Oops.
In the news today, the 150 combat aircraft that Britain have ordered to replace the Harrier jump jet are currently too heavy to land safely. According to the Torygraph:
The warplane, which is being built by the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is 3,300lb overweight, making it difficult for a pilot to land the fighter without its wheels coming off.
The plane is light enough for a safe landing to be achieved only if it has used all of its bombs, missiles and fuel. The jet is also too heavy for vertical take-offs, and requires too long a runway to land on the Royal Navy’s two new aircraft carriers. Now, I’m no rocket scientist, but if I were to design an aeroplane I’d make pretty damn sure it was light enough to fly safely. I’d also give it a mean coat of metallic blue paint, and some funky go-faster stripes.
June 22nd, 2004 at 13:00
“The warplane, which is being built by the US manufacturer Lockheed Martin, is 3,300lb overweight, making it difficult for a pilot to land the fighter without its wheels coming off.”
This is startlingly funny.
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