One of the reasons we are still relying on the still capable AV8B’s is because the big deck amphibs need to be modified for the F35B to operate. It’s a sort of level loading between the F35 capable decks and the procurement of the F35B’s.
To Phib’s point, the Harrier is a single engine subsonic aircraft. It’s pushing 39 years old of servi…
One of the reasons we are still relying on the still capable AV8B’s is because the big deck amphibs need to be modified for the F35B to operate. It’s a sort of level loading between the F35 capable decks and the procurement of the F35B’s.
To Phib’s point, the Harrier is a single engine subsonic aircraft. It’s pushing 39 years old of service in the fleet (IOC with USMC in 1985) and has a combat range of around 350-400 miles. The ranges to strike the Houthis from the Mediterranean using cocktail math is approximately 1,375 miles ONE WAY. This requires at least 2 hits of a tanker likely 3. These Marines are doing a fantastic job using a 22 - 39 year old aircraft that is likely older than the pilots flying it. Semper Gumby Marines!
You're not aware of how long I was not only a skeptic, but also actively disparaged the airplane. It still has its problems, but for a 34 year old concept it's doing fairly well considering all the design changes caused by changing the mission. People like you forget that even the F-16 has had its empty weight increase by over 50% as well.
One of the reasons we are still relying on the still capable AV8B’s is because the big deck amphibs need to be modified for the F35B to operate. It’s a sort of level loading between the F35 capable decks and the procurement of the F35B’s.
To Phib’s point, the Harrier is a single engine subsonic aircraft. It’s pushing 39 years old of service in the fleet (IOC with USMC in 1985) and has a combat range of around 350-400 miles. The ranges to strike the Houthis from the Mediterranean using cocktail math is approximately 1,375 miles ONE WAY. This requires at least 2 hits of a tanker likely 3. These Marines are doing a fantastic job using a 22 - 39 year old aircraft that is likely older than the pilots flying it. Semper Gumby Marines!
" These Marines are doing a fantastic job using a 22 - 39 year old aircraft that is likely older than the pilots flying it."
More failure from the MIC praised in another essay.
The F-35 was meant to be a replacement for the F-117 and AV-8. Neither of which are fighters. It is an excellent replacement for both aircraft.
🤣
You're not aware of how long I was not only a skeptic, but also actively disparaged the airplane. It still has its problems, but for a 34 year old concept it's doing fairly well considering all the design changes caused by changing the mission. People like you forget that even the F-16 has had its empty weight increase by over 50% as well.
The F-16 turned out to be one of the best designed aircraft ever. Along the same lines as the legendary A-4’s.
Draken International is flying the heck out those Kiwi Scooters they acquired. https://en.defence-ua.com/news/ukraines_future_f_16_pilots_will_be_trained_by_draken_international_private_company_in_romania-7358.html
Such things are nice, as long as we don't have another Neptunus Lex 9 (pbum)
One would not say this of the older B-52, but yes.