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.


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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.

World's Largest Radio Control Robot Dragon

I finally have something interesting to post here...

Called "Tradinno", this massive mechanical dragon has been declared the world's largest 4-legged walking robot by Guinness World Records 2014.

It is a 11-ton dragon that has a length of 51 feet and a wingspan of 40 feet.  This behemoth was built by Germany's Zollner Elektronik AG.  This robot was built for show buiness - but we will not be seeing it on a new season of "Game of Thrones" or a updated Harry Potter project.  Instead, this robot will appear in a old folk play called "Drachenstich".  It is performed every August in the Bavarian town of Furth im Wald.

For more details, just copy and paste the link below in the "Ref" section.

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Ref.
1.  nbcnews.com. "World's largest walking robot is a fire-breathing dragon ... of course" by Helen A.S. Popklin. Sept. 13, 2013.  (http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/worlds-largest-walking-robot-fire-breathing-dragon-course-8C11150626). image from same website.

CDR Salamander: Welcome back to the Japanese Flattop

CDR Salamander: Welcome back to the Japanese Flattop: Good for the Japanese Navy. Now, let's work on some proper fixed wing assets for 'ya ... and you need a half-dozen more. Japan u...

LSAs Are Growing, Slowly But Surely | Aviation International News

LSAs Are Growing, Slowly But Surely | Aviation International News

Woman Photographs Mysterious UFO and Light over East Hull [PHOTO] - IBTimes UK

Woman Photographs Mysterious UFO and Light over East Hull [PHOTO] - IBTimes UK

Forgotten War, Forgotten Soldiers

Forgotten War, Forgotten Soldiers

Click on the above link and get ready to get mad.

West Texas Warbirds 2012 Event Coverage Article on RCU!

A article posted by Ken Isaac (aka "RCKen") on RCUniverse.com has finally appeared just in time for the West Texas Warbirds 2013 event over this year's Labor Day weekend.

Click on the link below to read the entire article and see great radio control model pictures and videos.  Photo with this blog post is my personal picture from the event showing  Bryan McLarty and his Japanese "Val" dive bomber.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/magazine/article_display.cfm?article_id=1467