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.

Long Delayed, Boeing 787 Dreamliner First Flight

If all goes well, then December 15, 2009, will be the day that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft takes flight for the first time. If successful, this lead aircraft and six others will go through a six month test program flying around the clock.

That first flight being two and a half years late. And cost Boeing some of orders for their product. But so far, 840 orders are still on the books for the aircraft giant.

Boeing is hoping that it can really make this 80% composite material of carbon and titanium aircraft the most fuel efficient airliner out there on the market today.

Wheels up is expected to be 10 am Pacific time assuming good visibility and decent weather. It will be a four hour flight from the plant north of Seattle and travelling over Puget Sound and over Washington state. The first 787 should be certified and delivered to Japan's All Nippon Airways next year.

Airbus also has a lightweight aircraft in development. Its A350 will also be made of carbon-composite materials.

The other civilian Airbus product, the A380 double decker airliner; is limited by the number of airports in the world that can handle that aircraft. Recently, the A400M military transport finally took flight for the first time as well.

Construction issues for this new building material for a vehicle of this size was partly responsible for the delays. Shortage of parts and the two-month long strike last year didn't help things.

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Ref. BBC, December 15, 2009. "Boeing 787 Dreamliner prepares for first flight" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8413466.stm).

Reuters, December 15, 2009. "Boeing set for first flight of 787" by Kyle Peterson. (http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BE20720091215).

This Blog, December 11, 2009. "Airbus A400M Military Transport First Flight" (http://aerospacedreams.blogspot.com/2009/12/airbus-a400m-military-transport-first.html).

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!

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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.