50 YEARS OF ISRAELI AF WHAT IFS?

[P1127]

1950s  Tempest IIs (via India)

1960s Hunter FGA9s

1970s Harrier GR1/AV-8A

1980s Israeli Navy Sea Harriers

1990s - Hawk T60s (Magister replacement)

2000s - Navy AV-8B+

A nice Hawker selection!

[Son of Damian]

1980s Israeli Navy Sea Harriers

Operating from an Invincible style carrier or a frigate with skyhook???  

[P1127]

1980s Israeli Navy Sea Harriers

Operating from an Invincible style carrier or a frigate with skyhook???

VTOL from converted merchant ship - short ranged, but used as point defence aircraft for naval missions against Lebanon, and for anti-missile boat missions from forward shore bases. Prove so successful that a proper small carrier (like the Thai one) is ordered to operate the AV-8B+

[Radish]

And a Harrier or SHAR would fit nicely into the VTOL theme  

[Martin H]

And a Harrier or SHAR would fit nicely into the VTOL theme

oh boy are the hover boys on for a treat this year LOL

have to admit that im surprised that isreal never bothered getting hold of Harrier's (weather it be 1st or 2nd gen) . perfect for them in a way, hide em anyware and keeping up close with the boys in the front line.  

[Mossie]

I'm not certain, but I'd guess it's because Harriers never been too good for hot & high ops?  Although years of development have finely got them working just about okay.

[Martin H]

very posible, but some how i dont think the boys at IAI would have been able to resist playing around with them to make something abit better  

[Iranian F-14A]

1950s B-24J Liberators and B-47E Stratojets

1960s F-101B Voodoos and B-57B Canberras

1970s A-6E Intruders and A-7E Corsair IIs

1980s F-14 Tomcats and A-10 Warthogs

1990s - BAe Hawks and C-17A Globmaster IIIs(maybe a few modifed as tankers)

2000s - F-22A Raptors and RAH-66A Commanches

[Radish]

Now a Voodoo would look amazing.

Thinking of an RF-101C though.  

[Geoff]

And a Harrier or SHAR would fit nicely into the VTOL theme

Or a AV-8B+ modified by IAI off the container ship as P1127 said.

[Radish]

But no one remembers my long disappeared 1/72nd Twin-SHAR (2 x Matchbox!!! SHARS).....

well.....looks to be resurrected.

Zwilling SHAR2....haven't decided on which "force" or unit yet, but Estonian sounds attractive?  

[philp]

Hmmm...

M-24 Chaffee
M-46 Patton
M1A1 Abrams
Panther
Hanomag 251

     

[Shasper]

While I fancy a jewish XL, the Lavi was designed to replace the Skyhawks (particularly in the training role).

Shas B)

[Archibald]

Not sure I could pick five but one certainly springs to mind:

Instead of expending huge sums of defence money re-inventing the wheel with the Lavi,  the Israeli's should have picked up the F-16XL project and seen it through to service entry.

In fact, I rather like the sound of that, I may look on evilbay to see if I can get the Monogram 1/72 kit.



O.K.

Sounds cool... This is an excellent idea... Israeli F-16XL... ideas are coming.

What about a mix of F-16XL and F-16I (Soufa) ? The soufa already has long range (conformal tanks) so I think the big delta wing of the  -XL could be useful (even more fuel!).
Exciting idea ! Just imagine a F-16XL with CFTs...    

[Shasper]

Been way ahead of you Arch, just havent got around to putting xacto to styrene yet.

Shas B)