Warbirds Thread

[Aldarion]

Duck version of Mirage - Dassault Mirage 4000

 

[Agent23]

Since I googled tilted nose aircraft I was reminded of this thing, which is the Sukhoi T-4,but in my mind it is always called "Goofy"

 

[ShadowArxxy]

If we're posting prototypes...

 

[Agent23]

If we're posting prototypes...

No rule against it that I see, lol.

By thet logic we can also post images from Macross and SWAT Kats and Stealth.

 

[Aldarion]

If we're posting prototypes...

 

[Agent23]

Can't have a thread about the Mirage without mentioning the "knockoffs"

I think this is the only plane that had been completely knocked off, like, ever.

And then IIRC the Dasault stole back some of the improvements.

 

[Aldarion]

I think this is the only plane that had been completely knocked off, like, ever.

MiG-21? China has J-7 / F-7, though that is technically licence-built so I'm not sure it counts.

 

[Agent23]

MiG-21? China has J-7 / F-7, though that is technically licence-built so I'm not sure it counts.

Forgot the Chinese...

Didn't they knock off some US planez too, but altered it to have that silly double nose intake design?

 

[Agent23]

Counterfeit Air Power: Meet China's Copycat Air Force

Most look to be licensed, but it appears the J-10 is a knockoff Israeli F-16.

I an pretty sure that one of their older ugly intake single digit Js was a knockoff of the phantom or some other older IS design.

 

[PsihoKekec]

Yeah, Israelis sold the Chinese Lavi tech under the table when it became clear that Americans won't fund their competitor to F-16. Some time later they also sold them AWACS tech.

 

[Zachowon]

I hadn't heard about the AWACS stuff

 

[ShadowArxxy]

Here's a better picture of that Rafale-A demonstrator. She's on display at the Musee de l'Air, literally right next to the Mirage 4000.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

Still love the F-16 XL (Extra Large) 'Cranked Arrow'

 

[Tiamat]

Still love the F-16 XL (Extra Large) 'Cranked Arrow'

It lost out as a potential attack aircraft to the F-15E if I recall? As much as I do adore the F-15 series, would have loved to see this flying as an attack aircraft as well, damn it. (And in a parallel universe is, in a certain fictitious alternate history story I'm writing...)

 

[The Whispering Monk]

It lost out as a potential attack aircraft to the F-15E if I recall? As much as I do adore the F-15 series, would have loved to see this flying as an attack aircraft as well, damn it. (And in a parallel universe is, in a certain fictitious alternate history story I'm writing...)

There was a novel series I read in the 80's or 90's that was post WW3. The main hero was a fighter pilot that used a Cranked Arrow.

I'll need to see if I can find it.

 

[The Whispering Monk]

@Tiamat
I REMEMBER!!!

They are the Wingman novels by Mack Maloney, and, of course, the hero's name is Hawk Hunter.

Original cover vs cover for current publishing run

 

[Tiamat]

@Tiamat
I REMEMBER!!!

They are the Wingman novels by Mack Maloney, and, of course, the hero's name is Hawk Hunter.

Original cover vs cover for current publishing run

With a name like Hawk Hunter....could he be related to one of the greatest hairdoed heroes of all time.....ACE HUNTER??

MEGAFORCE. DEEDS NOT WORDS!


(Honestly the only real reason to watch this dreck was to see Persis Khambatta.)


But on a serious Warbirds note, said movie had some decent footage of the old reliable, yet cannot be understated workhorse, the C-130.

 

[ShadowArxxy]

It lost out as a potential attack aircraft to the F-15E if I recall? As much as I do adore the F-15 series, would have loved to see this flying as an attack aircraft as well, damn it. (And in a parallel universe is, in a certain fictitious alternate history story I'm writing...)

Yes. It was a very impressive upgrade of the F-16, but the F-15E was simply better, especially in terms of flexibility since unlike the F-16XL, it isn’t limited to carrying a ludicrous number of 500 pound bombs.

 

[Agent23]

Still love the F-16 XL (Extra Large) 'Cranked Arrow'

I mean it looks cool, but don't you think there are limits to what a single engine aircraft with a pretty old airframe could do?

 

[ShadowArxxy]

I mean it looks cool, but don't you think there are limits to what a single engine aircraft with a pretty old airframe could do?

The F-16 was not a “pretty old airframe” at the time the F-16XL was developed; General Dynamics started development work on enlarged variants pretty literally before the ink was even dry on the original F-16 contract, with the cranked arrow XL design being finalized by 1980 and subsequently submitted for the Air Force’s Enhanced Tactical Fighter program.