T-X Thread

smsgtmac · by **smsgtmac** » 14 Sep 2016, 03:36

Boeing lifted the skirt today. Pretty plane, nice lines, and an interesting planform, but I have to wonder about the words I was hearing out of the spokespeople's mouths about being designed to the 'thresholds' and cost. They are either going the low cost approach 'for the win', or they are sandbagging.
http://www.boeing.com/features/2016/09/ ... 09-16.page

: tx_rollout_630x354.jpg (120.26 KiB) Viewed 25711 times

..and I can't believe you guys weren't all over it when it happened :shock:

edpop · by **edpop** » 14 Sep 2016, 06:06

Nice looking plane...............front end kind of reminds me of the F-104 Starfighter trainer. As far as costs go this project will probably be the last large production volume contract of it's kind for many years to come. And since Boeing is going up against a current production trainer they will have to do something spectacular to make their plane cost effective. Whether they low ball the bid or whatever it will be an interesting scenario to watch.

southernphantom · by **southernphantom** » 14 Sep 2016, 06:14

smsgtmac wrote:..and I can't believe you guys weren't all over it when it happened

Same here. I was considering starting a thread covering the announcement.
It's really a good-looking aircraft, like the offspring of the Textron Scorpion and a Super Hornet. Doesn't appear especially small, either. I'm interested to see the performance figures, since the airframe is likely to be a shoe-in light fighter for US allies unable to afford the F-35. Things get even more interesting if the rejiggered manufacturing processes mean Boeing can undercut LM/KAI's cost while delivering a good aircraft.

linkomart · by **linkomart** » 14 Sep 2016, 07:17

In case you're interested in a rendering of the Boeing T-X
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amiJwedNJYM
....And I bet Spaz has posted it already...

linkomart · by **linkomart** » 14 Sep 2016, 07:48

Or, you can put the video directly here....
Anyway, looks a bit better in the Pictures than I'd imagine.....

I've never been a fan of the F-16 (style) landing gear and perhaps would have prefered something different, but it will probably do the job.

It's big. Really.

linkomart · by **linkomart** » 14 Sep 2016, 07:51

Saw this video at alert5, with some "interviews" of some of the involved.

Regards

KamenRiderBlade · by **KamenRiderBlade** » 14 Sep 2016, 08:47

The Boeing T-X trainer looks good.

I'm wondering what the Northrop Grumman clean sheet design will look like.

KamenRiderBlade · by **KamenRiderBlade** » 14 Sep 2016, 08:51

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/tx- ... oeing-saab

Northrop's offering really does look like the old F-20 Tigershark

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-20_Tigershark

So far the Boeing one looks closest to the F-35 with a little bit of F-18 in it, especially with the way their Chines was designed.

linkomart · by **linkomart** » 14 Sep 2016, 09:02

KamenRiderBlade wrote:
So far the Boeing one looks closest to the F-35 with a little bit of F-18 in it, especially with the way their Chines was designed.

That's the understatement of the day... "..a little bit of F-18 in it...."
I'd say that it looks like a F-18 where they have taken one motor away, and blown up the cockpit 2 times to make all the XL people fit.... (Really, the cockpit is probably only 1.2 times bigger, but the fuselage is a tad smaller)

my 5 cent.

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 14 Sep 2016, 10:25

KamenRiderBlade wrote:The Boeing T-X trainer looks good.

I'm wondering what the Northrop Grumman clean sheet design will look like.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 14 Sep 2016, 11:12

...and Raytheon's entry, the T-100.
Not quite the looker as the others but could be the cheapest along with LM's offering.

madrat · by **madrat** » 14 Sep 2016, 12:41

Boeing once again demonstrated they have a massive PR department. Northrop Grumman will probably lose due to not marketing well. Lockheed Martin will - like Raytheon - suffer from NIMBY. And Textron has the g** awful straight wing.

Boeing has the best looking airframe at this point. It's hard to hate Raytheon's T-100 design. And Lockheed Martin certainly is no slouch in providing a functional product. Even though I think the engine and tail layout of the Textron is the best, it just doesn't have the big picture solved. And even though I adore Northrop Grumman's front section, long sleek and slender lines, long tradition with this weight class and the USAF syllabus, and rugged looking design, I'm thinking they only have a slight chance to win.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 14 Sep 2016, 12:49

Assuming they all meet RFP requirements, Cost will likely be the major factor in deciding the winner.Advantage those with existing production lines.

KamenRiderBlade · by **KamenRiderBlade** » 14 Sep 2016, 19:24

I wonder if there will be a Dog Fight competition between the trainer models from each company.

That would be interesting to watch if it was limited to WVR engagement and see what each companies pilot can pull off in a trainer.

rheonomic · by **rheonomic** » 14 Sep 2016, 20:10

The Boeing T-X is not a bad looking aircraft, although wing fences...

Any idea what the pods/fairings on the underside of the wings are at about quarter span from each tip? First thought was fairing for actuators, but they seem too large for that.