HMS Queen Elizabeth

[Toby]

F-35 cruises somewhere in the transonic range, V-22 cruises 241 kts, Helicopters cruise around 150Kts. You waste the most lethal weapon of all in aerial warfare jet fue,l if you try to launch all at the same time.

Right so in a scenario where the marines are being deployed by sea and air... that's the flight deck out of bounds for the F35B, you'd need 2 assault ships ?

[Dazed]

In that case you must using more than one assault ship. Looks like you guys use the entire flight deck when deploying F35B's or Harriers which gives not much room for helos

F-35 cruises somewhere in the transonic range, V-22 cruises 241 kts, Helicopters cruise around 150Kts. You waste the most lethal weapon of all in aerial warfare jet fue,l if you try to launch all at the same time.

[Toby]

I am of the opinion that these flight decks should be widened. The USN has not attempted to squeeze these ships through an old Panama Canal lock for 15 years. Plus the new locks will allow a wider ship anyway.

Thats an Important point.

Back on the ski jump 'The U.S. Air Force has examined the use of ski-jumps on land to enable short-field takeoffs. This was seen as "a possible solution to the runway denial problem in Europe" during the Cold War. When a ski-jump with a 9 degree exit angle is used, the takeoff roll of an F/A-18 Hornet can be cut in half.'

[surfgun]

I am of the opinion that these flight decks should be widened. The USN has not attempted to squeeze these ships through an old Panama Canal lock for 15 years. Plus the new locks will allow a wider ship anyway.

[Toby]

The aircraft are parked on the starboard side. The port side is used for flight ops.

http://www.navy.mil/management/photo...-XN518-233.JPG

Forgive me I'm trying to understand why the RN would be better off with an assault carrier rather than the QE. Ok, So a Marine Corp assault ship can conduct F35B and helo operation simultaneously? I'm looking at the deck space (fantastic pic) and it looks busy. similar to our old Invincible class just bigger

[surfgun]

The aircraft are parked on the starboard side. The port side is used for flight ops.

http://www.navy.mil/management/photo...-XN518-233.JPG

[Toby]

During 90% of operations the ESG is separated from the CSG. Only during the big operations (Desert Storm/Iraqi Freedom) has the Amphibs been under the carrier airwing umbrella.

Core ops,( NEO, Embassy reinforcement,.....) we are on our own.

In that case you must using more than one assault ship. Looks like you guys use the entire flight deck when deploying F35B's or Harriers which gives not much room for helos

[Gun Grape]

I was thinking of the CVN that would be covering them...

During 90% of operations the ESG is separated from the CSG. Only during the big operations (Desert Storm/Iraqi Freedom) has the Amphibs been under the carrier airwing umbrella.

Core ops,( NEO, Embassy reinforcement,.....) we are on our own.

Yes, but if the intercom fails, then what? In a single island, all you have to do is go up or down some stairs, or even open a door and pass notes or shout...

What? You want to violate Material Condition Zebra!!!!

When the intercom fails, you still have sound powered phones and hand held radios

[Toby]

Unfortunately, The Harrier. The 8As specifically. They worked the bugs out in the B model

They had the nickname "Carolina Lawn Dart" because of the number of accidents.

The wives at MCAS Cherry Point called them "The Black Widow" . Most accidents happened while in the hover mode while landing. The plane would flip onto its back. No way to escape that.

The first few years we had the Harriers, all the pilots were high hour, former test pilots. Keep accidents low so Congress would buy planes for the Corps. Remember this was one of the few "Not made here" planes ever in US service (Canberra being the other one) and many in Congress, and the Defense industry were against the plane.

Once new, less experienced pilots started going to the squadrons, they crashed on a regular basis.

I remember hearing some time back, Probably around 82 that the US were not sold on this aircraft...which would tally with your comment. I remember watching test films and the narrator explaining how this tech was groundbreaking in I think it was 69 that the first prototype was tested, need some help on that date. But I hear you! It was explained to me that the Falklands war was its proving ground...luckily we had the sidewinder also from the US...we'd have been screwed without em, operating at that distance.

[Toby]

The drone...

lol, sorry I can't help myself

[Toby]

Doesn't that require arrestor cables+catapult?

Not seen anything concrete on that...HMG have been pushed on this and have yet failed to respond....

[jlvfr]

Nah ..Helos are ok without :-)

The drone...

[Gun Grape]

lol The sidewinder or the harrier?

Unfortunately, The Harrier. The 8As specifically. They worked the bugs out in the B model

They had the nickname "Carolina Lawn Dart" because of the number of accidents.

The wives at MCAS Cherry Point called them "The Black Widow" . Most accidents happened while in the hover mode while landing. The plane would flip onto its back. No way to escape that.

The first few years we had the Harriers, all the pilots were high hour, former test pilots. Keep accidents low so Congress would buy planes for the Corps. Remember this was one of the few "Not made here" planes ever in US service (Canberra being the other one) and many in Congress, and the Defense industry were against the plane.

Once new, less experienced pilots started going to the squadrons, they crashed on a regular basis.

[Toby]

The tanker question is legit and I reckon the silence from MOD is in part because a particular project is in development phase and I reckon its unmanned..its a question which very righty RN have to answer.

[Toby]

For a while we used them as Lawn Darts.

lol The sidewinder or the harrier?