Lockheed TR-X to replace U-2

seadude · October 16, 2015, 03:17:44 PM

Odd how I never heard about this till now.

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.

PR19_Kit · 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.

Eh? Just about the ONLY similarity between that pic and a U-2 is they both have long wings.

eatthis · October 17, 2015, 07:15:12 AM

and 60+ year old engine?

Captain Canada · October 17, 2015, 08:39:23 AM

...and they are black

Jesse220 · October 17, 2015, 02:56:47 PM

Sounds like about time for the U-2 replacement if you ask me

Zombolt · October 17, 2015, 03:37:28 PM

Wings could be longer...

PR19_Kit · 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.

seadude · October 17, 2015, 06:30:17 PM

Longer wings?

Looks fine to me. And it's a stealthy design too. I LOVE stealth aircraft.

jcf · 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.

eatthis · October 18, 2015, 05:16:22 AM

ah ok they re engined them in the 80s then

PR19_Kit · 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

....) 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.