhoi Su-25s and Su-27s, i.e. Su-39, Su-34 and Su-35, and MAPO MiG-29M. And even these modernization programmes have BIG question marks on them. MFI: MULTIFUNCTIONAL FRONT-LINE FIGHTER
Anatoly Belosvet, Chief Designer, MiG Aircraft Research and Production Complex



The MFI program also called for a "locomotive" approach for the designs and technologies to be applicable to other aircraft types.




January 12, 1999 marked an important event for the MIG Aircraft Research and Production Complex and its partners: a roll-out ceremony of a new aircraft, a prototype of the fifth-generation fighter. This date also marked an intermediate result in efforts started over 15 years ago. The MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighters were still under testing when the Design Bureau formulated a concept and proposed a strategy to develop this new machine. In 1983, with the Air Force research institutes, and the institutes of aviation and electronic industries (TsAGI, GosNIIAS, TsIAM, etc.) actively involved, "The Complex Purpose-Oriented Program" and the Air Force and Air Defense tactical and technical assignments were approved to initiate the development of design proposals.
The MFI fighter was to meet the following requirements:

- supermaneuverability (a capability to fly at supercritical angles of attack, at increased level of sustained and available g-loads and high turn-angle rate, which require a greater thrust-to-weight ratio and improved wing aerodynamic efficiency);

- supersonic flight with afterburner disabled;

- low detectability in radar and IR wave bands;

- short takeoff and landing runs;

- a significant reduction in flight hour cost, ground crew, size and weight of non-standard ground support equipment;

- a new layout of onboard equipment and a new arrangement of cockpit information and control instruments; a high level of integration.

With these requirements satisfied and a new generation of weapon systems, engines and avionics developed, the new aircraft would not only surpass all fighters of previous generations, but also outperform those developed under the ATF program launched by the United States approximately at the same time.

The MFI program also called for a "locomotive" approach for the designs and technologies to be applicable to other aircraft types.

Other MFI versions were also envisaged, such as a reconnaissance aircraft, a deck fighter, as well as a cheaper and less sophisticated "light" version. It was proved that, in terms of cost efficiency, a combined force of "heavy" and "light" fighters in a 1:2 ratio is optimal for our Air Force.

At the conceptual and preliminary design phases (the conceptual and preliminary designs were accepted in 1987 and 1991, respectively), following extensive aerodynamic tube tests, computations, and analysis of various aerodynamic configurations, including a forward-swept wing, a canard configuration was chosen and an adaptive wing equipped with a multitude of deflecting surfaces to ensure high aerodynamic efficiency at both subsonic and supersonic speeds and at supercritical angles of attack. It was obvious that the implementation of these concepts would only be possible if a sophisticated fly-by-wire control system, including thrust vector control, were developed.

Several dozen engines were tested on ground stands and a subsonic flying laboratory. A dedicated MiG-25-based flying laboratory was used to test the Al-41F engine at about Mach 2 speeds.

Much effort was made to develop new types of equipment and armament, as well as produce technologies and materials for airframe and aircraft systems.

Measures were taken to reduce airframe's specific weight, including the employment of large-size structures made from composite materials.

In the early 1990s, design documentation was issued and construction of the fighter prototype commenced. The first prototype (Article 1.44) was designed for testing the aerodynamic configuration, fly-by-wire control system, general-purpose aircraft systems, engines and airframe units vital for structural strength tests. It was also planned to build flying laboratories to test equipment and armament systems, prototypes for the final phases of flight tests, and standard production models. Until 1997 the design work was supervised by R. Belyakov, General Designer, and G. Sedov, Chief Designer. In 1997 they retired and became advisors.

To proceed further, two more aspects had to be dealt with.

1. Beginning from the E-150, MiG-23 and MiG-25 aircraft, to test a new aerodynamic configuration and power plant, the MiG Design Bureau had never equipped the first prototype aircraft with avionics and armament suites, since tests on the assessment of the aircraft flight and engine performance require a generous amount of tests and time. Besides, one should take into account possible breaks in tests due to the introduction of modifications into airframe and engines. To test the aircraft equipment and armament, it is more desirable to use dedicated flying laboratories, for example, those built on the basis of the MiG-31 aircraft. This is not only the MiG's unique experience. This policy is pursued by all major aircraft developers. For example, nobody in the world regards the first three EFA prototypes as aircraft which do not correspond to the basic conceptual design and they are not treated as mock-ups. Mock-up models do exist and have been displayed at aerospace exhibitions, but they are mock-ups only. Such a model of the MFI fighter was also made.

2. Special techniques have been developed to gradually increase the aircraft stealthiness. Today, Western companies invest heavily in the development of fifth and fourth+ generation fighter aircraft. For example, the French Air force expects to receive the new Rafale fighters for its operational units as early as 1999. Several prototypes of each type are being tested by the USA (F-22), Britain and Germany (EFA), and Sweden (Gripen).

Unfortunately, the funding of such projects by Russia's Ministry of Defense is not sufficient, while the financial potentials of Russian MAPO MIG, and the Sukhoi Aviation Military Production Complex are very limited.

The first MFI prototype has long been kept at the MiG's flight test station, where its systems and engines underwent a series of tests and adjustments and where high-speed taxi runs were made. Concurrently, ground stand tests were run at the MiG complex and by its partners. Specifically, the development and adjustment of integrated control system took much time and effort. However, much work has been done to accelerate preparation of the vehicle for the first flight, which, according to the MIG new management headed by N. Nikitin, is considered a priority task. Preparations for MFI's first flight will be completed in the near future and we hope that when our readers receive this issue, the aircraft will have already made its maiden flight.

According to experts, the MFI can serve as a basic d
esign for the joint development of fifth-generation fighters.

Russian Scientists Created Revolutionary Low Observability Technologies
Moscow, January 20, 1999. Nicolai Novichkov, ITAR-TASS information agency

Research team of the Recearch Center named after M.V. Keldysh has developed new technologies allowing dramatic decrease in aircrafts' radar observability.
Russian approach to low observability (LO) technologies is completely different from US Stealth and offers complete furtiveness of the protected object at a significantly lower price.
An exclusive interview about these technologies was conducted by Nicolai Novichkov, ITAR-TASS with director of the Center, academic of Russian Scientific Academy Anatoliy Korteev.

As academic explained, American approach to LO (Stealth technology) applied on B-2, F-117A, and fifth generation fighter F-22 "Raptor" is based on the following principles.
The airframes of these aircrafts are designed to minimize their radar cross section (RCS), avoid all possible elements of the structure, which could reflect electromagnetic radiation.
In order to minimize reflected radiation radio absorbing materials (RAM) are also applied to the surface of the structure. The main drawbacks of the Stealth technology are its negative effects on the flight and agility characteristics of the stealth aircrafts.

Russian scientists approach the issue from the other direction. They proposed to create a plasma formation around protected object, which prevents radars from seeing it.
Thus,aerodynamical characteristics of the plane itself do not suffer. Without interfereing with technical characteristics the artificially created plasma cloud surrounding the plane guarantees more than hundred times decrease in its observability.

The physics of plasma protection can be described as following. If an object is surrounded by a cloud of plasma, several phenomenas are observed when the cloud interacts with electromagnetic waves radiated by enemy radar.
First, an absorption of electromagnetic energy occurs in the cloud, since during plasma penetration it interacts with plasma charged particles, pass onto them a portion of its energy, and fades.
Second, due to specific physical processes, electromagnetic wave tends to pass around plasma cloud. Both of these phenomenas results in dramatic decrease of the reflected signal.

Static and flight experiments proved the effectiveness of this technology. The first generation devices, producing plasma field surrounding an aircraft and decreasing reflected signal were created in the Center. Later, a possibily of creating second generation advanced systems (capable of not only decreasing reflected signal and changing its wavelength, but also producing some false signals) was discovered.
Such systems significantly complicate determination of actual aircraft's speed, its location and leads to development of completely new approaches to LO provision, unachievable to conventional Stealth technology.
Furthermore, the weight of the systems developed in Russia do not exeed 100 kg, and power consumption ranges from kilowatts to tens of kilowatts.

Advances in development of the third generation LO systems allowed to clear the systems of first and second generation for export, commented academic Anatoliy Korteev.
 

Primary Function: Close-support fighter
Contractor: Nanchang Aircraft Company
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Liming (LM) Wopen-6A turbojets each rated at 8,267 lb (36.78 kN) with afterburning

Dimensions
Length: 54 ft 10 in (16.74 m)
Wingspan: 31 ft 10 in (9.8 m)
Height: 14.8 feet (4.51 m)

Weights
Empty: 14,054 lb (6375 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 26,080 lb (11830 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 1.12 (740 mph / 1190 km/h)
Ceiling: 52,000 ft (15850 m)
Combat Radius: 600 km hi-lo-hi

Armament
  Two internal 23-mm cannons with 100 rpg; max ordnance of 4,409 lb (2000 kg) including 250kg and 500kg bombs, rocket pods, and PL-5 AAMs

Service Life
First Flight: June 4, 1965 (first prototype)
October 1969 (updated prototype)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: [1,000+ total]
 

No major achievements known
 

Primary Function: Intercept
Contractor: People's Republic of China (PRC) -- Shenyang
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Wopen 13A-II turbojets rated at 14,815 lbst thrust

Dimensions
Length: 70 ft 10 in (21.6 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft in ( 9.3 m)
Height: 17 ft 9 in ( 5.4 m)

Weights
Empty: 21,600 lb (9,820 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 39,200 lb (17,800 kg)
 
Performance
Speed: 1,450 mph (2,340 km/h / Mach 2.2)
Ceiling: 18-20,000 meters
Range: 700 nm (1300 km) cruise radius

Armament
  Two 23mm Cannon; one underfuselage hardpoint; six underwing hardpoints for fuel, bombs, rockets, or missiles; drop tanks

Service Life
First Flight: July 5, 1969 (prototype)
April 24, 1981 (J-8I prototype)
June 12, 1984 (J-8II prototype)
March 31, 1996 (J-8IIM prototype)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: [~130 total]


No major achievements known
 

The Jian-10 (J-10) is the multirole fighter aircraft developed for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as the four-generation indigenous fighter aircraft. The main contractors are Aircraft Design Institute and Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation (CAC) located in the suburb of Chengdu, Sihcuan Province. The aircraft competed its flight trails in 2002 and the delivery of 50 initial production variant J-10 fitted with a Russian-made AL-31F engine reportedly began in 2003. The two-seat fighter-trainer variant J-10B made first flight in December 2003.

SPECIFICATIONS

Crew: 1 (basic variant); 2 (fighter-trainer variant)
Dimensions: N/A
Weight: N/A
Max Speed: Mach 1.2 (sea-level) or Mach 2.0 (high altitude)
Range: Combat radius over 550km
Service Ceiling: N/A
Max Climb Rate: N/A
G Limit: N/A

DESIGN

The J-10 is single-engine fighter with a rectangle belly air intake, low-mounted delta wings, and front canard wings. The design is aerodynamically unstable, to provide a high level of agility, low drag and enhanced lift. The pilot controls the aircraft through a computerised digital fly-by-wire (FBW) system, which provides artificial stabilisation and gust elevation to give good control characteristics throughout the flight envelope. The J-10 is also the first Chinese-made fighter to be fitted with a large two-piece bubble canopy to give the pilot a better view in close air combat. If necessary, the aircraft could also be fitted with an in-flight refuelling probe.

COCKPIT

The J-10 is available as a single-seat or two-seat multirole fighter. It is the first Chinese indigenous combat aircraft to be fitted with a ‘glass cockpit’, which features three flat-panel liquid crystal multifunction displays (MFD), including a colour one and two black-and-white ones. The cockpit is also equipped with a wide field-of-view head-up display (HUD).

It is very likely that the pilot is equipped with the helmet-mounted sight (HMS). It is not know whether the HMS is the basic Ukrainian Arsenel HMS copied by China's Luoyang Avionics, or a new helmet display featured briefly at the 2000 Zhuhai Air Show.

The pilot manipulates the J-10 by the Iron Bird quadruplex (four channels) digital fly-by-wire (FBW) system. The pilot is also aided by advanced autopilot and air data computer.

RADAR

The J-10 is reported to be fitted with an indigenous KLJ-3 pulse-Doppler fire-control radar developed by Nanjing Research Institute of Electronic Technology (also known as 14th Institute). The KLJ-3 radar, which might be based on early variant AN/APG-66/68 technology, is said to have a maximum detecting range of 100~130km (attacking range 80~90km), and is capable of engaging two targets simultaneously. The radar system was tested on a Y-7 aerial radar testbed before being fitted on the J-10.

Russian company Phazotron is prompting its Zhuk-10PD, a version of the system in later Su-27s, with 160km search range and ability to track up to six targets. Israel has also offered its Elta EL/M-2035 radar for competition.

For low-level navigation and precision strike, a forward-looking infrared and laser designation pod is likely to be carried F-16-style on an inlet stores station. A Chinese designed pod similar to the Israeli Rafael Litening was revealed at the 1998 Zhuhai air show.

POWERPLANT

The initial low-rate production J-10s are powered by the Russian Lyulka-Saturn AL-31F turbofan rated at 17,857lb (79.43kN) dry and 27,557lb st (122.58kN) with afterburning. The same powerplant is also being used by Chinese air force's Su-27s and Su-30s. Lyulka-Saturn reportedly delivered 54 AL-31F turbofan engines to China between 2002 and 2004. These are the AL-31FN model with special modifications to be fitted in the J-10.

Shenyang-based AVIC1 Aviation Engine Institute is also developing its own WS-10A (commercial name 'Taihang') turbofan powerplant, and it could be fitted on the later versions of the J-10.

In 2005, China has reportedly ordered additional 100 improved model AL-31F engines with increased thrust and possibly all-aspect thrust vector control (TVC), which will further enhance the aircraft's manoeuvrability.

WEAPONS

The fixed weapon on the J-10 includes a single-barrel 23mm internal cannon. The aircraft also has 11 stores stations - six under the wing and five under the fuselage. The inner wing and centre fuselage stations are plumped to carry external fuel tanks.

The aircraft carries a range of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons for different mission profiles. For interception and air-superority mission, the aircraft carries the indigenous PL-12 active radar-homing air-to-air missile and the PL-8 infrared-homing short-range air-to-air missile. The fire-control radar may also be configured to fire Russian-made AAMs such as R-73 (AA-11) and R-77 (AA-12).

For ground attack missions, the J-10 will carry laser-guided bombs, YJ-8K or YJ-82K anti-ship missile, as well as various unguided bombs and rockets. Some missiles currently under development such as the YJ-9 (Kh-31) ramjet-powered anti-radiation missile may also be carried by the J-10.

HISTORY

Oct 1986   J-10 project started
1998   Maiden flight successful
1999   Six prototypes produced
20 Dec 1999   Design completed. The six prototypes were transferred to Yanliang-based CFTE for flight test
2000 Q1    Intensive flight test began
2002 Q3   Flight test was relocated to a newly built airbase in the Gebi Desert
2003 Q1    Radar test conducted onboard a Y-8 radar testbed in Shandong Province 
2003 Q3    First successful aerial refuelling simulation
2003 Q4    First successful PL-12 MRAAM test fire
2004 Q1    Development completed with the design certificated issued 

The Sukhoi Su-30MKK (NATO codename: Flanker) is the two-seat, twin-engine multirole fighter aircraft developed from the Su-27 fighter. The aircraft was developed by Russian Sukhoi Design Bureau and built by KnAAPO in Komsomolsk-na-Amur. The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) acquired two batches totaling 76 Su-30MKKs between 2000 and 2003. The third batch, which consisted of 24 examples of the upgraded Su-30MKK2 variant, was delivered to the PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) in August 2004. The Su-30MKK series is the most capable combat aircraft in service with the PLA.

SPECIFICATIONS

Dimensions: Wingspan 14.7m; Length 21.94m; Height 6.36m
Weight: Normal take-off 24,900kg; Max take-off 34,500kg
Max combat load: 8,000kg
Max internal fuel capacity: 9,720kg
Max Speed: Mach 2.0
Low-Level Speed: 1,350km/h
Ferry Range: 3,000km (Without in-flight refuelling) or 5,600 km (One in-flight refuelling) or 7,000km (Two in-flight refuellings)
Near-Ground Range: 1,270km
Combat Radius: 1,500km (normal altitude, with internal tanks only)
Service Ceiling: 17,300m
Max Climb Rate: 18,300m/min (sea level)
G Limit: -3 to +9
Runway: Normal take-off weight 550m; Max take-off weight: 750m

POWERPLANT

The Su-30MKK is powered by two AL-31F turbofan engines, designed by the Lyulka Engine Design Bureau (NPO Saturn). Each engine is rated at 17,857 lb (79.43kN) dry and 27,557 lb st (122.58kN) with afterburning.

COUNTERMEASURES

The detailed information on the PLAAF Su-30MKK's electronic countermeasures suite is unknown, but it can be expected that the aircraft has similar, if not better, ECM/EW capabilities as the Su-27SKs in service with the PLAAF. The Su-30MKK has been seen carrying the wingtip active multi-mode jammer pods, possibly an upgraded variant of that carried on the Su-27.

WEAPONS

A 30 mm GSh-301 cannon is fitted internally with 150 rounds of ammunition. 10 hardpoints (4 under fuselage, 4 under wings, and 2 on wingtips) are available to carry payload of up to 8,000kg.

For air-to-air missions, the aircraft could carry 6 R-77 (AA-12 Adder) active radar-homing medium-range air-to-air missiles (MRAAMs) and 4 R-73E (AA-11 Archer) IR homing short-range air-to-air missiles (SRAAMs). Alternatively the aircraft could carry two R-73 SRAAMs and 2 wingtip ECM pods.

For air interdiction (AI) missions, the aircraft could carry Kh-29T (AS-14A Kedge) TV-guided air-to-surface missile (ASM), Kh-59 (AS-13 Kingbolt) command guided ASM, Kh-59ME (AS-18 Kazoo) TV-guided air-to-surface missile, and KAB-500Kr or KAB-1500Kr TV-guided bombs.The aircraft can also carry a range of Russian-made unguided bombs.

For suppression of enemy air defence (SEAD) mission, the aircraft could use: Kh-31P (or its Chinese copy YJ-91) ramjet anti-radiation missile (ARM). The Su-30MK2 can also launch the Kh-31A anti-ship missile.

SENSORS

The Su-30MKK is equipped with a NIIP Tikhomirov N001VE (N001VEP on the Su-30MK2) coherent pulse Doppler radar with track-while-scan and look-down/shoot-down capability. The range of the radar against 3-square-metre targets is 110km in the forward hemisphere and 40km in the rear hemisphere. The radar has the capacity to search, detect and track up to ten targets with automatic threat assessment and proritisation.

The Su-30MKK is fitted with a OEPS-31E-MK forward-looking infrared/electro-optic and laser designation system derived from the OEPS-27 onboard the Su-27 with better performance. The system includes an infrared search-and-track (IRST) sensor collimated with a laser rangefinder.

The improved Su-30MKK2 fighter is reportedly fitted with a UOMZ Sapsan-E forward-looking infrared/electro-optic targeting and laser designation system, which represents the enhanced precision attack capability of the Su-30MKK2.

For better close air combat performance, the pilot is assisted by a holmet-mounted sight (HMS).

PROGRAMME

Negotiations between China and Russia over the purchase of the Su-30MK multirole fighter began in 1996, with an initial deal of 38 aircraft valued at about US$2 billion signed in August 1999. The variant specially configured according to the requirements of the PLAAF was designated Su-30MKK (Mnogofunktzionniy Komercheskiy Kitayski — Multifunctional Commercial for China).

In December 2000 the PLAAF 3rd Aviation Division based at Wuhu AFB, Anhui Province received the first batch of 10 aircraft from KnAAPO, with the rest delivered by the end of 2001. A second batch of 38 more aircraft was ordered in the July 2001 China-Russia leader summit meeting, and these aircraft were delivered in 2003. They are operated by the PLAAF 18th Air Division based at Changsha AFB, Hunan Province.

A development of the Su-27 air superiority fighter, the two-seat Su-30MKK strike fighter made its maiden flight in 1993. It is the first PLAAF fighter aircraft with true ‘multirole’ capability. Comparing to the single-mission Su-27, the Su-30MKK can deliver a range of Russian-made precision guided air-to-ground weapons in all-weather, day/night conditions, and to use advanced air-to-air weapons such as the active radar-homing Vympel R-77 (NATO codename: AA-12 Adder) medium-range AAM. The aircraft is also fitted with sophisticated electronic countermeasures (ECM) and C4ISR suites for target acquisitions and weapon guidance.

The Su-30MKK inherited the superior aerodynamic performance from its ancestor Su-27, outperforming most of Western designed fighter aircraft in close-in air combat. The aircraft has two sets of flight and weapon controls to allow either crew member to fly the aircraft or guide weapons. Both cockpits have two large colour multifunctional displays (MFD), and the pilots can utilise helmet-mounted sight (HMS) to guide the short-range AAM. As a strike fighter, the Su-30MKK possesses an impressive combat radius of 1,600km without any refuelling. These aircraft also has retractable refuelling probe as standard configure. Once the PLAAF acquires the IL-78 refuelling tanker from Russia, the fighter’s radius can be extended to 2,600km with one refuelling, or 3,500km with another. If also combined with AWACS aircraft, the Su-30MKK approaches the capability of the U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle.

With multiple in-flight refuelling, the Su-30MKK taking-off from inland airbases in China conceivably could conduct air strikes as far away as Guam, Australia, or the Indian Ocean, or be able to loiter for significant periods over contested areas of the South China Sea. According to Russian sources, the PLAAF has requested the Su-30MKK with structure reinforced to enable the maximum rake-off weight to be increased to 34.5t, comparing to 30.5t for the original version Su-30 and 33.5t for the Su-30MKI designed for the Indian Air Force. The PLAAF has reportedly asked for a limited number of the planes to have the capability of further increasing take-off weight to 38.8t. The plane will then be capable of transporting 8t of weapons and supplementary fuel tanks in operations.

SU-30MKK2

In January 2003, China signed the contract with the Russian state-owned trading company Rosoboronexport for the purchase of the third batch of Su-30MK fighters. The new order came to 24 planes in the latest Su-30MKK2 variant, which is tailored for the PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) with enhanced anti-ship strike capability. The delivery of these aircraft were reported to have been completed by August 2004.

The testing of two prototypes of the Su-30MK2 began around early 2002. Compared to the MKK version in service
with the PLAAF, the Su-30MK2 features an improved precision-attack capability and an entirely new C4ISTAR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance) role not previously hinted at. The aircraft’s new N001VEP fire-control radar is specifically modified to launch the Kh-31 (NATO codename: Kh-17A Krypton-A) long-range supersonic anti-ship missile.

SU-30MKK3

Sukhoi Design Bureau is currently developing the Su-30MK3 fighter, which features a new fire-control radar and an improved version of the AL-31 engine. Possible radar options may include the aforementioned Phazotron Zhuk-MS and a new active phased array radar called the “Panda” being developed by the Tikomirov Bureau. This radar could have a 190km range against airborne targets, or 300km against surface ships. Either radar would be able to support usage of the Kh-59MK air-to-surface missile. However, it is not clear whether the PLA would be interested in acquiring any of this model.

Μιλάω για μετά το '96 και τα άπειρα λεφτά που έχουν πέσει για την εθνική άμυνα από τότε.
Τουλάχιστον παραμένουμε ισχυροί αφού δεν μας κυρήττουν τον πόλεμο οι κουμπάροι...

China's Jian-12 or J-12 (F-12 for foreign markets) is 5th generation multirole jet due to fly by 2012 and enter service by 2015. It has been codenamed XXJ by US's Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). J-12 is destined to be China's top-end fighter along with the Su-30MKK when it will be introduced.

For now, China's top-end plane remains J-10, which is basically an Israeli airframe with Russian engines. It is still under development and it is expected that Russian content will increase extensively as the development progresses.

China has developed close ties with Russia's aerospace industry and has license produced many fighters including MiG-21 and Su-27. Their FC-1/Super 7 design is based on MiG-33 (which was rejected by Soviet Air Force). Earlier Chinese planes are the Q-5 Fantan, J-8 Finback and FBC-1. The FBC-1 was their latest attempt, and was'nt successful - the Su-27 filled in for it. Considering their track record, it may well be possible that the J-12 ends up being a re-christened MiG MFI. MAPO-MIG is already involved in the J-10 program. MFI is one of the world's 5th generation designs. However, considering the project's timeframe, it seems unlikely (they would'nt need 15 years to do this).

MiG's MFI project, (project 1.42) was first unveiled to the public in 1999. The production of this promising design unforunately was cancelled due to lack of funds.

Not much is known about J-12 right now - the aircraft is still going through initial work. The project is at is where the USAF ATF (Advanced Tactical Fighter) Program, which lead to the F-22A, was in ~1983. Virtually everything is still wide open. Sources within combat aircraft manufacturer Chengdu confirm that it is looking at a twin-engined design and that they are examining both single and two crew configuration.

Stealthiness is an integral part of all new fighter designs and J-12 is no exception. The engines are most likely to be Russian with Thrust Vectoring. Stealth and thrust vectoring are two features that are a must in all aircraft being designed today. Interestingly, Chinese aircraft designers will actually perform a 'generation leap' if J-12 goes into service with PLAAF. All aircraft produced in China before (apart from licenced Su-27) have been 3rd generation aircraft. Chengdu will have to take Western/Israeli/Russian help to make J-12 truly 5th generation.

J-12's immediate rival will be India's MCA (Medium Combat Aircraft). It too is expected to be a 5th generation aircraft. While the fate of MCA is not clear, J-12 is probably under active development.

China has been offered 'joint development and production' of a new 5th generation fighter by Russia . Russia has been trying to sell this concept both to China and India for some time, but neither of them as committed fully - yet. The PAK FA will 'counter' America's second 5th gen Joint Strike Fighter [JSF]. As of now it seems that India will be Russia's partner but no deals have been signed yet. Please see our MCA page for more info.

Note: The J-12 designation was previously applied to an aircraft built at Nanchang in the late 1970s, with only one or two airframes being constructed prior to the program's cancellation.

όντως χάμπος αλλά ξέρεις πως λειτουργούν αυτά..................
έδω παν να μας πασάρουν εκτός από το JSF(μακάρι να μας πάσαραν το F-22 αλλά είναι ακριβό παιχνιδάκι 180εκ$ το ένα αεροσκάφος !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D :D)

Μακάρι να λογικευτούμε.....................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Primary Function: Military freighter / tanker / AEW&C platform
Contractor: Ilyushin
Crew: N/A
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Four PNPP Soloviev D-30KP turbofans each rated at 26,455lb (117.68 kN)

Dimensions
Length: 152ft 10.25in (46.59m)
Wingspan: 165ft 8in (50.5m)
Height: 48ft 5in (14.76m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 374,780lb (170000kg)

Performance
Speed: 528mph (850km/h - mach 0.8 )
Ceiling: 50,855ft (15500m)
Range: N/A
 
Armament
  IL-76M - rear turret with gunner & twin radar-directed NR-23 23-m cannon


The IL-76 Candid lead to various breakthrough aircraft, including the A-50 and IL-78 Midas.

Primary Function: Initial mission was as mach 3 bomber, reassigned as test bed to test principles of compression lift.
Contractor: North American
Crew: Two (Pilot, co-pilot)
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Six (6) General Electric YJ93-GE-3 turbojet engines. Each engine capable of producing up to 31,000 lb (14,060 kg) thrust (with afterburner).

Dimensions
Length: 196 ft, 0 in (59.74 m)
Wingspan: 105 ft, 0 in (32.00 m)
Height: 30 feet

Weights
Empty: Over 450,000 pounds
Loaded: 534,700 lbs. loaded

Performance
Speed: 2,056 mph. (Mach 3.1) at 73,000 ft.
Ceiling: 77,350 ft.
Range: Intercontinental

Armament
  None


The XB-70 was one of the world's most exotic aircraft.
Used a phenomenon called compression lift, which is caused from the shock wave generated by the airplane flying supersonically supporting part of the aircraft's weight.
 

Primary Function: Strike fighter [Conventional Takeoff and Landing]
Contractor: Lockheed-Martin
Crew: One
Unit Cost (FY94$) $28M

Powerplant
  One Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 derivative from F-22 Raptor

Dimensions
Length: 45 feet
Wingspan: 36 feet
Height: N/A

Weights
Empty: 22,500 lbs
Maximum Takeoff: 50,000 lbs

Performance
Speed: supersonic
Ceiling: N/A
Combat Radius: over 600 nautical miles

Armament
  N/A
 

Primary Function: Strike fighter [Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing]
Contractor: Lockheed-Martin
Crew: One
Unit Cost (FY94$) $35M

Powerplant
  One Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 derivative from F-22 Raptor

Dimensions
Length: 45 feet
Wingspan: 36 feet
Height: N/A

Weights
Empty: 22,500 lbs
Maximum Takeoff: 50,000 lbs

Performance
Speed: supersonic
Ceiling: N/A
Combat Radius: over 600 nautical miles

Armament
  N/A
 
 

Primary Function: Strike fighter [Carrier-based]
Contractor: Lockheed-Martin
Crew: One
Unit Cost (FY94$) $38M

Powerplant
  One Pratt & Whitney F119-PW-100 derivative from F-22 Raptor

Dimensions
Length: 45 feet
Wingspan: 30 feet
Height: N/A

Weights
Empty: 24,000 lbs
Maximum Takeoff: 50,000 lbs

Performance
Speed: supersonic
Ceiling: N/A
Combat Radius: over 600 nautical miles

Armament
  N/A


No known major achievements
 

Primary Function: Heavy bomber
Contractor: Boeing Military Airplane Co.
Crew: Five (aircraft commander, pilot, radar navigator, navigator and electronic warfare officer)
Unit Cost: $53.4 million

Powerplant
  Eight Pratt & Whitney engines TF33-P-3/103 turbofan (up to 17,000 pounds each)

Dimensions
Length: 159 feet, 4 inches (48.5 meters)
Wingspan: 185 feet (56.4 meters)
Height: 40 feet, 8 inches (12.4 meters)

Weights
Empty: 185,000 lb (83,250 kilograms)
Maximum Takeoff: 488,000 pounds (219,600 kilograms)

Performance
Speed: 650 miles per hour (Mach 0.86)
Ceiling: 50,000 feet (15,151.5 meters)
Range: Unrefueled 8,800 miles (7,652 nautical miles)

Armament
  Approximately 70,000 pounds (31,500 kilograms) mixed ordnance -- bombs, mines and missiles. (Modified to carry air-launched cruise missiles, Harpoon anti-ship and Have Nap missiles.) 

Service Life
First Flight: April 15, 1952 (YB-52)
August 5, 1954 (B-52A)
January 25, 1955 (B-52B)
March 9, 1956 (B-52C)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: [744 total]


The B-52 is capable of dropping or launching the widest array of weapons in the U.S. inventory.
The B-52 made the longest strike mission in the history of aerial warfare during the Gulf War, flying 35 hours non-stop.


  In a conventional conflict, the B-52 can perform strategic attack, air interdiction, offensive counter-air and maritime operations. During Desert Storm, B-52s delivered 40 percent of all the weapons dropped by coalition forces. It is highly effective when used for ocean surveillance, and can assist the U.S. Navy in anti-ship and mine-laying operations. Two B-52s, in two hours, can monitor 140,000 square miles (364,000 square kilometers) of ocean surface.

  All B-52s are equipped with an electro-optical viewing system that uses platinum silicide forward-looking infrared and high resolution low-light-level television sensors to augment targeting, battle assessment, and flight safety, thus further improving its combat ability and low-level flight capability.

  Pilots wear night vision goggles (NVGs) to enhance their vision during night operations. Night vision goggles provide greater safety during night operations by increasing the pilot's ability to visually clear terrain, avoid enemy radar and see other aircraft in a covert/lights-out environment.

  Starting in 1989, on-going modifications incorporates the global positioning system, heavy stores adapter beams for carrying 2,000 pound munitions, and a full array of advance weapons currently under development. The use of aerial refueling gives the B-52 a range limited only by crew endurance. It has an unrefueled combat range in excess of 8,800 miles (14,080 kilometers). The aircraft's flexibility was evident in Operation Desert Storm and again during Operations Allied Force. B-52s struck wide-area troop concentrations, fixed installations and bunkers, and decimated the morale of Iraq's Republican Guard. The Gulf War involved the longest strike mission in the history of aerial warfare when B-52s took off from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., launched conventional air launched cruise missiles and returned to Barksdale -- a 35-hour, non-stop combat mission. .

  During Operation Allied Force, B-52s opened the conflict with conventional cruise missile attacks and then transitioned to delivering general purpose bombs and cluster bomb units on Serbian army positions and staging areas.


  The B-52 first entered service in June 1955, now only 2 versions remain in service with its successor, ACC. A total of 193 J57 powered B-52G were built with integral wing tanks and short fin, and armed with four 0.50-in machine guns. In desert Storm, all missions were assigned to the G model, operating as free-fall bombers. The B-52G is well protected by numerous ECM systems, and 2 under nose 'blisters' house LLLTV and FLIR sensors - used with the terrain avoidance radar to provide low-level penetration capability. Some B-52 were used in many aircraft testing as motherships to carry them up to testing altitude, such as the X-15 program.

Primary Function: Multi-role fighter
Contractor: Saab
Crew: N/A
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  One General Electric/Volvo Flygmotor RM12 afterburning turbofan, 18,100 lb thrust

Dimensions
Length: 46 ft 3 in (14.1 m)
Wingspan: 27 ft 7 in (8.4 m)
Height: 14 ft 9 in (4.5 m)

Weights
Empty: 14,600 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 27,560 lb

Performance
Speed: 1,321 mph (2,126 km/h)
Ceiling: 50,000 ft
Range: N/A

Armament
  One Mauser BK27 27mm cannon, plus up to 14,330 lb including Rb74/AIM-120 AAMs, Rb15F/Rb75 ASMs, free-fall bombs, rockets, DWS 39 submunition dispensor weapons, recce/sensor pods, and fuel tanks on eight external points


The Saab 39 will act as Sweeden's first class jet fighter.
The Gripen is arguably the first fourth-generation fighter to enter service.
 

Primary Function: Anti-armor helicopter
Contractor: Kamov
Crew: One (Two in Ka-52)
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Klimov TV3-117VK turboshaft rated at 2,226 shp (1660kW) each

Dimensions
Fuselage Length: 44 ft, 3.5 in (13.5 m) -- excluding gun and probe
Rotor Diameter: 45 ft, 6.9 in (14.5 m)
Height: 17 ft, 8.6 in (5.4 m)

Weights
Empty: 7,692 kg
Maximum Takeoff: 16,534 lb (7,500 kg)

Performance
Speed: 188kt (350km/h / 217 mph)
Ceiling: 13,125 ft (4000m)
Combat Radius: 135nm (250km / 155 mi)

Armament
  One 2A42 30-mm cannon; up to 16 AT-9 Vikhr anti-armor missiles; AS-12 'Kegler' guided missiles; 80 S-8 80mm rockets;AAM and ARMs


No known major achievements

Primary Function: Orbiter Vehicle (OV-102) -- lost February 1, 2003 on re-entry
Contractor: Various; Rockwell International’s Space Transportation Systems Division
Crew: Up to eight
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Three main engines running on liquid hydrogen/liquid oxygen propellant, rated at 512,950 lb thrust each; two solid, reusable rocket boosters rated at 3,300,000 lb each at launch, running on aluminum powder, iron oxide, and ammonium perchlorate powder.

Dimensions
Length: 121 ft
Wingspan: 78 ft
Height: 57 ft

Weights
Empty: 158,289 lb (71,799 kg)
With main engines: 178,000 lb (80,740 kg)

Performance
Speed: 17,500 mph -- typical orbit
Ceiling: N/A
Range: N/A
 
Armament
  N/A
 

Shuttle Columbia was the first shuttle to fly, and flew the first five shuttle missions.
Shuttle Columbia was the first shuttle used to deploy a commercial satellite.
 

Primary Function: Orbiter Vehicle (Russian)
Contractor: Korolev
Crew: Optimum crew of 4; maximum crew of 10
Unit Cost: Launch vehicle development approx. $39 million US

Powerplant
  Lox/Kerosene fueled Energia rocket engine (cluster) rated at 7,898,861 pounds of thrust overall

Dimensions
Length: 119 ft
Wingspan: 78.48 ft
Height: 53.64 ft (w/ gear)

Weights
Empty: 92,610 lb (42,000 kg) -- total structure
Max. payload weight: 66,150 lb (30,000 kg)

Performance
Speed: Around Mach 25
Ceiling: N/A
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A
 

The Buran was the first reusable manned space vehicle in Russia.
The Buran can put up to 30 tons of payload into space and return up to 20 tons to Earth.
The Buran was the first spaceplane to automatically land.
The Energia engines can launch 120 tons into orbit as opposed to 30 tons for the Space Shuttle.
 

Primary Function: Medium-transport, STOL . The An-72 Coaler is designed as a short takeoff and landing aircraft which can operate from unprepared airfields.
Contractor: Antonov
Crew:  An-72 flightcrew of two pilots and a flight engineer, An-74 has provision for a radio operator. Can carry a payload of 10 tonnes (22,045lb). An-72 can also seat 68 on removable seats. An-72P - Crew of five.
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two Lotarev ZMKB Progress D-36 turbofans at 14,330 lb (63.7 kN) thrust each
 
Dimensions
Length: 87 ft 2 in (26.6 m)
Wingspan: 84 ft 9 in (25.8 m)
Height: 28 ft 5 in (8.65 m)

Weights
Empty: 41,997 lb (19,050 kg)
Maximum Takeoff(from a 18OOm/5900ft runway) : 76,060 lb (34,500 kg)
max TO from a 1000m (3280ft) runway 27,500kg (60,625lb)


Performance
Speed: 435.6 mph (705 km/h / 380kt)
Ceiling: 38,715 ft
Range: 2590 nm (4800 km) w/ max fuel & reserves
Alt. (m): 11000 m maximum
8000 m cruise

Armament
An-72P - One 23mm gun pod, a UB-23M rocket launcher under each wing and four 100kg (220lb) bombs carried internally. Improved development offered by IAI can carry the Griffin laser guided bomb

Service life
The first prototype flew on December 22, 1977, and the aircraft entered service in 1979.

The wings are high-mounted and back-tapered with blunt tips and a negative slant. Two turbofans are mounted in long pods mounted on top of the wings. Round air intakes extend from the front of the wings’ leading edges. The engines were placed on the leading edge of the wings to increase lift for STOL capability, with the jet exhausts blowing over titanium panels on the upper surface. The engine position also gives good Foreign Object Damage (FOD) protection. The fuselage is circular with round, solid nose, upswept rear section, and a flush cockpit. The rear fuselage has a hinged loading ramp with a rear fairing that slides backwards and up to clear the opening. Up to 7.5 tons can be airdropped, and there are folding side seats for 42 paratroops or 52 passengers.

The swept-back, untapered fin features back-tapered flats high-mounted on the fin forming a T.

The An-72P is a maritime patrol variant with bulged observation windows, liferaft provision, cameras as well as offensive armament, including underwing rocket pods, a podded cannon on the undercarriage sponson and bombs that can be mounted in the rear fuselage and dropped through the open rear ramp.

The An-72P maritime patrol aircraft meanwhile is based on the basic An-72 fuselage with a 23mm gun, rocket pods, four light bombs carried internally, day and night downward looking and oblique optical cameras and an optical TV sight. ln service with Ukraine, the An-72P is designed for close-in coastal surveillance. Antonov is now offering an improved development of the An-72P in conjunction with Israel Aircraft Industries. Changes include a glass cockpit, Elta EUM 2022A radar, Electro Optical day and night long range observation system and Elisra electronic warfare suite.

The most significant design feature of the An-72 and An-74 is the use of engine exhaust gases blown over the wing's upper surface to improve STOL performance and lift."

The An-74 derivative of the An-72 featured improved avionics and radar together with an extended wingspan and increased range. It was designed to operate in the polar regions where it can land on ice floes for resupply or rescue work. The An-71 AEW aircraft also featured the extended wingspan, along with a large radar dish on top of the tail.
 

No known major achievements
 

Primary Function: Transport
Contractor: Grumann Aerospace  Corp.
Crew: Four and up to 10,000 lb cargo or 26 passengers
Unit Cost: Date deployed: 1987, Unit price approx. $38.96 mln

Powerplant
  Two Allison T-56-A-425 turboprop engines rated at 4,600hp each

Dimensions
Length: 56 feet, 10 in
Wingspan: 80 feet, 7 in; 29 feet, 4 in (folded)
Height: 15 feet, 10.5 in

Weights
Empty: 36,346 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 54,354 lb

Performance
Speed: 345 mph
Ceiling: 30,000 ft
Range: 1,796 mi

Armament
  N/A

Competitors
AN-72 Coaler
 

No known major achievements

Primary Function:  Development of Russia's LFI (logkiy frontovoi istrebitel) lightweight tactical fighter has been dramatically accelerated after the Russian Air Force decided its priorities for the next 10 years. Revealed here exclusively as the I-2000 (Istrebitel {fighter} 2000) project, the aircraft is due to become operational in 2005 as Russia's basic front-line fighter. It is also likely to become the leading export product of the Russian aircraft industry. Available information on the I-2000 indicates that it will be closely comparable to the US Joint Strike Fighter, operating in both the air-to-air and air-to-surface roles.

Engines: AL-41F1 2*15500 kgs.

Weight:
VSTOL 21000 kg
max 32800 kg (runway 160m)/31600 kg
Fuel (int) 7000 /10800 kg

Dimensions 20.6 x 14.4 / 7.82 x 5.84 м
Sq 54.6 /77 sq.m
The aircraft comes from a long line of Mikoyan lightweight fighters, such as the MiG-15 and MiG-21. It is about the same size as the MiG-21 (shorter by 1.3m but wider by 4.5m), but noticeably smaller than its immediate predecessor, the MiG-29. Take-off weight is estimated at around 12 tonnes; maximum take-off weight at about 16 tonnes.

Max speed 2250 km/h
Alt.: 18800 m

Load balance: 0.95
Flight range: 4200-5500/7400 km


Armament: 2x30mm gun

Hardpoints: 8 (conf.), 2*4

Competitors:
X-35 JSF


In early 2002 Sukhoi was chosen as prime contractor for the planned Russian fifth-generation fighter is called the PAK FA [ Perspektivnyi Aviatsionnyi Kompleks Frontovoi Aviatsyi - Future Air Complex for Tactical Air Forces]. This intermediate class twin-engined fighter will be larger than a MiG-29 and smaller than a Su-27.

The aircraft will feature a long combat radius, supersonic cruise speed, low radar cross section, supermaneuverability, and the ability to make short takeoffs and landings. In accordance with the technical requirements, the PAK FA will have a normal takeoff weight of 20 tons, which is close to the average normal takeoff weight of the two American airplanes, the F-35 JSF (17.2 tons) and the F-22 (24 tons). The new fighter (a medium version) will have a traditional wing form, though the experience gathered as a result of Berkut's test flights will be taken in consideration when designing the fighter. It is supposed that it will be created using the Stealth technology, and equipped with two AL-41F engines by the Saturn scientific and industrial enterprise, a radar system with an active phased array (to all appearances, it will be produced by the Fazatron-NIIR corporation), and high-precision weapons.

The government commission decided on 26 April 2002 to choose the Sukhoi holding company as the head company to develop and produce the fighter of the fifth generation. The prototype of the PAK FA would take-off in 2006 and that in 2010 the aircraft would be ready for series production. The first deliveries, both for Russian armed forces and for export, would be possible in 2011-12.

The new airplane is being proposed to be brought from the concept design to a prototype series in less than 9 years. Historically, fourth and fifth generation fighters have not been created in less than 15 years. The Russian government has promised to allocate 1.5 billion dollars for the PAK FA through 2010. But the Russian Air Force is receiving less than 200 million dollars a year during this period, and will spend it primarily on other needs.

The prices and sources of funding will determine the destiny of the whole program. To date officials agree that the program will cost $1.5 billion. However, $1.5 billion is the sum needed for creating a new generation of avionics for the fighter (considering the fact that pre-production models of the phased array have already been produced, and will soon be tested). Completion of the AL-41F engine (present readiness is 30 percent) will require, in the opinion of the boss of Rosaviakosmos, 600 - 800 million dollars. Saturn said that launching of production of the AL-41F engine would take $150 million. An improved version of the AL-31F will be used on the aircraft originally (though it is not clear how these heavy motors are reconciled with the concept of a 20-ton fighter). The upgrade of these engines will require expenditures of 1.2-1.5 billion dollars. And finally, designers will have to spend several hundred millions of dollars on creating a new airframe.
According to some reports, India and Russia have agreed to jointly develop this fifth-generation fighter, under a scheduled with entery into service in 2009. This would be the first such joint development venture between the two countries.

Primary Function: STOVL close-support
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: One
Unit Cost: $23,700,000

Powerplant
  one Rolls-Royce F402-RR-408 Pegasus (23,800 lb)

Dimensions
Length: 46.3 feet
Wingspan: 30.3 feet
Height: 11 feet, 7 inches

Weights
Empty: 14,867 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 31,000 lb

Performance
Speed: 1.0 Mach
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Combat Radius: 103 mi (90 nm / 167 km)

Armament
  One fuselage-mounted 25 mm gun system
Standard Air-to-Ground (A/G) load: Six Mk 82, 500 pound bombs
Standard Air-to-Air (A/A) load: Four AIM-9L/M Sidewinder missiles
Provisions for carrying up to 9,000 pounds of ordnance on seven stations
 
Service Life
First Flight: November 9, 1978 (YAV-8B)
November 5, 1981 (AV-8B)
End of Service: N/A
Number Built: [340+ total]

Competitors
Yak-141 Freestyle
 

Most forward deployed tactical strike aircraft in combat
Flew 3,380 sorties for a total of 4,112 combat hours while maintaining a mission capable rate of more than 90%


   The AV-8B was designed with a larger-area carbon-fiber supercritical wing, a completely revised and raised cockpit, and advanced aerodynamic devices which enhanced lift capabilities over the AV-8A. From the 167th airframe on, USMC AV-8Bs were fitted with a FLIR, head-down display, a moving map in color, and an enhanced HUD, all of which made them night-attack capable. The 205th production aircraft, designated the AV-8B Harrier II Plus, is equipped with the Hughes AN/APG-64 radar which gives it the capability to launch AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles and AIM-7 Sparrow AAMs, as well as AGM-84 Harpoon anti-shipping missiles.


   The Boeing Company, British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce teamed to produce the AV-8B, as an upgrade to the AV-8A. The first production AV-8B aircraft was delivered in November 1983. Deliveries of night-attack Harrier IIs began in September 1989. The U.S. Marine Corps received its first Harrier II Plus aircraft in July 1993, and its first remanufactured Harrier II Plus in January 1996. During the 42 days of combat, 86 Harrier IIs flew 3,380 combat sorties, 4,112 combat hours, and delivered more than six million pounds of ordnance. Throughout Desert Storm, Harrier II squadrons achieved an aircraft readiness rate greater than 90 percent. Harriers are on constant deployment with Marine Expeditionary Units throughout the world.

Boeing Unveils Bird of Prey Stealth Technology Demonstrator

(http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2002/photorelease/q4/dvd-223-4.gif)
 ST. LOUIS, Oct. 18, 2002 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the "Bird of Prey," a technology demonstrator that pioneered breakthrough low-observable technologies and revolutionized aircraft design, development and production. The once highly classified project ran from 1992 through 1999, and was revealed because the technologies and capabilities developed have become industry standards, and it is no longer necessary to conceal the aircraft's existence.

In addition to proving many new stealth concepts, the Bird of Prey program demonstrated innovative rapid prototyping techniques. Developed by the Boeing Phantom Works advanced research-and-development organization, the Bird of Prey was among the first to initiate the use of large, single-piece composite structures; low-cost, disposable tooling; and 3-D virtual reality design and assembly processes to ensure the aircraft was affordable to build as well as high-performing.

Fully funded by Boeing, the Bird of Prey project costs $67 million. A subsonic, single-seat technology demonstrator, the aircraft completed 38 test flights as part of its flight-demonstration program. Its first flight took place in fall 1996. Bird of Prey has a wingspan of approximately 23 feet and a length of 47 feet, and weighs nearly 7,400 pounds. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5C turbofan engine, the Bird of Prey has an operational speed of 260 knots and a maximum operating altitude of 20,000 feet.

"Early investments in technology demonstration projects such as Bird of Prey have positioned Boeing to help shape our industry's transformation," said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "With this aircraft, we changed the rules on how to design and build an aircraft, and what we've learned is enabling us to provide our customers with affordable, high-performing products. Projects such as Bird of Prey have provided the catalyst for integrating speed, agility and reduced cost into the processes we employ to introduce new commercial and military systems to market."

Boeing's current development of the X-45A Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, or UCAV, technology demonstrator draws directly on its Bird of Prey experience. Some aspects of the UCAV's innovative radar-evading design, such as its shape and inlet, were developed from this project. Together, Boeing Phantom Works and Boeing Integrated Defense Systems are developing UCAV for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, and the U.S. Air Force.

"The success of the Bird of Prey is a testament to the shared commitment of Boeing and the Air Force to pioneering innovative methods to drive down costs and improve performance," said George Muellner, senior vice president of Air Force Systems for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems. "This project stressed affordability as much as performance and quality, and is one of many that we are using to define the future of aerospace."

(http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2002/photorelease/q4/dvd-223-2.gif)

Primary Function: The REIS-D unmanned tactical aerial reconnaissance system is designed to conduct aerial reconnaissance, update target reconnaissance data, and monitor firing and bombing results at the depth of about 150 km from the forward line of the battle area.

Launch weight (with booster): kg 1,600

Flying range: km 360

Flying speed: km/h 850 ... 940

Altitude range m:
above ground level: 50 to 2,000
above sea level: up to 5,000

Overall dimensions m:
length 8.06
height 1.54
wing span 2.24

Number of programmed altitude changes: 15
Number of target areas 7
Area reconnoitered in one flight km: 2 up to 2,100

Camera TV IR
Reconnaissance altitude, m 100-1,600 300-1,000 200-2,000
Coverage, N 10 6 3.4
Resolution 0.2 m 0.6 m 6 min of arc

The system ensures:
round- the- clock aerial reconnaissance under heavy countermeasures in conditions of possible radioactive, chemical and biological contamination of the air and ground;
localisation/identification of ground objects;
gathering of real-time intelligence information and its recording both by the facilities available onboard and by the ground-based intelligence reception/ interpretation/decoding station;
preparation of reconnaissance photos and reports.

Primary Function: Multi-role attack and fighter aircraft
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: E model: One; F model: Two
Unit Cost: $57 million

Powerplant
  Two F414-GE-400 turbofan engines rated at 22,000 lb (9,977 kg) static thrust each

Dimensions
Length: 60.3 feet (18.5 meters)
Wingspan: 44.9 feet (13.68 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.87 meters)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Max. TOW: 66,000 pounds (29,932 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 1.8+
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet
Range: Combat: 1,275 nautical miles (2,346 kilometers), clean plus two AIM-9s

Armament
  One M61A1/A2 Vulcan 20mm cannon; External payload: AIM 9 Sidewinder, AIM-9X (projected), AIM 7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, Harpoon, Harm, SLAM, SLAM-ER (projected), Maverick missiles; Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW); Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM); Data Link Pod; Paveway Laser Guided Bomb; various general purpose bombs, mines and rockets.
 

No known major achievements
 

Primary Function: experimental - High Angle-of-Attack (Alpha) Research Vehicle
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofan engines, each producing 16,000 pounds of thrust in afterburner

Dimensions
Length: 56 ft
Wingspan: 37 ft, 5 in
Height: 10 ft, 6 in -- at canopy

Weights
Empty: N/A
Gross Weight: 31,980 lb -- phase I; 36,099 lb phase II and III

Performance
Speed: limited to 170 mph
Ceiling: N/A
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A
 

The F-18 HARV demonstrated stabilized flight at angles of attack between 65 and 70 degrees using thrust vectoring vanes
 

Primary Function: experimental - Advanced Control Technology for Integrated Vehicles
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas
Crew: Two
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Two higher-thrust version Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines (with newly developed axisymmetric thrust-vectoring engine exhaust nozzles) rated at 29,000 lbs. of thrust each at full power

Dimensions
Length: 63.7 ft, excluding flight test nose boom
Wingspan: 42.8 ft
Canard span: 25.6 ft
Height: 18.5 ft - F-15

Weights
Empty: 35,000 lb
TOW: 47,000 lb

Performance
Speed: Mach 2.0 (speeds limited to Mach 1.2)
Ceiling: 60,000 feet
Range: N/A

Armament
  N/A
 

The F-15 ACTIVE demonstrated the first supersonic yaw-vectoring flight
The F-15 ACTIVE demonstrated the first pitch and yaw thrust vectoring at speeds up to Mach 2
The F-15 ACTIVE was the first two-seat F-15 built by McDonnell Douglas
 

Primary Function: Long-range heavy transport
Contractor: Boeing [McDonnell Douglas Corp.]
Crew: Three (two pilots and one loadmaster)
Unit Cost: $236.7 million (FY98 constant dollars)

Powerplant
  Four Pratt & Whitney F117-PW- 100 turbofan engines (40,900 pounds each)

Dimensions
Length: 173 feet 11 inches (53.04 meters)
Wingspan: 170 feet 9 inches (to winglet tips) (51.81 meters)
Height: 55 feet 1 inch (16.79 meters)

Weights
Empty: 269,000 lb (122016 kg)
Maximum Takeoff: 585,000 pounds (265,352 kilograms) -- peacetime

Performance
Speed: 500 mph (Mach .77)
Ceiling: 45,000 feet at cruising speed (13,716 meters)
Range: Unlimited with in-flight refueling

Armament
  N/A


  Reliability and maintainability are two outstanding benefits of the C-17 system. Current operational requirements impose demanding reliability and maintainability. These requirements include an aircraft mission completion success probability rate of 92 percent, only 20 aircraft maintenance man-hours per flying hour, and full and partial mission availability rates of 74.7 and 82.5 percent, respectively. The Boeing warranty assures these figures will be met.

  The C-17 measures 174 feet long (53 meters) with a wingspan of 169 feet, 10 inches (51.75 meters). The aircraft is powered by four, fully reversible, Federal Aviation Administration-certified F117-PW-100 engines (the military designation for the commercial Pratt & Whitney PW2040), currently used on the Boeing 757. Each engine is rated at 40,440 pounds of thrust. The thrust reversers direct the flow of air upward and forward to avoid ingestion of dust and debris. Maximum use has been made of off-the-shelf and commercial equipment, including Air Force-standardized avionics.

  The aircraft is operated by a crew of three (pilot, copilot and loadmaster), reducing manpower requirements, risk exposure and long-term operating costs. Cargo is loaded onto the C-17 through a large aft door that accommodates military vehicles and palletized cargo. The C-17 can carry virtually all of the Army's air-transportable equipment.

  Maximum payload capacity of the C-17 is 170,900 pounds (77,519 kilograms), and its maximum gross takeoff weight is 585,000 pounds (265,352 kilograms). With a payload of 160,000 pounds (72,575 kilograms) and an initial cruise altitude of 28,000 feet (8,534 meters), the C-17 has an unrefueled range of approximately 2,400 nautical miles. Its cruise speed is approximately 450 knots (.74 Mach). The C-17 is designed to airdrop 102 paratroopers and equipment.

  The design of the aircraft allows it to operate through small, austere airfields. The C-17 can take off and land on runways as short as 3,000 feet (914 meters) and only 90 feet wide (27.4 meters). Even on such narrow runways, the C-17 can turn around using a three-point star turn and its backing capability.



During normal testing, C-17s set 22 world records, including payload to altitude time-to-climb and the short takeoff and landing mark

Primary Function: Strategic bomber
Contractor: Tupolev Design Bureau
Crew: N/A
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Four Kuznetsov NK-12MV turboprops, 14,795 shp each

Dimensions
Length: 162 ft 5 in (49.5 m)
Wingspan: 167 ft 8 in (51.1 m)
Height: 39 ft 9 in (12.12 m)

Weights
Empty: 198,415 lb 
Maximum Takeoff: 414,470 lb 

Performance
Speed: 575 mph (925 km/h)
Ceiling: 39,370 ft (12000 m)
Range: 7,800 miles (12,550 km)

Armament
  One or two AM-23 23mm cannons in tail turret, plus up to 16 cruise missiles and various conventional and nuclear bombs

Competitors
B-52  Stratofortress



The Tu-95MS is Russia's primary cruise missile carrier. 


In the beginning of 50-th years in Tupolev's OKB the work on creation strategic bomber with intercontinental distance of flight have begun. In 1952 the first flight of the new plane which has received the label Tu-95 was held.

In 1956 Tu-95 was accepted in service. By a feature of the new machine was the application of a wing and main, for the first time in practice of world aircraft construction for planes of such class, installation of turbofan drives. The new drives NK-12M were created in Kuznetsov OKB. TVD two coaxial screws in the opposite parties were supplied by differential reduction gearboxes, gyratings. The propellant consumption of new drives made only 0.207 kgs (h.p. h).

Resource(safe life) new TVD. Has appeared in 10 times more, than at any other modern drive used on bombers, including foreign. Tu-95 represents jet with four TVD, located in wings. The chassis of a plane(airplane) threebased, with twin bottles. Main racks - biaxial, covering in flight in wings (that is 'famly' by feature of majority of Tupolev's machines), the nose rack - monoaxial, closed on “stream” in a fuselage. From below in the middle of fuselage the doors large place. In the first updatings Tu-95 “air - ground”, one of X-22, suspended under centreplane in half-dive condition, and two rockets KSR-5 on pylons under a wing was equipped by 3 rockets. In variant bomber Tu-95 could bear inside up to 20 t of bombs. In a nose Tu-95 the bar(boom) fueltank is placed nonclosed.

In reply to reequipment by the Americans strategic bombers ?-52 by winged rockets ALCM, in USSR in 1981 the new updating bomber - Tu-95MS is accepted in service. Tu-95MS is intended for a defeat by winged rockets of the important stationary objects in the day and night in any meteorological conditions and in any point of globe. In difference from Tu-95 the upgraded machine has a new wing with a more high-speed structure.

The new stabilizer is installed, now it can automatically, depending on a modification of a centre-of-gravity position connected to development(manufacture) combustible, to change an angle of installation. Onboard avionics is replaced completely. Two onboard COMPUTERS are included in structure of the latter. The onboard means REF are upgraded. The main modifications concern shock arms. In bombs tank the drum-type launcher equipped with 6 with the winged rockets RKV-15B with distance of shooting 2500 kms is installed. The construction Tu-95MS was developed at the Samara airfactory.

Tu-95 "Bear-A" strategic bombers; Tu-95 "Bear B" (maritime strike); Tu-95 "Bear-C" (maritime reconnaissance); Tu-95 "Bear-D" (maritime reconnaissance and missile support); Tu-95 "Bear-E" (maritime reconnaissance); Tu-142 "Bear-F" (anti-submarine warfare); Tu-95 "Bear-G" (maritime reconnaissance and strike); Tu-142 "Bear-H" (cruise-missile carrier with eight missiles); Tu-95 "Bear-J" (communications relay).

The Cubes, Angola, Somalia and Vietnam based Tu-95, apart from USSR, on air bases. It enabled strategic staff of USSR effectively to inspect practically any point of globe. To the beginning of the 90-th years all of Tu-95 from foreign basises were introduced. Tu-126 was intended for detection of the air targets, beginning with average altitudes. Now Tu-95MS is a basis of air strategic forces of Russia.

boeing 737-300:

(http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2001/photorelease/q1/010320a.jpg)

(http://www.jetphotos.net/images/8/8890-jp.jpg.71216.jpg)

(http://www.jetphotos.net/images/8/8858-jp.jpg.59577.jpg)

(http://aviation-safety.net/photos/accidents/20050814-0-C-d-5-500.jpg)

 :(

τι σε έκανε να ποστάρεις αυτό το αεροπλάνο?

χθες εβλεπα στο discovery channel ενα ντοκιμαντερ για πολεμικα αεροσκαφη κ το πιο εξελιγμενο της τεχνολογιας στελθ ειναι ενα Raptor 22.τεταρτης γενιας ελεγαν.το δικιμαζαν 20 χρονια!!αν το βρω πουθενα θα το στειλω.

Τιποτα σε Αirbus 320 παίζει?
Δεν ξέρω για εσάς, αλλά εγω αισθάνομαι πιό ασφαλης οταν ταξιδεύω με αυτά παρά με τα Βoeing 737.  Το λέει και το όνομα άλλωστε, όταν πέφτουν κανουν μπόινγκ! (βλακ χιούμορ) :P

Οντως το f22 αποτελεί ένα τρομερό αεροσκάφος.Χρησιμοποιεί πρωτοποριακή τεχνολογία(όπως το παντάρ εγκλωβισμού πολλαπλών στόχων)  μέρος της οποίας αξιοποιείται και στο υποδεέστερο εξαγώγιμο προιόν των ΗΠΑ :D JSF(F-35).Το πρόγραμμα κατασκευής του κόστισε υπερβολικά πολύ για τους Αμερικάνους (28 δις $)με αλλεπάλληλες ακυρώσεις συμβολαίων, καθυστερήσεις, τεχνικά προβλήματα..
Το πρωτότυπο YF 22 πέταξε το 1992,αλλά την ίδια χρονιά συνετρίβη σε εικονικό dogfight με ένα F 23.
Η παραγωγή του ξεκίνησε το 1997 και το πρώτο αεροσκάφος σειράς παραδόθηκε σε μοίρα το 2004.
Παρουσιάστηκαν διάφορα κατασκευστικά προβλήματα σε αυτά τα αεροσκάφη(υπήρξαν και απώλειες αεροσκαφών από μηχανικές κα βλάβες) και άλλαξαν τελικά το σχεδιαμό του.Το νέο F22 A αυτή τη στιγμή δοκιμάζεται στην Αλάσκα και πληροφορίες αναφέρουν για εξαιρετικές επιδόσεις και ότι θα αντικαταστήσει την αιχμή του δόρατος της USAF, το F15..
Κατασκευαστής Lockheed Martin,κάποια τμήματα τα κατασκευάζει η Boeing.
Εκτίμησή μου,πολύ δύσκολα θα το δούμε να πετάει χωρίς αμερικανικά διακριτικά ;)
(Οι πληροφορίες μπορεί να φέρουν λάθη παραλείψεις,ζητώ συγγνώμη αν συμβαίνει..)

Το TU-95 είναι η "ρωσική απάντηση" στο αμερικανικό βομβαρδιστικό Β-52. Τώρα μή με ρωτήσεις τί με έκανε να ποστάρω το Β-52!     ;D 
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D Αφιερωμένο:
Μια πιο προσεκτική ματιά στο τόπικ αυτό:
F-22 Raptor (http://www.thmmy.gr/smf/index.php?topic=6604.msg98193#msg98193)
X-35 JSF (http://www.thmmy.gr/smf/index.php?topic=6604.msg100187#msg100187)  :)
==================================================



Primary Function: Commercial Transport
Contractor: Airbus
Crew: 164 single class, 150 double class
Unit Cost: N/Α

Powerplant
  Two CFM56-5 or IAE V2500 engines rated at 25,000-27,000 lb thrust

Dimensions
Length: 123 feet, 3 in
Wingspan: 111 feet, 10 in
Height: 39 feet, 7 in

Weights
Empty: 92,400 lb
Maximum Takeoff: 169,800 lb

Performance
Speed: Mach 0.82
Ceiling: N/A
Range: 3,050 nm

Armament
  N/A


No known major achievements

Primary Function: experimental - Laminar Flow Research Aircraft
Contractor: General Dynamics Corp.
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  Pratt and Whitney 100-PW-100 engine (with afterburner), rated at 23,830 lb thrust

Dimensions
Length: 54.2 ft (16.52 m)
Wingspan: 34.3 ft (10.45 m)
Height: 17.7 ft (5.39 m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Max. Weight: 48,000 lb (17,915.60 kg)

Performance
Speed: Mach 1.8 (1,260 mph)
Ceiling: 50,000 ft
Range: 2,850 miles

Armament
  N/A


Primary Function: experimental - Laminar Flow Research Aircraft
Contractor: General Dynamics Corp.
Crew: Two
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  General Electric F110-GE-129 engine (with afterburner) rated at 29,000 lb thrust

Dimensions
Length: 54.2 ft (16.52 m)
Wingspan: 34.3 ft (10.45 m)
Height: 17.7 ft (5.39 m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Max. Weight: 48,000 lb (17,915.60 kg)
 
Performance
Speed: Mach 2 (1,400 mph)
Ceiling: 50,000 ft
Range: 2,850 miles
 
Armament
  N/A


The F-16XL was the first program to look at laminar flow on swept wings at speeds representative of those at which a high speed civil transport might fly.
 

F-16 AFTI based on F-16A (Serial #75-0750) -- F-16A stats shown
Primary Function: experimental - Advanced Fighter Technology Integration
Contractor: Lockheed (General Dynamics)
Crew: One
Unit Cost: N/A

Powerplant
  One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 rated at 23,830 lb. thrust with afterburner

Dimensions
Length: 49 ft, 6 in
Wingspan: 32 ft, 10 in
Height: 16 ft, 6 in

Weights
Empty: N/A
Loaded: 29,896 lb

Performance
Speed: 1,345 mph
Ceiling: 55,000 ft
Range: 1,407 miles

Armament
  N/A

Numerous flight avionics technologies advancements (Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System, Real Time Kill Recognition, close air support and battlefield air interdiction, voice control system, etc.)

Primary Function: Close support/ground attack
Su-39 is an all-weather attack system capable of executinga large number of combat
missions assigned both to effectively and reliably safeguard the ground,sea and air frontiers
of the country and use the aviation of peacekeeping forces in local conflicts

Powerplant
 2 TRD-R-195, 2 x 4'300 kgs

Dimensions (m):
14,36 x 15,53 x 5,20

Weights (tonns):
16,5- 20,5

Performance:
Speed 950
Alt. (m): 18'000
Range (km): 400/500/2250

Armament:
16 AT Vihr
Kh-29T/L/ML, S-25L, Kh-58, Kh-31P, Kh-35
RVV-AE, R-73, R-60M

8 S-8/S-13 30 mm DP GSh-301
2-4 SPPU-87 (Gsh-301) bombs KAB500/1500 incl. nucl.
8 KMGU

Competitors:
A-10A Thunderbolt II

The Su-39 is intended for precise destructionof any targets on ground, sea and in the air located up to 900 km fromhome aerodromes day and night, in VFR and IFR of the weather conditionsand enemy air defense counteractions.
The aircraft features the following characteristicsthat ensure its highly effective combat use:
1. Sight/navigation system comprising:
- armament control system that provides forthe use of aboard weapons in a horizontal flight, diving, recovery fromdiving and pitching-up and two different weapon types in one attack:
- Shkval day/night automatic sight systemconstituting an optical radar with 23 power magnification of a target andterrain, including a system used for the search, identification, trackingand target designation for Vikhr missiles and weapons with laser guidancesystem, featuring 0.6 m guidance precision;
- Kopiye-25 radar sight system operatingin a 3 cm band of electromagnetic waves intended for detection and targetdesignation in "air-to-surface", "air-to-air", "air-to-sea"modes of operation and in a cartography mode;
- navigation aids providing for automatictarget approach with up to 15 meter precision irrespective of a flightrange.
2. The electronic countermeasure (ECM)system is intended to carry out electronic reconnaissance and all-directionalprotection of aircraft in radar and IR band of electromagnetic waves inautomatic mode of operation without the pilot’s interference.
The system comprises:
- electronic reconnaissance set intendedto pinpoint all existing ground, airborne and shipborne radars used fordetection and fire-control, operating in 1.2-18 GHz and determine the mostdangerous target, its coordinates and distance to it;
- small-size electronic active jammer, generatingdeflecting, noise, scintillating and re-targeting to underlying surfaceinterferences;
- optronic jammer, generating an amplitude-frequencymodulating interference to IR missile seekers;
- dispenser of IR decoys with 192 decoy projectilesgenerating passive jamming in conjunction with "cold" aircraftengines intended to frustrate at a critical moment over a target the ADmissile portable systems of enemy attack;
- aircraft decoys to detect and deceive ADenemy systems lurking in ambushes, onboard fighter radars and missileswith all types of seekers.
3. The large nomenclature of precession weapons,including "air-to-surface", "air-to-sea", "air-to-air"and "air-to-radar" missiles and all nomenclature of cheap andeffective means of destruction: 85-250mm rockets, 30mm guns and air bombsup to 500 kg weighing up to 6,000 kg.
However, the Vikhr antitank missile is themain versatile weapon of the Su-39. The aircraft is armed with 16 suchmissiles capable of directly hitting a moving tank at a 10 km range featuringup to one meter of reduced armoring, rapid boats, rapid maneuvering helicoptersand heavy aircraft.
4. The unique effectiveness of a combat survivalsystem, providing for a 100 % protection of the pilot and vital parts ofan aircraft from 30mm gun rounds and missile splinters and returning theaircraft to its home aerodrome when hit by an AD portable Stinger typemissile system.
The high efficiency of the Vikhr system wasrevealed during combat employment of the Su-25 in armed conflicts worldwide.The total weight of combat survival equipment of the Su-39 is equal to1,115 kg.
5. The high aircraft maneuverability enablesit at low and average altitudes and speeds to rotate "on its tail"and launch a second attack almost without visual loss of contact with anair and ground (surface) target, especially in limited space over the target- in hard accessible forest and mountainous areas, when the use of otherstrike systems is virtually impossible.
6. The high reliability of the Su-39 andits systems was revealed by extended operation of the Su-25 attack aircraft.
7. The Su-39 capability to perform take-offand landing with a combat payload on poorly prepared earth runways, includingthose located in the mountains up to 3,000 m high at sea level and up to1,200 meters long, thereby making the Su-39 appropriate for combat usein close vicinity to combat actions region ensuring a rapid change of aircraftbasing and the rapid delivery surprise blows on the enemy.
8. The technical-economical indices characterizethe Su-39 in any kind of operation as the "genuine soldier" weapon.
The Su-39 is:
- cheapest and effective attack aircraftof its type;
- most undemanding - can use diesel fuelinstead of kerosene and does not require high-skilled maintenance. Pilotsof any grade can muster the aircraft;
- the aircraft boasts a 30 year service life,involving routine repairs of an air frame and engine at home aerodromes.
The various and highly effective armamentof the Su-39 used in conjunction with an on-board armament control system,sight/navigation system, ECM devices and combat survivability, constitutea powerful attack system capable of executing a large number of combatmissions assigned to effectively and reliably safeguard the ground, seaand air frontiers of the country. The aircraft was put in series productionin 1995.

Primary Function: Ground attack
Contractor: Ilyushin
Man./Crew: 1

Powerplant
4 D30kp, 11'984 kgs

Dimensions (m)
50,0 x 47,0 x 15,0

Weights (tons)
72,0-157

Performance
Speed (km/h): 900
Alt. (m): 14'000
Range (km): 5'000

Armament:
AA
AS 23 mm DP NR-23 ,bombs KAB500/1500 incl. nucl. 13 tons

Competitors:
A-10A Thunderbolt II

Il-102 has made the first flight in 1982. The new plane has passed state tests, however solution about batch production was not accepted. In a series was started attack jet by Sukhoi OKB Su-25. In 1992 Il-102 was on display on the Russian airspace exhibition “Mosaeroshow-92” and was offered on sale for the representatives of foreign countries. Il-102 is further development first Soviet attack plane with TRD IL-40, created in 1953. Il-102 is made under the normal aerodynamic scheme with low-set wing. The features of arrangement of a plane Il-40 are saved: crew consisting of the 2 persons, fuel tanks and two drives are placed in a central part near to centre of masses of a plane, that has allowed to reduce square of booking and to improve manoeuvrable qualities of attack jet. The wing of a plane has a rather thick structure permitting to place in its rooted part 6 bomb baies. Wings directed downwards, in their face parts the place for installation of the block of an ejection “automaton - F” with IR by traps and dipole reflectors is stipulated. Kiel with a developed dorsal fin is supplied with a control surface of a direction.


The fuselage has characteristic “hump”, in which the cabins of the pilot, arrow, part BREO and fuel tanks are located. In a tail part on each side of fuselage two aerodynamic brakes are installed. A forward and back cabin have flat armourglass. Three based chassis ensures a possibility of operation of a plane with ground landing, capable to sustain pressure 5 kg/sm2. The fuel is placed in 6 protected tanks located in a central part of a fuselage and the protected reservations. On two underfuselage knots of the external suspension two can be suspended PTB till 800 litres. The power plant consists of two unafterburning DTRD (variant of drives installed on the fighter Mig-29). The application of a reversion and system of a deviation(rejection) of thrust vector is supposed. In a cabin of the pilot the collimating sight S-17BTs is installed, the possibility of application of a radiosight and optic-electronic aim systems is stipulated. Arrows is equipped with an aim system KPS-53-A, including a sight PAU-475-2M with an optical range finder and calculator. The plane is equipped with ejected seats K-36A. As a whole Il-102 on main performances is similar to American A-10A.

Primary Function: Strategic Reconnaissance
Contractor: Lockheed-Martin Skunkworks
Crew: Two
Unit Cost: N/A
 
Powerplant
  Two Pratt and Whitney J-58 axial-flow turbojets with afterburners, each producing 32,500 pounds of thrust 

Dimensions
Length: 107.4 feet (32.73 m)
Wingspan: 55.6 feet (16.94 m)
Height: 18.5 feet (5.63 m)

Weights
Empty: N/A
Maximum Takeoff: 140,000 pounds (52,250 kg) -- gross

Performance
Speed: over Mach 3.2 / 2,000 mph (3,200 kph)
Ceiling: over 85,000 feet (26,000 m)
Range: over 2000 miles (3200 km) unrefueled

Armament
  N/A


The SR-71 Blackbird is the fastest aircraft in the world to take off under its own power. 


  Developed for the USAF as reconnaissance aircraft more than 30 years ago, SR-71s are still the world's fastest and highest-flying production aircraft. The aircraft can fly more than 2200 mph (Mach 3+ or more than three times the speed of sound) and at altitudes of over 85,000 feet. As research platforms, the aircraft can cruise at Mach 3 for more than one hour.

Primary Function: waterbomber
Cost Approx. $35 million (Canada) 
Crew 2
Passengers 8 / 30 with tanks removed

Power Plant
Engines 2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123AF turboprops
Power 2 x 1775 kW (2380 shp)
Propeller Hamilton Standard 14SF-19 four-blade, diameter 3.97 m
Fuel consumption 840 litres/hour typical

Dimensions
Length 19.82 m
Height 8.98 m
Span 28.61 m
Wing area 100.33 sq m
Cabin length 9.38 m excluding cockpit
Cabin width 2.39 m maximum
Cabin height 1.90 m
Cabin volume 35.6 cu m excluding cockpit

Weights
Operating weight empty 12861 kg
Max. payload 6123 kg
Integral water tank capacity 6160 litres (1622 US gal)
Fuel capacity 5796 litres (1530 US gal)
Max. zero-fuel weight 19051 kg
Max. ramp weight 19958 kg
Max. take-off weight 19890 kg on land, 17169 kg w\o disposable load
Max. lift-off weight after water scoop 20865 kg
Max. landing weight 16783 kg

Performance
Max. cruise speed  376 km/h at 5000 ft/ISA
Initial rate of climb 7 m/s at max. weight
Takeoff distance 844 m or 814 m on water
Landing distance 674 m on land, 664 m on water
Max. Range 2427 km (1310 NM)
Water dropped per hour 54140 l, when 11 km from fire
Scooping time to refill tanks 12 seconds

Armament
  N/A


The Canadair 415 is the latest in Canadair's line of multi-role amphibious aircraft beginning with the CL-215 in the 1960s. The Canadair 415 amphibian is a high-wing, turboprop aircraft that evolved from over 25 years of experience with the CL-215 firefighting amphibious aircraft. It features a four-compartment, four-door water tank system that can hold 6137 litres (1621 US gallons) of water/foam mixture and refills its tanks by skimming the surface of any suitable body of water. The Canadair 415, although externally similar to its predecessor, is quite a new machine. It features Pratt & Whitney Canada turboprops, an air-conditioned glass cockpit, and powered flight controls. Compared to the CL-215, it has increased operating weight and speed yielding improved productivity. Aircraft systems have been updated for easier maintainability. In its firefighting configuration, the Canadair 415 is ideal for Initial Attack on forest fires; getting to the fire at the earliest stages and repeatedly dropping large amounts of fire suppressing foam.The Canadair 415 amphibian is also well suited to other missions such as maritime surveillance, coastal patrol, search and rescue, utility transport and resource protection The Canadair 415 production program was launched in October of 1991. The Canadair 415 first flew in December 1993 and the first aircraft was delivered in November 1994.

Και όμως έπεσε... :(

http://www.thmmy.gr/smf/index.php?topic=6604.msg103891#msg103891

Ιδού το συγκεκριμένο αεροσκάφος:
(http://www.thmmy.gr/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=6604.0;attach=22138)

ANTONOV AN-225

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/AN225down.jpg/800px-AN225down.jpg)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/d/df/Buran_On_Antonov225.jpg)


The An-225 Mriya (Ukrainian: Антонов Ан-225 Мрія, NATO reporting name: Cossack) is a strategic airlift transport aircraft which was built by Antonov, and is the world's largest flying airplane ever built by the most commonly accepted measure, maximum gross takeoff weight. The design, built to transport the Buran orbiter, was an enlargement of the successful An-124 Ruslan. Mriya (Мрія) means "dream" (inspiration) in Ukrainian.

With a maximum gross weight of 640 tonnes (1,411,000 lb), the An-225 is the world's heaviest and largest aircraft. The Hughes H-4 Hercules, known to most as the "Spruce Goose", had a greater wingspan and a greater overall height, but is considerably shorter, and due to its lighter building materials, also lighter. In addition, the Hercules only flew once and not very high, making the An-225 the largest aircraft in the world to take off multiple times.The An-225 is also larger than the Airbus A380 airliner, and considerably bigger than the Antonov An-124, 747-400ERF, C-5 Galaxy, the nearest equivalent heavy airlifters.

In November 2004, FAI placed the An-225 in the Guinness Book of Records for its 240 records.



The An-225 was designed for the Soviet space program as a replacement for the Myasishchev VM-T. Able to airlift the Energia rocket's boosters and the Buran space shuttle, its mission and objectives are almost identical to that of the Airbus Beluga and the United States' Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

The An-225 is an extension of Antonov's earlier An-124. To meet the needs of its new role, fuselage barrel extensions were added fore and aft of the wings, which received root extensions.Two more Lotarev D-18 turbofan engines were added to the new wing roots, bringing the total to six, and an increased-capacity landing gear system with 32 wheels was designed. The An-124’s rear cargo door and ramp were removed to save weight, and the empennage was changed from a single vertical stabilizer to a twin tail with an oversized horizontal stabilizer. The twin tail was made necessary by the requirement to carry very large and heavy external loads, which would disturb the aerodynamics of a conventional tail. Unlike the An-124, the An-225 was not intended for tactical airlifting and is not designed for short-field operation.

The An-225 first flew on December 21, 1988. Two aircraft were ordered, but only one An-225 (tail number UR-82060[4]) is currently in service. It is commercially available for carrying ultra-heavy and oversize freight, up to 250,000 kg (550,000 lb) internally or 200,000 kg (440,000 lb) on the upper fuselage. Cargo on the upper fuselage can be 70 m long.A second An-225 was partially built during the late 1980s for use by the Soviet space program. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 and the cancellation of the Buran space program, the lone operational An-225 was placed in storage. The six Lotarev engines were removed for use on An-124s, and the second An-225 airframe (nearing completion and awaiting engines) was also mothballed.


General characteristics
Crew: 6
Payload: 250,000 kg (550,000 lb)
Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21.0 ft)
Length: 84 m (275.6 ft)
Wingspan: 88.40 m (290 ft 2 in)
Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
Wing area: 905.0 m² (9,743.7 ft²)
Empty weight: 175,000 kg (385,800 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,322,773 lb)
Powerplant: 6× ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229 kN (51,600 lbf) each
Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload
Performance
Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
Cruise speed: 750 km/h (400 knots, 465 mph)
Range:

With maximum fuel: 14,000 km (8,700 mi)
With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.234

:o

Δηλαδή μπαίνει στα βιβλίο Γκίνες κι αυτός που κατέχει τα περισσότερα ρεκόρ στο βιβλίο Γκίνες;  Αυτό θα πει κάψιμο ^boil^