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Sixth generation fighter prototype secretly fielded for USAF
“Air Force reveals it secretly built and flew new fighter jet.” (thehill.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
Almost sounds like a "Skunk Works" type of aircraft build. Those always seem to fly well and work as designed.
In this day and time.... With all he Blabber mouths... how did they keep this a secret for an entire year.... Great Job...
Hence the reason Groom Lake remains off limits to the general public.
It's highly probable that is the location of build and testing.
"The NGAD, in contrast, was first designed and tested digitally before it was physically built." Not sure on that point, having worked in those industry(s) since the F-22 development in the 80's , everything is mocked up digitally and extensively analyzed and tested before anything is 'physically built'.... Hopefully the NGAD shares more of the F-22's flight characteristics, and none of the F-35's.... For reference, remember the SR-71 was designed in the 50's when most planes had reciprocating engines and a cruise speed of about 250kts....... It flew well beyond mach 3 and 80,000 feet......
hope it doesn't take 15 years to get it right like the F35... oh wait, the F35 still isn't quite right.. and, after all this time I bet the Chinese and Russians know more abut the F35 than we do...still, if this is a "skunk works" project maybe it will go a lot faster... seems the AF always wants to add unproven tech and gold-plate everything... hope this one pans out quickly for our fly boys and girls!
"Getting it right" or perfect is not that important for strategic deterrence. Holding adversary assets at risk is what matters. The F35 does that in spades. Even the B52 still does that in a small way.
I believe from my father a Naval Aviator's comments from many years ago, the real problems occur when government procurement 'experts' try to have a jack of all trades aircraft built for all military branches, including Naval carrier operations. Of course with 'slight modifications'. You end up with an overweight, under-performing (and I refer to its flight characteristics) 'master of none'.