Scorpion: The New Light Jet Fighter Nobody Asked For

This week there was a surprising announcement by Textron CEO Scott Donnelly at the Air Force Association technology conference outside of Washington, D.C.  It seems that Textron teamed up with Cessna to design a new, low-cost jet fighter designed for countries that have very tight defense budgets (i.e. The United States for one).

As described and revealed in a photograph, the Scorpion is a versatile twin-engine Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)/Strike aircraft. Engines are expected to be built by Honeywell (specifically the Honeywell TFE731s).  Empty weight of 11,800 pounds and max speed of 450 knots and a ceiling of 45,000 feet. Textron/Cessna is targeting a operating cost of $3000.00 a flight hour for this aircraft.

To this blogger, the Scorpion looks like a fixed wing F-14 Tomcat with its wings in the extended position. But I'm thinking that this could be a great aircraft for Great Britain and Japan for their respective "aircraft carrier" programs if the Scorpion can be navalized.


___
Ref.
1.  www.flyingmag.com. "" by Stephen Pope. September 17, 2013. (http://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/jets/scorpion-light-attack-jet-nobody-asked?cmpid=enews091213&spPodID=030&spMailingID=17904912&spUserID=NTI1OTk5OTQ5OTMS1&spJobID=229891228&spReportId=MjI5ODkxMjI4S0).  image from same website.

Oprah Says "It's great to have a private jet."

Check out the link below for the Wall Street Journal article about what Oprah said about having success overall, but about having a private jet in general.  

She was speaking at Duke University graduating class.  Quoting the article, "It's great to have a nice home.  It's great to have nice homes!  It's great to have a nice home that just escaped the fire in Santa Barbara, It's great to have a private jet. Anyone that tells you that having your own private jet isn't great is lying to you."  Oprah also went on to explain that "you haven't completed the circle of success until you help someone else move to a higher ground and get to a better place."  

What attracted me to this article was in fact what attracted the writer of this article - her comments about owing private jets.  And the line that the reporter put into their report is very good.  I quote: "In these times of hair-shirt capitalism and envy politics, the wealthy have been going to great lengths to pretend they don't enjoy luxury or want nice stuff. If Oprah were like most of the faux-populist rich today, she would have said something like, "I don't need private jets, in fact I'm happier flying commercial and living in a small house.  I like the simple life."  Of course, she would be lying.  

Oprah has a $42 million custom-built Global Express XRS built by Bombardier Aerospace.

Due to the 'fake'(my words) outcries over the Auto execs flying to Washington, D.C. instead of hitchhiking, the General Aviation world has taken a hit.  Wall Street Journal states that the private-jet industry has been making a comeback by mounting a public-relations campaign to get people flying again.

The other Wall Street Journal link below is the propgranda by famous people who claim that they are ditching their jets to fly commercial.  

I say Bulls**t!  It takes money and wealth to keep the wheels of capitalism turning.  

Hey - I wish I was like Oprah in this one reguard... I would like to have my own business/private jet too!

___

Ref. Wall Street Journal article"Oprah:  It's Great to Have a Private Jet", May 11, 2009 (http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2009/05/11/oprah-its-great-to-have-a-private-jet/tab/print/).

WSJ ( http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2009/04/16/ditch-the-jet-its-cool-to-fly-commercial/). 

Bombardier photo that was attach to original article.