OT... Iceland invites bear to drop by

Fred J. McCall wrote:
You missed one (which is apparently what they're actually using to
replace them); F/A-18E/F.


Sort of short ranged and with lower capacity potential than the F-111.

Pat

In sci.space.history Pat Flannery wrote:
Neil Gerace wrote:
I often think it'd be good for the RAAF to get something to replace
the F-111 with. The USA has nothing comparable, why not look elsewhere?

How about F-15E strike eagles?
Expensive, but very capable and way superior to the F-111 in just about
every way.

Are the production lines even running any longer? IIRC the USAF is
making all this noise about how the F-15's (not sure if it is E's or
some other variant) all need to be replaced with wizzy new aircraft
because main structural components are starting to age. (ISTR
something about the wing box but that is a fuzzy recollection).

Although I suppose since the RAAF has basically rebuilt all their
F-111's they could do the same with the F-15E's?

rick jones
--
Wisdom Teeth are impacted, people are affected by the effects of events.
these opinions are mine, all mine; HP might not want them anyway...
feel free to post, OR email to rick.jones2 in hp.com but NOT BOTH...

Rick Jones wrote:
Are the production lines even running any longer? IIRC the USAF is
making all this noise about how the F-15's (not sure if it is E's or
some other variant) all need to be replaced with wizzy new aircraft
because main structural components are starting to age. (ISTR
something about the wing box but that is a fuzzy recollection).


Singapore ordered some recently, so the production line is still
running:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...387252/1/.html
The F-15E's range can be increased by sticking the conformal fuel tanks
on its fuselage sides.
Here's one (with bomb pylons on it) being installed:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:F-15E_CFT.jpg

Pat

Rick Jones wrote:

:In sci.space.history Pat Flannery wrote:
: Neil Gerace wrote:
: I often think it'd be good for the RAAF to get something to replace
: the F-111 with. The USA has nothing comparable, why not look elsewhere?
:
: How about F-15E strike eagles?
: Expensive, but very capable and way superior to the F-111 in just about
: every way.
:
:Are the production lines even running any longer?
:

Yes.

:
:IIRC the USAF is
:making all this noise about how the F-15's (not sure if it is E's or
:some other variant) all need to be replaced with wizzy new aircraft
:because main structural components are starting to age. (ISTR
:something about the wing box but that is a fuzzy recollection).
:

It's not the Strike Eagles. Those are all part of the 'Golden Eagle'
program, along with whatever low-hour F-15 airframes USAF can find.
They may actually wind up having to buy more F-15s to fill the gap
between F-22/F-35 production and the aging out of existing airframes.

:
:Although I suppose since the RAAF has basically rebuilt all their
:F-111's they could do the same with the F-15E's?
:

Unlikely. They still have to get the parts for the rebuilds from
us...

--
"Millions for defense, but not one cent for tribute."
-- Charles Pinckney