On 6 Feb 2006 08:41:38 -0800, "Douglas Eagleson"
wrote:

Thats for a reasonable repy.

My idea was for a rebuilt A-10, meaning the design goes back to the
manufacturer. All the real professionals here need to complain of the
lack of adequate fighter design, in my opinion.

Several things problematic there, not the least of which is that the
manufacturer of the A-10 is out of business.

As for "lack of adequate fighter design", I think that F-22 and F-35
seem to refute that contention quite nicely. And that totally ignores
the various competing aircraft that were developed in those two
competitions and a whole gaggle of systems which came and went off
drawing boards unseen by the general public.

Supersonic critical airspeed appears a worrysome thing when in fact it
is a simple airframe stress. Nothing drastic happens. An A-10 is a
slow speed design and the basic idea was to do a cheap re-engine to get
an plane suitable for a fighter pilot.

You might want to visit a good library and pick up some aero texts
regarding your contention about simplicity. Lots of things happen when
an airframe is pushed through the mach with various shockwaves coming
and going, various shifts of centers of lift and pressure, various
losses and regainings (hopefully) of control effectiveness.

Simply putting big engines on barn doors does not get you supersonic
(experience with the F-4 notwithstanding.)



Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
www.thunderchief.org
www.thundertales.blogspot.com