nak@cbnews.ATT.COM (Neil A. Kirby) (05/25/89)
From: nak@cbnews.ATT.COM (Neil A. Kirby)
The latest copy of Aviation Leak has pictures of the proposed
follow on to the F14D. Color glossies and explanations. While I'm
sure that Henry will mention it in his excerpts [posted to
sci.space.shuttle and other places] USENET isn't very good at color
pictures.
The airplane featured new sensors (Lantirn, FLIR,...). The shape
was changed; the leading edge vanes went away and the whole things
looks 'rounder' much the way a Ford Probe or Honda Hurricane is
'round'. It also would have newer avionics.
The navy claims that the plane is needed to fill the gap
between now and the time the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter is
deployed, particularly if NATF is delayed.
Neil Kirby
...cbsck!nakbrad@gatech.edu (Brad Isley) (05/30/89)
From: slammer!brad@gatech.edu (Brad Isley) Loral in Norcross, Ga. has contracted to do the new CRT systems for the new F14 avionics. They want me to do some software for it, but they have been waiting for gov't money for 8 months now. Seems the 14 will finally get a modern cockpit! :-) -- All opinions are mine. All mine. ...!gatech!bagend!slammer!brad
dave@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Dave Goldblatt) (05/30/89)
From: Dave Goldblatt <dave@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> In article <6867@cbnews.ATT.COM> nak@cbnews.ATT.COM (Neil A. Kirby) writes: [Regarding Tomcat 21] > The navy claims that the plane is needed to fill the gap > between now and the time the Navy Advanced Tactical Fighter is > deployed, particularly if NATF is delayed. Actually, that's Grumman's claim. They are trying (very hard!) to sell the Navy on it. As usual, you can find very vocal responses on both sides from the Navy. :-) There are a number of varieties of Tomcat 21, including versions with ATF avionics and other ATF features. Tomcat 21's main advantage would be its low cost on a proven airframe -- it would be approximately 76,000 lbs vs. the 72,000 lbs. of the F-14D, so there isn't much weight penalty either (this includes the extra fuel tanks Tomcat 21 would have). If there's suffiecient interest, I suppose I can post the Grumman press release on Tomcat 21. Oh, one other item of note: If the F-14D is not reinstated into the budget, you can forget about Tomcat 21 -- it would take at least * five * years to restart the F-14 production line. -dg- -- Internet: dave@sun.soe.clarkson.edu or: dave@clutx.clarkson.edu BITNET: dave@CLUTX.Bitnet uucp: {rpics, gould}!clutx!dave Matrix: Dave Goldblatt @ 1:260/360 ICBM: 75 02 00W 44 38 12N
oze@ihuxv.att.com (05/31/89)
From: oze@ihuxv.att.com Dave: I would be interested in seeing Grumman's press release on the new 'Cat. Always hearing what one of the companies that sent me a rejection letter is up to ! Thanks! Dave