I don't recall any specific tailwind limit either - however in most Navy aircraft, we were limited to maximum surface winds for takeoff due to ejection seat / parachute limitiations.

That in and of itself may have made it a moot point - I don't know how much tail wind is 'too much', but I'm certain if you stuff an assload of wind up the exhaust of a jet engine, you might have issues. That's just common sense, that pushing hot exhaust back onto the aircraft is going to cause damage. At least it makes sense in my mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

damage to the plane is estimated to amount to at least $17 million.

That's absolutely insane. And frankly retarded.

I'm dumbfounded by the cost of these things.

Just how things are now.

According to Wikipedia, the super hornet is 98 million. The 2018 cost of the F-35 is 85 million.

quote:

Originally posted by Elk Hunter:
Somebody tell me again about this marvelous piece of design engineering, and how it replaces all other combat aircraft.

Sounds like a lot of hot air.

quote:

Originally posted by walker77:

quote:

Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:

quote:

damage to the plane is estimated to amount to at least $17 million.

That's absolutely insane. And frankly retarded.

I'm dumbfounded by the cost of these things.

Just how things are now.

According to Wikipedia, the super hornet is 98 million. The 2018 cost of the F-35 is 85 million.

I'd take those numbers with a grain of salt. I understand the 85 mil is made up by predicting what the cost will be once the full international sale order is completed. But partners, like Canada, are already falling out and the US will likely short their final buy thus driving the per unit price up. Right now, for the number of F35s delivered, if you calculate the full R&D cost and divide it by the total we actually have, the cost is well into triple digits.

Caveat: I don't have the numbers in front of me.