Discussion
MartG said:
I thought it was hard enough flying them into an airfield, never mind onto a carrier
Yes, but you'll notice that it's radicallt different in configuration to what was a 'normal' Lightning - not the swing wing design 
Was a BAC proposal to prevent the FAA order for the Phantom IIRC.
Someone has had a go at building one.
I suppose with the swing wing the section of wing the undercarriage is fixed to would be naturally stronger (looks like the modeller has used Buccaneer undercarriage) but it looks ungainly overweight and adding weight to a Lightning that already has a short range would have made it shorter still.
I suppose with the swing wing the section of wing the undercarriage is fixed to would be naturally stronger (looks like the modeller has used Buccaneer undercarriage) but it looks ungainly overweight and adding weight to a Lightning that already has a short range would have made it shorter still.
I wouldn't think it would be an easy thing to do with the Lightning. The Phantom was designed from the outset as a carrier borne fighter/bomber. It's wing was designed from the very beginning to accept the heavy loads experienced on a carrier landing.
The Lightning was designed as a land based point interceptor so it would have need a pretty much completely redesigned wing, wing spar and undercarriage assembly.
The Lightning was designed as a land based point interceptor so it would have need a pretty much completely redesigned wing, wing spar and undercarriage assembly.
True, there are a few military aircraft designed for carrier use that turned into world class land based fighters. Can't think of any the other way about except maybe the Harrier as a slightly special case. Mind you, I'm sure a couple of people here can think of other examples.
Corsair
Phantom
Buccaneer
F18 (Admittedly descended from the YF17).
Arguably F14.
Vs
Hurricane had it's moments.
B25 had it's moment.
Corsair
Phantom
Buccaneer
F18 (Admittedly descended from the YF17).
Arguably F14.
Vs
Hurricane had it's moments.
B25 had it's moment.
The Seafire performed OK but it still had undesirable characteristics for a ship borne aircraft.
In the more modern era, we had an attempt at a ship based Jaguar and a ship based version of the F-111. Neither entered service.
When McDonell Douglas got the rights to redesign the Hawk into a naval training aircraft the whole aeroplane ended up being almost completely redesigned from scratch.
In m y opinion, the best example of a conventional land based aircraft converting to a carrier borne role is the Dassault Rafale.
In the more modern era, we had an attempt at a ship based Jaguar and a ship based version of the F-111. Neither entered service.
When McDonell Douglas got the rights to redesign the Hawk into a naval training aircraft the whole aeroplane ended up being almost completely redesigned from scratch.
In m y opinion, the best example of a conventional land based aircraft converting to a carrier borne role is the Dassault Rafale.
I wasn't aware that the Russians had a fully operation large carrier in service. I thought they had sold the only one they had.
The MiG 29 first flew in 1977 - so they've finally managed to get a naval version after 37 years.
And of course, in the modern era, it SHOULD be possible to design an aircraft from the outset that is usable off land or off a ship. It's just that previous attempts to do this have not been massively successful - or have proved much more difficult to achieve.
Obviously, if you through enough money at a project, you will get the outcome you want.
The MiG 29 first flew in 1977 - so they've finally managed to get a naval version after 37 years.
And of course, in the modern era, it SHOULD be possible to design an aircraft from the outset that is usable off land or off a ship. It's just that previous attempts to do this have not been massively successful - or have proved much more difficult to achieve.
Obviously, if you through enough money at a project, you will get the outcome you want.
Eric Mc said:
I wasn't aware that the Russians had a fully operation large carrier in service. I thought they had sold the only one they had.
The Admiral Kuznetzov is currently in service, in fact I believe she recently transited the English Channel. She carries SU-33's. It was her sister hull that got sold in a very roundabout way to China.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff