Forum: F-35 Lightning II

Last edited by qwe2008 on Oct 02, 2011 - 08:24 AM; edited 1 time in total

a chinese model,
looks like a F-35 with 2 engines,

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If you can't be the best...Copy them? Sell cheap nockoffs?

Looks more like an F-22 with F-35 intakes. Rolling Eyes

Nice toy model, now how long will it take, if ever, for them to build the real thing?

I like it! You know what, though...? I bet it supercruises whereas the F-35 does not. I say scrap the -35, and build this thing, yesterday!

I agree with LinkF16SimDude, it's an F-22 or clearly modeled on one.

another model
looks more like F-35

F-35 STOVL cannot use two engines, so F-35A/B/C all use single engine.

if F-35A/C use 2*F414, it's more cheap and powerful than 1*F135.

But cost more to maintain.

qwe2008 wrote:

F-35 STOVL cannot use two engines, so F-35A/B/C all use single engine.

if F-35A/C use 2*F414, it's more cheap and powerful than 1*F135.

The engines may be cheaper and more powerful (or not), but there is a strong probability the airplane will more expensive to buy and operate, heavier, and draggier with two engines rather than one.

2 engines is also less technical risk. Not everybody can build a jet engine large enough to make single engined fighters as big as this.

It's a beautiful model and would make a beautiful aircraft. Since you wouldn't need to accommodate a STOVL version it would much easier to engineer and produce. But the basic aircraft shape may be the easy part. It's making it stealthy and providing all the leading-edge avionics that will prove difficult.

Using two engines is dumb because you have twice as many parts doing the same job as what one engine could do with half the parts. You also have to use need more lifting surface to carry the weight of the extra engine. There really are only two reason you build a twin engine fighter:

1) Poor jet engine reliability
2) Your can't get sufficient thrust from a single engine.

Lets look at the F-35 vs F18E and do an engine comparison to see the advanages and disadvantges of a single engine fighter vs a twin engine fighter.

F-35 vs F-18E Engine Thust Comparison

F-135 Dry weight: 28000 lbs/43000 lbs (dry thrust/afterburner)
F414-400 Dry Weight: 14000 lbs/ 22000 lbs (dry thrust/afterburner)

(*Conclusion a pair F414-400 engines have 1000 lbs of thrust advantage in afterburner)

F-35 vs F-18E Engine Weight Comparison

F-135 Dry weight: 3,750 lbs (1,701 kg)
F414-400 Dry Weight: 2,445 lb (1,110 kg)

(*Conclusion a pair F414-400 engines are 1140 lbs heavier)

F-35 vs F-18E Specific Fuel Consumption

F-135: 0.886 lb/(hr·lbf) (At Millitary Power)
F414-400: ~0.9 lb/(lbf·h) (At Military Power)

(*Conclusion F-135 has better SFC then the F414-400's)

F-35 vs F-18E Engine Thrust to Weight Ratio

F-135: (11.46 to 1)
F414-400: (9 to 1)

F-35 has a better engine thrust to weight ratio

Forum: F-35 Lightning II

two engines F-35 model