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F-35C Unable to Get Aboard Ship, really?
- Thread starter navyao
- Start date
the aussies did a pretty good analysis in thr early '90's
http://www.ausairpower.net/Analysis-USN-95.html
http://www.ausairpower.net/Analysis-USN-95.html
Yup; Dick Cheney killed the A-12 in 1991 when he was George H.W.'s SecDef. USN had been buying Hornets for more than a decade before that.
Yes. The blades fold as well, but it has to be done by hand. The bladefold crutches are designed a little differently as well.
It was. The Hornet was a replacement for the F-4 and A-7. The flying Dorito was an abortion on an epic scale. A case of F-117 envy.
F-17 and F/A-18 are family, but not the same jet by a long shot.
And others are correct, A-12 was around until the 90s. My understanding is that the A-6 community was killed to fund it and that proved to be a bad gamble. I'm pretty sure we got the Super Hornet and some extra life from the F-14 out of the A-12 debacle.
Not quite what happened, HeyJoe and Meat saw it first hand but the A-12 was killed then the decision to retire the A-6 happened shortly thereafter, the A-12 was supposed to be a direct replacement for the A-6. What you may be thinking of is the A-6F (with F404 engines, updated radar and electronics) and the A-6G, both updated A-6 prototypes that were cancelled at the end of the 80's in favor of the A-12.
IIRC HJ posted an anecdote about the decision to kill it and the Admiral who made the call was a former A-6 guy, deciding to turn the F-14 into a strike platform while waiting for the Super Hornet to get to the fleet. While some may disagree the decision was probably the right one, the A-6 was an old platform and nearing the end of it's useful life, especially the A-6E still flying in the fleet.
And a bitching patch (got one in my collection at home). LOL
But seriously, the A-6F was killed to build the A-12. Then the A-12 got killed so the Navy went to the Hornet E/F. Would have loved to fly the A-6F though. More F info with pics:
http://www.fromtheflightdeck.com/Stories/FMCradleofAviation/A6.htm
The Tomcat was built to replace the Phantom. The Hornet was built to replace the Skyhawk and Corsair II. The A-12 was designed to replace the Intruder. That was the plan, but obviously it didn't work out as planned. When the A-12 was cancelled, the Hornet was seen to be sufficient enough of a light bomber to fill for the A-6. As the Tomcat grew to be seen as cost prohibitive on the maintenance side and the older Hornets were running out of life, the F/A-18 E/F was born to fill the gap until the F-35 was available. The collapse of the A-12 had a major impact on the requirement for a "gap" aircraft in the Navy. The Navy sold it to congress as just another flavor of Hornet with a good pitch and it is actually one of the better procument stories out there, despite canted pylons.
The Hornet did begin life as the YF-17, but went through significant changes to make it a carrier based aircraft. As other posts have indicated, the best way to design a multi-service aircraft is the make if for the Navy first and then other people can use it too because they still work on land. You just don't get STOVL that way. But that's what Helos are for!
Fun fact, the Reagan only has three wires BECAUSE of the A-12 design.
The Hornet did begin life as the YF-17, but went through significant changes to make it a carrier based aircraft. As other posts have indicated, the best way to design a multi-service aircraft is the make if for the Navy first and then other people can use it too because they still work on land. You just don't get STOVL that way. But that's what Helos are for!
Fun fact, the Reagan only has three wires BECAUSE of the A-12 design.
True. But then one wonders why GHWB only has three?
I had heard the the BUSH was designed with many of the features that the FORD class was going to employ. 3 wires was one of those features.
And what was the reasoning there? I have wondered about the re-design to 3 wires
This book is a great read about the debacle known as the A-12 program. It's a little dry but provides great insight into the program and the decisions made.
http://www.amazon.com/Billion-Misun...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327013487&sr=1-1
http://www.amazon.com/Billion-Misun...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327013487&sr=1-1