yaniv%shum.huji.ac.il@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (ran el-Yaniv) (08/24/90)
From: ran el-Yaniv <yaniv%shum.huji.ac.il@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU> The Lavi (Lion cub) was supposed to be a FGA (Fighter/ground attack) aircraft. The avionics fit was developed by Elta, engine by P&W, wings and tail assembly by Grumman. Single seat, delta with canards. The US, after a number of perfect test flights, exerted pressure (mainly at the request of McDonnel Douglas and General Dynamics) to cancel the programme for lack of economic viability... After prolonged wrangling, the programme was cancelled, and Israel was supplied F-16C/D as a "don't cry, here's a candy" policy. Repeated rumours state that the programme was in fact relocated elsewhere exist... Certainly, the radar, ECM and HUD programmes are continuing, some with the subsustems installed on a 727 (it looks VERY funny - fighter nose on the 727), some with the Lavi-3 (3rd prototype). According to the test pilot (Shmul [something... forgot the family name]), the plane was very easy to fly, despite having relaxed stability. yaniv