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Post by macnz on Feb 22, 2015 19:34:35 GMT 12
Yep best assets of the C17 are its engines. Read somewhere that the USAF are currently reviewing using the F117s on the B-52s. An engine upgrade is needed to keep the B-52 fleet viable through to 2030 and its probably attractive if they could use the same engines as the C17s.
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Post by isc on Feb 22, 2015 20:24:50 GMT 12
With the B-52 upgrade, would that end up with just 4 engines, that to me sounds a good idea. isc
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 23, 2015 23:33:15 GMT 12
Handy comparison - any one have load space details for C-17 handy?
Sent from my D5503 using proboards
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Post by macnz on Feb 24, 2015 0:01:59 GMT 12
here you go ErrolC, C17 infographic
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Post by macnz on Feb 24, 2015 0:54:03 GMT 12
and a few more comparison ones A400M Capacity
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Post by suthg on Feb 24, 2015 7:50:40 GMT 12
I'm impressed by the runway requirement C-17 - fully loaded and 3500ft x 30ft vs 5000ft x 80ft for C-130J and capable of unpaved at full gross weight, not so the C-130J.
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Post by area51 on Feb 26, 2015 4:35:07 GMT 12
Word from the A400M crew at Avalon sadly indicates they are no longer coming to NZ.
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 26, 2015 6:49:21 GMT 12
Well bugger. Thanks for the update.
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Post by beagle on Feb 26, 2015 19:24:20 GMT 12
Boeing Co.’s chief executive said today he anticipates the final C-17 military transport craft to be manufactured in Long Beach will be sold in 2017, The company has seven unsold C-17 Globemaster jets remaining after delivering seven aircraft last year, Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said in a conference call with investors. According to a transcript from financial website Seeking Alpha, McNerney said Boeing plans to deliver four C-17s this year, another four in 2016 and the final two in 2017. Production on the C-17 is on pace to finish sometime this summer, according to the company. There are 10 Globemasters in various states of production at the Long Beach plant. Besides the seven unsold aircraft, two have been sold to an unannounced customer and Boeing has a contract to sell one to Canada. What’s more, Australia has announced plans to acquire two additional C-17s for its fleet, the company stated. Boeing announced plans to shut down its C-17 plant, which is near Long Beach Airport, after the aerospace firm delivered its 223rd and final C-17 to the U.S. Air Force in September 2013. Also today, Boeing reported a net income of $5.4 billion for 2014. That signified a 19 percent increase above 2013 earnings.
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 28, 2015 9:08:07 GMT 12
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Post by noooby on Feb 28, 2015 15:42:44 GMT 12
Errol, looking at the article your link goes to, I notice that the A400M has props #1 and #3 rotating clockwise and #2 and #4 rotating anti clockwise. Must be a lot of torque out of those whopping big turboprops to need to do that!!!
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Post by ErrolC on Feb 28, 2015 16:28:57 GMT 12
Good spotting! Yes, I think the only larger turboprops are the Russian Bear's? From Airbus: militaryaircraft-airbusds.com/aircraft/a400m/a400mabout.aspxOne of the key elements of the A400M´s versatility is its all-new, specifically designed three-shaft turboprop engine with eight bladed propellers. The 11,000 shp TP400- developed by Europrop International (EPI), a consortium comprising Rolls Royce, Snecma, MTU and ITP, is the most powerful turboprop in production. It allows a wide range of speeds and flight levels and offers extremely efficient fuel consumption. Powered by four of these turboprops, the A400M can cruise at altitudes as high as 37,000 ft at speeds up to Mach 0.72. This will permit the aircraft to fly above adverse medium level weather conditions and to be integrated into the commercial aircraft airspace. At the other end of the speed / range envelope, the A400M will be capable of flying at 110 kt and 5,000 ft to refuel helicopters, or even lower to drop equipment and supplies. The down between the engines {?? no, that makes no sense (EC)*} counter-rotation of the propellers, which turn in opposite directions, allows a structural weight reduction. The arrangement preserves the symmetry of the aircraft when the four engines are operating, and reduces the adverse yaw in case of an engine failure, allowing in turn a reduction in the size of the tail fin by 17 per cent, hence reducing weight and drag. Another consequence has been the possibility to improve by four per cent the lift at low speed and thus to simplify the slats and, as a result, reduce by eight per cent the surface of the horizontal stabilizer. Furthermore, it also reduces the level of vibrations and therefore the noise inside the aircraft. *Ah ha! "Down-Between-Engines" is a term.
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Post by bell407 on Mar 2, 2015 13:52:04 GMT 12
This is a very interesting documentary on the C-17 one specific point of interest in terms of short runway ops is the 3:30 - 4:00 minute mark and again from 23:13 - 23:40 and then 34:20 where they talk about being able to stop inside of 2000 ft if needed.
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Post by Ian Warren on Mar 4, 2015 16:11:56 GMT 12
With the B-52 upgrade, would that end up with just 4 engines, that to me sounds a good idea. isc :)They already have had a good play around and idea's like that 20 years back , you must agree with me ..... IT JUST WOULD NOT LOOK THE PART a B-52 with only four engine ... Nahhh !
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Post by frankly on Mar 4, 2015 17:59:14 GMT 12
This is a very interesting documentary on the C-17 one specific point of interest in terms of short runway ops is the 3:30 - 4:00 minute mark and again from 23:13 - 23:40 and then 34:20 where they talk about being able to stop inside of 2000 ft if needed. Doing an analysis of likely entry points in our region would be an interesting intel exercise. While the C-17 can land in short distances, it will chew up the surface if it isn't firm. Luckily in the pacific many strips are hard packed lime, so they score relatively high on the CBR. With a planning assumption of 450 nautical miles a day, sealift should be able to follow-on any airlifted element in a fairly short timeframe. Depending on what aircraft is chosen, you can buy either one or two sealift ships for the cost of one transport aircraft....so this creates a planning bias towards an airlift fleet that can cope with short term surge operations, before reverting to courier-type operations over longer time periods while sealift does the bulk of the longer term resupply. What ever you you cut it, an air transport is a very expensive of moving between 1 (Herc) and 4 ISO containers(Globemaster).
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Post by ErrolC on Mar 5, 2015 22:18:51 GMT 12
The A400M is doing a round - the -world:
Nick de Larrinaga @nickjdweurope
A French #airforce @airbusds A400M has visited Tahiti for the first time. #france #military #avgeek /photo/1
Sent from my D5503 using proboards
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Post by frankly on Mar 6, 2015 8:29:24 GMT 12
One of the documents I have from the mid-point rebalancing review talks about replacing the Boeings with A400. It appears to suggest that a mixed C-130 and A400 fleet has at least been considered.
It could be a sensible starting point - we could get in on the A400 project earlier (replacing the worthless Boeings) and use the A400 for the roles it has been cleared for (point to point strategic). All going well with the A400 project, we could buy additional aircraft once it has been cleared for tactical work.
Another option is tied in with the Orion replacement. The Sea Hercules would have to be a viable option If (and only if) the ASW work isn't determined to have much utility for government.
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Post by Ian Warren on Mar 6, 2015 9:29:41 GMT 12
When you look back the RAF was looking for a airlifter 50 years back to replace the elderly and less capable types from the period, 10 or 11 only built the Short Belfast outstripped the Herc due to volume size and weights, same time the US of A had the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter incoming, .. "worthless Boeings" , It will be very amusing to see the next chapter and what is considered ... after all we deleted the strike force with no respect to its history.
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Post by beagle on Mar 7, 2015 13:15:46 GMT 12
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Post by trimotor on Mar 9, 2015 4:33:22 GMT 12
I can't say I have been following this with any great enthusiasm, as I believe any replacement will only be achieved when the gun is against the politicians' heads...and the A400 is too big.
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