The Captain's Cabin- March on….

[PR19_Kit]

It's true that a Harrier with 100% fuel and loaded to MAUW can't VTO, so that might have made some sense.

[Weaver]

Sounds more like a ZELL Harrier to me which other than the ability to land vertically would make the whole idea behind the harrier rather pointless.

Gondor

Now I've always thought a ZELL Harrier was a good idea, since one of the limitations of a Harrier in VTOL is max take-off weight and one of the limitations of ZELL is the inability to recover the aircraft at the same site as the launcher if the latter isn't parked on a runway (which makes ZELL rather pointless...).

A ZELL Harrier would be able to take off from a dispersed site at a much higher MTOW than a normal one, then land vertically right next to the ZELL launcher at the end of the mission.

[Captain Canada]

Exactly Weaver !

And you'd have extended range over the battlefield if you didn't burn half of your fuel just taking off 

[Weaver]

Harriers' specific fuel consumption in the hover is actually pretty reasonable: the restricted range from VTO is a function of the take-off weight having to be below the engine thrust because the wings aren't providing any additional lift. A Harrier GR.7 has a maximum take-off weight of about 19,000lb in VTO because it needs to be significantly under the engine thrust of 21,750lb. By contrast, an F-16 with 28,000lb of engine thrust can take off at 42,000lb, given a long enough runway. Put it another way: a Hawk can take off at 19,000lb (same as a VTO Harrier) but can do it on the strength of a 6,500lb thrust Adour that weighs 1800lb, rather than a Pegasus that weights nearly 4000lb. That's over 2,000lb less weight available to the Harrier for fuel and weapons.

Another limitation of ZELL, and one of the reasons why it was never implemented, was that the aircraft was virtually uncontrollable between being launched and reaching flying speed because there wasn't enough airflow over the control surfaces to make them work. If you look at the slow-motion video of the F-104 tests on youtube, you can see it veering to one side. A Harrier provides a solution to this as well, since it's reaction control system works right down to zero airspeed.

[Captain Canada]

I like it Weaver ! More ammo for my idea  I had never thought of the engine weight before tho....

[Captain Canada]

I am making real progress on the half built stash ! Damn the list I can't find...so I'll just keep plowing through them as I see fit, starting with the easiest stuff I guess  Or semi-easy. But this one here might actually be a little tough, as I will be doing it with a brush. ( too lazy to break out the airbrush )

The premise ? Kenting Helicopters Limited was already doing work for both the US and CDN Armies, as well as NORAD for erection of DEW line stations. So how about an exercise where there equipment is seconded to the RCAF ?

If you haven't already guessed, I love this scheme but don't have any Kenting decals. And this idea is subtle whif that could be true, no ?

[Captain Canada]

Day off work today. Was supposed to drive to Toronto to pick up the FiL, on his way back from Glasgow. Apparently his aeroplane was damaged either on the flight in from Stornoway, or on the ground.

I guess it's a bit of Ice Pilots on tele and a modeling session !

[Captain Canada]

Flight was delayed again, and now it's coming via Quebec City ! Sheesh....maybe I should have a nap 

[Captain Canada]

Since the flight delayed again, the wifey got off work and went to pick up her dad ! Might open a pint of Guinness and get a wee bit more done tonite.



The Flying leopard is on the home stretch now as well....landing gear glued on etc. Lost the little gun pod thing but scratched up a wee one to cover the hole it left.

[Captain Canada]

Was so bent on banging my way thru this thing that I had forgotten all about the decals ! Turns out I don't have any.....might have to paint them on by hand !

[Captain Canada]

Not much to report this weekend. Worked late on Friday, worked all day Saturday, then had a dinner party to go to....and today was hangover day !

[Captain Canada]

Painted the canopy frame interior and glues it in place. Now to finish the outside canopy paint tonite and then await a decal solution and this one is done !



Dug out that Hasegawa Lightning last night. Just going to finish glueing a few bits on and then paint the entire thing. Was going to be a test for a silver one, but I figure I'll do this one as a camo flying example, then finish the Trump one as a silver ADV. Then I can do some 'real' CDN ones when I get my hands on some of the new Airfix kits.

[Mossie]

Hmm, Canucki ADV, seems like a perfect marriage to me.

[Captain Canada]

I was thinking of a pair of Jaguar type cannons, with the pylons built out from them, allowing a wee bit more room in the belly for a few extra gallons....

[Captain Canada]

The wifey found my list of build threads and unfinished builds...yay !

I've resurrected a thread for the Flying leopard, to be finilazed as soon as the decals arrive. I hope to post a few pics there tonite, but we have a staff dinner tonite and an early start tomorrow....