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Hot Research Topics => Aircraft, Armor, Weapons and Ships by Topic => Topic started by: seadude on October 16, 2015, 03:17:44 PM

Title: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: seadude on October 16, 2015, 03:17:44 PM
Odd how I never heard about this till now.  :blink:
http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/2015/09/15/lockheed-unveils-tr-x-next-generation-u-2/72304782/
Looks kinda interesting, and stealthy too. ;) Sign me up for a model kit of it whenever it comes out.  ;D
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: PR19_Kit on October 16, 2015, 04:20:12 PM
QuoteTR-X will look very much like the U-2, taking advantage of the spy plane's General Electric F118 engine and with a similar modular payload capability.

(https://www.whatifmodellers.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg907.imageshack.us%2Fimg907%2F2329%2FJOxlUU.jpg&hash=94f265502ab45c8682fc3f38d7764bb9cd4cde58)


Eh? Just about the ONLY similarity between that pic and a U-2 is they both have long wings.  :o
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: eatthis on October 17, 2015, 07:15:12 AM
and 60+ year old engine?
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: Captain Canada on October 17, 2015, 08:39:23 AM
...and they are black  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: Jesse220 on October 17, 2015, 02:56:47 PM
Sounds like about time for the U-2 replacement if you ask me
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: Zombolt on October 17, 2015, 03:37:28 PM
Wings could be longer...
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: PR19_Kit on October 17, 2015, 06:22:02 PM
Quote from: Zombolt on October 17, 2015, 03:37:28 PM
Wings could be longer...

I was thinking that too.  ;D
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: seadude on October 17, 2015, 06:30:17 PM
Longer wings?

Looks fine to me. And it's a stealthy design too. I LOVE stealth aircraft.  :wub:
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: jcf on October 17, 2015, 08:42:35 PM
Quote from: eatthis on October 17, 2015, 07:15:12 AM
and 60+ year old engine?

F118 is a 1980s engine: -100 in B-2, -101 in U-2S.
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: eatthis on October 18, 2015, 05:16:22 AM
ah ok they re engined them in the 80s then
Title: Re: Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2
Post by: PR19_Kit on October 18, 2015, 05:34:32 AM
The U-2s used three different engines IIRC.

The first engine was the P&W J-57 (also used by the Meteor PR19  ;D....) they then fitted the J-75 to the U-2Cs and later versions of the original design. The major redesign which produced the U-2R (TR-1 also) also used the J-75 but were re-engined with the GE F118s in the mid '90s.
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