Stealthy C-130 Replacement Concept?

BCA 14 Sep 11, 19:36

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/09/images-lockheeds-stealth-c-130.html

Meet the Speed Agile. If the USAF is allowed to spend big money on a super-STOL C-130 replacement after 2020, this is Lockheed's idea for what it should look like. Boeing is also working on an alternative concept. The Air Force Research Laboratory has been funding both Lockheed and Boeing to work on wind tunnel models. Last month, the AFRL released these front and rear images of a 23%-scale model of the four-engine Lockheed Speed Agile concept. The wind tunnel model includes two Williams FJ44 engines. The Secret Projects forum found the images earlier today on AFRL's web site.

Queso (netAirspace ATC Tower Chief & Founding Member) 14 Sep 11, 19:44

THAT is supposed to do the same job as a C-130?

The Skunk Works guys must have finally broken into Kelly Johnson's old liquor cabinet, and there must have been some good stuff in there after all these years.

Slider... <sniff, sniff>... you stink.

captoveur 14 Sep 11, 20:21

Ridiculous...

The USAF will buy 500 of them.

I like my coffee how I like my women: Black, bitter, and preferably fair trade.

ShanwickOceanic (netAirspace FAA) 14 Sep 11, 20:24

Mmmm, look at those lovely low-slung turbines. They're going to LOVE unprepared strips.

My friend and I applied for airline jobs in Australia, but they didn't Qantas.

Queso (netAirspace ATC Tower Chief & Founding Member) 14 Sep 11, 20:25

I guess it makes about as much sense as using F-16's to replace A-10's for close ground support work. If you ignore the primary task to be performed, you can use just about any plane for anything. Just ask the people who approved the purchase of the P-8A.

Slider... <sniff, sniff>... you stink.

AndesSMF (Founding Member) 14 Sep 11, 21:22

Has there ever been a need for a stealth transport plane? {crazy}

Einstein said two things were infinite; the universe, and stupidity. He wasn't sure about the first, but he was certain about the second.

Click Click D'oh (Photo Quality Screener & Founding Member) 14 Sep 11, 22:13

Oh yes, those exposed fan blades will be sooooooo stealthy.

We sleep peacefully in our beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf

JLAmber (netAirspace ATC & Founding Member) 14 Sep 11, 22:32

ShanwickOceanic wrote:Mmmm, look at those lovely low-slung turbines. They're going to LOVE unprepared strips.

My first thought in a nutshell. The only C-130 replacement we'll see in the next 30 years is another C-130 variant.

A million great ideas...

Queso (netAirspace ATC Tower Chief & Founding Member) 14 Sep 11, 22:36

JLAmber wrote:
ShanwickOceanic wrote:Mmmm, look at those lovely low-slung turbines. They're going to LOVE unprepared strips.

My first thought in a nutshell. The only C-130 replacement we'll see in the next 30 years is another C-130 variant.

Something that looks very similar to the design seen above was supposed to begin replacing the B-52 about a quarter-century ago.

Slider... <sniff, sniff>... you stink.

GQfluffy (Database Editor & Founding Member) 15 Sep 11, 01:40

Looks like the A-12 with lowered engine nacelles. Clicky-san is right; how in the hell is that thing going to be stealthy with fan blades just hanging out like that?

Teller of no, fixer of everything, friend of the unimportant and all around good guy; the CAD Monkey

ANCFlyer (netAirspace ATC & Founding Member) 15 Sep 11, 06:42

It's not April Fools Day is it???

A Herc will replace the Herc.

LET'S GO BRANDON!!!!

ShanwickOceanic (netAirspace FAA) 15 Sep 11, 07:08

Queso wrote:Something that looks very similar to the design seen above was supposed to begin replacing the B-52 about a quarter-century ago.

BUSINESS PLAN

1 Dust off 25-year-old model plane
2 Glue hatch underneath shut
3 Cut hatch in the back
4 Search > Replace All "YB-" with "YC-"
5 FUNDING!

My friend and I applied for airline jobs in Australia, but they didn't Qantas.

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