Spinners Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 Mitsubishi Aerospace F-3A - 302nd Hikotai (Aggressor Flight), Japanese Air Self Defense Force, 2013 When Japan selected the F-16 to be it's new 'secondary fighter' in 1987 it had already been planned to produce a developed version of the F-16 to be manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to replace the ageing Mitsubishi F-1 and F-4EJ and eventually supplement the F-15J. But even before production of the F-2 had started, senior JASDF officials requested a more capable aircraft to replace the F-15J and by late 1992 they had settled upon a revised version of the rejected General Dynamics ATF submission dating from the late 1980's. This promised to give Mitsubishi an opportunity to introduce technologies planned for the F-2 into the new F-3 'primary fighter' such as the co-cured technology used to create lighter composite structures and the F110-GE-129 engine. With rumours emerging of a probable merger between General Dynamics and Lockheed, Mitsubishi moved swiftly and controversially bought the GD design in early 1993 including long-term production licences regarded by many aerospace industry insiders as being grossly over-valued and leading to a unit price that eventually exceeded that of the F-22 Raptor. Despite this, development of the F-3 moved smoothly with the programme generally running about five years behind the F-2 and thus able to continue to incorporate innovations learnt from it's smaller predecessor. The first flight of the XF-3A took place on December 24th, 2000 with production F-3A aircraft entering service with 302nd Hikotai in early 2011. Julhelm's outstanding General Dynamics ATF Contender. 8 Quote
Gunrunner Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 My my, is Jul planning to ever release this toy (I'd take that skin too, even though in my dystopia, the F-3 ended up being a F-23, produced in collaboration with the Royal Dhimari Aircraft Manufacture) ? He produces such nice shiny ones... Quote
Vavavava Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 That is not an aircraft ....that is art !!!! WELL DONE! Quote
Panjilucu Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 sir, without disrespect, i agree its a beautiful bird, but isn't that huge tornado style rudder give a lot radar signature? CMIIW :) Quote
Spinners Posted July 20, 2013 Author Posted July 20, 2013 sir, without disrespect, i agree its a beautiful bird, but isn't that huge tornado style rudder give a lot radar signature? CMIIW :) I know what you mean but direct that question to General Dynamics! Quote
PilotSanders Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 absoutelt beautiful. I think you should make a variant without the rudder. Quote
mackeral83 Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 awesome where can i buy one darne download Quote
KJakker Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 It reminds me of the F4D-1 Skyray in layout. If it comes out I will be downloading. Quote
mdatelmi Posted July 20, 2013 Posted July 20, 2013 Top notch skin...as always! Really an interesting bird. Quote
zachtan Posted December 1, 2017 Posted December 1, 2017 Has there ever been a Stealthy Delta design besides the X-32? Quote
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