mmo wrote:INFINITI329 wrote:
it would be smart for all teams should dangle that bone.(same basic frame two different uses) I believe the USN is involved in the t-x program. When will the T-45 be up for replacement?
The USN is not involved in the USAF T-x selection process. Making it carrier capable makes it heavier which would have a detrimental effect on the T-X performance. To he honest the comments about saving money I don't think that would be applicable in this case. Reminds me of the F-111
Or even the F-35. All variants would have been better if they were tailor-made for their service, there is a lot of compromise in each variant and surprisingly a lot of "specials" for each of the variants. And cheaper remains to be seen, the only variant whom truly benefits from this, as far as I can see, is the F-35B, I don't think the Harrier successor would have been made at all, if it weren't for the F-35 project.
Or more relevant to this, the BAe Hawk.
BAe Hawk Mk. 128 | Boeing T-45 Goshawk
Wing area: 16.70 m2 (179.64 ft2) | 190.1 ft2 (17.7 m2)
Empty weight: 4,480 kg (9,880 lb) | 10,403 lb (4,460 kg)
Useful load: 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) | nn
Max takeoff weight: 9,100 kg (20,000 lb) | 14,081 lb (6,387 kg)
Maximum speed: Mach 0.84 (1,028 km/h, 638 mph) | 560 knots, (645 mph, 1,038 km/h)
Range: 2,520 km (1,360 nmi, 1,565 mi) | 700 nmi (805 mi, 1288 km)
Service ceiling: 13,565 m (44,500 ft) | 42,500 ft (12,950 m)
Rate of climb: 47 m/s (9,300 ft/min) | 8,000 ft/min (40.6 m/s)
Thrust/weight: 0.65 | nn
As expected, the T-45 takes a hit being navy-lized. Most probably that the winner of the T-X program will have a Navy trainer version in ten years or so.