The F117 Nighthawk

Airplane : Lockheed F117 Type : Camouflage caps hunters The F117 Nighthawk or Stealth fighter is one of the worlds strangest looking aircraft and the first operational machine to fully utilise stealth technology. It's design minimises both radar and infrared signitures by using a combination of special materials, angles and shielded jet intakes/outlets. Being black and flying at night help to hide the stealth fighter as well. The Lockheed 'Skunkworks' in California started development of this aircraft in 1978 and the first flight was made in 1981. Delivery was made to the USAF between 1982 and 1990 and totaled 54 aircraft. HISTORY:
First Flight	(Have Blue demonstrator) December 1977 (F-117A) 18 June 1981
Service Entry	1983
CREW:	1 pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	$45 million
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	unknown
Wing Tip	unknown
DIMENSIONS:
Length	65.92 ft (20.08 m)
Wingspan	43.25 ft (13.20 m)
Height	12.42 ft (3.78 m)
Wing Area	784 ft2 (73.0 m2)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	29,500 lb (13,381 kg)
Normal Takeoff	unknown
Max Takeoff	52,500 lb (23,814 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: unknown external: unknown
Max Payload	5,000 lb (2,268 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	two General Electric F404-F1D2 turbofans
Thrust	21,600 lb (96.0 kN)
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 646 mph (1,040 km/h) at sea level: unknown
Initial Climb Rate	unknown
Service Ceiling	unknown
Range	1,140 nm (2,110 km) with max payload
g-Limits	+6
ARMAMENT:
Gun	none
Stations	two internal weapons bays with one hardpoint each
Air-to-Air Missile	AIM-9 Sidewinder
Air-to-Surface Missile	AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM
Bomb	up to two GBU-10/-27 LGB
Other	gun pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
Have Blue or XST	Code name for the Experimental Stealth Technology (XST) program led by the USAF and intended to develop the capability to greatly reduce aircraft radar signature; 2 built (both crashed)
F-117A	Production stealth attack bomber; 59 built
F-117B	Proposed improved model with radar, not built
F-117N or A/F-117X	Proposed naval version, not built
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Panama - Operation Just Cause (USAF, 1989) Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, 1991) Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999) Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003-present)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	United States (US Air Force)
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

F104 Starfighter

Airplane: Lockheed F104 Starfighter Type: Multi-purpose fighter HISTORY:
First Flight	(XF-104) 7 February 1954
Service Entry	January 1958
Retirement	(F-104S) 27 October 2004
CREW:	1 pilot
ESTIMATED COST:	unknown
AIRFOIL SECTIONS:
Wing Root	Biconvex 3.36%
Wing Tip	Biconvex 3.36%
DIMENSIONS:
Length	54.75 ft (16.69 m)
Wingspan	21.92 ft (6.68 m)
Height	13.50 ft (4.11 m)
Wing Area	196.1 ft2 (18.22 m2)
Canard Area	not applicable
WEIGHTS:
Empty	14,082 lb (6,387 kg)
Typical Load	unknown
Max Takeoff	28,779 lb (13,054 kg)
Fuel Capacity	internal: 5,822 lb (2,641 kg) external: 5,538 lb (2,512 kg)
Max Payload	4,310 lb (1,995 kg)
PROPULSION:
Powerplant	one General Electric J79-19 turbojet
Thrust	10,000 lb (44.5 kN) 15,800 lb (70.28 kN) with afterburner
PERFORMANCE:
Max Level Speed	at altitude: 1,450 mph (2,335 km/h) at 36,000 ft (10,975 m), Mach 2.2 at sea level: Mach 1.2
Initial Climb Rate	50,000 ft (15,239 m) / min
Service Ceiling	58,000 ft (17,680 m) 90,000 ft (27,430 m) zoom ceiling
Range	typical: 260 nm (480 km) with max payload ferry: 1,576 nm (2,920 km)
g-Limits	unknown
ARMAMENT:
Gun	one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon (750 rds)
Stations	7 external hardpoints and 2 wingtip rails
Air-to-Air Missile	AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-7 Sparrow, Apside
Air-to-Surface Missile	AGM-65 Maverick, Kormoran, Penguin
Bomb	nuclear bombs, Mk 82/83 GP, cluster bombs
Other	rocket pods, ECM pods
KNOWN VARIANTS:
XF-104	Prototype
YF-104	Pre-production aircraft used to test different engines; 17 built
F-104A	Production model for the USAF with blown flaps to reduce landing speeds; 153 built
NF-104A	F-104A airframes used for astronaut training; 3 converted
QF-104A	YF-104 and F-104A aircraft used as radio-controlled target drones
F-104B	Two-seat trainer based on the F-104A but with new fuel system and armament layout; 26 built
F-104C	Upgraded one-seat tactical fighter bomber used by the USAF with a new engine and armed with Sidewinder missiles, bombs, or rocket pods; 77 built
F-104D	Two-seat trainer based on the F-104C model; 21 built
CF-104D	Canadian two-seat trainer built under license; 38 built
F-104DJ	Two-seat trainer for Japan; 20 built
F-104F	Improved attack fighter based on the F-104D model and sold to Germany; 30 built
F-104G	German multi-role fighter with ground attack capability, aerodynamic refinements, stronger airframe, more advanced avionics, and a new engine; 1,127 built for European countries
TF-104G	German two-seat trainer; 220 built
RF-104G	German reconnaissance model with a camera pod in place of the Vulcan cannon; 189 built
RTF-104G	Two-seat trainer that can be equipped for reconnaissance duties
CF-104	Canadian multi-role fighter based on the F-104G and built under license; 200 built
F-104J	Japanese multi-role fighter based on the F-104G and built under license; 210 built
F-104N	F-104G aircraft built for NASA as supersonic chase planes
F-104S	Multi-role fighter based on the F-104G and built by Aeritalia for Italy and Turkey, last operational version; 245 built
F-104S ASA	Italian F-104S models upgraded by Aeritalia/Alenia under the Aggiornamento Sistemi d'Arma program with new radar, avionics, and weapon systems; 150 converted
F-104S ASA M	Final modernization program to keep the Italian F-104S ASA fleet in service into the 21st century by replacing outdated power systems and navigation avionics to improve maintainability; approximately 100 converted
KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:	Vietnam War (USAF, 1965-1968) Bangladesh War (Pakistan, 1971)
KNOWN OPERATORS:	US Air Force Belgium Canada Denmark German Air Force German Navy Greece Italy Japan Netherlands Norway Pakistan Spain Taiwan Turkey
3-VIEW SCHEMATIC:

Horton Ho

Airplane: Horton Ho
Type: Prototype
Technical data:
Engine: two BMW 003 turbines
Achievement: approx. 800 kmh Weight: approx. 9080 kg
Dimension: Span 16,00m
Weapons: four 30mm cannons, up to 900kg bomb load
Picture: Horton Ho

At first sight this in looks person fighter-bomber simply like a wing without tail. If one looks more exactly, one that around snap themselves it, notices jet with large range acts, armed with a deadly combination out of machine guns and unguided rocket the perfect fight soil attack combination. Do not let you from the fragile exterior be deceptive, this is nevertheless a strong, maneuverable flight machine and in the hands of a capable German pilot, it can cause serious damage.

Sr71 Blackbird

Airplane: Lockheed Sr71 Blackbird Type: strategic reconnaissance aircraft Technical data: Engine: two Pratt%Whitney JT11D20B turbines Achievement: 3219 kmh, service ceiling of 24385m, operation radius 2400 km Weight: Unloaded weight 27216kg, takeoff weight 77111kg Dimension: Span 16,94m, length 32,74m, height of 5,64m Weapons: none Picture: Lockheed Sr71 Blackbird

Heinkel He162 Salamander

Airplane: Heinkel He162 Salamander
type: single-seat interceptor
technical data:
Engine: a BMW 003A1 jet engine
achievement: 840 kmh, service ceiling of 12040m
weight: Unloaded weight 2050kg, takeoff weight 2695kg
dimension: Span 7,20m, length 9,05m, height of 2,55m
weapons: two 20mm mg picture: Heinkel He162 Salamander

F-14 Tomcat

F-14 Tomcat is one of the most famous American hunters of the end of the 20th
century, made popular by many novels and films, of which memorable Top Gun. This imposing two-seater was designed at the end of the years 1960 for the defense of the fleets of aircraft carrier, the project of a navalized version of F-111 Aardvark not having given satisfactory results. The aerofoil with variable arrow of Tomcat facilitates takeoff and the landing, while allowing a high dash speed for the missions of interception. One of the principal assets of this apparatus resides in its radar at long range: F-14 can urge a aggressor before itself to be located, thanks to a radar Hughes AWG-9 who can follow 24 targets and attack of them 6 simultaneously very continuously to sweep space on 3 dimensions. F-14 is armed with a Vulcan gun of 20 mm and can carry an offensive load of 5900 kg, composed of air-to-air missiles of all the ranges as well as smooth and guided bombs. The privileged air-to-air weapon of Tomcat is remarkable missile AIM-54 Phoenix, of a range of 160 km. Even at the time of the Cold war, little country could be allowed to acquire this very expensive hunter (approx. 38 M$), although very powerful. Tomcat was thus only exported with 80 specimens towards Iran, which wished to stop the frequent Soviet incursions into its airspace. Three principal versions were developed. The F-14A is the first generation, been driven by engines Pratt & Whitney TF-30. Those posed some problems and were replaced by of General Electric F110 on the following versions. The F-14B was either a F-14A remanufacturé or a new apparatus. In addition to new engines, certain improvements were made to its avionics. Lastly, since 1990, the version D was born, with an entirely new radar and a avionics. In order to replace A-6 Intruder, a version of named attack Super Tomcat was also studied, but the program was finally cancelled with the profit of the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The F-14 last should remain in service until 2008 in US Navy.

Technical data
Version: F-14D Tomcat
Engines: 2 General Electric F110-GE-400
Power: 2x 12283 kgp out of PC Variable arrow: 20°-68°
Scale: 19,55 m (spread wings)
Length: 19,10 m
Height on the ground: 4,88 m
Wing surface: 52,50 m ² Empty weight: 18.950 kg
Maximum mass: 33.700 kg
Practical ceiling: 17.000 m Dist. passable: 1450 km
Maximum speed: Mach 2,4
Crew: 1 pilot + 1 navigator

Fiesler Fi 103

Airplane: Fiesler Fi 103
Type: manned rocket
Technical data:
Engine: a Argus 109014 jet engine
Achievement: 650 kmh
Weight: kA
Dimension: Span 5,72m, length 8m, height of 1,20m
Weapons: a 850kg Sprengkopf
Picture: Fiesler Fi 103

Eurofighter Ef2000

Airplane: Eurofighter Ef2000
Type: General-purpose hunter
Technical data:
Engine: two euro jet EJ200 turbines
Achievement: 2125 kmh, service ceiling of 11000m, operation radius 550 km Weight: Unloaded weight 9750kg, takeoff weight 21000kg
Dimension: Span 10,50m, length 14,50m, height of 4m
Weapons: a 27mm cannon, thirteen trunk act ions for different weapons
Picture: Eurofighter Ef2000

De Havilland Vampire

Airplane: De Havilland Vampire
Type: single-seat fighter-bomber

Engine: a de-Havilland Goblin 35 jet engine
Achievement: 883 kmh, service ceiling of 13410m, operation radius 1100 km Weight: Unloaded weight 3200kg, takeoff weight 5600kg
Dimension: Span 11,60m, length 9,37m, height of 2,69m
Weapons: four 20mm cannons, external load of 227 kg
Picture: De Havilland Vampire

Dassault Mirage

Airplane: Dassault Mirage
Type: General-purpose fighter-bomber
Engine: a SNECMA Atar 9K50 jet engine
Achievement: 2350 kmh, service ceiling of 18000m, operation radius 685 km
Weight: Unloaded weight 7150kg, takeoff weight 13700kg
Dimension: Span 8,22m, length 15,55m, height of 4,5m
Weapons: two 30mm cannons, sieve external Pylone for rockets and a bomb load of 500kg
Picture: Dassault Mirage

A-10 Thunderbolt II

The A-10 has superior maneuverability at low speeds and altitude, thanks to straight, wide wings with downturned wingtips. These also allow short takeoffs and landings, permitting operations from rugged, forward airfields near front lines. The plane can loiter for extended periods of time and operate under 1,000 feet (300 m) ceilings with 1.5-mile (2.4 km) visibility. It typically flies at a relatively slow speed of 180 knots (200 mph or 320 km/h), which makes it a much better candidate for the ground-attack role than fast fighter-bombers, which often have difficulty targeting small and slow-moving targets.

Specifications (A-10 Thunderbolt II)

Data from The Great Book of Modern Warplanes^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
• Wingspan: 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m)
• Height: 14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
• Wing area: 506 ft² (47.0 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 6716 root, NACA 6713 tip
• Empty weight: 24,959 lb (11,321 kg)
• Loaded weight:
  
  • Standard: 30,384 lb (13,782 kg)
  • On CAS mission: 47,094 lb (21,361 kg)
  • On anti-armor mission: 42,071 lb (19,083 kg))
• Max takeoff weight: 50,000 lb (23,000 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× General Electric TF34-GE-100A turbofans, 9,065 lbf (40.32 kN) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: 450 knots (520 mph, 830 km/h)
• Maximum speed: 380 knots (438 mph, 704 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) with 6 Mk 82 bombs
• Cruise speed: 300 knots (340 mph, 560 km/h)
• Combat radius:
  
  • On CAS mission: 250 nm (290 mi, 460 km) at 1.88 hour single-engine loiter at 5,000 ft (1,500 m), 10 min combat
  • On anti-armor mission: 252 nm (166 mi, 267 km), 40 nm (45 mi, 75 km) sea-level penetration and exit, 30 min combat
• Ferry range: 2,240 nm (2,580 mi, 4,150 km) with 50 knot (55 mph, 90 km/h) headwinds, 20 minutes reserve
• Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,700 m)
• Rate of climb: 6,000 ft/min (30 m/s)
• Wing loading: 99 lb/ft² (482 kg/m²)
• Thrust/weight: 0.36

Armament

• Guns: 1× 30 mm (1.18 in) GAU-8/A Avenger gatling gun with 1,350 rounds
• Hardpoints: 8× underwing and 3× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 16,000 lb (7,200 kg) and accommodating:
  • Mark 82, Mark 83, and Mark 84 general-purpose bombs or
  • Mk 77 incendiary bombs or
  • BLU-1, BLU-27/B Rockeye II, BL755 and CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster bombs or
  • GBU-10 Paveway II, GBU-12 Paveway II, GBU-16 Paveway II and GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs or
  • AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missiles and AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or
  • LAU-68 Hydra 70 mm (2.76 in) and 127 mm (5.0 in) rocket pods or
  • Illumination flares, ECM and chaff pods or
  • ALQ-131 ECM pod

Flight Simulations

The A-10 has been featured in several flight sims: A-10 Tank Killer (1989/90), A-10 Attack! (1995), A-10 Cuba! (1996), Silent Thunder: A-10 Tank Killer II (1996), and Lock On: Modern Air Combat (2003).