Lockheed's new UAV

[K5054NZ]

G'day all.
Well, I may have missed out on Scale-O-Rama, but here's my entry nonetheless.
Backstory time! Hehehe ^_^ Okay, here we go!

LOCKHEED-MARTIN U-5 SENTINEL

As the 20th century wore on, the United States government decided to press on with the concept of unmanned aerial vehicles, rather than risking men and women over hostile territory. Lockheed-Martin of Palmdale, California, offered their UF-16 Blind Falcon unmanned aerial combat vehicle and the U-5 Sentinel unmanned reconnaisance aircraft.

The U-5 was essentially a scaled-down F-117 Nighthawk with a single F404 engine and its vertical fins relocated to the wingtips. An extensive fit of cameras and infra-red real-time observation equipment is carried in pods in the bomb-bay, which can also be used for offensive operations if need be. However, images taken by observers near Groom Lake, the US government's secure test facility in the Nevada desert, show the U-5 undergoing what appear to be dogfight trials with the F-22 Raptor, suggesting the manoevrable U-5 may be more than just a recon bird, but also a highly capable fighter. Leaked blueprints show canard foreplanes which extend from the forward fuselage aft of the air intakes, enhancing the aircraft's agility.

Spokespeople from both Lockheed-Martin and the USAF say the aircraft will enter service in 2007, around the time the F-117 and U-2 are both removed from service, but some analysts claim unmarked U-5s have been in active USAF service for as long as 15 years, with evidence suggesting operations over Iraq in 1991, Bosnia in 1994 and the Islas Malvinas on behalf of the British forces leading up to the Falklands War of 1997. An Argentine Mirage 2000 was shot down by what the pilot's wingman said was an F-117, but the USAF did not use the Nighthawk in the conflict, and never has it been used for interception or dogfighting...perhaps the U-5 has already been blooded, and the age of UCAVs began in the 20th century over the South Atlantic?



Academy's 1:72 F-117 with MiG-29 horiz stabs as canaaaaaards. This is technically a 1:48 model of the U-5.

Okay, I'm looking for a good colour scheme for this. Any suggestions?

[K5054NZ]

And yes, that is "Gilmore Girls" on the TV behind. Sigh......Lana just loves it.

[Shasper]

one bit of FYI, Kosovo was in '99, Bosnia was in '94-'95, and the US Gov. owns Groom Lake, not LM  

Great idea for the -117 thou!

Shas B)

[K5054NZ]

^_^ Thanks Shas - I just had this random F-117 so I thought I'd do an Eddie Miller on it. I'll update the backstory now, cheers!

Oh yeah, yesterday Lana was looking at the vertical stabs and said they weren't stealthy enough, that they needed a greater angle!!! How many of YOU GUYS have girlfriends/finacees/wives/mistresses who lecture you on stealthiness?   Oh, she's perfect!

[Shasper]

Geez.............. Wanna trade?


(nah, I love mine, but it's the educating that gets old )



Shas B)  

[K5054NZ]

BUMP,


Also, just so our newer members can have a read! Share And Enjoy.