Turbofan Killer Bee: Rutan ARES "Mudfighter" for U.S. Army Close Air Support

[wgilroy]

This would be a good pick for the Light Air Support — or COIN plane (unless they are totally hung up on it being prop driven....).

[Waltham1892]

Why does it not surprise me that Burt Rutan designed an aircraft with an asymetrical jet engine.

[seddream]

Acknowledgement: Those who are looking a Flying Car and Innovative Aircraft designer please just email me sed_dream@yahoo.com.

[DEFENDERCRUSADER700]

SELL THESE TO ISRAEL! THEY NEED TO GET THIS!

[MrZlooze]

USAF only requirements are that the program be outrageously expensive and conducive to a 20 yr. career. They need to be told what they need.

[mryellow123]

Odd.... an more expensive, more complex and harder to repair version of an A10....

[HMSBeagle200]

I don't think this aircraft will ever made it into service. USAF hates close support aircraft (they hates A10 as well), secondly, it's small, USAF hates small aircraft (like F-5, F-20), thirdly, It's simple, USAF and congress hate simple aircraft, because the production can not be contracted across constituents. Can this aircraft can take off on an amphibious assault ship? I guess USMC hates the same kinds of aircraft as the USAF

[HDaviator]

@HMSBeagle200

So you are saying that the USAF would hate it because its a smart design and would save the taxpayers allot of money? Sounds about right.

[egcroan]

@HDaviator Sounds like you read Chuck Yeager's autobiography where he expressed exactly the same opinion after the Air Force passed on the F-20 Tigershark simply for the reason the manufacture did the specification & design itself without 400 "desk pilots" from the Pentagon being involved. Interesting that the Air force started out as the US Army Air Corps. and with the advent of the Cold War catapulted itself into a separate mission statement,and budgets. Talk about Government Waste !

[valcan321]

@egcroan Same story with the A-10. No one in the airforce wanted to be part of making a CAS plane afterall everything is about fighter right? So engineers took hold and built a super plane. REALLY bad PR for asses in the airforce.

[InfiniteMushroom]

@HMSBeagle200 Rutan's ARES was for an era that was already drawing to a close. Based on what we're seeing in North Africa and the Middle East, extreme standoff weapons like cruise missiles will represent the greatest striking power of capitalist imperialism. Drones are clearly the tool of preference for CIA and MI6 ops. The greatest weapon of all, and the one that takes the most time, is the mass importation of disgruntled minorities who will be unleashed by CIA mercs for Color Revolutions.

[TheWingflyer]

@InfiniteMushroom Another dumbass white guy wants to blame all on the non-whites and "foreigners"... Just admitting that nobody, not white people have no wings on their backs and that they screw up. In a white-centric nation with power and culture centered on whites, all the problems endemic to that culture lies at the feet of the bearers of that culture and power. The only CIA weapon would be stirring up idiots like you to hate others while the plutocrats rob us blind.

[IonoTheFanatics]

@InfiniteMushroom nay, light COIN aircraft is all the rage these days, and this light CAS aircraft would've been perfect for the job.

except the airforce as usual never thought much about them until the budget exploded in the face and now all of a sudden there is a real need for light aircrafts that can perform COIN ops and other ground suppression role in the absence of serious AA threat, but without the expensive maintenance price tag of standard fighter.

[1madcanuck]

an interesting aircraft,but if your using it for ground attack as a main mission,a single engine aircraft spells doom for the pilot.

[WALTERBROADDUS]

@1madcanuck Not true. Their have been many successful designs with a single engine.

[swedishvolvo]

Why would you not just center the gun and put the air intake inlets in front of the gun to prevent the gun powder from getting into the engine?

[sakpan39]

If Burt Rutan can practicly replace the A10 using a small aircraft built around a tiny engine, I wonder what he could design around a Honeywell F125 engine (9.250lbs). I bet that he would offer at least F15 if not F22 performance for a fraction of the cost!!

[pilotfighter]

It doesn't cost nearly enough !!!! Oh, if only they would take this man seriously. We love you Burt! Keep the faith man!!

[dnlcast2]

Very nice plane but it looks too fragile...i dont trust composites and plastics and fiberglass against hundreds of ak-47 rounds streaking up towards you from the ground!

[AmericanAviator]

@dnlcast2 You gotta think though, Even a good shot with an AK-47 will have a hard time hitting a small jet traveling 200+ knots, low to the deck. Still, having something that isn't fiber glass would go a long way for morale.

[viper8red]

@AmericanAviator Aircraft get hit all of the time with small caliber rounds. It's exceedingly rare that small arms takes down a combat aircraft because of all the redundant systems.

[jetaddicted]

magnificent rutan creation (as usual).

however; please allow me to ask a few questions:

wouldn't having the gun in a central position and the pilot in a more inclined position above it be more effective?

what if the pilot as to violently yaw left for more than 2 seconds? wouldn't the engine stall? (lack of air supply?)

the canards, should be placed in the plane of the wings for efficient stealth, and aren't they a bit too long? i mean they seem a nice target and what about high G manoeuvers?

[dnlcast2]

Its a hard decision, 1 F-22 Raptor...or about 120 Ares aircraft..hmmm...i dont know..

[zipacna1980]

This plane is awesome but I think pilot firing that gun feeling the same as a mice in a can tied to a speeding car.

[gosciu555]

@zipacna1980

Yeah the gun can be replaced with something more tame such as the ASP-30 or German 30mm recoiless, which Mike S. has already touted. Or something different altogether like a large caliber (70-100mm?) version of the german recoiless and caseless system.

[wiccanmoonman]

I'm related to Burt Rutan he married Tonya Simone my cousin.

[ATLRCFlyer]

@dptp9lf I thought the same thing

[LarryMellman]

That thing is so light that it isn't stable enough for the gun. Look at how it bucks when it fires. You can see the same thing in the gun site footage, the rounds jerk to the left when the pilot is trying to keep the pipper on the target. He's over-compensating at the end of the burst. Another reason they put the GAU-8 in the middle & moved the nose gear on the A-10. That bird was also manuvering clean, not "Christmas Tree'd" with TER's like the brass likes to do.

[dptp9lf]

Looks like a Long E-Z or Velocity wing...

[pheenix42]

Myself, I would love a sport aircraft variant of this concept.

*WOOOSH*

[nobody2612]

20 or so squad-fighters would have a devastating effect against a ground invasion force

[blaxblax82]

foarte tare! freat plane

[Kneedragon1962]

Note, this is now a 29 year old idea. Read the info.

Losses of pilots and machines might be significant, which these days is politically unacceptable. If we found ourselves fighting a truly defensive war, that had the enthusiastic / desperate support of the people, that'd change.

An AK47 is a weapon to be reckoned with, because it's cheap, simple, reliable, and you can arm everybody. You can train a 12 yo to use it in a couple of hours. It isn't perfect but it does what it does superbly.

[lokanratum]

Incredible aircraft ! Great imagination ! One of those I would like to fly...

[dragonamt]

Why not just reinstate the cancelled update to the A-10, no other military in the world has the A-10 or even a plane like the A-10, why waste our tax dollars on something that ain't broke. The plane has been landed after a wing has been 2/3 ripped off in combat. The f-35b variant STVOL costs something like 4 times as much and they want to use it as close air support? thats nuts. Like this plane but still, the A-10 ain't broke, its cheap to maintain, and still gets the job done and then some.

[dynmicpara]

@MOJONIXION Read our killerbees3 web page for more on armed crop dusters.

[dynmicpara]

@NWguy83 FALSE. There is no law denying the U.S. Army fixed-wing aircraft; we operate RC-12s, C-23s now etc. OV-1s in the past etc.

[ozgood1x]

Bring ALL of our soldiers HOME. Defend OUR country against the Communist insurgents HERE on Capital Hill.

All the fancy weapons in the arsenal DON'T MATTER if your not HERE to defend US against them.

[dynmicpara]

@ozgood1x The main threat here at home comes from the corporate NAZIS, don't forget them.

[ozgood1x]

@dynmicpara Yes indeed. How will we deal with them ?

[MattB613]

I think they should rebuild the P-47 with modern weapons and equipment. That beast was a flying tank, there was a story that a rookie pilot was being engaged by a German ace flying a Bf-109. the German shot all of his ammunition into the P-47 and the plain was still flying!!! Truly an amazing aircraft, none the less I think updating the aerodynamics, weapons system, etc. would do it some good...

[dynmicpara]

@MattB613 go to our killerbees2 web page where we propose exactly what you suggest.

[PrairieDog319]

This is a good concept. They could use a trim tab that opens on the starboard side to counteract the guns recoil.

[stephenr9973]

looks good but dont lke the fact the nose moves once you fire the main gun! i wouldnt trust it engaging enemy with friendlies in the area i.e DANGER CLOSE!

[fly3601]

Awesome, a few refinements and that would be the cats meow! Cooling ducts implemented into the exhaust pipe would help with the heat seeking threat. Its too bad Rutan didn't press this design or re-introduce it, but he has space travel on his mind right now. He(Rutan) could be the "Tony Stark" of the military aviation if he wanted it.

[TNorb]

Why in the "F" hasn't the military adopted this a/c?? My God, this video is circa 1991, 1st Gulf War era. Cheap, well designed and lethal in the right hands. But no, we need the MEGA expensive F-35, right!?!?!?!

[33vortex]

This aircraft would be effective no doubt. It's small, relatively fast, composite structure (very little if any radar energy reflection) and very maneuverable. How it would deal with combat damage is difficult to say, but none of the modern military aircraft deal with combat damage very well. If you take a hit, chances are a vital system component is lost or damaged, there simply are no unneeded components in a modern combat aircraft system.

Burt Rutan's design of the ARES is sound.

[sakoshooter48]

This was one of Rutans toys he built over 25 years ago. It was built more as a "what if'" than any thing else. Regardless of what you think, in actuality this aircraft was way ahead of the curve as far as its design.

[Buemmo]

Well i really liked the A10 (who doesnt like flying gatlings?) But it really is time for a next generation low altitude anti ground plane. But it looks really good. Small and very agile. Rutan did another great job

[007999999999999999]

when the pilot flys god this plane the enemy see/hear it only when he's firing on it^^

damn I want to fly this thing!!!!!

[Flyboy207]

They used this in Iron Eagle 3.

[gosciu555]

This thing is sweet, it looks so...controlled. I think the gun might be a bit too much, maybe an ASP-30 or maybe even a high ROF 20mm like from the Marder would suffice? Or a 106mm recoiless ;)

[gosciu555]

This thing is sweet, it looks so...controlled. I think the gun might be a bit too much, maybe an ASP-30 or maybe even a high ROF 20mm like from the Marder would suffice? Or a 106mm recoiless ;)

[ConciseOxford100]

The ARES (The greek god of war, by the way) was designed to give the US Army its own organic air cover in situations where the USAF was to busy to help. If a production variant had entered service, it probably would have carried Sidewinder Aim-9s, Hellfires, etc.

[ConciseOxford100]

The ARES (The greek god of war, by the way) was designed to give the US Army its own organic air cover in situations where the USAF was to busy to help. If a production variant had entered service, it probably would have carried Sidewinder Aim-9s, Hellfires, etc.

[sslavi]

Doesn't look very stable (and hence precise) during the strafe. It dances like a drunk chick when the gun fires.

[DaytonaRoadster]

This thing is awesome, and we could acutally make 1000 of these for the cost of one of the Chair Forces-still in development-F-35. Hopefully someone will put this idea into production when we get invaded by the Chinese...and we will

[bf2lover42]

bullets are aerodynamic, because they travel at the speed the plane is flying + the accelaration caused by the gun firing

a gun angled down would cause more resistance to air, and if the bullet loses speed, loses power

[bunjit1]

Dear Burt,

You git! Why couldn't you stay away from military stuff?

I think of you and all the fantastic civilian and recently space craft, then this. SHIT. How disappointing. America needs to stop getting into war with everyone to save it's economy and hence itself.

I still love yanks, but your gov't is fucked up and seeing this sort of thing doesn't help.

cheers,

dave.

[thechoosendude]

What kind of armor did this have?

Looks like it's main weakness.

[dynmicpara]

@thechoosendude MAIN IDEA IS THIS COULD BE OWNED & OPERATED BY THE aRMY IN IT'S HIP-POCKET. i AGREE A FOLDING WING a-10 COULD ALSO DO THIS BUT IT'S BIGGER AND MORE DIFFICULT ETC.

[Seefudi]

The A-10 was designed to withstand limited small arms fire and up to 20mm cannon. Can the ARES survive 30mm cannon fire from a Russian tank support vehicle like the Terminator in AA mode in addition to it's AA missiles?

[kcd69er]

I agree that the A-10 is a great aircraft too...

[kcd69er]

Awsome new jet, Canada needs to get some of these

[afm199]

It's a nice small aircraft with limited combat capability. An A 10 is a Tank Killer. It's a mobile weapons platform and incredibly deadly. This is more of a small and maneuverable weapon for close support.

[datzfast]

probably fun to fly

[Roddyoneeye]

How do you keep the cowling secure from the concussion of enemy proximity ordinance ?

[Seefudi]

The A-10 can take punishment from small arms to AAA up to 20 mm cannon (but not forever). It was designed before the advent of the more destructive 30 mm cannon and the proliferation of more mobile and powerful anti-aircraft missiles. Can the Ares survive 30mm cannon fire, heavy machine guns or even sustained AK rounds?

[idrobinhood]

I like this design. also maybe arching the gun not straight but 20 degrees down at the ground. Also would love to see a cockpit which by the pilot is laid out so take more g forces, or just angled.. They need to at least build some for actual use in the field, of afghanistan

[dynmicpara]

Interesting idea to angle gun down to get more strafing action without having to pull up. How about a belly mounted revcolving cannon like the OV-10D NOGS had? Like the recoilless 30mm by MAK?

[idrobinhood]

I've seen this design before with a angled gun down. The plane was more of a average design. I'm afraid the design is quality angled or straight. Angled to get in and out of the zone more safer.

I think people make sure these common sense projects never get off the ground on purpose. I liked your video on the Cheyenne attack helicopter, 1970s. Yes, more 30mm canons are needed.

I like the WW2 British Piat. With the new technology today. The Piat could come back today. Urban artillery needed?

[JDKMM7]

Hold up. Think about this: if the plane has guns that are angled downward toward a target while flying parallel to the ground, you would have to compensate for the inertia the bullet has in the direction of the plane (it would overshoot the target since it will have momentum parallel with the ground, because it was shot from the plane moving parallel to the ground - considering gravity is negligible). Now if you have them pointed the same direction, this won't be a problem.

[JDKMM7]

sorry, but did you get my reply? it's not showing for me..

[JDKMM7]

nvm :)

[maco10810]

@dynmicpara the air to air cannons on fighters should be belly mounted with infrared lock on, and auto firing capabilities so that the pilot can just concentrate on flying. The cannon should have a short barrel and be able to rotate like the gunners bubbles on the 2nd word war bombers just automated to lock and fire in all directions. After a burst it goes to loading position and gets another clip fitted. Then the cannon will shoot at him while he is passing buy as well.

[kdraper2007]

The Air Force will never allow the Army to have a fixed wing attack aircraft. they never have, they never will.

[dynmicpara]

@kdraper2007 DON'T SAY 'NEVER' life is far from over on Planet Earth. At the rate the uSAF is self-destructing, their hold over Congress will not be forever.

[idrobinhood]

That's terrible. This could have been used in Iraq and Afghanistan in a more versatile in operations.

Though not as powerful, its still is cheaper, more versatile in landing on roads and made up landing airfields. It shows how the military is blind in making decisions. for every one A-10 there could be 5 Mudfighters protecting even more troops with even more distance... I say bring it into the field...

[phippsa3]

That is the coolest jet ever!!

[anatoliaxelrod]

Awesome aircraft, it can be very good for Israelis.

[losipoop]

a revamped j7w shinden. still alot of similarities

[jaygongin]

It looks flawed. why put the gun off to the side... every time you see it fire it fishtails. it's an accident waiting to happen. I realize that they are trying to reduce crap getting into the engines but place it in center and the intake on top (similar to an aircobra/kingcobra) and with the way that the inlet and the duct are arranged if a bird gets near the canard it will be sucked into the engine anyway. Yes this a great idea. but there are many improvements that need to be done.

[dynmicpara]

I'll trust Burt Rutan over you on this one.

[jaygongin]

I realize that I am just saying It can be done much easier. and at a slightly lower cost to build because you can remove all of the specific aerodynamics to keep it flying straight when you fire the cannon.

[geekfish]

@dynmicpara The A-10 was a total flop.....;) I love Burt.....

[dynmicpara]

@geekfish C'mon the A-10 is great, too. Look up ZERO SUM THINKING. We should have A-10s AND Mudfighters.

[geekfish]

@dynmicpara Not sure why I said the A-10 was a total flop, must have been trolling that day. Maybe it was because the A-10 is so limited in speed and the design is so inefficient.

[kdraper2007]

if you'd paid attention, Rutan explained that the gun's positioned so that the gun gas pressure against the forward fuselage counteracts (cancels out) the recoil.

[bsg1206]

I want one.

[jjjazzycraig]

rutan suffers from congnative conceit.

[acrazedmaniac]

low cost? redundant systems without billions and billions of transistors and hoses/pumps and wires and sensors? or, just need for redundant systems? no fuel management dutys? ....and the u.s. military? so sorry....those dont go together....

[waddsworth]

Rutan is my hero.

[rock3tcat]

Mine too! He's one of the main reasons why I want to be an aerospace engineer!

[jerdeb4evr]

The technology of Mr. Rutan is so logical, or, maybe it is genius that makes it look simple

[ssgtakeo]

Stupidity is complex, Genius is simple.

[gosciu555]

@ssgtakeo

Good comment.

[MOJONIXION]

Great plane if you arnt conserned with pilot serving ground fire. where is the "titanum bathtub" to protect the man flying this thing? The A-10 is a better aircraft unless you feel the pilot and aircraft are compleatly disposable

[dynmicpara]

@MOJONIXION The Mudfighter can be armored; don't condemn until you see to what extent.

[texNoz]

@MOJONIXION

Where's the "titanium bathtub" for the average grunt on the ground? Perhaps they should just suck it up like the rest of the troops that aren't in the sky.

[dvdmoe]

@MOJONIXION Completely different theaters of War, and thus a different level of Close Air Support. Although, the A-10 is nice, is has a HUGE footprint across the sky. Oh, let's not forget it's for the ARMY.

Fly Navy

[Rhino011]

A-10 does the job no need for new aircraft in this economy

[WrexsouI]

This music is as cheesy as Rambo First Blood: part II.

[JacquesMare]

I can see why something this simple was'nt taken up at the time however it's simplicity is ingenious - the ridiculous is that this little fighter would be far more effective thant the much larger A10 against the taliban who operate in small teams in very difficult terrain; it's plain to see from the video, this is an ideal light hunter-killer for remote and difficult terrain.

[WrexsouI]

I think the navy seals are the most effective weapon against the Taliban.  At this point it is a battle of wills. America has a much bigger population than Afhanistan. All we have to do is have a taliban genocide and the war is over.

[Octopi1]

You are correct my friend. But I guess gunships are made more for this type of job, it's not like the Taliban are shoosting Stingers at'em these days.

[callingmar11]

i agree

[SocomUB]

Are you out of your mind? The A-10 would blow this thing away in air-to-ground. Get some facts and study air craft before you say things like that.

[dynmicpara]

If USAF doesn't deploy the A-10s out of envy what will we have then for CAS/MAS?

[LooseRivet2103]

@SocomUB

The buzz word for this aircraft is "cost" how many of these aircraft could you have for one A10. In small wars with an enemy that does not have ZU23's like Afganistan, I think this aircraft would be ideal.

[tbilisicentral]

doesnt seem to have an armor protection to take beating from small arms/AAA like A-10 or SU-25 can. whent it was unveiled first, the military analysts said that maximum this craft can do is to battle enemy transport and attack helicopters.with itegration of AIM-9 and compatible missles to helos this craft is doomed. leave the CAS to the battle proven chassis - A-10s and SU-25s. no need to reinvent a bicycle. plus now there is a word that F35 might replace A-10s in CAS missions. fuck that.

[dynmicpara]

The role of the MudFighter would be to SWARM the battlefield in large numbers and be hip-pocket available by ground mobility owned & operated by the Army. As much as I like the A-10 its bigger, more expensive and is out of production. Get it back into production with a back-seat observer, fold its wings etc.

[dragon825]

backing up dynmicpara, you have to remember this was designed in '81, todays musical greeting cards have more memory than computers then! basically an update of avionics and engine would provide enough to armour up this aircraft IMHO

[Buemmo]

@tbilisicentral F-35 is soo f***ing expensive do you guys even realise how many Ares´ you can ave instead of one F35?

[Ralroost]

I'll take two.

[PatrickBrass]

Tough call... one F22a Raptor, or 2,000 ARES Mudfighters...

[PsychoCheese1337]

Considering that both are made for completely different purposes, it is a tough call.

[PatrickBrass]

Hard to believe this aircraft is already 18 years old...

[KBAYIZZ]

Well, technically the F-22 is about 19 years old itself, its first flight as an experimental aircraft ,made By Lockheed Martin, was in 1990. But yeah its crazy how all these super planes come out way before the general public has any clue. Makes ya think what else the government's keepin from us...

[sim0b]

Damn right. The US has more money for weapons research than the rest of the world put together. Its amazing eh.

[bnther36]

I think its a real shame that this plane will never see production. It looks to be a fairly capable platform, especially when considering the economics involved.

Typical US politics; they want all the bells and whistles even if they can only buy one of them.

[jgstargazer]

That's true. It's better to make alot of planes with a fighting chance capability to servive than a few that costs millions of dollars per plane. There can never be guarantees not to get shot down in battle.

[bnther36]

I realize that the design is close to 20yrs old, but I can't help but wonder if we couldn't use a little fighter like that. The economics of it would be incredible!

It's a shame the US military is so gung-ho on the biggest most expensive 'bells and whistles' platform they can get their hands on. Don't get me wrong, the F-22 is an amazing plane, but if I was given the choice of flying the little Mudfighter or sitting out of the game because their wasn't enough jets to fly...I'd rather fight!

[ssgtakeo]

Perfect plane for the Air National Guard. Who doesn't want to swap between crop dusting or airliners to this little hot rod?

[Cthrilla]

Burt is a badass

[WolfSaintSnake]

Very innovative and simple.

The only problem is that since the GAU gun is offcentered to the right, it causes a moment to the left when its fired. This can be seen in the video too. That would mean that the aircarft is only able to fire very short bursts. Or it would need an auto yaw mechanism to self correct that when it fires.

[aaron8862006]

Short bursts of gunfire are generally desirable in large aircraft as well. The pilot would need to kiss in a little right rudder to offset, no doubt.

Did you know the recoil of the GAU-8 on the A-10 is equivalent to the thrust of one of its engines? Not a new concept in mud-movers. :)

[scwtrials]

@WolfSaintSnake Same problem the A-10 had all along. But new avionics reto-fitted to the A-10 saved it from being scrapped years ago. The fire control takes over the planes steering to aim the plane on the target while firing then releases control back to pilot. This feature buys us many useful YEARS on a plane that otherwise would be sitting in Davis-Monthan waiting to be made into beer cans. Read Air&Space Magazine- WARTHOG- GATLING GUNSLINGER.

[scwtrials]

@WolfSaintSnake Same problem the A-10 had all along. But new avionics reto-fitted to the A-10 saved it from being scrapped years ago. The fire control takes over the planes steering to aim the plane on the target while firing then releases control back to pilot. This feature buys us many useful YEARS on a plane that otherwise would be sitting in Davis-Monthan waiting to be made into beer cans. Read Air&Space Magazine- WARTHOG- GATLING GUNSLINGER.

[Whitehorze]

Pulling the gun and ejection set will cut 1,000 lbs out of the wet weight. Stretch the wings or make them foldable, you'll have one hell of a ride that would fit into a garage stall... I wonder what the VNE is on that beauty...

[aserta]

this is just ingenuity at it's best, pitty others fail to see the awsome...

[hanghang71]

if you go to harlech in Wales G.B you will regulary see military r/c plane that are followed by a full size plane to shoot it down if they lose control.I think that they have a large part to play in future ground support/surviellance

[Indianmalujl]

the fuel is tank is located in center of gravity or aerodynamic center?

[Rasnixful]

Brilliant solution. Only major problem is with the gun off the aircraft centerline there is a perceptible left right jerk to the aircraft on firing off the target. But I am sure that could be easily solved.

You can count on Rutan for innovative designs. I bet the lessons from this plane are being applied to future vehicles. Hopefully ucavs.

[DKMBismarck]

Can this thing takeoff from the deck from a assault carrier, provide marine beach head air cover? Or operate on unpaved runway like back in WW2?

[KayakMike1963]

This plane was seen in the yawner of a movie "Iron Eagle III" which never should have been filmed. The cinematographers wanted a Messerschmitt 262 but none were available. Too bad they didn't cancel the stupid production!

[brewil]

I love Rutans designs but it looks like as soon s you engage the cannon then the aircraft slips left off target. check the hud and the target views

[KutWrite]

If it's a good idea, the gov't probably won't buy it.

Rutan isn't well enough connected in DC.

[TakeLife2TheExtreme]

Its an old add...or old sounding

[calvinstrikesagain]

Make this shit-kicker unmanned and you'll have on helluva aircraft. Reaper and Predator will seem ancient in comparison.

[Deltaonefournine]

I would LOVE to take that thing for a spin, looks like a dream light attack aircraft... That and A-10 would scare the hell out of anyone.

[dreamerosity]

Is this really going to enter service? 5/5

[dynmicpara]

mohawk58 writes:

"Its sad that we could have a cheap effective combat aircraft but because it doesn't cost 1 Billion a pop it won't be taken seriously. This is a warfighter's plane."

[jkyet]

wouldnt the bending of the flow in the tail pipe create a turning motion accting against the changing direction of the flow?

[All2Meme]

I'm not sure that it would, jkyet, but even if it does it shouldn't be any more difficult to cancel out than the torsional motion that all propeller-driven aircraft have; it'd just be a matter of control surface configuration (fixed and/or moveable surfaces) to cancel any adverse motions caused by the engine placement.

[Dameon110]

Why does the US always share their new technology. I mean now every "enemy" country knows how to build one now.

[wraithman07]

I see the advantage that this could have in being a lightweight well armed attack plane, but is the A-10 not good enough to cover this aircrafts intended role?

[dynmicpara]

We need a smaller Killer Bee under Army control to be more places (FOLs) and overlap A-10 coverage from FOBs.

[ganjasaurusrex]

MAN, that looks like fun..thanks for sharing.

[74flateric]

Thanks for sharing such a rarity

[ssgtakeo]

Perfect for Afghanistan, we need to revive this design.

[ubuibiok]

*****