Are the Harrier and Jaguar "beautiful"?

[SeanNewman]

I always thought this design was beautiful.  I bought a model kit for it in around 1992 (?) I think.

Certainly more graceful looking than the F117.

 

[aesop081]

I always thought this design was beautiful.  I bought a model kit for it in around 1992 (?) I think.

As far as government fabricated disinformation campaigns come, its takes the prize, i agree.

 

[vonGarvin]

And that design made it into Red Storm Rising, the so-called "frisbee".  It also made it into the Game Designer's Workshop game of "The Third World War: Battle for Germany".  And it's first battle, Panama, was almost what, ten years after first entering service?

 

[SeanNewman]

I think it was first invented by game designer Micro Prose: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-19_Stealth_Fighter

And then the model kit followed it.  I was 11 in 1988 and remember thinking it was awesome.

 

[MarkOttawa]

This ain't bad, great name:

YF-23 Black Widow II
http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/man/uswpns/air/fighter/yf23.html

...A popular view is that the decision reflected a preference for maneuverability over stealth, and it is universally held that the YF-23 was by far the better looking aircraft...

Mark
Ottawa

 

[SeanNewman]

Mark,

I think that's a bold statement of the author to use the word "universal" without interviewing everyone in the universe.  I think that plane looks nowhere near as nice as the F22, mostly because the wings are too symmetrical so it doesn't look like it's going anywhere or cutting through the air.

 

[blacktriangle]

I always thought this design was beautiful.  I bought a model kit for it in around 1992 (?) I think.

Certainly more graceful looking than the F117.

Funny you should mention that design...reminds me of a 1986 edition of Popular science I have that predicted the upcoming stealth designs. The writers were on the right track with their design of a "flying wing" (B-2) but didn't quite get the fighter right...the example showed an F-19.

And ahh yes...the frisbee from RSR! Good book.

 

[vonGarvin]

The Germans were experimenting with a flying wing design:

 

[DonaldMcL]

*cough* Ahem *cough*

 

[aesop081]

If we are going to insist on talking about fighter-type aircraft, who can forget the RA-5C Vigilante :

 

[danchapps]

How about the CF 100?

 

[MarkOttawa]

CDN Aviator: I almost put up the Vigilante (another good, non-pc name) to oppose to the Harrier and Jaguar--but it's 50s vintage.

And there was the A3J before the "R" (which saw most service):
http://www.vectorsite.net/ava5.html

The rapid evolution of aircraft design in the 1950s led to new aircraft types with sleek lines [emphasis added] and impressive performance. One such aircraft was the North American A-5/RA-5 "Vigilante". The Vigilante was designed as a carrier-based strategic nuclear bomber, but would see action over Vietnam as a fast reconnaissance aircraft...

The Vigilante was designed to replace the Douglas A3D Skywarrior (AKA "Whale"), the USN's first all-jet nuclear bomber,
http://www.a3skywarrior.com/whaletales/finalwake.html

which itself replaced the North American AJ Savage (those names again):
http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/na_savage.php

Two radials and a jet.  Talk about a rapid evolution indeed (since much slowed) of aircraft to perform the same role, with NA in at start and finish.

Mark
Ottawa

 

[Edward Campbell]

The Vulcan, which entered service in the '50s, I think, as a strike bomber, served into the '80s - dropping iron bombs on sundry enemies of the British crown every now and again:

 

[Danjanou]

Guys I think we forgot one stunning local beauty

 

[DexOlesa]

We didn't forget. That things just ugly  :  ;D Of course I joke

 

[vonGarvin]

The Vulcan, which entered service in the '50s, I think, as a strike bomber, served into the '80s - dropping iron bombs on sundry enemies of the British crown every now and again:

Ah, yes, the Vulcan.  I recall seeing one when I was a wee-lad.  I was in Belleville, and it was en route to Trenton, probably for an airshow. 

 

[Rifleman62]

Some may interested in this forum: http://www.pprune.org/

Professional Pilots Rumour Network

 

[Oldgateboatdriver]

My 2c worth: Arrow hands down ...

Though I would also have to agree with CDN Aviator: An Orion showing up over my convoy always made me warm a fuzzy like 20 Hornets and Tomcats running CAP could not - Surely that makes it just a beautiful sight.

 

[aesop081]

Though I would also have to agree with CDN Aviator: An Orion showing up over my convoy always made me warm a fuzzy like 20 Hornets and Tomcats running CAP could not - Surely that makes it just a beautiful sight.

We aim to please......on station, on time, every time.

 

[SeanNewman]

The Germans were experimenting with a flying wing design:

That was no experiment, they got stable non-computer-assisted flight at 1,000 km/h at almost 50,000 ft.