West Texas Spanloader

a reply to: weavty1

From Figure 1.4, we learn that the 'flying dorito' (mostly completely triangular) shape was considered optimal for the air to ground task. The 'high-agility/moderate-observables' air-to-air proposal looks quite a bit like a Eurofighter, which is exactly what the Eurofighter is.

There must be some fundamental engineering principles governing the shape. Hence my proposal that the flying dorito is designed to take on the missions of the retired F-111, F-117, A-6 (if land-based), and current F-15SE.

originally posted by: mbkennel
a reply to: weavty1

From Figure 1.4, we learn that the 'flying dorito' (mostly completely triangular) shape was considered optimal for the air to ground task. The 'high-agility/moderate-observables' air-to-air proposal looks quite a bit like a Eurofighter, which is exactly what the Eurofighter is.

There must be some fundamental engineering principles governing the shape. Hence my proposal that the flying dorito is designed to take on the missions of the retired F-111, F-117, A-6 (if land-based), and current F-15SE.

I think you are spot on in that assessment, apparently we'll know in a few months.

I would like to add a few aircraft types to your list: EA-6B and EF-111..

Hey I'm just throwing this out there. A little while a go someone made a thread about the Northrop commercial that was recently released. There are some interesting images of aircraft that they put into the commercial. Could it be northrop testing a new bit of kit ?


Although that Boeing looks good

a reply to: TAGBOARD

Doesn't anyone else think it's odd how Zaphod58 has been here silent since this post?

Not saying there's a connection, but I'm not saying there isn't either.

a reply to: cmdrkeenkid

Sadly, nothing to do with that post. Truck finally got fixed so I'm back on the road.

And just watching where you guys go with this.

Being that I live kinda close to an active AF base,
I'll keep an eye peeled for overhead crazy flying things.


(jeez, I somehow de-flagged this. Opinion of new layout is, meh.)

I'll just wander off now.

Check this out:

deepbluehorizon.blogspot.com...

a reply to: Sammamishman

Nice backtracking.

originally posted by: Sammamishman
Check this out:

deepbluehorizon.blogspot.com...

Lol and they expect us to believe that. This statement makes me a little confused
“Given the resolution of this photo, we can’t even tell if it is a military
aircraft, much less an Air Force one,” Air Force spokeswoman Jennifer Cassidy told USNI News on April 21.

So they can't tell if it's military yet they can say it was a b2 ... Or am I reading that wrong

And if it was a b2 why has it taken them so long to say so

a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

They had to wait and make sure to fly some B-2s over the area so they weren't lying.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Yeah, right? It only took them 1 1/2 months to come out and say they are B2's after they said they weren't. Total Air Force BS.

a reply to: Sammamishman

I've seen worse, just not recently. You should have heard them with the Nighthawk. Now THAT was funny.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I guess this is just the Air Force's modus operandi when going white with something.

a reply to: Sammamishman

Pretty much. After all, can't admit it's flying already. They will release things on their schedule, regardless of what's seen.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Would they not be better off just saying they can't comment at this time instead of spinning off a few lines of BS.

a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

It's the culture of secrecy that's ingrained into them. They think it's better to cover than say no comment.

a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

I'm just wondering if the press conference took place in Malaysia? (sarcasm)

Secondly (And I know it's a deflecting statement), but if it's NOT military and the Air Force doesn't know.... well that worries me more than any other scenario!

Not really. Just in a funny way.

originally posted by: emsed1
Secondly (And I know it's a deflecting statement), but if it's NOT military and the Air Force doesn't know.... well that worries me more than any other scenario!

If it's a test aircraft owned by a contractor, then no, it's not military.

If it's an aircraft operated by CIA, then no it's not military.

If it's an aircraft operated by Navy, then Air Force says they don't know about it either.

You will find that non-political unelected employees official US government rarely outright lie in public, but they don't have problems with people jumping to erroneous conclusions and failing to correct them.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: ThePeaceMaker

It's the culture of secrecy that's ingrained into them. They think it's better to cover than say no comment.

But they did say "no comment" aka "oh the resolution is too low for us to make any comment"

My best conjecture to date, of the Long-Range Strike-B finalists:

Northrop Grumman LRS-B

- Team: Northrop Grumman Palmdale (prime)/Northrop Grumman El Segundo
- Spotted over Amarillo, TX in spring 2014.
- Squib ejected non-moving canard, to trim higher max lift coefficient to meet takeoff roll requirements.
- Higher quarter chord sweep and area ruling to enable transonic to low supersonic performance.
- Forward conic-shaped protruding chine line, to allow greater line of sight forward and down for piloted configuration.
- Concave trailing edge to ensure aerodynamic center remains closer to center of mass in both subsonic (quarter chord) and supersonic (half chord) flight operations.
- Two upper surface low-distortion, serpentine inlets - feeding two turbofan engines.
- Single centerline rotary weapon bay.

Boeing/Lockheed Martin LRS-B

- Team: Boeing St. Louis (prime)/Lockheed Fort Worth (using Boeing Seattle original 988-122 design)
- Spotted over Wichita, KS in spring 2014.
- A-12 Avenger heritage.
- Boeing St. Louis lead System Integrator.
- No canard, pure spanloader - higher takeoff speeds required.
- Lower quarter chord sweep and slight area ruling to enable transonic performance.
- Two below-chine, ram-air, serpentine, low distortion inlets into inlet duct, feeding two turbofan engines.
- Single centerline rotary weapon bay.

Sketch of Both LRS-B Finalists

Sorry, a better image is coming.

a reply to: TAGBOARD

The decision appears to have been made, just not announced yet.