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| Science & Technology |
| VTOL Technically Difficulty |
| 2009-11-17 |
| It's now official. The new generation of high-tech hovering aircraft - namely the famous V-22 "Osprey" tilt rotor and the upcoming F-35B supersonic stealth jump-jet - have an unforeseen flaw. Their exhaust downwash is so hot as to melt the flight decks of US warships, leading Pentagon boffins to look into refrigerated landing pads. Stories of buckled flight decks caused by Osprey exhaust have been circulating for a while, but confirmation that the issue is seen as serious comes with the issue of a military request for proposals yesterday for "thermal management systems (TMS) for aircraft landing decks". The proposal makes it clear that the Osprey - which is now in active combat service with the US Marines following a painful twenty-year gestation - has already been fingered as a deck-damaging craft. The F-35B stealth jumpjet, which has just commenced hover flight testing, is also expected to be fielded soon by the Marines, and could be an even worse pad-melter. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose |
| #1 And hence, Virginia, we learn once again why that Guy from Guam promoted DECK DRAFT BLOWERS + VERTICAL CATAPULTS, etc. long ago to DARPA-USDOD. ION WAFF > REGISTER.UK > BOEING RAYGUN DREADNAUGHTS WILL RULE THE OCEANS BY 2019. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2009-11-17 21:25 |