Fokker F-28 carrier ops
Posted by KodoSky@reddit | WeirdWings | View on Reddit | 10 comments
During the 1970s, Dutch commercial plane builder Fokker approached the US navy with a proposal to use heavily modified F-28 Fellowships as a next-gen carrier resupply aircraft, replacing the outdated Grumman C-2 greyhound, promising greatly improved speed, efficiency, and payload capacity to streamline aircraft carrier logistics. However, the proposal was very quickly scrapped and forgotten
TacTurtle@reddit
A L-188 Electra would have been a better choice - double the payload and range, smaller wingspan than a C-130 which already landed multiple times on the Forrestal.
mola_mola6017@reddit
What about the minimum runway length? The C-130 is both designed for short field operations, and has high wings that can clear deck clutter easily
TacTurtle@reddit
C-130J can land in about 3,000 feet while a L-188 can land in 2,772 feet on regular runways.
The forward motion of the carrier can add at least 25-30 knots of headwind, plus whatever the local winds are at the time.
A C-130 was used to perform 29 touch-and-go landings, 21 unarrested full-stop landings, and 21 unassisted takeoffs at gross weights of 85,000 pounds up to 121,000 pounds. At 85,000 pounds, the KC-130F came to a complete stop within 267 feet. At maximum payload, the C-130 used only 745 feet for takeoff and 460 feet for landing roll.
The biggest concern was how close the wingtip would come to the carrier island on landing and takeoff.
Dr__-__Beeper@reddit
https://www.airlinereporter.com/2014/05/airliners-landing-aircraft-carrier-oh-yes/
Flyer4photo@reddit
Hey, that’s my article!
Algaean@reddit
You're famous :)
erhue@reddit
jet navy lol
AggressorBLUE@reddit
The problem I see, is if something breaks between the recovery and launchIng, you need somewhere to store the thing as you fix it. And real estate is at a premium on a carrier. Only other option (especially in a combat situation where you NEED that deck operational) is to send a very expensive aircraft overboard.
Flyer4photo@reddit
Which is precisely one of the reasons why the “Super COD” C-130 concept of the 60’s didn’t go beyond the proof of concept phase when Lt Flatley landed a C-130 on the deck of the Forrestal 21 times (yes, you read that correctly!), with no tail hook, and took off unassisted.
NassauTropicBird@reddit
...doubling down on the "airliners can land on carriers" nonsense.