Fancy trashing a few million pounds?
Posted by: Tony Lockhart on 08 February 2006
This Eurofighter Typhoon came in with its nose undercarriage stuck up about a month ago. Pics courtesy of a contact.
Both crew were ok. The fleet was grounded for a while. These incidents are almost expected during the early years, so no harm done.
Tony
Both crew were ok. The fleet was grounded for a while. These incidents are almost expected during the early years, so no harm done.
Tony
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Dougunn
Crikey
I bet that focussed the pilot's attention!
Doug
I bet that focussed the pilot's attention!
Doug
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Justyn
Tony,
I presume from the pictures that the engine was also knackered, whats your guess at the repair bill?
We've recently being doing some work at Dara at RAF St Athan, where I got to have a close up look at some parts (from a Tornado I think), lots of carbon fibre, which up until then I hadn't realised was used that extensively in aircraft. Also explains partially the huge cost of the things.
Justyn.
I presume from the pictures that the engine was also knackered, whats your guess at the repair bill?
We've recently being doing some work at Dara at RAF St Athan, where I got to have a close up look at some parts (from a Tornado I think), lots of carbon fibre, which up until then I hadn't realised was used that extensively in aircraft. Also explains partially the huge cost of the things.
Justyn.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Roy T
Just where were Tracy brothers when you need them? I'm sure they were doing this type of thing 40 or more years ago, have we not progressed at all over the interviening years?
Kudos to the crew that brought it home for examination by the experts.
Kudos to the crew that brought it home for examination by the experts.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by erik scothron
I hope the crew were wearing brown trousers.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Rasher
I saw one of these things at an air show in the summer and it was totally, totally awesome.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Jo Sharp
quote:Originally posted by Rasher:
I saw one of these things at an air show in the summer and it was totally, totally awesome.
An awesome waste of money - 15 years late (i.e. might have been good for the Central European war against the Warsaw Pact for which it was conceived), over-budget and apart from giving Biggles a hard-on, lacking a role. Can't fly off rough strip so needs 'proper' airfield; no real air-ground role so no good in support of the Army, can't fly off carriers so we have to buy yet another aircraft..etc, etc.
Would have been better off buying US kit 'off the shelf'.
IMHO.....
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Jo Sharp
Moi?
Indeed...electric darts merchant
Indeed...electric darts merchant
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Tony Lockhart
I'd say front fuselage badly damaged, both engines shot, both air-intakes require a reskin, radar probably destroyed (ouch), nose u/c written off, both canards probably in the bin.
The aircraft haven't, I think, been handed over to the RAF yet, so BAe Systems will foot the bill.
Jo. Can you suggest an alternative? Yes it's late, but nothing new/interesting/valid there.... almost everything military is late. With technology advancing so quickly it must be difficult to not be tempted to continually update on the prototypes. With no real threat to the Tornados, now ageing, there was no hurry. And who will be the enemy in 10 years time? When I waved off aircrew in Tornados I was happy that they were in pretty much the best there was. I'd hate to say good-bye to them in third rate aircraft.
I saw three prototypes at BAe Warton being built back in 1991. The techniques were impressive. The airframe is incredibly light and strong. I've seen the cockpit electronics in action. Wow, the groundcrews are going to have to be special, let alone the aircrew. This aircraft had to be built. We'll be using it for at least the next 30 years.
The Eurofighter is the only thing that could tempt me back out to Saudi. I'd love it.
Tony
The aircraft haven't, I think, been handed over to the RAF yet, so BAe Systems will foot the bill.
Jo. Can you suggest an alternative? Yes it's late, but nothing new/interesting/valid there.... almost everything military is late. With technology advancing so quickly it must be difficult to not be tempted to continually update on the prototypes. With no real threat to the Tornados, now ageing, there was no hurry. And who will be the enemy in 10 years time? When I waved off aircrew in Tornados I was happy that they were in pretty much the best there was. I'd hate to say good-bye to them in third rate aircraft.
I saw three prototypes at BAe Warton being built back in 1991. The techniques were impressive. The airframe is incredibly light and strong. I've seen the cockpit electronics in action. Wow, the groundcrews are going to have to be special, let alone the aircrew. This aircraft had to be built. We'll be using it for at least the next 30 years.
The Eurofighter is the only thing that could tempt me back out to Saudi. I'd love it.
Tony
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Jo Sharp
Tony,
It is certainly a superb aircraft...but one we don't really need for the money it has cost. So much wasted on the altar of european cooperation.
My point is we could have had a perfectly acceptable capability off the shelf from the USA several years ago. How many of the airframes we have bought can we actually afford to assemble and fly..and how many will remain on the shelf in bits?
It is certainly a superb aircraft...but one we don't really need for the money it has cost. So much wasted on the altar of european cooperation.
My point is we could have had a perfectly acceptable capability off the shelf from the USA several years ago. How many of the airframes we have bought can we actually afford to assemble and fly..and how many will remain on the shelf in bits?
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by erik scothron
quote:And who will be the enemy in 10 years time?
Tony
China.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by Nime
Can China afford to be the enemy of the West and still keep up its necessary industrial expansion and modernisation?
If we can get over the little problem with Islamic extremists I believe the greatest danger to world peace will be the United States.
It is already admitting that it's military muscle is slowly being strangled by lack of fuel. It still needs energy to protect its monopolistic world trading arrangements.
Nobody has yet built a solar panel that will power a tank or jet fighter.
Can we now expect the armaments industry to speed up the crossover to hydrogen technology to maintain the world's military status quo? Stranger things have happened.
If we can get over the little problem with Islamic extremists I believe the greatest danger to world peace will be the United States.
It is already admitting that it's military muscle is slowly being strangled by lack of fuel. It still needs energy to protect its monopolistic world trading arrangements.
Nobody has yet built a solar panel that will power a tank or jet fighter.
Can we now expect the armaments industry to speed up the crossover to hydrogen technology to maintain the world's military status quo? Stranger things have happened.
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by nicnaim
quote:Originally posted by Nime:
Nobody has yet built a solar panel that will power a tank or jet fighter.
Can we now expect the armaments industry to speed up the crossover to hydrogen technology to maintain the world's military status quo? Stranger things have happened.
Fair point, well made.
Nic
Posted on: 08 February 2006 by erik scothron
quote:Originally posted by Nime:
Can China afford to be the enemy of the West and still keep up its necessary industrial expansion and modernisation?
I
China won't make itself the enemy of the west - America will do that for them - leading econmists in the states say america will be a third world economy within 20 years - some say 15 years. China will be afford anything by then. I wouldnt trust america as far as I could kick it.