Something's not quite right
 

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designed for very low level ground attack missions, such as airfield denial via cratering
- supposed to come in low... very low, as in UNDER the defense radar systems

my guess is that the variable wings help with dealing with ground effects

Manfred likes this. http://th108.photobucket.com/albums/...th_like111.png
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Well, you know what they say. Any landing you can walk away from... :)

Ground effects start at most a wingspan above ground from what I understand. It is pretty tough to do that kind of hedge hopping at 500mph or more. I suspect it is for the same reasons the F14 had the swing wings- it reduces stall speed and allows better dogfighting amongst other things.

Transportation Photos:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8155/7...aeffcc1e_z.jpg
POC Cup Racing + Time Trials April 2012_ 001 by Max_911S_fahrer, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7269/7...a7a04d7d_z.jpg
POC Cup Racing + Time Trials April 2012_ 096 by Max_911S_fahrer, on Flickr

Would that be a Soppingwet Camel?:D

pic:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1335580085.jpg

and that is why the have a special terrain following radar

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first off, for both of you guys, it's "ground effect" ...not plural. secondly, that airplane is not flying that fast while in ground effect. ground effect on a jet like that would be around the 20-30 ft AGL range. forward looking radar for that? nah....

the reason for a swept wing is simple. better manueverability while subsonic, higher cruising speed while sonic. the best of both worlds.


random transportation picture:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1335593169.jpg

One of the modes on the TFR provides 50ft clearance to ground...at speeds into the 600kts and beyond range. That Tonka is neither that low or that fast.. however the RAF certainly did train that way....

In the case of the Tornado the swing wing was to allow this low alt/ high speed performance and a smooth ride... with good low speed for landing.

The F3 version (pictured) was an interceptor version, with poor (relatively) dogfighting performance and marginal high alt ability... certainly an F4 was a 'better' fighter in that regard, with the F16/15 several orders more able.

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1963 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible 4-Speed

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