GAO: Tactical Aircraft: Changing Conditions Drive Need for New F/A-22 Business Case"

http://www.house.gov/hasc/openingsta...-03bolkcom.pdf

I've got a question about the chart on page 8 of this report that
compares the F-35 and F/A-22 as bombers.

Can the F-35 really carry three times the payload of the F/A-22 for a
longer distance?

-HJC

Henry J Cobb wrote:

http://www.house.gov/hasc/openingsta...8thcongress/04
-03-03bolkcom.pdf

I've got a question about the chart on page 8 of this report that
compares the F-35 and F/A-22 as bombers.

Can the F-35 really carry three times the payload of the F/A-22 for a
longer distance?

Those numbers are pretty much non-comparable, I fear. The 633 mile figure
is the usual radius quoted for the F-35A, but that's with internal loads
only. The 14,600 pound payload for the F-35 is max external load, which
seriously changes combat radius. The F/A-22's combat radius figure is the
one usually quoted for air-to-air missions (despite the caption). For
air-to-air it apparently includes some significant but unspecified time on
station in the CAP mission. The max load cited is probably external, but
not terribly helpful as that plane that is not configured to carry heavy
external warloads. Etc.

In short, that table is basically worthless.
--
Tom Schoene Replace "invalid" with "net" to e-mail
"Our country, right or wrong. When right, to be kept right, when
wrong to be put right." - Senator Carl Schurz, 1872