Talk:Airlift (military)

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[edit] tactical airlift comparison table

Since this table ostensibly compares the abilities of several tactical airlifters, why is the maximum range given in each case unladen? It doesn't matter how far they can fly without cargo. Does this make sense to anyone else? ericg ✈ 05:27, 10 March 2006 (UTC)

[edit] agility of airlifters - disputed

Can someone please find data backing up the following paragraph?

Tactical airlift aircraft are highly manoeuvrable allowing low-altitude flight to avoid detection by radar and air-drop supplies. A Hercules has the same speed and rate-of-turn performance as a Second World War Spitfire. They are fitted with defensive aids systems to protect them from attack by surface-to-air missiles.

This is a little hard to swallow, is all. Thanks. ericg ✈ 18:43, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I've looked at it and on the speed front it seems accurate. The spitfire has a maximum speed of 605km/h while the Hercules will do 610km/h. Though, these are just maximums, it doesn't say anything about acceleration. As for turn performance, I can't find any real data on that. But when looking at a photo like this it does give me the impression that they're quite capable aircraft on the performance front: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0374760/L/ BabyNuke 21:03, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I certainly have no problem with the speeds, those are verifiable. The ‘rate-of-turn performance’, however, is less so... just because a picture shows an aircraft in a 60° bank doesn’t necessarily mean it’s agile; I’ve very nearly done that in a Cessna 152 (no parachute, otherwise I certainly could have gone further). Roll rate and turn radius are more relevant items, and I’m not sure where to find them. ericg ✈ 21:37, 14 April 2006 (UTC)

I can't find any relevant data either. Did find this video though: http://www.flightlevel350.net/video_streaming.php?id=5157 ; but that still doesn't look quite as agile as a spitfire. I guess the author should elaborate. BabyNuke 09:10, 15 April 2006 (UTC)