The after taking 25 years to develop the F22 Raptor from conception to operational certification the United States Air Force (USAF) produced the world’s first 5th Generation air superiority fighter. (site) This revolutionary fighter plane leveraged its very low observable stealth (VLO) and thrust-vectoring and digital fly by wire technology, to produce an extremely fast, agile and deadly air to air combatant. (GEO P 2) However, in 2009 Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, (SECDEF) convinced the President (POTUS) and Congress to truncate the F22 program, leaving the USAF with less than 187 operational F22 Raptors, this number was well short of the 381 the USAF estimated they needed to meet their mission requirements. (AWC 1/ site) Gates made his controversial decision based on three factors. This essay will explore these factors and explain how the 2009 U.S strategic environment, the overall cost of the F22 and Secretary Gates’ desire to change the Department of Defense (DOD) all lead to the decision to limit the production of the F22 Raptor at 187 aircraft.
Advanced Technologies. Lockheed Martin is bringing decades of experience of developing cutting edge technologically advanced systems to the marketplace. Through their legendary Skunkworks program, they have developed the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane and the SR-71 Blackbird. These are craft were operational long before the public even knew of their existence. The SR-71 developed in the 1960s still holds many speed and altitude records. The F-35 takes this experience and incorporates it. It is a fully stealth aircraft that uses advanced geometrical shape and electronic methods to remain undetectable. Each F-35 is fully linked to all other aircraft, being able to “see” what they see. The pilot wears an advanced helmet that allows them to see “through” the aircraft using 6 infrared cameras mounted around the aircraft, virtually eliminating any blind spots.
III. Mustang kept on developing through the 60’s getting bigger engines and more sleek design. They made the cobra jet and Mach 1. Then the super cobra jet and the boss. And many more each one getting faster and more expensive.
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was a single-engine, single-seat, metal fighter plane and ground-attack aircraft that was made by the Americans. The P-40 Warhawk fighters first flew in 1938 and caught the attention of the United States Army Air Corps, who placed the largest fighter plane order it had ever made for fighters for a count of 524 at a cost of US$13 million. This was the earliest serious fighter in WWII and did its job until better fighters came out. It was known as a safe and secure aircraft that was able to fly pilots back home after being shot up in action. Many variants of this plane were later created. In addition, the shark teeth graphics were a big feature on this plane.
Aunt Emilia was an impossible demanding guest. The French Mirage, the fastest airplane in the Colombian air force, was an astonishing machine to fly.
The British pilots were blessed to have the Hurricane and Spitfire fighter aircraft. These were fast, highly maneuverable, small fighter planes that had a great deal of speed. They could fly faster than bombers, and were
ft. The first plane rolled out the door on December 23, 1941. The plant produced C-47 Skytrain transports, B-17 Flying Fortress bombers, and A-20 Havoc attack bombers simultaneously. Douglas merged with the McDonnell Aircraft Company in 1967 where the Douglas DC-8 and the McDonnell Douglas DC-9 were built. In 1997 McDonnell Douglas merged with Boeing, which still makes C-17 Globemaster transport planes in Long Beach, although this program is slated to end and the plant may be closed.
World War Two featured many great military planes, but two American-made fighters rose above the rest, dominating the skies. The bulky and strong Grumman F6F Hellcat was ripping the enemy to shreds in the Pacific Theatre, while the speedy and precise North American Aviation P-51 Mustang ruled the European Theatre. Without these fighters the war could have taken a different path, as the planes made moves crucial to the Allies’ success. Both the Mustang and the Hellcat had a huge impact in their respective theatres and on the war in general; but when carefully comparing their specifications, purposes, and pilot accomplishments, can one be called superior?
Stealth Aircraft technology is clearly the future of air combat. In the future, as air defense systems grow more accurate and deadly, stealth technology can be a factor for a decisive by a country over the other. In years to come, stealth technology will not only be incorporated in fighters and bombers but also in ships, helicopters, tanks and transport planes. The RAH-66 “Comanche” and the Sea Shadow stealth ship are just a few to
On January 15, 1985 the US Dept of Defense (DoD) designated the aircraft as the V-22 with the nickname of Osprey. The first prototype was unveiled in May 1988, but that same year the US Army left the program due to rising costs and other factors. This left to US Marines and US Air Force as the remaining primary contributers. The program continued despite much political turmoil. One issue almost cancelled the program altogether in 1992. The next two big leaps were the first horizontal flight on March 19, 1989 and the first vertical flight shortly after on September 14, 1989. These progresses are likely what kept the Osprey idea alive for that time period. Regardless of those success steps, the fourth and fifth prototypes were lost and the designers sent back to their drawing boards again. Following some redesign, the project continued with the Osprey now designated the V-22B, the second or 'B' iteration of the aircraft, instead of the V-22A that they now call the first attempt.
For thousands of years from all corners of the world, mankind has dreamed of these larger than life frays fought between the most massive and powerful nations embodied the name given to them. Advancements and a flourishing in technology is due to the innovation of the airplane to be utilized on, or over the front lines of the the most devastating battles to ever scar the face of the earth. To many, the skies in the dawn of World War I was a new frontier, and any type of aviation on its own was relatively new to this era. In a short span of time an untrusted mode of transportation was transformed into a war machine. who had the unique condition of being in the sky, had a great impact on what occurred on the battlefield below. The aces in
Northrop met this challenge, when in 1947 he introduced his new YB-49. Powered by eight jet engines, this one hundred and seventy-two feet wingspan monster was capable of flying at over five hundred miles per hour, at a ceiling of over forty thousand feet. Jack had taken the American flying wing off the design boards, and into the air. Unfortunately it was incredibly difficult to fly, and the air force felt that as a bomber it was too unstable and dangerous. In late 1949, in an unprecedented decision, the U.S. government ordered that all Northrop's YB-49s were to be destroyed. After the destruction of the 1st flying wing, came a perilous time in history. Relationships between the East and West were rapidly deteriorating, and the Cold War was heating up. The world was entering a new era of nuclear power.
Over the course of history, politicians have perpetually remain associated with the acts of greed, lying, and mischief. Portrayed in films, sung about and even written in novels. Even with the governments stern conditioning to keep the public believing in everyone remaining equal and treated fairly in court, facts presented over time have proven to show that politicians possess an upper hand. Elected officials and government workers are leading lives that one would call above the average citizen. Overlooking crime at the right moment if known to be an employee of high status. Many serious cases get a simple sentence, while everyday Americans can face far worse. The tangible get out of jail free card comes with a lifetime supply of justifications
Research Paper: Douglas C-47 “Gooney Bird” The C-47 was the lead plane of the 37th troop carrier squadron, dropping elements of the 82nd airborne division near St. Mere Eglise, France in the early hours of June 6th, 1944. June 6th is formally known as D Day. The C-47 was very important to aviation or even the most important because over 13,000 planes were sold, it was one of the most successful cargo planes, every branch of the U.S military and all the major allied powers flew it during World War two.
I chose the Lockheed Martin Company because of how their planes and technology have furthered the innovation within the aviation world. Many of their planes have been used to break records or have broken records themselves. They have also built planes that were necessary in a few wars. The Lockheed Martin