Tempest II
PDF THINK TANK: ANALYST
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2007
- Messages
- 1,414
- Reaction score
- 11
Just last week I was calculating the wing-area for the FC-1, and disappointed because high wing loading are general not good for manoeuvrability. I however know the FC-1 performs best at low-level. This is still a worry for me as the Tiffy, the Raffy and the F-22 are all optimised for high-energy state (i.e. high speed and high altitude) and also that high speed and high altitude give your missile more range. I am not saying low-level tactics are dead. As consolation and addition to my learning curve is this from the book, dogfight! - Indias Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft Decision by Ashley J. Tellis, it says:
I am still looking for that magazine page from about 18 months ago with a few lines on the JF-17, showing #111 describing it as "low-level ... high manoeuvrable .... etc, etc". If anybody has that, please help.
(page 25) ... ... In contrast, thrust-to-weight performance is less important for aircraft designed for the low level anti-surface mission, but high wing loading is actually desirable because of its benefits for airframe stability at the high subsonic speeds usually associated with surface-attack operations.
(Page 27) ... ... Advances in aerodynamic design, materials technology, and digital flight control systems, for example, have resulted in the development of new blended wing and fuselage configurations which, by utilizing leading and trailing edge flaps combined with high-thrust turbofan engines, enable fighter aircraft with even nominally high wing loading to exhibit extreme manoeuvrability. The F-16C is a great illustration of such a combination. Despite having a higher wing loading than, for example, a MiG-21 or a Mirage 2000, the latest generation F-16 has instantaneous turn capabilities that exceed the former and almost match the latter, while possessing better slow speed manoeuvrability a critical advantage in close-in aerial combatcompared with both.
I am still looking for that magazine page from about 18 months ago with a few lines on the JF-17, showing #111 describing it as "low-level ... high manoeuvrable .... etc, etc". If anybody has that, please help.