USAF Considering a New Fighter Jet Platform
Photo: US Air Force
The US Air Force has released a statement detailing some of its plans to improve its carbon footprint by developing a new fighter jet platform.
The success of the experimental flight of Solar Impulse HB-SIB in 2016, which circumnavigated the globe in a mere 505 days at 45 MPH, was a heartening display of technological flight superiority. This has been the inspiration for the prospective design change from the AVGAS-burning fighter jet to a solar-powered fighter jet.
Fast-tracking the development of climate-friendly, clean aviation technology has been listed as one of the Air Force’s primary goals for the current century. Considering that the weight of a jet engine is directly related to a plane’s ability to climb, turn and maneuver, the thrust-to-weight factor when fully fueled and loaded, as well as the expense of AVGAS (kerosene) and maintenance of the engines and hydraulics, were all taken into consideration when discussing the development of this platform.
Speed was included as part of that discussion. A lighter fighter powered by solar cells will not be dragged down by the weight of jet engines and their fuel requirements, allowing for a greater load of munitions such as rockets and bombs. The lack of doors on air intakes will likely contribute to fewer incidents of fuel-starvation for the engines and subsequent loss of the equipment.
“It’s merely a matter of time before we get a fully-loaded, fully-functioning solar-powered fighter at MACH 3 flight speed,” said CAPT Robin Whitney. “The lowest thrust-to-weight ratio we’ve been able to get was 0.84 with the F35A. We’d like to drop that considerably by using a non-carbon powered flight platform. The weight of the airframe alone is exponentially lighter without the engines. This will provide the US Air Force with enormous savings in fuel costs, maintenance, and mechanical expenses, as well as giving us the extra room we need for long distance bombing runs. Our mission is, as always, efficiency, economy of style, and a forward-looking, environmentally-friendly program.”
He added that between now and 2019, the development of solar-powered engines for the fighter plane platform should be right on schedule for a PR appearance at the EAA’s Fly-in at Oshkosh, WI.
Category: Air Force
First!~ HA Just testing you.
I like how they have discussed getting rid of the F-15 Eagle.
NO GO in my opinion
Day early!
WOT are on Friday usually around Noon
I mean for 1 April
OH
I’ve been suckered by Ex-PH2.
Again.
Love you, too, Graybeard!!!
You’ve set your calendar with Wilted Willy, haven’t you?
Hopefully this “clean and green” cult in the 5-sided puzzle palace can be stomped out.
Remnants from the “Fumbles” administration. As the worm turns under the GE I’m sure we’ll see a much lower number of “green” initiatives like this one.
Be mighty tough flying at night, wouldn’t it?
Solar-powered fighter, eh?
Is this something derived from ‘Duffleblog’ or ‘The Onion’ as an early Ex-PH2 April Fool’s prank?
If not, solar-powered engines should make extended flights at night interesting.
April Fool’s Day is tomorrow. Something else is planned.
It’s April Fools Eve, for Pete’s sake …
😛
So, I take it that the new solar fighter will not be used in the all weather, night fighter role?
Batteries, Roger. Solar-power storage in batteries!
Batteries are heavier than engines, but they expect new tech by 2040.
In-flight refueling may be problematic.
I, too, think this is an april fools early-release.
Major Pratt And, Headquarters USAF Research Laboratory WPAFB, is writing the Mil-Spec for rubber band powered balsa aircraft. Testing is underway using natural rubber vs buna.
http://www.sigmfg.com/cgi-bin/dpsmart.exe/IndexMiscellaneousF.html?E+Sig
IDC SARC, this is not *that* kind of sport rubber!
The naval version can land on the WSS Bill Clinton, described before
And here I thought it would be powered by unicorn farts….
Well, yes, those ARE environmentally friendly.
Fantastic! Thanks for the laugh Ex-PH2.
Perhaps Al Gore can purchase a few for his global trips and limit his carbon ass-print he leaves behind.
Question.
If this plane flew around the earth at approximately 45 mph, and since the earth spins on it’s axis at a speed of 1037 mph, isn’t this aircraft flying backwards? (big shit-eating grin)
Reminds of a bird my dad (LtCol D) told me about when I was just a tot. This bird flies in ever tightening circles until it flies up it’s own ass and disappears.
What!!? This is clearly a violation of the Pauli Exclusion Principle!
Minor nit-pick: Jets don’t burn AVGAS; they use JP-4, JP-5, or JP-8 (similar to kerosene, but with additives). AVGAS is Aviation Gasoline (100+ octane) and is used for reciprocating engines.
Well, should I go in and fix that, or leave it?
This came from Duffel Blog, right?
Ex-PH2 Blog.
Not Duffel Blog. Out of my seekrit squirrel spy files.
I could almost believe this, after the “Green Hornet” debacle during SCoaMF’s administration.
http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=52291
And you’re a day early, Ex.
*grin*
Ah! Mr. Mabus at his silliest. What an inspiration!
So duh, sounds like a fair weather fighter, it won’t cut it if you’re fighting during a monsoon or the typical European weather or what happens when the batteries go kaput in the middle of dogfight…you better have a back up plan USAF with a more conventional engine
If you were in a race ?
would you rather have a battery powered race car or a Ferrari SF70H F1 car ?
for me the Ferrari
USAF: “We are environmentally friendly even when killing you”
AVGAS YGBSM
I love the smell of JP-8 in the morning. It smells like Freedom.
Roger THAT!
PLEASE don’t give the nitwits any more screwball ideas.
But… but… Bill, don’t you want a green-and-clean USAF?? Just think of the money saved on fuel alone!
What a bunch of old goats. You know, everyone “just knew” the P-51 was a waste, until it wasn’t.
I mean, that doggone thingamajigger doesn’t even have a horse pulling it.