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China's Chengdu J-10 Fighter - Big Trouble?
Mary Shafer wrote in message . ..
On Tue, 18 Nov 2003 04:01:13 GMT, (Thom) wrote: On Mon, 17 Nov 2003 21:23:37 +0000, "Paul J. Adam" wrote: It was designed as a bomber interceptor and adapted to be a recce bird. as are 99% of recon birds Like the A-12 and U-2? Or J-STARS? Nimrod? Mary J-STARS and Nimrod are not the best of examples; the first is configured into a 707 airframe, the second is a growth/adaptation of the old Comet. U-2 is better, but from what I have read even it had its genesis of sorts in a fighter design, with the fuselage owing quite a bit to the F-104. Your best example of a recon-origin design is the A-12, which ironically would later morph into the YF-12. Another recon-origin design is the Schweizer 2-37, but even it has a heritage of sorts in powered gliders designed for training (IIRC the USAFA has/had some Schweizer powered gliders). I suspect the poster's estimate of 99% is not too far off, unless you take it to the extreme and consider only interceptor/fighter origins. A glance through a list of past and present recon aircraft will show that the vast majority began as other platforms and were adapted to recon work--see http://www.spyflight.co.uk/main.htm . Brooks |
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