The Movie Top Gun was about 2 things: Tom Cruise playing volleyball & the F-14 Tomcat, the US Navy’s Long Range Interceptor. The Tomcat and Tom Cruise were so culturally significant, that Navy Reports state enlistments of new naval aviators, rose by 500%. But what was happening in the world that gave rise to this larger than life jet? Check Out Mustard! http://geni.us/Mustard The solution would come from Howard Hughes’ Aircraft Company as a radical new long-range missile, the AIM-54 Phoenix. This gargantuan missile was 15” (380mm) in Diameter, 13’ (4m) long, weighed 1000 lbs (450kg) and could fly above 80,000ft at speeds of Mach 5. It was designed as the ultimate air to air missile and could bring down aircraft and missiles alike. There was just one problem; the Phoenix was so big, there wasn’t an aircraft big and fast enough to carry it. The contract went to Grumman Aerospace, and they took what they learned on the VFX program to arrive at their 303 Design. It met all Navy requirements and the F-14 was born. The Phoenix missile wouldn’t be complete without equally capable onboard radar. In partnership with the development of the Phoenix, Hughes also developed the AWG-9 radar system for the Tomcat. It could track up to six targets at once, and quickly fire upon foes a hundred miles away. At the core of the F-14’s Iconic design is the Swing Wings that sweep between 20 and 68 degrees in flight based on airspeed. For low and slow carrier approaches, the wings swing forward, while sweeping back when reaching the F-14’s top speed of Mach 2. In comparison, the F/A-18 and later F-35 both fly around Mach 1.5. Another striking characteristic is the huge area between the wings, lovingly referred to as the tennis court. This big center section allowed for 6 Phoenix missiles, and the mechanisms for swinging wings. It also accounted for around 25% of the aircraft's total lift, leaving less air over the control surfaces, and somewhat hampered roll and maneuverability. The F-14s first kills would come in 1981 when the US 6th fleet took up position in the Gulf of Sidra. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi made it clear to the US that “to sail into my gulf, is to cross the line of death.” A sense of deja vu would follow in 1989 when again off the coast of Libya, US F-14s would be met, this time, by newly commissioned MIG 23 Floggers. The F-14s again turned to avoid conflict, while the Libyan Migs turned in to pursue. After a few tense moments, the F-14s met their rules of engagement and again, shot both Migs out of the sky. Ultimately the F-14’s combat record reads as follows: It shot down 5 aircraft in total. 4 Libyan fighters and a Russian built Iraqi Mi-8 Helicopter. It suffered 0 losses in air to air combat, and 1 loss due to ground fire. The Phoenix Missile would account for none of those kills. In fact, in its entire US Navy history, the vaunted Phoenix was only ever fired a handful of times, mostly ending in rocket motor failures, and zero kills. But before we dive into those numbers, you might have noticed that we said US F-14s, and well that’s because one other country was flying them too, the Iranians. Now that might sound hard to believe, giving the current political climate, but the Shahs of Iran were friendly to the US and it wasn't until the rise of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 when everything changed. During the Iran-Iraq war, Iranian F-14s accounted for 130 air to air kills, suffered 4 air to air losses, and 4 ground losses. The most decorated F-14 pilot isn't even American, he's an Iranian Pilot Jalil Zandi with 11 confirmed kills. But to get a better sense of the US Tomcat, you really have to consider every skirmish avoided, ever conflict that didn’t materialize, and every dogfight that wasn’t to be. One of the most iconic images of the US Tomcat is playing host and escort to unwanted Soviet Tu-95 Bear Reconnaissance aircraft during the cold war. Most enemy aircraft were ordered to immediately disengage and run away, just at the mere sight of being painted by the F-14s giant long-range radar. The combination of the F-14 Tomcat and Phoenix Missile was the ultimate deterrent. So while for the Iranians the F-14 was an ultimate fighter, for the Americans, it allowed them to speak softly, but carry a big stick. Many retired US Military aircraft are resigned to a life of quiet dignity at Davis Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. But most F-14's have been completely destroyed, just so there's no risk of any spare parts falling into Iranian hands. So what exactly is the legacy of the F-14 Tomcat? It has already taken its rightful place as one of the coolest, most capable fighter jets ever to grace the skies, and marked a technological milestone in Air Superiority fighters. It made fighter jets mainstream and has undoubtedly inspired a generation.
Views: 259674 Two Bit Aviation
Imagine designing a single aircraft with the vertical takeoff & hovering abilities of a helicopter, that can also climb high, fly fast, and go far, just like a fixed-wing airplane. Look no further than the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey Tiltrotor Aircraft. This beautiful-ugly marvel of Military Aviation stands alone in its design, and is unmistakable in both sight and sound… But it in it’s 30 year history, it has been associated with over 40 deaths and more than 50 injuries, many attributed to design flaws and mechanical failures. And yet the Marines who fly the Osprey, are some of it’s most passionate proponents. They love this bird, and want to keep flying it. But Why? What makes them so willing to risk their lives to an aircraft that has such a dubious past? *********** We LOVE VideoBlocks & Used it extensively in this Video. Get your FREE trial here: https://videoblocks.go2cloud.org/SHBt You can now Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twobitdavinci *********** In 1983, the experimental JVX program was given lead to the Marines and Navy, also taking in requirements from the Air Force and the Army, although the Army was later to drop out. Boeing and Bell were ultimately given the shared contract, and throughout the 80s and 90s, several prototypes, test flights, & design changes were made. And despite complicated budgetary battles between the White House & Congress, and even 7 deaths in 1992; by 1999 some considered it a success, and it’s future bright. But in 2000, tragic events would call into question the entire Osprey program, putting the future of this insane engineering feat into severe jeopardy. The Osprey is powered by two Rolls Royce Engines providing over 6000 Horsepower each It’s Tiltrotor design uses Nacelles, which are mechanisms that can be rotated like to act like either helicopter blades or traditional turbo props These massive blades are 38 Feet [11.5 Meters] in diameter, and can even be folded for storage It has a capacity of up to 32 troops or 20,000 lbs [9070 kg] of internal cargo There are flares & carbon fiber construction for better survivability and it sports a single .50 Caliber or 7.62mm Machine Gun It also has something called EAPS, or Engine Air Particle Separator, basically a dust filter for extreme conditions A Max Speed of 360 MPH [580 KPH] An impressive range of 1000 Miles [1600 Kilometers] with a climb rate of up to 2400 Feet per minute [12 Meters per second] And a Service Ceiling of 25,000 Feet [7600 meters] It can also be refueled in-air with something like a C-130 The Osprey has 3 flight modes: Helicopter or VTOL mode, where the nacelles are vertical and props horizontal Airplane or fixed-wing mode, where the nacelles are horizontal and props vertical And Conversion mode, where the nacelles are somewhere in-between for Rolling Takeoff and Landing The V-22 has a variety of uses: Rescue Missions Medevac & Casevac Operations Transport of troops & equipment, even on carriers at sea Transport of light strike vehicles, like the Growler Humanitarian efforts And More… So is the Osprey a military technological wonder, or a $70 Millon Dollar death trap? It depends on who you ask, but what do the Marines have to say about the aircraft they risk their lives to fly? They are not ignorant to the deaths, injuries, & design issues, nor are they blind to it’s capabilities. And what they have to say certainly gives pause for thought. So the Osprey can do some things that no other single aircraft can do, and it seems to be finally proving itself, with successful humanitarian, capture, and rescue missions completed over the last few years. Even HMX-1, the Helicopter Squadron that flies Marine One, has 12 MV-22 Ospreys that move Press Pool, White House Staff, Secret Service and Dignitaries during the President’s travels. The Marines and Air Force have dozens of Ospreys in service, with the Navy slated to have another 40+ delivered by 2020. But remember that most military aircraft are products of their time, AND defense budgets of the time, which often change by the time they are put into service many years later. So with an average $70 Million Flyaway cost, is the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey worth keeping around? Does it’s future potential, outweigh it’s sins of the past? And what about the Army-driven baby brother to the Osprey, the Bell V-280 Valor, that is supposed to address many of the design concerns of the V-22, in a smaller, less expensive package? *********** CREDITS: JIMMY CARTER SPEECH by Miller Center (University of Virginia): https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/april-25-1980-statement-iran-rescue-mission FLIGHT OF THE V-22 OSPREY by Richard Mackenzie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbumF74I_Xo&t=1545s AIR WARRIORS by The Smithsonian Channel: https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/air-warriors/osprey/1003487/3411526
Views: 467981 Two Bit Aviation
The first 200 people to click this link get a 2 month free trial to Skillshare: http://skl.sh/aviation When enemy ground forces have you surrounded, you count on the A-10 Warthog to make things all better...and give you a chance to fight another day. The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is also known as the A-10 Warthog, or just “The Hog” or "The Hawg", and gets its nickname from all its bumps and protrusions. It’s ability to take out armored vehicles also earns it the moniker of the Tankbuster. It is really a giant gun first and a highly survivable plane second, which is why it is also known as the “Flying Gun”. It has also become synonymous with Close Air Support. If you think of the Warthog as a giant machine gun cannon with wings, and then add some armor, multiple armaments, and a sprinkling of redundant systems, then you begin to understand its true purpose and the breadth of its capabilities. Soft targets, Tanks, Air Defense Systems, Booby-Trapped Buildings; it doesn’t matter. The A-10 can eat them for breakfast, and be home in time for lunch. Despite 40 years of Air Force Brass trying to take the A-10 out of the sky, it still flies, strangely enough, because of the Army’s fight to keep it protecting troops on the ground.
Views: 28384 Two Bit Aviation
Could Germany Have Won WWII with their Secret Stealth Jet Fighter? The Ho 229 Mysteries Revealed. The year is 1945, and Allied forces in WWII come across a hidden German hangar in the woods, and what they discover would spark controversies that continue to this day. The Luftwaffe, the German aerial warfare branch, was secretly developing an aircraft that they believed could help them win the war, led by none other than Hermann Göring. What they find is one of the so-called German Secret Weapons, the Horten Ho 229 V3 prototype, an other-worldly looking jet-powered flying wing aircraft. The Ho229 housed two jet engines, integrated into a sleek flying wing design, and resembled nothing else of the era. In the late stages of WWII, the Americans initiated Operation Paperclip, an effort to capture advanced German weapons research, and keep it from falling into the hands of the advancing Soviet forces. Through operation SeaHorse, the HO-229 was shipped back to the US in 1945, and the Allies removed yet another chess piece from the board of Germany’s high-tech military arsenal. But the story doesn’t end there. In fact it raises some fascinating questions: Was the Ho-229’s sleek design purpose-built to evade radar? Was the Northrop Grumman B-2 Stealth Bomber influenced or even copied from the Horten Ho 229? And what if Germany had achieved production of the 229? Could it have turned the tide, and changed the outcome of the war? The Horten Ho 229 (aka Gotha Go 229) is a very intriguing part of WWII Aviation History, and was a groundbreaking proof of concept, but it was far too early for the aerospace technology of the day, and until flight control computers and fly by wire systems came into their own in the 1970s, it would remain just an unstable dream. The Ho229 was a remarkable glimpse into what the future of stealth aviation could be, and was an Aircraft decades ahead of its time, despite being a World War II German Airplane The radical jet turbine powered flying wing design would have many benefits, and once fly by wire computer systems entered the equation, the advantages could finally be realized. ***** Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twobitdavinci We Love VideoBlocks. Sign up for a free trial: https://videoblocks.go2cloud.org/SHBt ***** Smithsonian Paper “Is it Stealth?”: https://airandspace.si.edu/collections/horten-ho-229-v3/about/is-it-stealth.cfm David Myhra Interviews with the Horten Brothers: https://sova.si.edu/record/NASM.1999.0065?s=0&n=10&t=C&q=&i=0 National Geographic Documentary on the Ho 229: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvSaJjuOb7w History Channel Documentary Modern Marvels Secret Luftwaffe Aircraft of World War II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rafWBOgugP0 ***** Visit our Site: http://www.twobitdavinci.com Socials: @TwoBitDaVinci You can Help Support Two Bit da Vinci by following our affiliate links. It's free, and we get a commission to help us keep doing what we love. Two Bit da Vinci is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Thank You, Chris & Ricky ***** ATTRIBUTIONS & CREDITS AVAILABLE AT THIS LINK: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H658XRocbmMEB86HINuJFDepoU9xw6iUC_HEuY9qGeM/edit?usp=sharing ***** Horten Ho 229 Gotha Go 229 B2 Stealth Bomber B2 Bomber B2 Spirit 3x1000 Lockheed F117 Nighthawk Flying Wing Stealth Aircraft Horten Brothers Hermann Goering Jack Northrop Northrop Grumman Secret Weapons of WWII Chain Home Radar Amerika Bomber Horten Ho 18 German Jet Aircraft Junkers Jet Engine Horten Ho229 Hermann Göring Nurflugel Northrup Grumman Northrup Grummann Reimar Horten Northrop YB49 David Myhra Northrop B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Horten 18 Smithsonian Is it Stealth? NatGeo Documentary Secret Stealth Fighter Walter Horten Northrop B-2 Stealth Bomber Northrop B2 Stealth Bomber B-2 Spirit Northrop B2 Spirit Stealth Bomber Gotha Go229 Operation Paperclip Operation SeaHorse F-117 Nighthawk F117 Nighthawk Northrop-Grumman America Bomber Radar Absorbing Paint Northrop XB35 Northrop YB35 german aircraft wwii luftwaffe alternate history wwii wwii history wwii aviation wwii airplanes wwii war planes wwii warplanes wwii aircraft wwii planes ww2 ww2 history ww2 aviation ww2 airplanes ww2 war planes ww2 warplanes ww2 aircraft ww2 planes world war II world war II history world war II aviation world war II airplanes world war II war planes world war II warplanes world war II aircraft world war II planes world war 2 world war 2 history world war 2 aviation world war 2 airplanes world war 2 war planes world war 2 warplanes world war 2 aircraft world war 2 planes aerospace aerospace history military airplane history military history military airplane military aircraft Aviation History Military Aviation aviation aircraft airplane airplanes warplane history war plane history wwii german jet
Views: 123398 Two Bit Aviation
Is the F35 Joint Strike Fighter Program The Most Expensive Military Aircraft Mistake Ever Made? We examine the most Ambitious, Expensive, and Controversial Military Program in History. *********** We LOVE VideoBlocks & Used it extensively in this Video. Get your FREE trial here: https://videoblocks.go2cloud.org/SHBt You can now Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twobitdavinci *********** The US military is the most powerful in the world; on land, sea, and air. But when it comes to the air, they have a big problem: an aging fleet of aircraft spanning multiple platforms across 3 branches of the military. Their answer? The Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft Program. The most ambitious, expensive, and controversial military program in history. We’re talking about replacing the F-16, the A-10 Warthog, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, and the AV-8 Harrier, among others. And not only would it have to meet the needs of the Navy, Air Force, & Marines, but also appeal to foreign militaries around the world. It all sounds good on paper, but the reality has left some wondering if this grand unifying philosophy was a huge mistake, and whether they bit off more than they could chew. As far back as the late 1980’s, the JSF program was conceived as a way to replace multiple aircraft with a single base aircraft that had 3 variants, each with their own technical requirements. The F35A Air Force variant would be for Conventional Takeoff & Landing, stealthy capabilities, and intended primarily for Air to Air Dogfighting & Close Air Support The F35B Marine variant would be for Short Takeoff & Vertical Landing and intended primarily for Attack Missions, and the ability to take off and land with no air strip. And the F35C Navy variant would require foldable wingtips, carrier takeoff and landing capabilities, and intended primarily for Attack and Fighter Missions. And whenever you have a design by committee across multiple branches of the military, there are bound to be some compromises, especially when trying to combine several aircraft roles into one do-it-all “Marvel Jet”. And let's not forget about the so-called "Budget Death Spiral". In order to keep the cost per plane low, Lockheed needs to produce and sell a lot of aircraft. But if the defense budget shrinks, and the government cuts orders, the price of each plane goes up. And when the price of the plane goes up, you guessed it, the government cuts more orders, and this cycle typically keeps repeating itself until you have very few planes on hand, and you have spent a butt-load of cash. But all the technical & financial controversies are not even close to the whole story. There is something more powerful at play here: The Military Industrial Complex. But what does it really mean in layman’s terms? Simply put, it’s the working relationship between 3 entities: The Military, Arms Manufacturers, and the Government. But another very important layer to this relationship is not an entity. It’s the Economy. And it’s a very tasty carrot on the stick of this seedy, thick-as-thieves arrangement, dangling in front of politicians. In the case of Lockheed Martin, they have spread out F35 part manufacturing over 46 states and 9 foreign countries, with a total of some 1300 suppliers, creating upwards of 150,000 jobs in the United States alone. But they didn’t do this for manufacturing logistics or efficiency reasons, regardless of what they might say publicly. Instead, Lockheed has gotten very good at what is called Political Engineering. This crafty, bipartisan-friendly strategy makes it very hard for Senators or Congressmen, be it Democrat or Republican, to oppose the program, because that would risk losing jobs for their constituents, and ultimately jeopardize their re-election hopes. That whole Power thing is Mighty Powerful. Mix in the fact that you have 3 branches of the Military invested in a single program, and canceling it becomes a near impossibility. And that is why the F35 Joint Strike Fighter program cannot be stopped, and why the program has been dubbed “Too Big to Fail” and “Too Big to Kill”. The F-35 is rolling off the assembly line as we speak. Some pilots will hate it, some will love it, and some will just learn to live with it. Despite what the extreme talking heads say, it’s not a terrible plane, nor is it the best that could have been purpose built for each branch of the military. Instead, it’s an expensive, all-in-one solution that has compromises; some expected, some not. And it’s here to stay. Given that the F-35 is intended to serve the US Military for decades to come, will we ever see another manned fighter program? Or do you think that we are on precipice of change, where drones will be able to fill the role of fighters, bombers, and attack aircraft of today? Is the F35 the most Expensive Military Aircraft Mistake Ever Made? And what would you like to see from us in future Aviation videos?
Views: 142085 Two Bit Aviation
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is the US Military's crown jewel when it comes to air superiority. So are there any other aircraft that could give it a run for its money? What about the Eurofighter Typhoon? Glad you mentioned that! **** We LOVE VideoBlocks & Used it extensively in this Video. Get your FREE trial here: https://videoblocks.go2cloud.org/SHBt You can now Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/twobitdavinci **** Maybe that seems like a silly comparison, given the Raptor is a 5th generation fighter, and the Typhoon is only a 4.5 gen aircraft. Surely with stealth, the US built F-22 should best anything in the sky, right? But generation designation isn't everything, and comparing these two planes is not all that crazy. And our conclusion on which is the winning aircraft may surprise you. But before we talk about combat scenarios between these two birds and declare a winner, let's take a look at some of their impressive features & tech specs. The Typhoon has a wingspan of 36 feet (11m) & is 52 feet long (16m). The Raptor's wingspan is 44 feet (13.5m) & is 62 feet long (19m). The Eurofighter sports 2 Eurojet EJ200 engines capable of 60kN each, and 90kN in afterburner mode. The F-22 is powered by 2 Pratt & Whitney F119 engines that provide 116 kN each, and 156 kN in afterburner mode. At Altitude, the Typhoon is able to reach speeds of up to 1550 mph (2500 km/h), and Supercruise at speeds of up to Mach 1.5. The Raptor comes in at 1500 mph (2400 km/h), and a Supercruise of Mach 1.8. The Eurofighter can climb 62000 feet per minute (318 m/s), with a service ceiling of 65000 feet (20000 m), and a Combat Radius of about 850 miles (1350 km). The F-22 can climb 69000 feet per minute (350 m/s), also with a service ceiling of 65000 feet (20000 m), and a Combat Radius of around 500 miles (800 km) The Typhoon has a 27mm Mauser cannon that can fire up to 1700 rounds per minute and carries 150 rounds. Where the Raptor has a 20mm Vulcan cannon that can fire at up to 6000 rounds per minutes and carries 480 rounds. The Eurofighter can carry several Air-to-Air and Air-to-Surface missiles, which are externally mounted, such as the IRIS-T & the Brimstone. Since the F-22 does not mount its weapons externally, it would typically carry 6 AMRAAMs & 2 Sidewinders for an air mission, and in a ground attack scenario, just 2 of each along with 2 precision-guided bombs. The Typhoon's most notable avionics feature is called PIRATE, or InfraRed Search and Track technology that can detect low-observable aircraft up to 50km away, and carries chaff to thwart radar-guided missiles. The Raptor's Radar system can detect aircraft nearly 200km away, and uses flares to defend against heat-seeking missiles. Alright, so down to brass tacks: who would win? The Raptor or the Typhoon? Well, the answer depends on whether we are talking about combat that is Within Visual Range or Beyond Visual Range. In the case of a dogfight scenario, the Eurofighter is impressive once in the merge. Although the F-22 has thrust vectoring and a higher angle of attack tolerance, the Typhoon is able to conserve its energy better; a significant dogfighting advantage when climbing, turning, and diving are crucial to attaining a kill position. So for the WVR scenario, we would give our nod to the Typhoon. So now let's talk Stealthy Attack. This is where the Raptor brings its A-Game. Take its Stealthy design, combined with AMRAAM missiles that have a 100km range, and a radar that can detect enemy aircraft nearly 200kms away, and it's deadly advantages are clear. Even with the Typhoon's PIRATE, we think most days the Raptor would take out a Typhoon before it even knew the Raptor was there. However, soon the impressive METEOR air-to-air missiles may be carried by the Typhoon, and with its 300km range, we will be watching to see how that plays out. But what are the chances these two aircraft would actually meet one another in the skies? Well only the US Military has F-22 Raptors in service, and is not sold to other countries or militaries. The Eurofighter Typhoon, on the other hand, has more than 500 planes currently in use by: Austria, Germany, Italy, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Spain, and the UK. Kuwait & Qatar have more than 50 on order. And while its unlikely that the F-22 would encounter a Typhoon in actual combat, it is possible in the future, particularly if one of the countries with Typhoons no longer has a good relationship with the US. We saw it when the US sold F-14 Tomcats to Iran, and it could happen again with the Eurofighter. Ultimately, the success of combat between these two powerhouses comes down to a combination of the plane's capabilities and the skill of the pilot. Whether we are talking about a good old-fashioned dogfight, or a stealthy attack, it would be a close fight if these two were ever to meet for real. So, who do you think would win? And what would you like to see from us in Future Aviation Videos?
Views: 356560 Two Bit Aviation