Skunk Works Mailing List
From: betnal@ns.net
Subject: Re: ATF testing
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 99 17:55:23 GMT
A question and some follow-ups to Jim's two posts:
"...nor can the F-22 supercruise much further than the F-15C it is designed
to replace." Jim, are you saying that the F-22's supercruise distance @ M1.4-5
isn't much farther than F-15C can fly subsonically (which would actually be very
impressive, going the same distance .6M faster), or F-15 "supercruising" (which is
marginal at best with the Pratt engines and still would be much slower with a
smaller payload) or has same supersonic persistence as F-15 in afterburner [any
level] which means we've got a major problem here?
"...the F-18E/F wing drop problem re-emerged. The
production fix functions more poorly than the interim fixed used to gain
the production approval." It also induces two forms of buffet, which they're
working on fixes for "...with minimal impairment to other performance parameters".
"...in a low level range comparison, an F-18C flew further than the F-18E,
defeating in large part, the justification to build the F-18E in the first place."
Although the E/F has a number of improvements over the C/D [for what it costs, it
better], it does no accelerate better in subsonic or negative g environments, and
accelerates slower to supersonic speeds. Climb performance above 30,000 ft. has
been judged substandard.
"...the problems ‹ with performance and enemy-missile detection ‹ could cause
the attack fighter to fail its ongoing evaluation by the U.S. Navy." The
evaluation will probably fall out like this:
Parameter 1: The Hornet E/F will pass its evaluation.
Parameter 2: Should the test force recommend a no pass, see parameter 1.
"The Super Hornet has met all its requirements...". The requirements have
been defined to be whatever the Super Hornet is capable of.
You know, the Rafale is looking better and better :(.
Hopefully, these levels of shenanigans can be avoided on the F-22 if the
lessons of the Hornet E/F program can be taken to heart.
Art
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Created: Sat Jun 19 14:06:42 EDT 1999