Need some suggestions

[GTX]

Hi folks,

As mentioned here, I am planning a Naval Viggen (ie Carrier based).  At this stage it will be a RAN bird.  So far I have taken the standard Viggen which already has short field capability and strengthened landing gear (the Swedish Air Force often flew Carrier style landings) and added the following mods:

Folding wing tips/tail fin;
Strengthened Arrestor hook;
Maybe a different Radar - I'm thinking that the RAN requested a APG-65 instead of the Ericsson one;
30 mm Oerlikon KCA of the JA37 variant;


What other suggestions do you have?

Regards,

Greg

[tinlail]

In flight refueling.
Strengthen nose gear/ or bridle for launch

[B777LR]

Bofors cannon
Heavy duty 4 wheel main landing gear. 4 per leg.
Twin wheel nose gear.
Overwing drop tank
4 hardpoints for AMRAAMs under fuselage, like the F-15
Dubble rails under wings, armed with 2 sidewinders or 2 sparrows

[PolluxDeltaSeven]

Maybe you could remove the thrust reversal system? (some putty and here you go!)
After all, if the plane is hook arrested, it doesn't need this capacity of short landing, right?

As the reverse thrust is an heavy system, remove it alloows your plane to have the same weight than the land based Viggen but with all the naval features in it (strenghened structure, bigger front gear with catapult system, the inflight refueling system and, why not, a FLIR ala Eurofighter/F-8 ??

And well, maybe you could also donkey some external hard points for a greater payload?  

[Captain Canada]

What other suggestions do you have?

RCN roundels.....

hey, you asked !

[upnorth]

Well if she's going RN...

I think you should relocate the pitot tube from the nose and maybe stick it on the leading edge of the vertical tail and then hinge the radome to swing to the side for storage, like on the Buccaneers and Sea Vixens.

And definitely rig it for bridle launch systems.

Perhaps a RWR antenna on the tail, highly visible in typical British style.

[Zen]

Hmmmm....

Well you don't need the thrust reverser, so the vents for the thrust should go. This would suggest the reheat unit is moved rearwards to compensate for the reduction in weight (thrust reversers are heavy peices of metal), so the variable exhaust nozzle might be viewable. If you want a more severe change, then opt for a shaped external variable nozzle, like that you see on a F16, better aerodynamics.

If you really want to change the machine, then drop the fixed oval inlets for half circular ones with shock cones like on a Mirage. Better for high supersonic speeds at the cost of weight.

[GTX]

Hi folks,

Thanks for the ideas so far (keep them comming).  I like the idea or removing the Thrust Reverser and replacing it with a basic convergent/divergent exhaust similar to the F-16 etc.  The other option is to keep the thrust reverser and have it able to be used in-flight (the standard Viggen one activates on touchdown I believe) so as to slow the final approach to landing (I know Dornier did some experiments with this sort of thing in the '80s).

Refueling probe is a definite - fixed external mount or retractable?

Haven't yet decided on whether to go with nosewheel launched or bridle launched - it will depend on the backstory describing the carrier.  I am tending towards the HMAS Melbourne being repaced with a US carrier (probably a second hand one) in the early '80s, though this isn't definite.  Did the CVA-01 design use the bridle system?

Will probably stick with the fixed oval inlets.

I think you should relocate the pitot tube from the nose and maybe stick it on the leading edge of the vertical tail and then hinge the radome to swing to the side for storage, like on the Buccaneers and Sea Vixens.

I was thinking of having the radome swing to the side like this (may even model it swung open to show the APG-65 I'm going with - part of the backstory will involve the RAN specifying that the Ericsson radar be replaced with this one).  Out of interest, which way does the radome open on the standard Viggen - I haven't been able to find any pictures?

I'm also thinking of fitting some ASMs on it - either Harpoon or RB-15F.

Any other suggestions/comments?

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Did the CVA-01 design use the bridle system?

Did some research.  Yes the CVA-01 design was planned to use the bridle system.

Regards,

Greg

[elmayerle]

Maybe you could remove the thrust reversal system? (some putty and here you go!)
After all, if the plane is hook arrested, it doesn't need this capacity of short landing, right?

As the reverse thrust is an heavy system, remove it alloows your plane to have the same weight than the land based Viggen but with all the naval features in it (strenghened structure, bigger front gear with catapult system, the inflight refueling system and, why not, a FLIR ala Eurofighter/F-8 ??

And well, maybe you could also donkey some external hard points for a greater payload?

Depending on how well you can/could modulate it in flight, a in-flight useable thrust reverser could be quite useful for carrier landings, allowing you to hold full power and needing solely to open the reversers if needed for a bolter.

[Amphion]

Out of interest, which way does the radome open on the standard Viggen - I haven't been able to find any pictures?

The radom slides forward and comes right off IIRC. I.e. no hinges.