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Published: 2014-09-07 12:04:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 1058; Favourites: 10; Downloads: 0
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Description
Started this model a few years ago, but I've been working on it a bit lately. It's still a work in progress (as with all my other planes) but I think it looks ok right nowFA-40, a low observable high speed interceptor/ air superiority fighter. After realizing that a good all round fighter aircraft is nearly impossible due to the number of compromises that need to be made, the government started smaller individual projects to make aircraft for specific purposes.
The FA- 40 has twin advanced 40,000 lb/ft class low bypass turbofan engines. It is capable of mach 2.8 in cruise, and mach 3.2 in a dash. It has a large internal payload, equivalent to 4 JDAMs', and 2 aim-9x sidewinders. The high speed and large payload is attributed to the advanced chine/ ogival delta wing design, which significantly reduces transonic and wave drag.
It is also agile and departure resistant. This is due to 3 factors:
1. Leading edge slats, which help the air to stick to the wing while remaining largely stealthy
2. Wing twist, which presents the airfoil at the outer and rear part of the wing to the airflow when the aircraft is at a higher angle of attack.
3. Advanced fluidic thrust vectoring. The exhaust is augmented and controlled by bleed air from the main engines. In a normal fighter, the exhaust expansion is controlled by a complex mechanical nozzle. in this, the expansion is controlled by bleed air from the engines' compressor. This air is accelerated or decelerated by a secondary compressor depending on what is required, and then ejected in to the exhaust casing by hundreds of tiny nozzles. The thrust can also be vectored by switching either the top or bottom stream of air on or off. This causes the exhaust gasses to stick to the side with the air ejected in to it via the conada effect, and directs it up or down after the end of the exhaust duct.
It also has an advanced suite of avionics and sensors, including front and rear facing AESA radar, E/O sensors, IRST, LiDAR (for automated aerial refueling, ground operations and formation flying) a high speed data link, and more.