Beyond The Sprues

Modelling => Ideas & Inspiration => Aero-space => Topic started by: ysi_maniac on September 27, 2013, 07:23:12 AM

Title: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on September 27, 2013, 07:23:12 AM
Well it is a common knowledge that there is a problem with Larzac engines.

(http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j340/ysi_maniac/Drawing/alphajet-A10.jpg) (http://s1080.photobucket.com/user/ysi_maniac/media/Drawing/alphajet-A10.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on September 27, 2013, 10:21:43 AM
Fighter versions, second one with RB199

(http://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j340/ysi_maniac/Drawing/SingleSeatAlphaJet.jpg) (http://s1080.photobucket.com/user/ysi_maniac/media/Drawing/SingleSeatAlphaJet.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: GTX_Admin on September 29, 2013, 04:38:41 AM
some inspiration from the real world:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/Alphajet-LANCIER-Dassault_zps4ab072da.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/AlphajetLancier-scandocDassault--1_zps949c5671.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/xLockheedAlphaJet_zpsa85db8c2.jpg)
(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/AlphaJet_KWS_zps7cbd3d01.jpg)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: GTX_Admin on September 29, 2013, 04:44:19 AM
 A quick way to get a single seat Alphajet would be to either paint over the rear canopy or simply to do like they did with the Aero L-159 ALCA:

(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e68/GTwiner/L-159_ALCA_Czech_Air_Force_zps530429de.jpg)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: kengeorge on November 19, 2016, 11:20:10 PM
Holy thread revival!
Here's a question for you, what engines could replace the ones installed in the Alpha Jet?
The reason I asked is that I've got an Alpha jet blank in my pofile stash.
I've modified the line art to produce a twin tailed version and a single seater light attack/carrier version but I'm looking at replacing the engines for more powerful ones to increase the warload/speed/etc.
So, any sugestions will be gratefully considered for some sort of back story that's spinning around in my head.

Ken
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: elmayerle on November 20, 2016, 12:37:54 AM
How does the Larzac engine compare with the F124 engine in the M346?
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: GTX_Admin on November 20, 2016, 03:28:41 AM
What about a carrier capable Alpha Jet as a replacement for the Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr?  After all, it was considered and indeed the aircraft was also considered by the USN:

(http://www.ffaa.net/projects/alphajet/images/alphajet-0003.jpg)
(http://www.ffaa.net/projects/alphajet/images/alphajet-0005.jpg)
(http://www.ffaa.net/projects/alphajet/images/alphajet-0009.jpg)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: kengeorge on November 20, 2016, 07:07:20 AM
elmayerle, The tail of the tape...

SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 
    Length: 1,187 mm (46.73 in)
    Diameter: Inlet:452 mm (17.79 in)
    Dry weight: 295 kg (650.35 lb)
    Maximum thrust: (04-C6) 13 kN (2,970 lbf), (04-C20) 14 kN (3,200 lbf)

Honeywell/ITEC F124
   Length: 102.1 in (259 cm)
   Diameter: 36 in (91.4 cm)
   Dry weight: 1050 lb (521.6 kg)
   Maximum thrust: 6280 lbf (28 kN)

104.3 cm (55.37 in) difference in length
  46.2 cm (18.21 in) difference in diameter
226.6 kg (399.65lb)difference in weight
14 kN (3,080 lb) difference in thrust

The F124 is bigger, over 4 1/2ft longer, heavier & twice as powerful So it is doable, especially for carrier use. I enlarged the nacelles in my blank to accomodate a larger engine, I did consider the BR700 but found the specs made it far, far to big to use.
Try as I might I haven't found another engine to compare with the Larzac that is in production as I am trying to keep it semi-RWish
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: elmayerle on November 20, 2016, 08:26:37 AM
Okay, it's not currently in production, though assemblies common to it and its turboprop stablemate are; the Garrett (now Honeywell) TFE331/F109 engine.  Two of them were supposed to be fitted to each T-46.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: kengeorge on November 20, 2016, 08:54:50 AM
interesting stuff elmayerle.
I've re-wrote the specs to reflect the mods & will add that to a short backstory that I'm slowly getting sorted out, so no excuse really.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: elmayerle on November 20, 2016, 11:06:43 AM
Did a quick survey, the Williams FJ44-4 is a little longer and has a greater diameter due to a higher bypass ratio, but would be an excellent replacement for the Larzac.

Williams FJ-44-4:
    Length: 1,742 mm (68.6 in)
    Diameter: Inlet:640 mm (25.2 in)
    Dry weight: 295 kg (650.35 lb)
    Maximum thrust:16.014 kN (3,600 lbf)

That it's in production for several business jets as well as the Aermacchi M-345 says that support should be readily available.  That Williams international is in partnership with Rolls-Royce on it can only improve its prospects.

Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: Geoff on November 21, 2016, 06:14:56 AM
How about a Romanian one, they use a lot of French gear?
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: Weaver on November 21, 2016, 09:05:12 PM
It's not unknown for turbofan engines to be fitted with bigger or smaller fans to suite different applications. Perhaps the updated Alphajet order would be big enough to justify modifying an FJ44 or something similar with a smaller fan to get it to fit the same size, or reasonably enlarged, nacelles?
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: elmayerle on November 21, 2016, 10:32:07 PM
Yeah, but there's a loss of thrust with the reduced fan diameter.  The Fj-44-3A has a fan diameter of 22.9 in/582 mm and produces 2820 lbf/12.544 kN maximum thrust; though length and weight decrease a bit, too.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: The Big Gimper on August 09, 2018, 03:40:34 AM
USAF 412th OG chasing options for test support with Alpha Jet

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --
When a test aircraft takes to the sky, on many occasions it is accompanied by a chase airplane. The chase plane can provide safety support by giving visual feedback, serve as a flying target, and document the test sortie through photography and video taken by an additional crewmember.

Testing new systems on almost every aircraft type in the Air Force inventory, with several sorties each day, can be a grind and the demand for chase aircraft is higher than ever.

The 412th Operations Group is exploring ways to augment its chase plane fleet and one option is using Alpha Jets.

Full story here: https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Article/1593263/412th-og-chasing-options-for-test-support-with-alpha-jet/ (https://www.edwards.af.mil/News/Article/1593263/412th-og-chasing-options-for-test-support-with-alpha-jet/)

(https://media.defense.gov/2018/Aug/03/2001950517/780/780/0/180612-F-JG201-0007.JPG)



Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: GTX_Admin on August 11, 2018, 06:10:36 AM
Saw a couple of the Draken International ones a couple of weeks ago.  Very professional flying.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on January 04, 2022, 10:47:31 AM
Jagd Alpha Jet.

Powered by original 2 Larzac or with 1 RB199.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/JagdAlphaJet(1).jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/ysi_maniac/a/caec78e4-057f-4fe9-82f4-083a43455765/p/14ea87f3-35b5-496b-a15e-9e06b82988e9)

Next iteration, with adequate radar...
 :smiley: :-[
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on January 04, 2022, 12:25:23 PM
2nd iteration: with radar ...

... and Maritime attack version, in belgian markings, upon a creation by Gaetan Marie

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/JagdAlphaJet_iter2.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://app.photobucket.com/u/ysi_maniac/a/caec78e4-057f-4fe9-82f4-083a43455765/p/928f66c6-71d0-4eb6-927f-67e9b4487213)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on January 13, 2024, 02:11:05 PM
French light attack based on Alphajet

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/Coin_alphajet.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/Coin_alphajet.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: upnorth on January 13, 2024, 05:59:38 PM
Where engines are concerned, the Germans wanted the Alpha Jet to be powered by the General Electric J85 engine rather than the Larzac. It would be interesting to see where the Alpha Jet could go if the J85 family was chosen.

I'd think the CF700 turbofan development of the J85 could be a good candidate. It was already being used in the Falcon 20 from the mid 1960s, so would definitely be an available thing for when the Alpha Jet was being developed.

It would also be well within the abilities of French and German industries to license produce.

Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 14, 2024, 02:24:10 AM
I think you will find that the J85 in all versions is quite a bit larger than the SNECMA Turbomeca Larzacs that were used and thus it would be a struggle.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: upnorth on January 14, 2024, 02:41:30 AM
I think you will find that the J85 in all versions is quite a bit larger than the SNECMA Turbomeca Larzacs that were used and thus it would be a struggle.

That may explain why the Germans backed down from it and agreed to the Larzac.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: GTX_Admin on January 14, 2024, 03:07:47 AM
Anything is possible but you won't just end up with a Aphajet with different engines.  It would be a totally different jet, probably closer to a Jaguar trainer.
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on January 18, 2024, 03:46:49 PM
VTOL Alphajet. 6 exhausts :-\  :-\  :-\

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/Harrier_alphajet.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (http://"https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/Harrier_alphajet.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds")
Title: Re: Alpha Jet
Post by: ysi_maniac on January 19, 2024, 07:54:45 PM
Alphajet powered by GE J85 compared with RW Alphajet powered by Turbomeca Larzac

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/Alphajet-J85.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds) (https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/j340/ysi_maniac/Alphajet-J85.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)