Why So Many Plane Designs?
As with the creation of anything from a report or a piece of software, to a tool, electronic device or household equipment such as a vacuum cleaner, the purpose for things becomes the primary driving force in its design.
Two F-14 Tomcats over the USS John F. Kennedy - Contributed by Robert M. Cieri
The same is true for planes. Whether its a cargo plane, a fighter jet, an electronic surveillance system, a piece of jamming equipment or radar deception gear the purpose is always considered in its design. In this case, the purpose shapes the design which enhances combat abilitities in the way of speed, range, and efficiency.
For information on the Pri-Fly: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/cv-design.htm
F-14 Tomcats
Even though General Dynamics had a contract with the Navy to design a new fighter jet, they didn't have the experience when it came to aircraft carrier jets so they subcontracted the job to Grumman who had been designing and building planes for the Navy for years.
Length |
62.7 ft. |
Wingspan |
64.1 ft. |
Height |
16 ft. |
Engines (2) F110-GE-400 |
27,400 lbs. thrust |
Fuel Capacity |
16,200 lbs. |
Maximum take-off weight |
74,348 lbs. |
Armaments - any combination up to 14,500 lbs. |
|
Phoenix |
Sidewinder missiles |
AMRAAM |
20 mm M61 cannon |
Sparrow |
|
F/A-18 Hornet
The newer Hornets come in one and two-seater jets which can carry more fuel, have increased engine power and
can therefore cover a greater range with greater speed and efficiency.
Length |
60.3 ft. |
Wingspan |
44.9 ft. |
Height |
16 ft. |
Top Speed |
Mach 1.8+ |
Engines (2) GE F-414 After-burning tubofan |
22,000 lbs. thrust (9:1 thrust to weight ratio) |
Combat Ceiling |
50,000 ft. |
Combat Radius |
660 Nautical Miles |
Armaments: 17,750 lbs. Maximum |
|
AIM-9 Sidewinder |
Laser & infrared guided missiles |
AIM-7 Sparrow |
JSOW (Joint Stand-Off Weapon) |
AIM-120 AMRAAM |
JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) |
Harpoon |
Walleye and Maverick TV |
HARM - High-speed Auto Radiation Missile |
Various general purpose bombs, mines, & rockets |
Shrike |
Satcom receiver |
SLAM-ER (Standoff Land-Attack Missile Extended Range) |
|
M61A1 20 mm cannon: 400 rounds ammunition |
|
EA-6B Prowler
The Prowler is a modified A-6 Intruder, twin-engine aircraft which combines long-range all-weather capabilities
with radar deception gear and jamming equipment and HARM missiles.
Length |
59.8 ft. |
Wingspan |
53 ft. |
Height |
16.25 ft. |
Engines (2) J52-P408 |
11,200 lbs. thrust each |
Speed |
530 knots (610 mph) |
Climb Rate |
10,030 ft. per min. |
Ceiling |
38,000 ft. |
Range |
1,000 nautical miles (1,150 statute miles) |
Armaments |
|
Up to (4) AGM-88A HARM (High-speed Auto Radiation Missile) |
|
E-2C Hawkeye
The Hawkeye represents the eyes and ears of the carrier battle group and works closely with the F-14s. The
prominent feature, the radar dome mounted atop the plane, provides all-weather airborne early warning and command-and-control functions. It extends the detection range of a battle group by nearly 300 miles and 160
miles for missiles.
Length |
57.5 ft. |
Wingspan |
80.6 ft. |
Height |
18.25 ft. |
Engines (2) Allison Turboprop: T-56-A427 |
5,000 shaft horsepower each |
Speed |
300+ knots (345 mph) |
Maximum take-off weight |
53,000 lbs. |
Ceiling |
30,000 ft. (9,100 m.) |
Range |
2,300 nautical miles (2,645 statute miles) |
Armaments = None |
|
S-3B Viking
Based on the S-3A, the S-3B Viking was not only for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but it was configured for surveillance and precision-targeting (precision-guided missiles), and functioned as the primary overhead mission tanker. This aircraft was equipped with day/night infrared surveillance (inverse/synthetic aperture radar or ISAR/SAR, and infrared IR sensor), electronic countermeasures (electronic support system or ESM), search and rescue (SAR),
and command/control/communication warfare.
Length |
53.3 ft. |
Wingspan |
68.6 ft. |
Height |
22.75 ft. |
Engines (2) TF-34-GE-400B |
9,275 lbs. thrust each |
Speed |
450 knots (518 mph) |
Maximum take-off weight |
52,539 lbs. |
Ceiling |
40,000 ft. |
Range |
2,300 nautical miles (2,645 statute miles) |
Armaments up to 3,958 lbs. |
|
AGM-84 Harpoon Anti-ship Missile |
Torpedoes |
AGM-65 Maverick IR Missile |
Rockets |
AGM-84 SLAM missiles |
Bombs |
This section is still being developed... please stay tuned.
F-4B / F-14A / F-14B
A-4C / FA-18C
A-7B
A-7E / FA-18C(N)
A-6A/B / A-6A/B/C / KA-6D / A-6E
RA-5C
KA-3B/EKA-3B
E-1B / E-2B / E-2C Hawkeye 2000
EA-1F / EA-3B / EA-6B Prowler
UH-2C / HH2D / SH-3G
EKA-3B / ES-3A
C-1A / C-2A
SH-3D/SH-3H Sea King Helicopter
SH-60/HH-60H
SH-60F/HH-60H Seahawk Helicopter
RF-8G
S-3A / S-3B