BF2S Forums the Official Real World Facts thread

Nordemus wrote:

pace51 wrote:

Nordemus wrote:

Pace you loser, this is some RWF

http://www.badassoftheweek.com/warthog.html

Thats a RWF with ATTITUDE

BTW, do you have any requests? I did the OA-10.

Do an RWF on an awesome animal like the wolverine.

Or a Stegosaurus!

seymorebutts443 wrote:

Remember that time you got shut down by k30 for being a fraud.

Yeah. I had some bad facts on the J-10, in a collosal mixup (On my part, I screwed up), mistook a j-10 for a lavi fighter.  Ah well. Time to try harder for accuracy.

Hey seymoure remember the time someone got offended by you? Yeah, me neither.

Miggle wrote:

P38j

Done. P38 lightning guide is done (Several variants including J and A), see the OP index?

I forget who requested it, they requested the A-10 too, which is also done.

http://forums.bf2s.com/viewtopic.php?pi … 2#p3171872

P-38 should be the first.

Last edited by pace51 (2010-05-31 14:48:13)

Alright, once a week bump time again. Due to running out of space in the other posts, the next bunch of planes will be stored here.

Fri. June 4/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the Grumman F6F Hellcat

Powered by: One1492-kW Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10W Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial piston engine
Maiden Flight: June 26, 1942
Max. Speed: 620 KmH
Range: 1675 Km
Armament: Six 12.7mm Browning M2 machine guns with 400 rounds each and 2-3 bombs (907kg), and six 127-mm rockets



     The Grumman F6F Hellcat was the best carrier fighter of ww2. In fact, it was one of the best fighters of the entire war. It needed very little upgrades and modifications, and very little testing and development was needed after it was drawn up. After this, it was rushed into production and then into service very fast. They were a definite bane of the A6M Zeroes, and shot down many enemy aircraft. Also, they sunk ships in large amounts.

     One Hellcat ace was named Lieutenant Hanks. He took out 5 Japanese aircraft in one month. The powerful and well built Hellcat was heavy and deadly. Most fighters were light, slim, and quick. The Hellcat had great maneuvering, but most importantly, was heavily armoured. This was a bit of an advancement in fighters. Now, the USA had a powerful hardhitting and quick fighter that could survive more than one hit, which was very useful. Pilots loved the hellcat. It did it’s job and brought you home. Pilot’s commonly referred to Grumman as “Grumman Iron Works” because Grumman had a reputation for building heavily armed and armored naval aircraft. It served in the night-fighter roles, and could do reconnaissance duties quite well too. Britain also bought and utilized Hellcats in Malaya, Burma, the East Indies, and attacking Japan.



     The undercarriage of the F6F was quite sturdy and withstood the tremendous strain put on it by carrier landings. Hellcats often operated from smaller Essex class carrier’s as well as large ones. The Hellcat often carried drop tanks for a much extended flight radius. The cockpit had thick and powerful armour plating. Also, the fuel tanks were self sealing. The Hellcat was a powerful aircraft with very thick armour plating. This was very useful, and marked a departure in styles of combat. Back then, when most people saw aircraft like the A6M zero, they thought, in order to defeat, build an aircraft that performs better. However, the Zeroes had such great handling that this was not an easy task to do. So, Grumman whipped out a fighter, with a new way to combat the Zeroes. Instead of trying to outperform the A6M Zero, the Hellcat exploited the zeroes weaknesses. Zeroes are very potent in dogfights, and can maneuver incredibly. However, this means they have very little armour. So, when a Hellcat came into battle, it would maneuver into a position it could fire at the Zero from. During this time, enemy Zeroes would out turn the Hellcat and fire at it… with not too much effect, due to the Hellcats incredible armour. The fuel tanks were self sealing, the cockpits were heavily plated, and the Hellcat could turn very quickly (Compared to non-Japanese aircraft. Many Japanese aircraft sacrificed important equipment and traits in favour of agility, making them insane to attack in a dogfight). Then, the Hellcat could fire at the Zeroes. This wasn’t normal strategy, but it shows that the Hellcat was well designed.



     One of the largest conflicts US Navy Hellcats were involved in was the Battle of the Phillipine Sea. On June 19-20, 1944, this battle took place. In fact, Historians consider one of the most important battles of the pacific theatre because this was the battle where Japan’s Carrier Air fleets were entirely destroyed. The Mariana Islands sat in the Philippines and the American invasion force was getting ready to storm the island. If they acquired these isles, the Americans could set up strategic air bases to increase the frequency of the bombing they did on Japan. The Imperial navy was ordered to intercept the Americans, destroy their fleet, and protect the islands. On the 15th of June, six light carriers and three fleet carriers (the big ones) set sail from Japanese ports in the Phillipines, 800km to the west of the Mariana Islands. However, four days before, the USN mustered their own large fleet to invade the islands. Since the US were going to siege the islands, their fleet was not comprised entirely of carriers. Rather, Task Force 58 (The invasion fleet) had 7 battleships and 15 carriers. The battleships shelled the islands into submission while the carriers provide close support, and they defeated the ground forces of the islands. Then, they started to guard the islands. On the 19th, the battle officially began. The battle was enormous. Each side had heavy losses, but Japan’s were monumentally large. On June 19, the imperial fleet split up and began aerial bombardments. US Submarines moved into place and blew the Japanese carriers Taiho and Shokaku right out of the water, sinking both. On 19 June, a massive aerial battle took place. It was mainly F6F Hellcats verses A6M Zeroes. 30 Hellcats were destroyed, but 253 Japanese fighters were shot down.

Celebrity appearances: Was featured in the game airfix dogfighter as well as many ww2 movies.

Thurs. June 10/10                                pace51

Real World Facts about the RQ-1 Predator UAV

Powered by: Rotax 912 Pusher
Max. Speed: 190 KTS
Armament: Usually unarmed for reconnaissance duties, although on “assassination” missions (see paragraph three) or as their official designation is, Search and Destroy missions, a hellfire missile has been carried in the past.
Maiden flight: Somewhere around 1995

     The Predator is possibly the most famous UAV in the skies today. Although. Gradually being replaced, its signature inverted dual tailfins, lack of tailplanes, bulging “Beluga” nose, fixed wings, and rear mounted propeller really give this aircraft a distinct shape. It is unmanned, but that means it can be incredibly useful without having to expose human personnel to danger. It is also cheap. The UAV Reaver, the newest UAV, was modeled after the predator, slightly, and is much more suitable for carrying heavy weapons loads. The Predator itself spawned a legacy.

     The USAF states that they have used it on recon missions, tactical and conventional surveillance, as well as search and destroy. It has also been involved in classified missions and semi-civilian missions. The USAF adores the predator since it is cheap and not manned. This way, they can send them into dangerous area’s, although they are usually on sent to monitor Moderate Risk Area’s (MRA’s) which are usually area’s that, even if unlikely, conflict can always erupt in. Like, unsecured air space for example. If it’s not secured, you may be close to securing, but until an area is designated secured, enemy planes and ground forces etc. can and will be spotted in that area. The 11th and 15th squadrons flew this baby. All you need to fly it is a command console, a radar, and a monitor. And some specialized equipment (Read Below).

     In 2002, the first successful Hellfire launch took place from a Predator. On November 3, 6 suspected Al-Qaida operatives were spotted in Yemen. The USA sent in a Predator, armed with a hellfire missile. It soon designated its targets, and when strategic command gave the order, the pilot used the remote controls to direct the Predator towards the terrorists. He took the Hellfire missile off of safe mode by selecting it, and marked his targets. He then used a TV monitoring system to direct the missile to its target.

     The predator itself is a monoplane. It has a straight plane wing. It is capable of taking off of relatively short 5000 feet long runways. When it is doing its surveillance work, it requires all of its ground systems to be near by, and preferably in the same location (As each other, far away from the Predator itself, of course). The satellite com equipment is quite expansive, hosting a twenty foot long dish. The “ball” under the Predator’s “chin” is called the skyball, and provides optical and infrared sensor equipment, allowing video monitoring of an area to take place. Two SATCOM antenna’s and two HMMWV’s make up the field base. Using SATCOM and other technologies, the RQ-1 delivers data to the ground control station.

     The Predator started out as an advanced technology demonstrator, until it was realized that this unmanned piston powered beauty could pack a serious punch. The army utilized the predator during training, testing, and demonstrations. However, when it came into production, the Pentagon decided to have the USAF utilize the vast majority of RQ-1 Predators.

     In October of 2001, several Predator’s went to Afghanistan not only to monitor, but to assist in combat if necessary against Taliban insurgents. Two years earlier, RQ-1’s did surveillance in Kosovo. They collected intelligence and made sure that the USA could keep an eye on the refugee’s at all times. After a 1995 airshow where the Predator participated as a technology demonstrator, it got its first role. Deployment in Europe. Hundreds of UAV missions have taken place in many conflicts. The predator’s provide an amazing alternative to large, expensive, and manned surveillance planes and they can do most of the necessary surveillance.

     Operation Nomad Vigil was the first time a Predator came to Europe. It was deployed in Albania. Unfortunately, disaster struck. One was taken out by Serbian fighters on the ground, and a second one lost control and malfunctioned after being hit by ground fire also. They were forced to fly through Italian airspace, which the Regia Aaeronautica generously allowed them to do, until these disasters happened. After that, the USA pulled the Predators out. In the second Europe Op, Nomad Endeavour, Predators were based in Hungary, in the city of Taszar (Pronounced Tah-sar). These began operative duties in 1996.

Celebrity Appearances: The UAV Predator’s have been featured in an extremely wide variety of movies and video games over the years. It was featured in two scenes of Eagle Eye. However, these were both search and destroy missions, the mission type most seldom carried out by the Predator. A UAV was also featured in Transformers one, directing A-10 warthogs and AC-130U Spooky’s towards their targets. Command and Conquer: Generals and Red Alert also featured UAV predator deployment, though only in the traditional surveillance roles. In modern warfare 2, Predator’s could be called in for tactical surveillance or search and destroy purposes, although in real life, Predators usually only carry out search and destroy missions very seldom and mainly against priority targets. The RQ-1’s were offered in Battlefield 2, and post 1.4 patch, they were visible from the ground. Call of duty: Modern warfare offered Predator’s for surveillance, but they were not visible. RQ-1 drones could be seen in Mission Impossible 3 as well.

Sat. June 12/10                                Pace51

Real world facts about the Grumman X-29

Max. Speed:
Maiden flight:
Powered by:
Wing configuration: Forward Swept
Accommodations: One crew member in bubble canopy

     Grumman manufactured two of the most innovative prototypes of all time, both designated X-29. The Grumman X-29 was the world’s second forward-swept wing aircraft, though nowhere near as close to being a fighter as Sukhoi’s later yet arguably better attempt, (Which will be discussed in comparison below.)

     The X-29 didn’t come out of nowhere. For years, NASA itself had wanted to test the effects a forward swept wing system would generate on the plane, and experiment with it. It was a technology demonstrator, however, test pilots enjoyed flying it very much, saying it was quite interesting and exciting to control. Previously, the wartime Junkers Ju 287 had been the world’s first forward-swept wing jet aircraft. The X-29 was meant for experimental flight, though, and not so much fighting, and although armament was considered, it was never really implemented. The first prototype, the X-29A, was found to have great control while doing very tight maneuvers. Also, it had an angle of attack of 45 degrees, a swift turning radius, and computerized systems.



     The airframe, especially the frontal fuselage, was developed from the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter’s chassis. Also, the X-29 had the landing gear of the also maneuverable F-16 Fighting Falcon. Although the forward swept wing gave the aircraft amazing maneuverability, it made it quite unstable (The later Su-47 was definitely more stable) and also, there was the big problem of the wings. If the X-29 flew faster than Mach 1.6, its wings would fly right off. Composite materials hadn’t been developed and incorporated to the extent they have been these days. With composites, the X-29 would be able to safely reach higher speeds without the wings detaching. Back to unstabability. The only reason it could fly while unstable was because of fly by wire technology. Another use of FBW, other than fast response times, was that the computer did a lot of calculations to keep the plane stable and flying. In the X-29, the computer had to do 40 calculations a second and make the necessary adjustments.

     On a forward swept wings, air hit the wings and deflected along the fuselage itself. With normal swept wings, air will hit the wings and roll off, being directed outwards instead of inwards due to the shape of the wing. This prevented the aircraft from going into a critical stall.

Wed. June 16/10                                Pace51

Real World Facts about the Beriev Be-200

Max. Speed: 710 KmH
Range: 3850 Km
Accommodations: Several crewmembers, 12, 000 Kg of water.

     The Be-200 is a truly massive firefighter. Often seen in a customary paint scheme of white, red, and blue, not indifferent from the paint scheme of the Grumman X-29, this twin engined aerial behemoth is another one of Beriev’s naval aircraft successes.



     The Be-200 is a large long aircraft that resembles a passenger jet. On wither side slightly in front of the tail are two large engines that propel this aircraft. It’s meant to serve as a firefighting aircraft, also known as a water bomber. It stores vast amount of water in a large bay on the underside of the fuselage. It was built to fight forest fires by using various methods of extinguishing. It can carry various chemical and liquid variations in its bay, or unleash massive amounts of water on forest fires. There are several tactics it can employ to fight fires. It can bomb fires near the edge of the spread. This develops a protective “barrier” of ground to wet or coated to become flammable. It can also be called in for smaller duties usually carried out by smaller fire fighting aircraft, like extinguishing miniature brushfires that break out. The pilots have a good view from the cockpit as well as various instruments to help them put out fires quickly and efficiently. Another big bonus of the Be-200 is its ability to carry heavy cargo loads. It can deliver firefighting equipment and personnel to other airfields.



     The fuselage and various tanks in the Be-200 are pressurized to a very high caliber. This allows it to be very durable and operate in conditions and situations other aircraft could not adapt to. The be-200 has state of the art navigation systems, and special equipment allowing it to operate on nocturnal missions in addition to daytime sortie’s. The designers of the Be-200 extensively reviewed the performance data and design process of the A-40 Albatross, a leviathan in aquatic aircraft. A passenger version, the Be210, is also out in service. As well, a medical version, a search and rescue model, and a cargo version have been developed. A VIP transport version is also coming out. The Be-200 is also amphibious.

RWF Tu-160 request

Here's the guide you requested, sorry about the wait. If you have any other requests, ask.

Thurs. June 17/10                                Pace51

Real World Facts about the Tu-160 Blackjack

Max. Speed: Mach 2
Range: 10, 500 km
Maiden flight: Around 1981
Armament: 24 AA Kh-15 and 12 AS Kh-55 Cruise Missiles, or 40 tons of bombs.
Powered by: Four NK-32 Turbofan’s generating 25,000 kg of thrust.

     The Tu-160 greatly resembles America’s Rockwell B1 Lancer. Both were massive, deadly, bombers. Both could carry heavy loads and fly great distances. And most importantly, they are as loud as a stadium full of vuvuzela’s.



    The program began in the early 1970’s, with the threat of the American B1 lancer looming overhead. The Soviet Union knew very little about the B1, and so, they decided to make a bomber that looked slightly like the B1 in appearance. However, they did not copy the B1 whatsoever, the used Russian innovation to make a bomber that could perform the same duties the B1 did. The Tu-160 had swept wings, was a strategic bomber, and could carry very heavy weaponry, even nuclear if needed.

     The project was entrusted to the Myasishev Company. However, Myasishev was a small company, and didn’t have the resources or experience needed to make the Blackjack successful. Therefore, the project was instead transferred to the more powerful Tupolev Corporation. The first of the bombers, the Tu-160, was delivered in 1980, and then, the prototype made its maiden flight in 1981. Finally, after years of testing, debating, and producing, the first Tu-160’s entered service in 1987. Originally, 100 were ordered, but this was decreased to a smaller order of only forty Blackjacks instead. (Blackjack is the NATO codename for the Tu-160). The Tu-160 was the largest soviet bomber ever created, and it is absolutely massive. The Tu-160 may be refueled in mid-air, another useful feature, via a cone in the nose. There are four pilots, two each in a separate part of the cockpit. They are equipped with state-of-the-art K-36DM ejection seats. There are active and passive radar systems, and a powerful navigation computer. This bomber excels at high altitude, though bombing is most effective when the Tu-160 descends to a lower altitude first. There are thermal systems mounted near the rear of the Tu-160’s fuselage. These are for detecting hostile missiles and enemy aircraft, before they have the chance to inflict massive damage on the Blackjack. 8 Digital computers are used for navigation, which is extremely helpful, as it allows the crew to spend more time on flying the aircraft and manning the systems.



     Instead of the types of joystick configurations used in bombers, the Tu-160 is a pioneer by utilizing a steering system commonly found not in bomber aircraft, but in interceptors. However, Tupolev is no stranger to interceptors, having built the Tu-28, the biggest interceptor ever constructed.

     There are sleeping quarters, toilets, and even a mini-kitchen in the cabin of the Tu-160. It’s meant for very long ranged flights, so, it needs to keep its crew fresh, rested, and above all, prepared. The Tu-160, undoubtedly, is the deadliest Russian strategic bomber in the world, and not a cheap knock off of Rockwell’s similar swept-wing bomber.

B1 Lancer and Tu-160 Comparison

Both have swept wings, and both handle like fighters. Neither was based on the other, but since they were meant to fulfill similar roles, they turned out incredibly similar to one another.

B1B Lancer

Manufacturer: Rockwell
Range: 11, 675 Km
Maiden Flight: 1974
Powered by: Four 133.57 kN General Electric F101-GE-102 turbofans
Max. Speed: Mach 1.2, however it is usually used at speeds of Mach 0.99 (999 Km/H)
Accommodates: Four crew members
Armament: Eight cruise missiles, or 12 B28 Nuclear bombs, or 24 B61/B83 Nuclear bombs. However, in theory, it can carry a load of 60, 782.

Tu-160 Blackjack

Max. Speed: Mach 2 (High altitudes) It can fly at Mach 1.2 at low altitudes.
Range: 10, 500 km
Maiden flight: Around 1981
Armament: 24 AA Kh-15 and 12 AS Kh-55 Cruise Missiles, or 40 tons of bombs.
Powered by: Four NK-32 Turbofan’s generating 25,000 kg of thrust.
Accommodates: Four Crew Members
Manufacturer: Rockwell

Although neither country knew any technical details about the other’s strategic bomber, the USA’s Lancer and the Russian Blackjack turned out, performance wise, mind-blowingly ridiculously similar. Look at those stats! They’re practically the same

Fri. June 18/10                                Pace51

Real world facts about the Saab J32 Lansen

Powered by: One RM 5A2 jet engine (The J-32 Carried the more powerful RM6A)
Armament: 4 nose-mounted cannons, and a variety of equipment
Maiden Flight: September 1952

     After world war two had ended, it was clear that countries needed to arm themselves for war. War could, and would, break out at any time. So Sweden requested that Saab, Sweden’s main indigenous fighter company, construct a basic jet fighter that could serve multiple roles and replace a lot of Sweden’s piston-powered (Propeller driven) aircraft. And so the P1150, as the prototype was known, was brought forward to be Sweden’s guardian for the coming years.

     However, the requirements this new fighter had to meet were daunting. There was the notoriously large Swedish coastline, an enormous stretch of land. Also, Sweden wanted the fighter to be able to reduce the amount of time that Sweden could get a fighter to its borders to one hour. So that means, since some of Sweden’s bases were inland, that the J-32 needed to be incredibly versatile.

     Last but not least, the aircraft had to be durable, have electronic equipment, serve in all conditions, at day or night, and be able to hoist weaponry from four cannons to bombs to rockets to Sweden’s brand new ASM’s (Air to Surface Missile). When the aircraft was finally ready, it was designated the J-32. However, although the J-32 was a fighter, the A-32 attack variant entered production first. Then, when 12 squadrons had this jet, a bunch of the planes had received the brand new PS-431/A radar, courtesy of France. The A-32 stayed in service until 1978, which is a great accomplishment for a fifties aircraft. It was replaced by Saab’s next legendary  multi-role fighter, the Saab Viggen. Now, shortly after the A-32’s came out, the J-32B Lansen came out. This was an all weather fighter. Less J-32B’s were delivered than A-32’s, but they did their job.

     The Swedish designations may be confusing, however, they are unlike American fighter designations. Think of it this way. The A-32A would probably receive a similar designation in America. The J-32B would be called the F-32A (Under American fighter designations, because each different type of aircraft is classified differently.) The S-32C would be called the RF-32A because it is a photo reconnaissance version. However, all three aircraft are very similar in performance.

     There were chaff chutes on the aircraft, which could be dropped in an emergency. The third version of the J-32 built was the S-32C. This was a reconnaissance version, and usually carried four camera’s, despite its ability to carry six. There were camera’s for high altitude, and camera’s that worked better at low altitudes. In 1962, this version received several brand new camera’s. Two Fairchild SKa 23’s were put in the aircraft, but due to the large size of these, there are noticeable bulges above the engine intakes on either side of the aircraft. A SKa 15 and Jugner FL 82 were also added to the aircraft. Three SKa 16’s, cameras that specialize in low-altitude photo-reconnaissance were fitted as well.

Sun. June 20/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the Junkers Ju-87 Stuka

Armament: 1000 kg of bombs, and three 7.9mm machine guns.
Range: 600 Km
Powered by: Single Junkers 1,200 hp Jumo 211 Da water-cooled inline
Max. Speed:
Maiden flight: Late 1935
Accommodations: One pilot, and one rear gunner.

     The Ju-87 Stuka was perhaps the best (or most effective) dive bomber of world war 2, and certainly the most famous. It was used throughout the war, and a characteristic of this deadly dive bomber was the crooked wings. They were the key to the Junkers success, see below. Oh, and, many of these jets had a large siren attached to them, making a shrill, and terrifying sound, moments before the Stuka delivered it’s munitions with stunning accuracy.

     It was always planned to fulfill the dive bomber roll. In fact, it’s name, Stuka, came from the German word for dive bomber, Sturzkampfflugzeug (Say that three times fast) and it proved very opportunistic and effective in the opening years of the second world war. From the battle of Britain, to screaming down onto Russian landers during the crossing of the Volga river at the battle of Stalingrad, this fighter fought madly. Actually, whenever people saw the distinctive Stuka shape, and heard the sirens, they were terrified. The reason is, Stuka’s were so devastating because the dive bombing tactic allows you to bomb accurately. Back in world war two, most bombing was done by giant bombers dropping bombs from way high up and hoping they hit something. That’s not very accurate. The Stuka’s curved wings prevented its wings from ripping off during the steep dives it performed, and since it dove towards its target, the bombs fell much more accurately.

     In 1935, the initial four prototype aircraft of the series flew. However, the prototypes carried British Rolls-Royce engines. When war broke out, the Junkers engines were substituted. In 1937, the Ju-87a entered service, and a total 210 of this variant were produced. They had longer tails than the prototype. The Ju-87B model had landing spats and a larger cockpit canopy, for better pilot visibility. When the Ju-87 D came out, it was the most improved model so far. It had a more powerful engine, more powerful undercarriage, better engine cowling, new offensive upgrades and more armour, more simple landing gear, and a larger tail.

     The Ju-87G was specialized for anti-tank missions, and had two cannons replacing the dual wing-mounted machine guns. The Ju-87H was a trainer aircraft, a variant of the D model where the pilot and pilot-in-training could control it. Also, the Ju-87R was a version of the Ju-87B that could fly long missions and take down enemy ships. As the war went on, the Stuka’s were way too vulnerable to anti-aircraft fire and fighters, but there was no replacement, so they were moved to pure air-to-surface and close support roles. 5, 709 total aircraft were built, a stunning amount.

Sun. June 20/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the Avro Lancaster

Max. Speed: 394 KmH
Maiden Flight: January 1941
Powered by: Four Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 water-cooled inlines with 1,640 hp
Armament: Eight .303 machine guns in various nose, dorsal, and tail turrets, and up to 3, 182 kg
Range: 3, 589 KmH

     This bomber had a medium range, but it was definitely a heavy bomber. It flew very smoothly, had state of the art equipment, and had better armour than most. Although not as heavily armoured as the B-29’s, this bomber was very, very powerful, and could raze buildings and factories, railyards and towns, compounds and convoys. It was Britains newest, state-of-the-art bomber, and it was loved by its pilots for its steady handling. The tail had trademark endplates (Instead of one central tailfin, two large tailfins are on either side of the tailplanes), instead of two tail planes and one tailfin. This gave it great maneuverability, for a bomber. This greean and yellow beauty served Britain very well in the war.



     The Lancaster was innovative in many ways. It was flown by Britain, and by commonwealth countries, such as Canada, whose Halifax bombers it replaced. In the past, pigeons were used to send messages back to central command if a bomber went down or if a message needed to be sent. Now, the Lancaster had a much more technically advanced tool, a radio. The Lancaster was revered as a devastating night bomber, a role at which it performed superbly. Its heavy defensive armament kept fighters off of it, like Germany’s key night fighter, the FW-190D. It was a development of the previous Type 679 Manchester, which had unreliable engines. However, this Avro bomber was newer, and it performed well. The Avro Lancaster was put into mass production. It bristled with armament in three locations, the nose, the dorsal turret, and the especially heavily defended tail turret, which boasted four machine guns!

     As production wore on, the lancasters got more powerful 1208-kW engines. However, Britain became scared that a shortage of the Merlin engines was possible, and began making different engines to power Lancasters. However, these substitute engines were lower rated, and resulted in decreased performance. Fortunately, as it turned out, Merlin’s were in high supply and no shortage ever came. The Lancaster Mk. III’s soon replaced the Mk.I’s. Later on, as Britain had its fellow commonwealth countries do much of it’s manufacturing, it received better aircraft. Britain was under siege, and couldn’t produce a lot of aircraft. So, its allies, like Canada, for instance, built Britain a lot of aircraft. Canada designed later Hawker Hurricanes, and other fighters. Later on in the war, Canada designed and built the Avro Lancaster X, which it promptly shipped over to Britain. The Lancaster X was very powerful, and aided the bombing missions in Europe. Over 7,100 Lancasters were built, and the last models, the Mk.B VIII, had Aamerican heavy machine guns in its dorsal turrets.^

Sat. June 19/10                                Pace51

Real World Facts about the KJ-200 AEW&C Aircraft

Powered by:
Maiden Flight: November, 2001
Accommodations: Two pilots can approximately 40-45 personnel.

     The KJ-200 is a brand new Chinese aircraft that will fly a multitude of forward air control and electronic surveillance missions. This “Flying Balance Beam” will be providing the necessary Intel needed for the Chinese forces to complete their missions for many years.

     The development process for the aircraft which would soon become the KJ-200 was initiated somewhere in the late 90’s. The prototype first flew in November, 2001. It was fitted with a linear airborne early warning radar. Nanching developed the navigation, aviation, and ESA systems for this aircraft. Sunday June the 4th, 2006, a Chinese news agency reported that a military aircraft went down carrying 40 passengers somewhere in the Anhui province, and no survivors were found. China commenced large scale search and rescue operations, and upon finding no survivors, initiated a full-scale investigation.

     No reports were found about what model of plane went down, but later foreign investigation revealed that the plane was, in fact, the only KJ-200 prototype in existence. This was terrible, because there were 40 deaths, and the loss of the only prototype and 40 key personnel severely set the program back a few years.

Wed. July 7/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the Morane-Saulnier M.S.406

Max. Speed: 485 KpH
Range: 800km
Armament: One 20mm cannon firing through propeller and dual 7.5 mm wing mounted MG’s.
Powered by: A Hispano-Suiza 860HP 12Y-31 V12 Liquid Cooled engine
Crew: One

     The M.S. 406 is a fine example of a deadly French WW2 era aircraft, available in decent numbers. As deadly as it was, over 400 were shot down, mostly by BF-109A-E’s and BF-110 interceptors. However, it served France well, despite being part wooden and six years old.

     In 1934, the French Armee De L’air requested a single-seat fighter capable of traversing decent distances. Speed was not a primary consideration, and 485 kmH was considered workable for the time period. In August 1935, its first prototype took to the air and experienced very successful testing. The rear fuselage was fabric covered, but the rest of the aircraft received a wooden frame with thin sheets of alloys on the outside. The undercarriage of this single seat piston-engined air superiority fighter was not fixed, and could retract, meaning the two front wheels could be pulled into the aircraft to reduce in flight drag. However, a skid replaced a third wheel on the aircraft, which was unusual considering the undercarriage was retractable.



     The M.S. 405’s were prototypes (More like pre-production actually). Note: The M.S. 406’s were decent aircraft, but the Messerschmitt bf-109’s, and bf-110’s, were very well built and very fast foes. Also, many BF-109’s carried cannon’s in the wings, meaning that the M.S.406 wasn’t outgunning the Messerschmitt’s. Comparing an M.S.406 to a BF-109 is like comparing a mig-19 to an F-4 phantom, or an F-86D Sabre Dog to a mig-21. Each fighter was great in their own era, but the more recent fighter would eventually win out, and so was the case with these French fighters.

     The premier order for M.S.406’s finally arrived in 1938, in March. It was an order for a whopping 1000 M.S.406C-1 variant fighters, which for a first order, is pretty good. January 1939 was the month in which the premier M.S.406C-1 flew.



     Switzerland got some of the first made fighters, approximately two. They felt the aircraft was a sufficient one, and they bought a license to build their own EFW D-3800’s (The swiss version of the M.S.406). When the M.S.406 was being produced, a very lethal problem arose. It was a minor 12Y engine problem. However, this was lethal because it stalled production severely. Only 572 of the original 1000 ordered aircraft were built and ready when the second world war break out.



     The French pilots fought bravely on, but they did very poorly with their outdated aircraft. The combination of experienced and trained pilots and very deadly BF-109’s made the Luttewaffe aircraft superior, no contest. The French took down 175 Luttewaffe aircraft with M.S.406’s. The Luttewaffe shot down no less than 400+ French aircraft, a killer blow against the French armee de L’air. Germany secured air superiority over France, allowing for ground attack and bombing missions. When the Fall of France occurred, 1000+ aircraft were delivered. One Vichy French unit operated the M.S.406 after France fell.

Wed. July 8/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the General Dynamics F-111F Aardvark



Powered by: Awesomeness (And two 111.65-kN P&W TF30-P-100 Afterburning turbofans)
Max. Speed: Only 1468 KmH at low altitude (Swing winds swept outwards), but 2655 KmH at high altitude (Swing-wings swept towards the aircraft)
Range: Over 2200
Armament: A total of 14, 228kg of ordnance, be they bombs, cannons, or missiles. The usual load is 2 sidewinders for A-A defence and AG munitions.

     The F-111F variant of the F-111 series was the deadliest of them all, despite its age and its late christening of the name “Aardvark”. For years, it fulfilled the role now fulfilled by the prestigious F-15 eagle fighter. Lasers aren’t just a thing of the future, and it used them to the best of its ability.

     The fuselage was not incredibly thick, cockpit seating was side by side instead of tandem (One crewmember in front, one behind him), and swing wings spread out from the sides. When it was in its prime, it was revolutionary. Now many aircraft could fight, bomb, carry advanced precision weaponry, fly massively fast high and low level speeds, offer magnificent visibility, huge fuel tanks, shall we go on? In fact, it was probably the best American multi-role aircraft in existence. Only one American aircraft can match most of its advantages and perform the same roles, and that is the F-15 Eagle, another magnificent warbird.

     1968 was the year that this incredible aircraft was first unveiled. For a long time, before Sukhoi’s Flankers finally came out and other multi-role aircraft, the Aardvark was the king of multi-role fighters. It trumped the su-24 in many areas, and it fought very well in the Gulf war. Like all innovative aircraft, it was used as a platform for a variety of weaponry. The equally famous EF-111 “Raven” electronic warfare variant stayed and is the only F-111 currently in service. Another model was the FB-111A. Mothers carry babies. This baby carried the mother of all unconventional weaponry, nuclear ordnance. Like Eagles, Aardvarks carried famed GBU-28 bunker busters, used to inflict structural mayhem. These were profusely deployed in the Gulf war.

     The development of the F-111 could be summed up as “Long and not straightforward”. The F-111D was the most technically advanced, but the F-111F was the least prone to malfunctions. The powerhouses of the aircraft, the twin TF30-P-100 turbofans, were very fuel efficient and VERY reliable. This aircraft served in many conflicts, most notably the gulf war and Vietnam. The f-111f has seen much more action than the other versions. In a classified incident in 1986, it is said to have performed very effective counter-terrorist duties against Libya. This highly accurate warplane delivered a very high weaponload in Operation Desert Storm.

     After their [F-111’s] sad 1995 retirement, F-15E Strike Eagles took over their roles. However, the aircrafts, stripped of munitions and partially disassembled, are being stored so that they can be brought back to operational status if a major catastrophe arises.

Weapon and Component Breakdown: These are munitions or components commonly utilized by F-111F’s.

Paveway III: They have long bodies and Advanced Proportional Guidance Systems
Swing Wings: High speeds require the wings to be swept backward, and landings have the wings being swept forwards.
Hardpoints: 14, 228 Kg of weapons could be put on the F-111F’s hard points. It has several hardpoints where is carries equipment.
Fuel Jettison Pipe: In an emergency or critical situation, fuel may be dumped through a nozzle out of the aircraft. Doing so with the afterburners running results in a massive flamethrower.
Countermeasures: Under the tail, chaff and flares are dispensed through an emergency system. These dispense very hot substances that distract heat seeking missiles.
ALQ-131: This jamming pod may be used to defend against enemy radars.
GBU-24: This bomb is a powerful armour penetrator, guided by the Paveway III Laser Guidance Kit (LGK).
Cockpit: It is designated a fighter, but Aardvarks perform mainly attack duties, and they perform them very well.
The pilot cannot look behind him, unfortunately, but he gets an excellent view of the targets in front of him. The crewmembers sit beside each other. F-111’s are among the worlds fastest low level fighters, but if they push the mach 1.2 envelope at low level, they have about ten minutes until the canopy glass begins to melt.
Pave Tack: The secret to the F-111F’s amazing accuracy. This pod has infra-red and laser designators and can operate at night. It points a laser at its target and will swivel to keep its target in sight.
APQ-144: Multi-mode attack radar
APQ-146: Terrain Following Radar

     The Aardvarks never carried ejection seats, opting to instead jettison the entire cockpit and land it via parachute. Its great range was complimented by its large internal fuel capacity and the fact that in-flight refuelling could add to its range. Only F-15E’s and F-111F’s could drop Bunker Busters in the Gulf War.

Celebrity Appearances: Was featured along with its cousin, the EF-111A Raven, in Tom Clancy’s HAWX.

Mon. July 12/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-1

Max. Speed: 640 KmH
Powered by: A single Mikulin AM-35A Water-cooled inline
Armament: Three .50 cal MG’s and 200kg of rockets and bombs
Range: 820 Km
Crew: One pilot

     In 1938, one of the most famous and successful Soviet/Russian aircraft companies of all time was formed by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The company was named Mikoyan Gurevich, and soon after, they produced the first of the Migs. It was a bumpy start however, because the mig-1 seriously needed an upgrade.



     Both men invested in their company, but their first fighter was a little… underpowered. They designed it to meet a Russian specification for a brand new interceptor. The first two examples produced were I-65 and I-61 design concepts, ready for battle. The I-61 was subjected to tests using both the AM-35A and AM-37 inline water cooled engines. Eventually, the I-61 triumphed over the inferior I-65. Three prototypes were made and designated I-200. In the month April of the year 1940, the first one flew using the AM-35A engine. It was extremely fast, easily passing 600 kmh.

     This fighter became the mig-1, and it had the options of either an open cockpit or a side-hinged canopy instead. One cannon and dual machine guns made up its complement of ordnance, and it could fight and fly decently. However, range was low, a major  fault since the size of the Russian front was enormous. Also, longitudal stability (How stable the structure is across the length) was lacking very much. If the aircraft was damaged, the structure was no longer reliable, which was unfortunate. Before the more capable mig-3 model succeeded the Mig-1, only 100 examples were delivered.

Tues. July 13/10                                    Pace51

Real World Facts about the AC-130U Spectre (Now Spooky)

Powered by: Four 3363-kW Allison T56-A-15 Turboprops
Range: 7876 km
Max. Speed: 602 KmH
Armament: One GAU-12/U 25-mm cannon firing 3000 rounds; a 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm howitzer

     After the AC-47, ACC-19, and some civilian Douglas DC models being converted into gunships, a new successor was chosen to act as an airborne artillery platform. This was the AC-130A. From the AC-130A flying over Vietnam with eight machine guns to the AC-130U model with it’s armament of 40 and 105mm howitzers, the AC-130 is an accurate and powerful aircraft that makes sure hostiles never come back for seconds.

     It became the USAF’s standard gunship after its performance in Vietnam. The standard sortie’s were night attacks, because broad daylight gave enemies too much of a target. Gunships were one of the most important innovations to come out of Vietnam. Basically, transport aircraft that could fly slowly, steadily, and carry heavy loads were equipped with a bunch of rotary cannons and miniguns and HMG’s and would slowly orbit their target, raining death down on them. Actually, hosing death was the original name given to the role of the gunship, because since gunships only really carried miniguns and such a lot back then, they “hosed” their enemies with bullets. Now, “Raining Death” is probably more accurate. Another feature of the gunship is that it can deliver its weaponry very accurately, so they were very effective. Although, in Vietnam, miniguns weren’t the most accurate, but with 4-6-8 of these or the slower firing but more powerful rotary cannons shooting hundreds of rounds a minute at an enemy, what you lacked in accuracy you made up for in the sheer rate of fire. In Vietnam, most gunships would attack supply convoys. The AC-130U had its humble beginnings as the very successful C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft. However, some models were eventually converted to gunships, and the three most famous AC-130’s are the AC-130A Hercules’s, the AC-130H models with heavier armament and the AC-130U Spectre/Spooky’s, with less guns than the H, although all three are much harder hitting and extremely accurate. Although it may look a bit like a clunky low speed transport aircraft with bad handling, it actually functions very well. It is a very simple design, as designs go, but very devastating.

     As said before, the AC-130A carried eight machine guns, usually, although it could fit other weaponry. Now, the 25mm, 40mm, and 105mm carried by AC-130’s have tons of ammo, and very sophisticated targeting systems. The weapons are very accurate, and, the crew can even engage two different targets at once. This is because the plane hosts a very precise GPS system, and four mission computers. Spectres always host a large crew. There are radar warning antenna’s and quite powerful electronic jammers onboard the aircraft, to make sure it can survive attacks. 3 Flare dispensers are under the belly of the aircraft. No AC-130U’s have been involved in combat operations (Other than classified ones we don’t know about) but AC-130A’s and AC-130H’s have both fought in conflicts like Panama, Grenada, and Iraq.

     The AC-130U is much improved, compared to the AC-130A. It has thick Spectra ceramic armour protecting the cockpit. Another plus is the brand new explosion-suppressing fuel tanks, which also help to keep the aircraft alive.

     Unlike other AC-130’s, the AC-130U is based on the C-130H cargo aircraft, whose derated turboprops, which are more powerful than piston engines, are accompanied by a strengthened wing box. Another major requirement of the aircraft is that it must perform missions in hostile territory. The jammers are of the ALQ-172 variant. The howitzer and the Bofors cannon are positioned on the left side of the rear fuselage, just before the fuselage swoops up and meets the tail. There are huge, extremely heavy ammunition racks on the opposite side of the fuselage. Located behind the guns, in the “swoop” of the rear fuselage (Rear loading ramp), is a glass bubble. An observer sits here and gives corrections to fire support if needed.

     The attack pattern of the AC-130U is as follows. The crew will fly the aircraft to a designated target. Then, the aircraft maintains a circular orbit, with the left side of the aircraft facing the target. It then will fire a full broadside attack at the target until it is razed to the ground. The Spectres serve with many special forces units in the ground attack role.

     One of the coolest features of the AC-130U is that it keeps the “Spectre” nose art. This decal depicts either a floating backed robe figure with a skeletal face and hands, firing a burst of energy, or a purplish robed figure with skeletal hands and head and no hood this time, firing a burst of energy next to the moon. Another Spectre decal depicts a white ghostly figure with only visible eyes and a white hood holding a bolt of lightning. In other words, you may not see the spectre coming, but you sure know when its there. Now it’s the “Spooky”, for some reason.

     AC-130U’s get very advanced avionics. The first models wore a “European One” camo scheme, while recent ones wear “Gunship Gray” camo schemes. The prototype AC-130U proved to be perfect for the gunship role. Every crewmember on the AC-130U is extremely skilled, as only the best are chosen. Rockwell was paid no less than 150 million dollars to develop the C-130 into a gunship for the USAF. On the 20th of December, 1990, the first AC-130U rolled off the production line. Edwards Air Force Base held the flight trials in the years 1982 and 1983. In 1995, 13 were delivered to the 16th special ops squadron based in Hurlburt Field, Florida. The Spooky’s radar was developed from the one used on the F-15E strike Eagle, so it is crazy accurate.

Wed. July 14/10                                Pace51

Real World Facts about the Saab J35 Draaken

Maiden Flight: October 25, 1955
Powered by: Volvo 7830 kg Flygmotor RM6C turbojet
Range: 960km (Utilizing drop tanks)
Armament: One right wing mounted 30mm cannon, two 28 Falcon missiles, two RB 27 missiles, and 1000kg of bombs and rockets.
Accommodations: 1 Pilot
Max. Speed:

     The Saab Draken was an extremely advanced fighter when it first came out. The Draken, translated as meaning Dragon, was an extremely potent fighter that only served Sweden. Many other air forces would have probably ordered it, but Sweden had super strict export policies, and so Saab was never able to sell the Draken to foreign customers.

     In 1949, Sweden requested the development of a fighter that had a very high performance, and that had state of the art technology. It also had to be able to catch fast, high flying bombers. The Draken was a delta wing fighter, with its intakes on either side of the cockpit. The pilot had a great forward view, but a bit of a hard time looking behind himself. The Draken was really a very, very powerful and advanced fighter when it came out. It had to be able to take off and land from roads or other rough or unconventional areas. It had to be more than 50% faster than the fastest fighters of the time. The delta wing made the fighter light and strong, and greatly influenced the high performance of the aircraft. It had very high performance electronic equipment, and could still haul a full load of fuel, weapons, and other ordnance.

     It had a sturdy undercarriage, and the wheels were retractable. Before Saab began prototype flights, they built a 70 percent scale research aircraft which showed Saab how effective the delta wing really was. On 1955, 6 years after the Swedish Air Force request, the Draken took flight. In the 1960’s, J-35A’s started to reach he front-lines of service.

     The Draken could land in 610 meters, a relatively short distance. As the Draken’s service wore on, more and more improved and advanced models began to appear. The J-35B had new advanced radars to prevent mid-air collisions, and more weapons. The J-35D’s avionics were really advanced and powerful, and so were the engines it came with. The J-35F came and advanced the avionics carried by the J-35D even more, a very powerful Aden cannon, and Falcon missiles instead of sidewinders.

     The ultimate Draken (Dragon) was most definitely the J-35J, and although this upgrade was only bestowed upon 66 aircraft, it was powerful enough to keep the Draken in service until the Gripen replaced it… in 1993. The Draken stayed capably in service for 38 years! Even reconnaissance J-35’s were built, with nose mounted cameras.

Last edited by pace51 (2010-07-15 07:28:12)

If I can hit 10000 views, I'll post a guide to the Sukhoi T-50. It'll take a while, because there's not a lot of info out and I'll have to do a ton of digging. And I don't use wikipedia as a source, so it'll take a while to find sources.

Sorry bout the double bump. Whats wrong with a t-50?

No, I dont use wikipedia.

no

jimbo the jet

kys

pace51 wrote:

burnzz wrote:

pace51 wrote:

Any requests? I'll do literally anything

let the thread die?

Every time someone suggests that, I add more planes to the roster.

excuse me, you have just contradicted yourself.

Last edited by burnzz (2010-07-07 16:56:10)

This new, expensive assault helicopter gunship with stealth capabilities had been designed to compliment the AH-64 Apache in attack helicopter roles. A few years back, it was not only pulled from tactical reconnaiscance, but from ever entering service. Despite high costs and drawbacks, I think the RAH-66 comanche would have really been worth the money, and time, spent on it. Even though a small spinoff recon version will be produced, I feel that research should of been done to ensure the success of the worlds first fifth generation helicopter, which could have revolutionized helicopter warfare, and saved lives because of the stealth technology.

-> Ee

The Comanche would be great if you were fighting a conventional army.