Su-27 And Its Derivatives

[Archibald]

Well, here's a thought that popped in y head the other day.

Back in the early 60's, Mc Namara wanted an omniscient F-111. I mean, we all know that he tried to merge conflictive USN and USAF requirements, ending in a financial disaster 10 years later.  

When one thought about this story in our days, it seems that Whizzkids dreams had been fulfilled by... a Russian aircraft (sounds ironic no ?)

I mean, basic Su-27 and its land-based siblings (Su-30 and all other damned variants KUBT and the like )  had been changed into a naval interceptor
(Su-33) and a medium-bomber able to replace the Tu-26 (Su-34).

It's a bit like the F-111A, F-111B and FB-111A, but the Flanker has been more successfull in its various roles...

Just my 2cts (as you say)

Maybe there's a way of building a lone aircraft for a wide range of roles - modular construction- ? .
Graft side-by-side, tandem, or single cockpit on a central core on the assembly line.  Add two powerfull engines, big wings (no VG!)...  

[nev]

And the F-4 did it before them both......  

[Mossie]

And Vampire then Hunter before that!

[Lord Darth Beavis]

And the Scooter...

[nev]

And the mosquito....


Y'know, thinking about it, the best multi-role aircraft are not the ones designed from the beginning to be all-singing, all-dancing multi-role aircraft.  They are designed for one role (eg Phantom, carrier-borne interceptor), but the basic design is so good, they are very adaptable.

[Shasper]

Agreed Nev, although the F-14 did AG capability built it, the Navy would have nothing to do with it until the twilight years

Add the F-5 to list.

Shas B)

[Mossie]

Harrier.

[Mechworker]

Ju-88
Fw-190
Blitz
heck, even the A-20 wasn't a bad multi-role plane!


A good airframe is a good airframe, period. Usually, you can make a good airframe do whatever is required of it. It's not by design multipurpose, it's just good design!

[elmayerle]

Agreed Nev, although the F-14 did AG capability built it, the Navy would have nothing to do with it until the twilight years

And that restriction was by Congressional mandate, not decisions by Navy or DOD leadership.

[Shasper]

A good airframe is a good airframe, period. Usually, you can make a good airframe do whatever is required of it. It's not by design multipurpose, it's just good design!

Worked for the DC-3 and the C-130

Shas B)

[dragon]

A good airframe is a good airframe, period. Usually, you can make a good airframe do whatever is required of it. It's not by design multipurpose, it's just good design!

Worked for the DC-3 and the C-130

Shas B)

Shas,
    One small correction- It isn't worked, it is works (present tense).  It is amazing how many DC-3/C-47 aircraft are still flying these days all over the world and not as part of a museum- just its everyday duties it was designed for.  When your grandchildren retire, I would bet that DC-3/C-47s will still be flying somewhere in the world! B)  

[Shasper]

My mistake  

I bet they'll still be flying, especially w/t Basler BT-67s still making the rounds.


sHas B)

[Son of Damian]

And the F-18,

Built for the USN, serving with the RAAF, RCAF, Schweizer Luftwaffe, Suomen Ilmavoimat, & the Kuwaiti AF  

[Shasper]

One problem SoD, the Bug was intended as a multi-role A/C, anything before it wasnt expected to do more than one job.

Shas B)