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Authors Note on the Preceding UpdatePhew! This was, by far, my longest update in this Timeline. It also contains quite a large info dump on the specifications of the three proposed fighters. I've tried to make the numbers as accurate as possible. All of the range figures are based on the Standard Aircraft Characteristics sheets found on the Alternate Wars website. For the purchase cost, I've had to find the closest figures I could. For the F11F, the number is based on the reported cost at the time the contract was originally awarded to Grumman for the F11F-1. The proposed F11F-2 would probably cost more compared to the baseline Tiger, but in this case I assumed that Grumman would be fairly desperate for a sale and willing to take a small loss if it led to more orders later. The cost for the F4H-1 is based on the cost of an F-4C in 1965 and adjusted downward to compensate for inflation using an online inflation calculator. Likewise the data on the cost per flight hour was found on the same website and is based on the cost per flight hour of the F-4C and adjusted downwards for inflation. For the Super Crusader, the numbers are harder to come by. The best information I was able to find was in a copy of the Aeroplane Icons focusing on the Phantom that stated the first 87 F8U-3s would cost 27% less than the first 87 F4H-1s. For the cost per flight hour, well, that data is nonexistent. At least it is not existent in publicly accessible sources. So I based it on the cost per flight hour of the F-105D in 1973 and adjusted it downwards for inflation. I made the decision to use the F-105D costs per flight hour as both aircraft used the same Pratt & Whitney J75 engine. The costs per hour for the Crusader III would likely be a bit lower as it was a significantly lighter and more aerodynamic aircraft. But I went with the higher cost so it wouldn't seem like I was giving one aircraft a massive advantage unfairly. In actuality, the cost would probably be closer to the F-106 Delta Dart than the F-105 Thunderchief, but... The costs per flight hour for the F11F are honestly a best guess. The oldest reports I can find date from the 1970s, long after the Tiger had left service. So I based it on the rough cost per flight hour of the F-104 Starfighter. Both aircraft filled nearly identical roles and used nearly identical equipment, so the numbers should at least be in the same ballpark. Though if anyone has a more accurate source and number, I would be extraordinarily grateful for it and more than happy to edit as needed.
Authors Note on the Preceding Update
Phew! This was, by far, my longest update in this Timeline. It also contains quite a large info dump on the specifications of the three proposed fighters. I've tried to make the numbers as accurate as possible. All of the range figures are based on the Standard Aircraft Characteristics sheets found on the Alternate Wars website. For the purchase cost, I've had to find the closest figures I could. For the F11F, the number is based on the reported cost at the time the contract was originally awarded to Grumman for the F11F-1. The proposed F11F-2 would probably cost more compared to the baseline Tiger, but in this case I assumed that Grumman would be fairly desperate for a sale and willing to take a small loss if it led to more orders later. The cost for the F4H-1 is based on the cost of an F-4C in 1965 and adjusted downward to compensate for inflation using an online inflation calculator. Likewise the data on the cost per flight hour was found on the same website and is based on the cost per flight hour of the F-4C and adjusted downwards for inflation. For the Super Crusader, the numbers are harder to come by. The best information I was able to find was in a copy of the Aeroplane Icons focusing on the Phantom that stated the first 87 F8U-3s would cost 27% less than the first 87 F4H-1s. For the cost per flight hour, well, that data is nonexistent. At least it is not existent in publicly accessible sources. So I based it on the cost per flight hour of the F-105D in 1973 and adjusted it downwards for inflation. I made the decision to use the F-105D costs per flight hour as both aircraft used the same Pratt & Whitney J75 engine. The costs per hour for the Crusader III would likely be a bit lower as it was a significantly lighter and more aerodynamic aircraft. But I went with the higher cost so it wouldn't seem like I was giving one aircraft a massive advantage unfairly. In actuality, the cost would probably be closer to the F-106 Delta Dart than the F-105 Thunderchief, but... The costs per flight hour for the F11F are honestly a best guess. The oldest reports I can find date from the 1970s, long after the Tiger had left service. So I based it on the rough cost per flight hour of the F-104 Starfighter. Both aircraft filled nearly identical roles and used nearly identical equipment, so the numbers should at least be in the same ballpark. Though if anyone has a more accurate source and number, I would be extraordinarily grateful for it and more than happy to edit as needed.
