Yak-141 main designer passed away.

[flanker]

What an amazing life it must have been. Born in 1919 when planes could hardly fly and in the end worlds first supersonic VTOL plane.

http://lenta.ru/news/2013/01/28/levinskih/

Translated:

http://tiny.cc/f58mrw

RIP

 

[2IDSGT]

Wasn't really the 1st in that department...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBH-Zqhhny4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ_gp33k80s

...but I would accept that the Yak-141 was the 1st with any practical potential as a fighter.

 

[Hanse]

Let's not forget the Mirage III V. (The vertical takeoff at the beginning is awesome.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvv6PZtDaLg

 

[Stargazer]

the end worlds first supersonic VTOL plane

What flanker meant emphatically here, obviously, was that the "Forger" was the first ever OPERATIONAL supersonic VTOL aircraft.

 

[2IDSGT]

Forager? Supersonic? Operational? -_-

 

[chuck4]

Operational? -_-

Yes, and still the only.

Although it's range and payload is so slime that it was a joke in the Soviet navy. Some thing about it being a dove of peace that can only circle the foremast of the ship.

 

[2IDSGT]

Operational? -_-

Yes, and still the only.

Although it's range and payload is so slime that it was a joke in the Soviet navy. Some thing about it being a dove of peace that can only circle the foremast of the ship.

Supersonic? Um, ok.

 

[chuck4]

Operational? -_-

Yes, and still the only.

Although it's range and payload is so slime that it was a joke in the Soviet navy. Some thing about it being a dove of peace that can only circle the foremast of the ship.

Supersonic? Um, ok.

Strictly speaking transonic, but above Mach 1.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Yak-38 max speed was 1100km/h - 1210km/h, possibly just marginally supersonic in the right circumstances.

 

[flanker]

Sigh, i am perfectly aware of Mirage IIIV and VJ 101. I don't consider them being as close to production or as "perfect" (notice " ") as Yak-141.

 

[TaiidanTomcat]

A Harrier can break Mach 1 in a dive with no stores

 

[chuck4]

A Harrier can break Mach 1 in a dive with no stores

So can any man without a harrier, doing a swan dive from 100,000 feet ;D

 

[TaiidanTomcat]

A Harrier can break Mach 1 in a dive with no stores

So can any man without a harrier, doing a swan dive from 100,000 feet ;D

Hovering is the tricky part