Originally Posted By: Astro14
I would "guess" that flight control engineers know a great deal about aerodynamics!
But that's just a guess, based on their MSs and PhDs in the subject...and the daft that the work in the field...
I would be very interested in the background of that particular group of jokers at Honeywell. It is entirely possible, IMO in fact apparent, that their background is in software or some other field that is not aerodynamics related.
Originally Posted By: Astro14
As far as area rule on the fiberglass mock-up? I don't see any evidence...it's a high drag airframe...given the canards and wing leading edge angles, I doubt it would go supersonic if it were pointed straight down....and the intakes are truly tiny for the engine size...so top speed will be low. It might be low RCS, if it ever flies, but it's not high performance...
But what do I know...I am just a simple guy with a degree in Astrophysics and 27 years of flying fighters and other airplanes...hardly credible when compared with Internet experts....
What evidence or indication do you have that this is likely fiberglass.
Based on the leading edge angles of the f-104, what would you guess its top speed to be?
How could you not see any use of area rule with this design?
The intakes do look way small. It could mean, like some have said, that this prototype is powered by turbojets rather than turbofan--hence the smaller intake. For whatever reason--maybe just availability, maybe better supersonic performance, a turbojet was temporarily more convenient for testing purposes than a turbofan?
I'm no expert in aviation, though; only an enthusiast who hopes to get a pilot's license some day (with two degrees in physics and a background in numerical analysis). I see aircraft as works of art from a politically neutral viewpoint (I couldn't care less if they had a french, '40s german, russian, chinese, or indian flag on it). Observing parts of this thread, it seems like people's views are formed like they are in spectators of a football game involving their home team. Still interesting and entertaining though; keep it coming.