So, we Americans are really not the most innovative when it comes to defense technology. The atom bomb was developed with a lot of foreign talent. Submarines, jet power, guided missiles... all examples of technology that Americans learned by watching others. What we DID do is master the existing art. One of our greatest triumphs has been in logistics, which is an organizational, not technological, achievement. My personal favorite, though, is the A-10 Warthog. If we take the Henschel HS-129 as an example of a dominant technology, think about what Americans added 20 years later.
Unparalleled ability to withstand damage (above) and make it home. Why risk having your only engine shot out? Install two. Design it for ridiculous maneuverability at the low speeds for which it is designed to operate. A prominent cockpit provides outstanding visibility for the pilot. Wrap said pilot in a titanium box (the HS-129 made steps in this direction by putting glass that was over 4" thick in front of the pilot). It carries LOTS of ordnance, but just to make it highly unlikely that targets will go unventilated, it carries the greatest airborne cannon ever, the GAU-8, 30mm.
The automatic canon loader has gears. As a mechanical engineer, it's enough to make me giddy.
Nothing about this machine was novel, outside of the extraordinary caliber of the cannon. Even the GAU-8 is a glorified gatling gun, Civil War technology driven by hydraulics. The pilots weren't even equipped with infared target detection (FLIR, fairly common even in the first Gulf War) until quite recently. The US Air Force has tried a number of times to retire the aircraft, but it's just too useful.
Trailer Not Included
The automatic canon loader has gears. As a mechanical engineer, it's enough to make me giddy.Nothing about this machine was novel, outside of the extraordinary caliber of the cannon. Even the GAU-8 is a glorified gatling gun, Civil War technology driven by hydraulics. The pilots weren't even equipped with infared target detection (FLIR, fairly common even in the first Gulf War) until quite recently. The US Air Force has tried a number of times to retire the aircraft, but it's just too useful. That leaves us with an aircraft developed with a well defined mission and only existing technology. It was very successful, and continues to be 30 years later, as the A-10's in service are being refitted and upgraded. This in an era when the super-expensive F-35 has a questionable mission, and therefore reason for existence.
In addition to all the butt-kicking this sweet machine does for Uncle Sam and Freedom around the world, it also helps us get rid of the by-products of that pesky nuclear arms race we had with the Soviets. Warthog, we salute you.
2 comments:
Speaking of Soviets: the author might put aside his obvious Germanophilia and read up on the Sturmovik - an aircraft that, in contrast to his beloved Henschel, could actually fly and, unlike his beloved Warthog, actually served against an enemy with an air defense (which is not to be confused with a couple of Arabs fresh out of six weeks at Osama U armed with Kalashnikovs).
I absolutely agree that the Henschel was not the finest aircraft in its role. That was not my point. My point was that the HS-129B3 had no REASON to even fly. The cannon was ridiculously large and crippled most performance parameters. My point was, from an engineering standpoint, that it's incredible that those in power were convinced to even spend R&D $$$ on such a venture.
Incidentally, the FIRST Gulf War did provide a challenge to the Warthog's ruggedness.
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