Quote:
Originally Posted by bongodriver
I don't get the VTOL version at all, that barn door on the top must produce so much drag during the ski-jump type take off, and if the drive train to the lift fan breaks.......eeek, what ever happened to 'keep it simple'?, unnecessary weight and all those doors that need to open for VTOL, thank god the UK decided to opt for the CTOL version.
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Au contraire, I think the barn door helps feeding the turbofan better, considering they merely rely on thrust on the takeoff run, the drag component is probably negligible. It's interesting to see the clean design wings from the back and the amount of work done by the tail surfaces and nozzle.
But I agree about the whole malarkey being too complicated: maintenance costs on that monster must be insane!
