French planes are crap

In article ,
"Paul J. Adam" wrote:

In message , Chad Irby
writes

The actual F-22 design we see now is really only about ten years old,
due to fairly complete revamps of the program along the way.

One of the reasons the Eurofighter's late is... significant changes to
the original design, as newer technologies came along (the RCS reduction
program being one example).

But those involved fairly minor changes (the "low RCS program" mostly
consisting of sticking some RAM in the intake), not major design issues.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

In message , Chad Irby
writes
In article ,
"Paul J. Adam" wrote:
One of the reasons the Eurofighter's late is... significant changes to
the original design, as newer technologies came along (the RCS reduction
program being one example).

But those involved fairly minor changes (the "low RCS program" mostly
consisting of sticking some RAM in the intake), not major design issues.

Would that it were so simple. "Sticking some RAM in the intake" merely
results in a FOD hazard: how do you shield the compressor blades?

--
When you have to kill a man, it costs nothing to be polite.
W S Churchill

Paul J. Adam MainBoxatjrwlynch[dot]demon{dot}co(.)uk

In article ,
"Paul J. Adam" wrote:

In message , Chad Irby
writes

But those involved fairly minor changes (the "low RCS program" mostly
consisting of sticking some RAM in the intake), not major design issues.

Would that it were so simple.

Actually, it was. A layer of RAM in the intake channel, and most of the
radar return went away. Look at some cross sections of the plane, and
note where the airflow goes to get to the engine.

"Sticking some RAM in the intake" merely results in a FOD hazard: how
do you shield the compressor blades?

By using the normal turns in the intake. As for the FOD hazard: it
shouldn't exist, if you fasten everything correctly, and no more so than
normal aircraft structure.

--
cirby at cfl.rr.com

Remember: Objects in rearview mirror may be hallucinations.
Slam on brakes accordingly.

"Chad Irby" wrote in message
om...
In article ,
"Paul J. Adam" wrote:

In message , Chad Irby
writes
In article ,
"Paul J. Adam" wrote:
If that were true, then we'd have binned Eurofighter in 1994 and
leased
F-16s instead.

Seriously examined and pushed quite hard.

...and bought for a small advantage, for (at least in part) political
reasons.

No, because it would be significantly less capable for not much less
money. The F-16 is a provably superb aircraft but its design is thirty
years old and it's running out of growth room.

You should remember, though, that the Eurofighter's design is over
twenty years old.


That's not true. Twenty years ago we had the Anglo-French EFA flying around,
but that wasn't a Eurofighter.

The Eurofighter was planned to fly in 1992, and to enter squadron service in
1999. The final design for production aircraft was actually frozen only four
years ago.

Matt