Aircraft Carriers

[GTX]

A few ideas:







Actually, the Buccaneer derived option also suggests maybe an EA-6B derived AEW platform: pilot + 3 operators.

Regards,

Greg

[dy031101]

I seemed to remember seeing a fighter derivative (or, rather according to my memory, ancestor) of the Buccaneer in the BSP book (fighter installment, naturally) but could not find relevant info again.

Dang it, GTX, the decision to turn my back on the Buccaneer for the following parallel universe carriers was difficult enough...... and I got the feeling that you are trying to make me reconsider?  




Or allocate the Buccaneer to some employer of Missileer-type aircraft......

[dy031101]

Wikipedia claims that the British BS5 catapults is "already powerful enough to launch fully laden F-4s".  How much is the maximum takeoff weight of a carrier-borne Phantom though?

(Alright, I'm looking for a comparison between this and that of F/A-18C/D and Rafale......)

Thanks in advance.

[PR19_Kit]

Wikipedia claims that the British BS5 catapults is "already powerful enough to launch fully laden F-4s".

Isn't the BS5 a bit out-of-date for your projects? The last two ever built went into the old Ark (R09) in the 70s.

[dy031101]

Wikipedia claims that the British BS5 catapults is "already powerful enough to launch fully laden F-4s".

Isn't the BS5 a bit out-of-date for your projects?

It has nothing to do with the above-posted carrier mental notes (they have skijumps to begin with).  



Granted, this one would be a little bit late if placed in real-world setting, too.

Further Googling on the old catapult yields a figure of 60000lbs over 46m or 60m, depending on whether it's a bow or waist model.  Hum......

[Jschmus]

I could buy that BBV with AV-8s maybe, but the Phantom (even the proposed L or HL) stretches the limits of my credibility.

[dy031101]

I could buy that BBV with AV-8s maybe, but the Phantom (even the proposed L or HL) stretches the limits of my credibility.

According to Rusty White, proposals included both CATOBAR and STOVL varieties.  Granted he did say that the STOVL proposal was the more favoured one on ground of cost and complexity (no catapult or arrestor engine, and while it did go beyond just adding a flight deck, it wasn't as much).

Even though I played with CATOBAR, I did also intend the Spey-powered Phantom to be the upper limit of where I'd go.

[jcf]

Light-plane carrier concept from the July 1941 Air Trails:



Note the ski jump, or is that ski bump?

[GTX]

Since the Chinese Aircraft Carrier thread is locked , here are some photos of the ship returning from its recent trials:




+ this:



Regards,

Greg

[dy031101]

You know that is exactly my PLAN Dream Team Phase 1. 

Too bad the Russians are displacing their Su-33 with MiG-29K......

[dy031101]

Another Japanese what-if with an angled deck:

[McColm]

Wow!!
What about using the Lockheed stealth ship, or is that too small?

[GTX]

For something akin to this?

[McColm]

Yes

[Jschmus]

I haven't hunted all over the forum today, so this may have been posted elsewhere, but the Shi Lang has been spotted at sea:

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/14/9447273-satellite-spots-chinas-first-aircraft-carrier-at-sea