Go-229 & B-2

[Raptor]

I thought the Russians copied the American Fighter designs...

[Gripen]

That was after the Americans started having better designs

[Raptor]

Mmm. Then why aren't the Americans making ekranoplanes?

[alyster]

Why would they need to?

[Joopey]

Mmm. Then why aren't the Americans making ekranoplanes?

They did... The Collins X-112 and X-114

[Raptor]

They look like ducks compared to the Russian ones.

Why would they need to?

From what i hear, the Ekranoplanes are faster that conventional boats, using less fuel than hydrofoils, and have WAY bigger lift-loads than even big boys like the C-17...

[Gripen]

but its a sea plane, aint they a little bit primitave?

[Joopey]

Not long ago Boeing came with the idea to build an Atlantic troopcarrier (or Persian Gulf troopcarrier...). I give you the Pelican!! (we are greatly off topic, by the way...)

[Gripen]

looks like the sproose goose with dent wings and less engines

[valkyrian]

There is some story about Jack Northrop's flying wing. Although it was better than Convair's B-36, the goverment asked him to give his design to Convair, to produce the bomber. Convair had received a great deal of money during WW2 and her production line was giving job to many workers. US goverment wanted to keep such a production line. Jack Northrop refused and his flying wing ...gone. But the ultra stealth B-2 has exactly the same span.....

[Raptor]

Primirive, Gripen? I disagree. Seaplanes land and take off from water, and fly way up in the air. These stay just off the water and do fantastic weights...

Hm. Ok, yeah, we're way off topic. Lets get back on.

[Joopey]

There is some story about Jack Northrop's flying wing. Although it was better than Convair's B-36, the goverment asked him to give his design to Convair, to produce the bomber. Convair had received a great deal of money during WW2 and her production line was giving job to many workers. US goverment wanted to keep such a production line. Jack Northrop refused and his flying wing ...gone. But the ultra stealth B-2 has exactly the same span.....

This story is only half true. The jet version of the flying wing had a lot of shortcomings, with instability, to small a bombbay and poor visualibility being the biggest. Nortrop made up fot these problems with (fly by wire in) the B-2