Is this true?

[Rich H]

I always thought the RN were going to operate the F-35B STOVL from ther new carriers, but I guess I'm wrong.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/06 ... _carriers/

[C]

Yes.

[Mictheslik]

Really? It has been discussed on other Forums and there are quotes from the guy in charge of defence procurement that no decision has been made yet....would certainly be a blow to a lot of my friends who have connections at the RR plant at Filton if it is true...

Starting to wonder why we got ourselves involved with Dave in the first place.....

.mic

[C]

Makes sense really. STOVL is nice on a carrier, but catapult/wire leaves the operation a more capable warfighting airframe. For the RAF STOVL/VTOL is essentially a redundant capability now, so the increase commonality may be an advantage.

[Craig.]

For a little bit of info.
The RN's F35 was designed based on a very loose set of requirements. As I said before, they never stated it had to be capable of STOVL fully loaded. Only capable of it. So empty it's more than able to fulfill the task. Fully loaded, it wouldn't have much chance of it.

[expat]

So we are actually in danger of having a real aircraft carrier with a real catapult and real arrestor wires :-?............The thought of this is having effects on parts of me it probably shouldn't

Kleenex anyone

Matt

[Mictheslik]

So we are actually in danger of having a real aircraft carrier with a real catapult and real arrestor wires :-?............The thought of this is having effects on parts of me it probably shouldn't

Kleenex anyone

Matt

That's a classy video Matt....nice find

[Bruce448]

Prior to me leaving the Fleet Air arm we did some case studies for this aircraft and the new carriers, with the loose set of drawings and requirements for the aircraft and the carriers STOVL was never going to happen the aircraft was getting heavier by the day and was getting to the stage that it was unable to carry any weapon fit even in the conventional flight mode and on landing it would go through the flight deck.

[Fozzer]

So we are actually in danger of having a real aircraft carrier with a real catapult and real arrestor wires :-?............The thought of this is having effects on parts of me it probably shouldn't

Kleenex anyone

Matt

That's a classy video Matt....nice find

[EJW]

Thats good!

[expat]

Prior to me leaving the Fleet Air arm we did some case studies for this aircraft and the new carriers, with the loose set of drawings and requirements for the aircraft and the carriers STOVL was never going to happen the aircraft was getting heavier by the day and was getting to the stage that it was unable to carry any weapon fit even in the conventional flight mode and on landing it would go through the flight deck.

A prime example of trying to better something that is already perfect. The Harrier my be old (ish), but just like the B52, it is the only aircraft that can do what it does. Trying to redesign and better it with modern ideas, nine times out of ten you end up with something that looks good, but when you look closer you see it has a pronounced limp.

Matt