tflash

Did you notice the underbelly of the F-35 and B-2 is full of "round shapes" ? Radar reflection can partly be guessed from simplistic geoemetrical forms that you can identify with the naked eye, but much better is computer modelling and actually compute where the reflections go. I suppose they will review the whole engine housing on the PAK-FA prototype in due time.

I did it for you!

Maybe I can sneak in a related qestion: in LRS, the contacts are very clearly separated on the radar, when I switch to TWS, they knit more tightly together, which makes it difficult to select them. Is this a feature or a bug?

No, normally you can launch an Amraam from TWS without going to STT mode; it will sequentially go through all the targets you bugged.

Maybe small corrections for F-16: AGM-88 HARM only carried on station 3 & 7 and not on 4 & 6; Single AGM-65 also on 4 & 6 (now only on 3 & 7) A HTS pod!

Am I on the right forum? Wasn't this a forum on aviation and a thread about stealth or am I dreaming all this? :D

Pentagon orders more F-35's: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-11-30/lockheed-pentagon-reach-agreement-on-fifth-production-contract

I must say I'm impressed, the Liaoning only remotely reminds the original Varyag, and the J-15 is the upgraded, multirole Su-33 that we all would like to have in Lockon. I guess there is more to come.

Nice: I was flying FC3 with my headphones on, as I suddenly heard a strange buzzing sound while in a combat manoevre ... I immediately disengaged and started to check all dials to see what was malfunctioning ... as I gradually realized my wife just put on a hairdryer :D

With a first flight in 1997 and introduction to service in 2005, this no longer produced golden oldie cannot easily be compared to hypersonic testbeds. But it is still fair to say it did much better than older generation fighters and its accident rate compares to that of Typhoon, Rafale and Gripen. So in this regard, there is really nothing special to say about F-22, as many other posts in this thread have already stressed. Of course, F-22 is in the press crosshairs and attracts negative comments on a routinely basis: http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2012/11/f-22-crashe/ The real thing worth mentioning however is that USAF routinely flies fifth generation aircraft, and I guess those who are desperately trying to copy this as well as those who are frantically digging deeper holes to hide got that message as well.

Well, I'm swapping A-10A and A-10C in the same missions and I must say the only real difference I notice is the A-10C having better sensors in the guise of Litening II. But then agian I always fly "safe", well within the envelope.

And again F-35: OUE completed: http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-unit-completes-f-35-oue-activity-379117/

I very much like to play my FC2 missions in FC3. Only a few adjustments are needed, and you can use much more complex logic in the mission editor. Flying through DCS World is exciting, since the terrain has more incidence and the dynamic weather certainly adds to it.

F-35 lands at Yuma: http://www.yumasun.com/news/aircraft-83264-marine-yuma.html

However, gathering evidence might be quite a challenge this time: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-f22-raptor-crash-tyndall-air-force-base-20121116,0,4048709.story looking at the wreckage.

I just stated and reiterate that each aircraft accident should be reviewed carefully, and fortunately this is the case. Statements like "the F-22 is doing fine" are irrelevant. I hold no opinion on how the F-22 is "doing". I would presume that the USAF, who own the plane, are not happy with this incident, just as they are not happy with any loss. But I can't speak for them anyway.

Well, fortunately many in the aviation business totally disagree with you, both on the "accidents happen" pseudo-wisdom and on the "guessing". That's why I feel safe to fly.

Marcos you are mixing up with another incident. Yesterday there was a crash of an F-22: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/air-force-fighter-jet-crashes-on-highway-near-base-in-florida-panhandle-pilot-ejects-safely/2012/11/15/d4ddbca2-2f76-11e2-af17-67abba0676e2_story.html What you are referring to is an incident in May. The report on that was released yesterday also.

Marcos, this was a 2009 article! I remember the problem was mentioned then, not sure it is still an issue.

Yes, I have the same problem. Seems to work better in high PRF, but LA is showing up very late, deep in the NEZ, when BVR shot has no value. I also had to select Launch Override.

What still puzzles me though is how the Marines plan to use an aircraft as sophisticated as F-35 to replace the Harrier in close-to-combat basing situations. Think about what happened at Camp Bastion, where a brazen attack disabled 6 Harriers (not mentioning but certainly not forgetting the human loss). Can you imagine when it would have been 6 F-35's? Would it ever make sense to base those at places like Camp Bastion? Or will it be able to stay at a further base due to its better range?

Read the whole paper by Niemi here: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2012/11/how-the-usaf-shot-itself-in-th.html (it is included with scribd)