Very Confused

Feanor · 11-01-2007, 04:51 AM

Ok so I was reading about the Su-34 Fullback recently, and several times it was referred to as the new 4th generation tac-bomber. Does that mean that the Fencer was 3rd generation? Making the Fitter 2nd generation? Or are we replacing one 4th gen, aircraft with another one here?

Oh and how do the generations of aircraft go any ways? I know most modern planes are 4th gen., with Raptor and JSF set to be 5th gen. along with the PAK-FA.

gunnut · 11-01-2007, 05:49 AM

Here's a quick and dirty run down of the differences between generations of fighters:

Fighter aircraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Both the Fitter and the Fencer belong to the 3rd generation. The Fencer being an all-weather variant. I guess the Fitter could belong to the 2nd generation along with the century series from US.

There's never a clear line on which one belongs where. Sometimes there are transition designs with features from across 2 generations.

Feanor · 11-01-2007, 08:16 AM

What about the Frogfoot? Time-scale wise it seems to be fourth-gen, but I recall reading somewhere it was a derivative of the Fencer. Would that make it third-gen?

glyn · 11-01-2007, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor

What about the Frogfoot? Time-scale wise it seems to be fourth-gen, but I recall reading somewhere it was a derivative of the Fencer. Would that make it third-gen?

Other than coming from the same OKB (design bureau) I don't think they have anything in common.

gunnut · 11-01-2007, 18:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor

What about the Frogfoot? Time-scale wise it seems to be fourth-gen, but I recall reading somewhere it was a derivative of the Fencer. Would that make it third-gen?

What glyn said.

Plus there are these specialty jets that were purposely designed to do a single mission very well.

A-10 was in the 4th generation era time wise, but it had none of the attributes. It was low and slow, rugged, virtually devoid of expensive avionics, and performed a single mission very very well.

The generation thing is merely a simple guideline to tell you approximately what time frame the design philosophy came about and what kind of performance you can expect. The are always expections to the rule, especially if you're talking about boutique planes.

Feanor · 11-01-2007, 21:01 PM

Ok thanks. That clears it up. So the Su-34, instead of being a powerful new plane, is simply an overdue catch up.

gunnut · 11-01-2007, 22:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feanor

Ok thanks. That clears it up. So the Su-34, instead of being a powerful new plane, is simply an overdue catch up.

I guess you can say that. Or you can look at the Su-34 as the F-15E of the Flanker family. It looks like a long range strike fighter or attack bomber. I don't know how much if the a2a ability it retains from the Su-27 family.

11-01-2007, 04:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
Feanor Banished Join Date: 06-12-07 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,385 Country:	Very Confused Ok so I was reading about the Su-34 Fullback recently, and several times it was referred to as the new 4th generation tac-bomber. Does that mean that the Fencer was 3rd generation? Making the Fitter 2nd generation? Or are we replacing one 4th gen, aircraft with another one here? Oh and how do the generations of aircraft go any ways? I know most modern planes are 4th gen., with Raptor and JSF set to be 5th gen. along with the PAK-FA.

11-01-2007, 05:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
gunnut *Senior Contributor* Join Date: 01-27-06 Location: DPRK, Democratik People's Republik of Kalifornia Posts: 9,353 Country:	Here's a quick and dirty run down of the differences between generations of fighters: Fighter aircraft - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Both the Fitter and the Fencer belong to the 3rd generation. The Fencer being an all-weather variant. I guess the Fitter could belong to the 2nd generation along with the century series from US. There's never a clear line on which one belongs where. Sometimes there are transition designs with features from across 2 generations. __________________ "Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.

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11-01-2007, 08:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
Feanor Banished Join Date: 06-12-07 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,385 Country:	What about the Frogfoot? Time-scale wise it seems to be fourth-gen, but I recall reading somewhere it was a derivative of the Fencer. Would that make it third-gen?

11-01-2007, 21:01 PM	#6 (permalink)
Feanor Banished Join Date: 06-12-07 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 2,385 Country:	Ok thanks. That clears it up. So the Su-34, instead of being a powerful new plane, is simply an overdue catch up.

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