6 ms·

>Yeah, yeah they can't fly off a carrier I want to believe we have the technology to make this happen

by bengali3 12y ago

bdcravens 12y ago
Their relatively slow speed requires a longer runway, I presume
- learc83 12y ago
  A plane that can fly at a slower speed means you need a shorter distance to take off (all other things being equal). I think the biggest problem is their huge wingspan. They don't have folding wings, so there is no storage space.
- JabavuAdams 12y ago
  No, just the opposite. Think of low speed as meaning it can fly in spite of low relative air-speed. If a plane could fly at 20 knots, say, then it could take off with 0 runway length if the carrier is steaming at 20 knots into the wind. It would just appear to hover up into the air relative to the carrier.
  - dredmorbius 12y ago
    Alaskan bush pilots manage zero-roll takeoffs and landings, in favorable conditions. YouTube videos if you look for them.
    - fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
      I flew with negative groundspeed in a Taylorcraft once. That was a "fun" day.
    - dredmorbius 12y ago
      Some examples: http://fixyt.com/watch?v=bPSElw8qEsI http://fixyt.com/watch?v=bPSElw8qEsI http://fixyt.com/watch?v=lv5BtJMKamM http://fixyt.com/watch?v=lv5BtJMKamM Getting competitive: http://fixyt.com/watch?v=tvT5LMhvogw http://fixyt.com/watch?v=tvT5LMhvogw And a non-Alaskan entry: http://fixyt.com/watch?v=0zDo7hkmCNY http://fixyt.com/watch?v=0zDo7hkmCNY
      - bashinator 12y ago
        Those planes have ridiculously big knobby tires. It makes total sense, but certainly not something I'd have thought of.
        dredmorbius 12y ago
        Not so much knobby as balloon tires. If you're landing on a wide range of terrain, much of it unimproved, soft, and/or uneven, large tires will float you over the soggy stuff and smooth out the lumps (large wheels experience less shock with terrain / surface variation than small ones)
maxerickson 12y ago
This thread discusses some issues: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533255 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533255 Among them are size (it's wingspan exceeds the F-14) and the structure of the airframe (which wasn't designed for catapults/arrestors). The other question is how the operational success of the thing doesn't stand up to the political process than creates mudballs.
- fredgrott 12y ago
  my understanding is that with the new non-steam electric driven catapults..they in fact can
  - chiph 12y ago
    The USS Ford can probably safely launch one. So you could do one-way Doolittle style raids. But their landing gear and the lack of an arrester hook means they're not strong enough for the controlled-crash that is a carrier landing.
    - masklinn 12y ago
      You could probably do short landing using the GAU (fire the sucker while approaching as a gigantic, expensive and completely insane brake)
      - Agathos 12y ago
        I bet the deck crews will love that.
      - PhantomGremlin 12y ago
        Sigh. I really wish that HN supported "+1 funny" moderation. :)
      - hydrogen18 12y ago
        "Hey guys, don't mind those DU shells flying over you! I just need to slow this bird down!"

>Yeah, yeah they can't fly off a carrier I want to believe we have the technology to make this happen

bdcravens 12y ago

Their relatively slow speed requires a longer runway, I presume

learc83 12y ago
A plane that can fly at a slower speed means you need a shorter distance to take off (all other things being equal). I think the biggest problem is their huge wingspan. They don't have folding wings, so there is no storage space.
JabavuAdams 12y ago
No, just the opposite. Think of low speed as meaning it can fly in spite of low relative air-speed. If a plane could fly at 20 knots, say, then it could take off with 0 runway length if the carrier is steaming at 20 knots into the wind. It would just appear to hover up into the air relative to the carrier.
- dredmorbius 12y ago
  Alaskan bush pilots manage zero-roll takeoffs and landings, in favorable conditions. YouTube videos if you look for them.
  - fnordfnordfnord 12y ago
    I flew with negative groundspeed in a Taylorcraft once. That was a "fun" day.
  - dredmorbius 12y ago
    Some examples: http://fixyt.com/watch?v=bPSElw8qEsI http://fixyt.com/watch?v=bPSElw8qEsI http://fixyt.com/watch?v=lv5BtJMKamM http://fixyt.com/watch?v=lv5BtJMKamM Getting competitive: http://fixyt.com/watch?v=tvT5LMhvogw http://fixyt.com/watch?v=tvT5LMhvogw And a non-Alaskan entry: http://fixyt.com/watch?v=0zDo7hkmCNY http://fixyt.com/watch?v=0zDo7hkmCNY
    - bashinator 12y ago
      Those planes have ridiculously big knobby tires. It makes total sense, but certainly not something I'd have thought of.
      - dredmorbius 12y ago
        Not so much knobby as balloon tires. If you're landing on a wide range of terrain, much of it unimproved, soft, and/or uneven, large tires will float you over the soggy stuff and smooth out the lumps (large wheels experience less shock with terrain / surface variation than small ones)

maxerickson 12y ago

This thread discusses some issues: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533255 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=533255 Among them are size (it's wingspan exceeds the F-14) and the structure of the airframe (which wasn't designed for catapults/arrestors). The other question is how the operational success of the thing doesn't stand up to the political process than creates mudballs.

fredgrott 12y ago
my understanding is that with the new non-steam electric driven catapults..they in fact can
- chiph 12y ago
  The USS Ford can probably safely launch one. So you could do one-way Doolittle style raids. But their landing gear and the lack of an arrester hook means they're not strong enough for the controlled-crash that is a carrier landing.
  - masklinn 12y ago
    You could probably do short landing using the GAU (fire the sucker while approaching as a gigantic, expensive and completely insane brake)
    - Agathos 12y ago
      I bet the deck crews will love that.
    - PhantomGremlin 12y ago
      Sigh. I really wish that HN supported "+1 funny" moderation. :)
    - hydrogen18 12y ago
      "Hey guys, don't mind those DU shells flying over you! I just need to slow this bird down!"