DOCSLIB.ORG

Supermarine Attacker

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Supermarine Attacker ilEyl I M# EI Supermarine Attacker The Attacker was the first jet aircraft to see operational service with the Royal Navy. Originally inspired by a RAF specification, the Attacker was the result of mating the Rolls-Royce Nene 3 jet engine to the laminar-flow wing of the Supermarine Spiteful. The initial design retained the Spiteful/Seafang laminar-flow wing, including the cannon armament and conventional, tail- dragging landing gear. After problems with directional snaking and the loss of a production Attacker on a test flight, the vertical stabilizer was fitted with a large and distinctive dorsal extention. 181 Attackers were eventually produced, including 36 forthe Royal Pakistan Air Force, the sole export customer. Royal Navy Attackers entered service on 22 August, 1951 with 800 Squadron, and continued to serve in ever-diminishing roles until 1957. While the Attacker was never to be considered an outstanding aircraft, it did bring the Royal Navy out of the propeller era, and paved the way for the higher-performance Sea Hawks and Sea Venoms to come. Attacker Specifications Powerptant: 1x RR Nene 3 turbojet Armament: 4x 20mm Cannon, provision for various bombtoads Wing Span: 36'11" Length: 37',6" Maximum Speed: 590 mph This modet kit is intended for experienced modeters. The nature of [ow-pressure motded kits such as this require additional time and effort to ctean up and fit the parts, as wetl as experience with the various media utitized to provide the most accurate effect on the finished modet. Use CyA ('super') gtue to assembte Resin parts. Ctassic Airframes P.O. Box 577580 Chicago, lL 60657-7580 USA Assembty lnstruction Symbots *u.,,,HL.,o m .H H f, --r*-,8-,.*sErBuEs Paint Reference Guide s*@t trd Atuminum ffiffi Black re BuffLinen ffi"ffi ffi Black-grey BurntMetat #rffi GunmetaI ffi ffi ffi#ffi{ Parts PL&$TIfl Pf{RfS mfr$tfs p$"RTs ----1 tl--<.A:""?9'"2 I tr"-,r,s*--u--* :, loo- .rffi < -1:f-=-----;-H""-o;,_l' -l@r5-__=_/-\_ 4_ h db_ "[-/ [--4t R5 R6 "--4 H .1- e3 H8 R9 Rlo . Rlr rffi10 : r-!-A r"--!\ & L| \--cr--t------l"o 1=n ["-r4 Eir0D. ln l7 W frNl,,t H 20 24 38 ^f F+ E r:@ t-=r 19 23 33 36 37 @@ tr:3 @ .@ DG R18 4:32 a 30 f'! t&$ IlfrilYfl d.m I*tr-Ji"ttl I l\ItY-? t-E*',J C \",h t Lfi 3"&${ i }r E= A 2829wr#31 18 22 rtfi m 27 17 27 2s (2xl c1 lnstrument ponel is Satin Block with White pEs and Silver detoils 5eaf is Block-grey. Headrest is Black or Dark Brown. R4 Pull handle R17 obove heodrest is Yellow. Be sure to dry-fit ond check alignment of oll ports ffi during assembly. All cockpit parts R14 38 Be sure to dry-fit ond check alignment of atl parts You may elect to instoll canopy (Cl) after the rest of during ossembly. ossembty is complete. Tailwheel strut, wheel hubs @ interiors of wheelwell and daors E'5FE 36 26 E Tires ft-=G t@EE =.ffi Be sure to dry-fit Note stobilizer dihedrat angle PE5 ond check alignment of all ports Note position during assembty. Note positions of PE parts Be sure to dry-fit Be sure to dry-fit ond check alignment of all parts and check alignment of all parts during assembly. during assembly. &s$ Wheel hub, interior of Wheel hub, interior of Tire Tire nosegear welt, struts and nosegear well, struts and insides of doors insides of doors I l N,4 Note alignment WNote alignment Attacker F 1 pNNrtNG &, IARKING cuDE 800 Squadron, HMS Eagte, circa '1953 Extra Dark Sea Grey Sky FS 36118 FS 334504 View this Color &. ttarking Guide in color ot www.clossicoirf romes.com Attacker FB. 2 pA,NrNG &, IARKING GnDE 1831 Squadron, RNVR, Cheshire, circa 1955 Extra DarkSea Grey sky FS 36118 FS 33rt5o4 Yiew this Color & llorking Guide i n color ot www.clossicoi rf romes.com Attackgr pNNrtNc & ttARKtNG GutDE Royat Pakistan Air Force, circa 1953 ffi ]l:t:l:l:tu Alumlnum View this Color &, lfiorking Guide i n colo r of www. classi coi r f rames. am.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Cat No Ref Title Author 3170 H3 an Airman's
    Cat Ref Title Author OS Sqdn and other info No 3170 H3 An Airman's Outing "Contact" 1842 B2 History of 607 Sqn R Aux AF, County of 607 Sqn Association 607 RAAF 2898 B4 AAF (Army Air Forces) The Official Guide AAF 1465 G2 British Airship at War 1914-1918 (The) Abbott, P 2504 G2 British Airship at War 1914-1918 (The) Abbott, P 790 B3 Post War Yorkshire Airfields Abraham, Barry 2654 C3 On the Edge of Flight - Development and Absolon, E W Engineering of Aircraft 3307 H1 Looking Up At The Sky. 50 years flying with Adcock, Sid the RAF 1592 F1 Burning Blue: A New History of the Battle of Addison, P/Craig JA Britain (The) 942 F5 History of the German Night Fighter Force Aders, Gerbhard 1917-1945 2392 B1 From the Ground Up Adkin, F 462 A3 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Aero Publishers' Staff 961 A1 Pictorial Review Aeroplane 1190 J5 Aeroplane 1993 Aeroplane 1191 J5 Aeroplane 1998 Aeroplane 1192 J5 Aeroplane 1992 Aeroplane 1193 J5 Aeroplane 1997 Aeroplane 1194 J5 Aeroplane 1994 Aeroplane 1195 J5 Aeroplane 1990 Aeroplane Cat Ref Title Author OS Sqdn and other info No 1196 J5 Aeroplane 1994 Aeroplane 1197 J5 Aeroplane 1989 Aeroplane 1198 J5 Aeroplane 1991 Aeroplane 1200 J5 Aeroplane 1995 Aeroplane 1201 J5 Aeroplane 1996 Aeroplane 1525 J5 Aeroplane 1974 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1526 J5 Aeroplane 1975 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1527 J5 Aeroplane 1976 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1528 J5 Aeroplane 1977 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1529 J5 Aeroplane 1978 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1530 J5 Aeroplane 1979 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1531 J5 Aeroplane 1980 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1532 J5 Aeroplane 1981 Aeroplane (Pub.) 1533 J5
    [Show full text]
  • January Cover.Indd
    Aircraft Detail In Action Armor Detail In Action Available in Both Hard & Softcover! NEW F8F Bearcat Detail in Action NEW M19-M20 Tank Transporter Detail in Action Doyle. The Grumman F8F Bearcat represents the pinnacle of US carrier-borne piston-engine fighter design. Marrying Doyle. Collectively known as the M19 Heavy Tank Transporter, this truck and trailer combination was conceived at the a compact, lightweight airframe with a powerful 18-cylinder Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp radial engine churning behest of British in 1941, and was later used by the United States Army as well. The prime mover for the combination out more than 2,000 horsepower produced an aircraft intended to be an interceptor that could operate from the was the Diamond T model 980 or 981 12-ton truck, known as the M20, while the 45-ton capacity full trailer it smallest escort carriers. While the Bearcat prototype first took to the air in August 1944, and the first squadron towed was designated the M9. The combination saw widespread use during World War II, and well into the postwar equipped with the new fighters was operational in May 1945, the war ended before the Bearcat actually saw combat years. Explores the development, use, and details of these wartime workhorses. Illustrated with 222 photographs (64 in World War II. The type would ultimately see combat in the First Indochina War. Visually chronicles this diminutive black-and-white vintage photographs in conjunction with 158 detailed full-color photos of immaculately preserved fighter with ample images and captures the nuances of this famed warbird.
    [Show full text]
  • Master Narrative Ours Is the Epic Story of the Royal Navy, Its Impact on Britain and the World from Its Origins in 625 A.D
    NMRN Master Narrative Ours is the epic story of the Royal Navy, its impact on Britain and the world from its origins in 625 A.D. to the present day. We will tell this emotionally-coloured and nuanced story, one of triumph and achievement as well as failure and muddle, through four key themes:- People. We tell the story of the Royal Navy’s people. We examine the qualities that distinguish people serving at sea: courage, loyalty and sacrifice but also incidents of ignorance, cruelty and cowardice. We trace the changes from the amateur ‘soldiers at sea’, through the professionalization of officers and then ships’ companies, onto the ‘citizen sailors’ who fought the World Wars and finally to today’s small, elite force of men and women. We highlight the change as people are rewarded in war with personal profit and prize money but then dispensed with in peace, to the different kind of recognition given to salaried public servants. Increasingly the people’s story becomes one of highly trained specialists, often serving in branches with strong corporate identities: the Royal Marines, the Submarine Service and the Fleet Air Arm. We will examine these identities and the Royal Navy’s unique camaraderie, characterised by simultaneous loyalties to ship, trade, branch, service and comrades. Purpose. We tell the story of the Royal Navy’s roles in the past, and explain its purpose today. Using examples of what the service did and continues to do, we show how for centuries it was the pre-eminent agent of first the British Crown and then of state policy throughout the world.
    [Show full text]
  • RAF Centenary 100 Famous Aircraft Vol 3: Fighters and Bombers of the Cold War
    RAF Centenary 100 Famous Aircraft Vol 3: Fighters and Bombers of the Cold War INCLUDING Lightning Canberra Harrier Vulcan www.keypublishing.com RARE IMAGES AND PERIOD CUTAWAYS ISSUE 38 £7.95 AA38_p1.indd 1 29/05/2018 18:15 Your favourite magazine is also available digitally. DOWNLOAD THE APP NOW FOR FREE. FREE APP In app issue £6.99 2 Months £5.99 Annual £29.99 SEARCH: Aviation Archive Read on your iPhone & iPad Android PC & Mac Blackberry kindle fi re Windows 10 SEARCH SEARCH ALSO FLYPAST AEROPLANE FREE APP AVAILABLE FOR FREE APP IN APP ISSUES £3.99 IN APP ISSUES £3.99 DOWNLOAD How it Works. Simply download the Aviation Archive app. Once you have the app, you will be able to download new or back issues for less than newsstand price! Don’t forget to register for your Pocketmags account. This will protect your purchase in the event of a damaged or lost device. It will also allow you to view your purchases on multiple platforms. PC, Mac & iTunes Windows 10 Available on PC, Mac, Blackberry, Windows 10 and kindle fire from Requirements for app: registered iTunes account on Apple iPhone,iPad or iPod Touch. Internet connection required for initial download. Published by Key Publishing Ltd. The entire contents of these titles are © copyright 2018. All rights reserved. App prices subject to change. 321/18 INTRODUCTION 3 RAF Centenary 100 Famous Aircraft Vol 3: Fighters and Bombers of the Cold War cramble! Scramble! The aircraft may change, but the ethos keeping world peace. The threat from the East never entirely dissipated remains the same.
    [Show full text]
  • LCSH Section J
    J (Computer program language) J. I. Case tractors Thurmond Dam (S.C.) BT Object-oriented programming languages USE Case tractors BT Dams—South Carolina J (Locomotive) (Not Subd Geog) J.J. Glessner House (Chicago, Ill.) J. Strom Thurmond Lake (Ga. and S.C.) BT Locomotives USE Glessner House (Chicago, Ill.) UF Clark Hill Lake (Ga. and S.C.) [Former J & R Landfill (Ill.) J.J. "Jake" Pickle Federal Building (Austin, Tex.) heading] UF J and R Landfill (Ill.) UF "Jake" Pickle Federal Building (Austin, Tex.) Clark Hill Reservoir (Ga. and S.C.) J&R Landfill (Ill.) Pickle Federal Building (Austin, Tex.) Clarks Hill Reservoir (Ga. and S.C.) BT Sanitary landfills—Illinois BT Public buildings—Texas Strom Thurmond Lake (Ga. and S.C.) J. & W. Seligman and Company Building (New York, J. James Exon Federal Bureau of Investigation Building Thurmond Lake (Ga. and S.C.) N.Y.) (Omaha, Neb.) BT Lakes—Georgia USE Banca Commerciale Italiana Building (New UF Exon Federal Bureau of Investigation Building Lakes—South Carolina York, N.Y.) (Omaha, Neb.) Reservoirs—Georgia J 29 (Jet fighter plane) BT Public buildings—Nebraska Reservoirs—South Carolina USE Saab 29 (Jet fighter plane) J. Kenneth Robinson Postal Building (Winchester, Va.) J.T. Berry Site (Mass.) J.A. Ranch (Tex.) UF Robinson Postal Building (Winchester, Va.) UF Berry Site (Mass.) BT Ranches—Texas BT Post office buildings—Virginia BT Massachusetts—Antiquities J. Alfred Prufrock (Fictitious character) J.L. Dawkins Post Office Building (Fayetteville, N.C.) J.T. Nickel Family Nature and Wildlife Preserve (Okla.) USE Prufrock, J. Alfred (Fictitious character) UF Dawkins Post Office Building (Fayetteville, UF J.T.
    [Show full text]
  • Raiden Miniatures Voting File Top 16 Votes Me-264 11 CR.42 8 Spitfire Mk22/24 8 He 115 8 8 P38 Lightning 8 Me-262 7 ME 263 7
    Sheet1 Raiden Miniatures Voting File Top 16 Votes Me-264 11 CR.42 8 Spitfire Mk22/24 8 He 115 8 Focke Wulf FW187 8 P38 Lightning 8 Me-262 7 ME 263 7 B-17G 7 F-86 Sabre 7 Mig 15 7 F8F Bearcat 6 N1K1 Rex Floatplane 6 Yak-15 6 Breda Ba.88 Lince 6 RO 37 6 British Votes Spitfire Mk22/24 8 Bristol Blenheim I 5 Fairy Battle 5 De Havilland Hornet 5 De Haviland Mosquito 5 Miles Master M.20 5 Hawker Typhoon 5 Bolton Paul Defiant 4 Page 1 Sheet1 Seafang 4 Spiteful 4 Hawker Hart (inline engine) 4 Hawker Sea Hawk 3 De Haviland DH100 'Vampire' 3 Supermarine Attacker 3 Vickers Valiant 3 Hawker Hart (Radial Engine) 2 Fairey Monofox 2 Hawker Demon 2 Vickers Vincent 2 Bristol Brigand 2 Gloster Gauntlet 2 Hurricane IID (40mm AT) 2 Spitfire XIV 2 Commonweath CA 15 2 Blackburn Botha 2 Meteor I 1 Fairey Firefly 1 Spitfire V Floatplane 1 Hawker Fury 1 Bristol Bulldog 1 Bristol Bulldog (radial) 1 Supermarine Swift 1 Handley Page Victor 1 Avro Lancaster 1 Bristol Beaufighter TFX 1 Gloster Pioneer 1 Page 2 Sheet1 De Havilland DH 89 Rapide 1 De Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth 1 Westland Whirlwind (fighter) 1 Tempest II 1 TSR2 1 Spitfire Vb 1 Tornado F.3 1 Spitfire VIII 1 Spitfire IX 1 Sepecat Jaguar 1 Handley page Halifax II (triangular fin & Merlin Engines) 1 Handley page Halifax III (Square fin & Hercules Engines) 1 English Electric Lightning 1 Hector Fox 1 German Votes Me-264 11 He115 8 Focke Wulf FW187 8 Me 262 7 ME 263 7 JU-87G Stuka 5 DO 17 5 Arado Ar-234C (4 BMW jets) 4 He 280 4 Blohm und Voss BV 40 (Glider Fighter) 4 Ar 68 4 DO 22 4 Page 3 Sheet1 FW P.VII Flitzer
    [Show full text]
  • RAF Wymeswold Part 2
    Part Two 1954 to 1955 RAF Wymeswold– Postwar Flying 1948 to 1970 (with a Second World War postscript) RichardKnight text © RichardKnight 2019–20 illustrations © as credited 2019–20 The moral rights of the author and illustrators have been asserted. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written permission from the author, except for brief passages quoted in reviews. Published as six downloadablePDFfiles only by the author in conjunction with the WoldsHistorical Organisation 2020. This is the history of an aerodrome, not an official document. It has been drawn from memories and formal records and should give a reliable picture of what took place. Any discrepancies are my responsibility. RichardKnight [email protected]. Abbreviations used for Royal Air Force ranks PltOff Pilot Officer FgOff Flying Officer FltLt Flight Lieutenant SqnLdr Squadron Leader WgCdr Wing Commander GpCapt Group Captain A Cdr Air Commodore Contents This account of RAF Wymeswoldis published as six free-to-downloadPDFs. All the necessary links are at www.hoap/who#raf Part One 1946 to 1954 Farewell Dakotas; 504 Sqn.Spitfires to Meteors Part Two 1954 to 1955 Rolls Roycetest fleet and sonic bangs; 504 Sqn.Meteors; RAFAAir Display; 56 SqnHunters Part Three 1956 to 1957 The WymeswoldWing (504 Sqn& 616 SqnMeteors); The WattishamWing (257 Sqn& 263 SqnHunters); Battle of Britain ‘At Home’ Part Four Memories from members of 504 Sqn On the ground and in the air Part Five 1958 to 1970 Field Aircraft Services: civilian & military aircraft; No. 2 Flying Training School; Provosts & Jet Provosts Part Six 1944 FrederickDixon’simages: of accommodation, Wellingtons, Hampdens, Horsasand C47s Videos There are several videos about RAF Wymeswold, four by RichardKnight:, and one by Cerrighedd: youtu.be/lto9rs86ZkY youtu.be/S6rN9nWrQpI youtu.be/7yj9Qb4Qjgo youtu.be/dkNnEV4QLwc www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTlMQkKvPkI You can try copy-and-pasting these URLsinto your browser.
    [Show full text]
  • Beyond the Spitfire : the Unseen Designs of RJ Mitchell
    BEYOND THE SPITFIRE : THE UNSEEN DESIGNS OF R.J. MITCHELL PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Ralph Pegram | 240 pages | 01 Oct 2016 | The History Press Ltd | 9780750965156 | English | Stroud, United Kingdom Beyond the Spitfire : The Unseen Designs of R.J. Mitchell PDF Book Best Selling in Nonfiction See all. Announcements Message board Help. Submit Back To Login. Joined Sep 6, Messages 1, Reaction score 1, Which Bond performed the least convincing love scene? McMillan , Hardcover 5. Mitchell Item Condition: New. But beyond this is a large body of concepts, early designs and projects that have never seen the light of day, the ideas generated by Mitchell and his team that never left the drawing board; stepping- stones on the way to later aircraft, sketched out concepts that withered on the vine, and projects that failed to attract orders. Jane's, Designation Systems. Back to top. This book of new research will challenge the traditional narratives of Irish migration, the stories It is also the Air Ministry which put up the money for building of the prototype. Inbunden Engelska, Showing 0 comments. Book arrived. Amazon Music Stream millions of songs. Mitchell - Schooldays to Spitfire — edited and in part written by Dr. I've to prepare anothe fight for this book. Mitchell had adopted an elliptical wing plan for his new aircraft, and this proved capable of holding four machine guns in each wing rather than the two it was originally envisioned as taking. Added to Cart. There are many places where an increase in font size and space requirement could be made up or surely the number of pages could have been increased without affecting materially the price of the book.
    [Show full text]
  • Aero Image Library Supermarine Scimitar Scale Drawing , Scimitar F Mk 1
    www.aeroillustrations.com Aero Image Library Aircraft Types: N to Z All artwork is supplied for reproduction under licence. Can't find what you're looking for ‐ contact Aero Illustrations, [email protected]. We can create an original illustration to suit your specific requirements. When ordering a drawing please quote the Drawing Code. Nieuport Includes the following types and variants built by this manufacturer: 28 Nieuport 28 Nieuport 28 Prototypes Aircraft Manufacturer, N.4434 Prototypes, Aircraft Manufacturer, June 1917 Villacoublay, France WW1 The first prototype featured total dihedral on the upper wing and was equipped with only one Vickers machine gun. The design evolved through several wing configurations and the production version (Nieuport 28 C.1) appeared 6 months later. Drawing code: NI28‐161 First prototype. Drawing code: NI28‐1612 Drawing code: NI28‐163 © Juanita Franzi 2011. All artworks are copyright Juanita Franzi and are protected under international copyright law. Artworks may not be reproduced without permission. www.aeroillustrations.com 19/05/2011 Nieuport 28 Page 2 of 107 [email protected] Aero Image Library Nieuport 28 28 C.1 US Air Service, 27th Aero Squadron N.6157 8 (Becky) 28 C.1, US Air Service, 27th Aero Squadron July 1918 France WW1 The chequered band on the wings and the "Screaming Eagle" were identifying marking of the 27th Aero Squadron. This aircraft was assigned to Lieutenant William J. Hoover. Drawing code: NI28‐211 N.6275 17 28 C.1, US Air Service, 27th Aero Squadron July 1918 France WW1 This aircraft was being flown by Lt Sands when he was shot down by Jasta 6 on 1 August 1918.
    [Show full text]
  • Trumpeter 1/48 Supermarine Attacker
    T rumpeter 1/48 Supermarine Attacker F.1 Roger Rasor, IPMS 34117 I built the Trumpeter 1/48 scale Supermarine Attacker F.1 for a kit review on the IPMS/USA website and was happy to have the opportunity. I have always though the aircraft was an interesting subject. It was one of those first generation jets that showed up in the aviation magazines when I was just beginning to pay attention to the array of aircraft that were replacing those that served in WWII. It also has been on my list of ‘someday projects’ for a few years, so the opportunity to build one for a kit review was something of a gift. And, when I surveyed the kit’s contents, it appeared to be an easier build than the other three that have been offered in 1/48 scale. I can personally attest to it being easier to build than the Classic Airframes kit because I started one of those five years ago and it is still in various stages of assembly (because the instructions guide you to install the intake splitters backwards early in the construction and it’s almost impossible to correct the error if you go much further…which I did!). Actually, that partially assembled CA kit would prove to be something of a blessing as I began building the Trumpeter kit. I’ll explain in a moment. As I noted in my IPMS/USA review, it seems amazing to me that this actually is the fourth 1/48 scale plastic kit of the Supermarine Attacker F.1 (the others being Classic Airframes, Falcon and Magna Models)…along with a handful of 1/72 kits, the latest coming from AZ.
    [Show full text]
  • The Aerodynamics of the Spitfire.Pdf
    Journal of Aeronautical History Draft 2 Paper No. 2016/03 The Aerodynamics of the Spitfire J. A. D. Ackroyd Abstract This paper is a sequel to earlier publications in this Journal which suggested a possible origin for the Spitfire’s wing planform. Here, new material provided by Collar’s drag comparison between the Spitfire and the Hurricane is described and rather more details are given on the Spitfire’s high subsonic Mach number performance. The paper also attempts to bring together other existing material so as to provide a more extensive picture of the Spitfire’s aerodynamics. 1. Introduction To celebrate the Spitfire’s eightieth year, the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Historical Group organised the Spitfire Seminar held at Hamilton Place, London, on 19th September 2016. This celebration offered the author the opportunity to talk about the aerodynamics of the (1, 2) Spitfire. Part of that lecture was based on material already published in this Journal which suggested that the semi-elliptical wing planform adopted could have come from earlier publications by Prandtl. Section 2 offers further thoughts on this planform choice, in particular how this interlinked with the structural decision to place the single wing spar at the quarter-chord point and the selection of the aerofoil section. Since the publication of References 1 and 2, new material has come to light in the form of an investigation by A. R. Collar in 1940 which compares the drags experienced by the Spitfire and the Hurricane. This investigation, described in Section 3, indicates that a significant part of the Spitfire’s lower drag can be attributed to the better boundary-layer behaviour produced by its wing’s thinner aerofoil section.
    [Show full text]
  • Print 02Pp001.Tif
    AIRCRAFT DESIGN INTEGRATION AND AFFORDABILITY 1. INTRODUCTION The design of combat aircraft has traditionally been at the forefront of the introduction of new technologies in the aerospace sector. This was hue during both World Wars, and perhaps even mcxe so during the Cold War, when the technology race accelerated. In that period, the pursuit of superior military capability, through the use of advanced technologies, had few constraints other than technical feasibility. The ‘victory’ of the West In the Cold War, or the collapse of the former Soviet Union, brought the eagernessto earn a ‘peace dividend’, made possible by the perception of a lesser threat. In fact, the former monolithic, readily identified enemy, has been replaced by a variety of threats, such as proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, regional conflicts and tensions, civil wars and terrorism. Thus upgrades of existing aircraft, and their future replacements, face a wider variety of no less stringent missions. The increase of the unit cost of combat aircraft has been identified for a few decades as a potential problem. The perception of a lesser threat, and reduced defence budgets, conspire with the wider variety of threats and the cost of advanced to technology, to pose an unprecedented challenge to the combat aircraft designer: to break the increasing cost spiral, thereby ensuring that new generations of combat aircraft remain affordable in sufficient quantities, while still meeting more stringent and diversified requirements. A brief review of the evolution over the last half-a-cenhuy, since the end of World War II, will highlight the cost and technology trends, which have led to the present situation of a difficult compromise between capability and affordability.
    [Show full text]