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T-61N Sparrowhawk II

34.4k Dimkal  6.2 years ago

Carrier-capable Advanced Jet Trainer Aircraft


IMPORTANT NOTE: Aircraft has been flight-tested throughout the whole designing phase, using a Saitek P2600 Rumble Force Gamepad for smoother handling and for monitoring control surface deflection angle. It is recommended to use a gamepad, joystick or mouse-as-joystick mode for flying this aircraft.

1) CONTROLS

AG1: Landing Speedbrakes activation
AG2: Gyro-stabilization activation
AG3: Formation Lights activation
AG4: Drag chute deployment
AG5: Arresting Hook extension & Carrier Landing Approach Stabilization System-CLASS
AG8: OEI training activation (see below)
VTOL Down: Flaps deployment
TRIM: Normal operation (Tab-Down for Pitch-Up)

OEI (One Engine Inoperative) is a training procedure that helps student pilots to effectively control and safely land an aircraft which has suffered a loss of power to its main powerplant.

2) T/O INSTRUCTION

TRIM: 1 TAB DOWN
VTOL: 1 TAB DOWN
THROTTLE: 100%
Rotate aircraft at 130mph (fully loaded configuration)
GEAR UP
VTOL: NEUTRAL
TRIM: SET for climbing attitude ~15-20° nose-up
THROTTLE: Adjust for cruising flight ~60%
• Continue Flight


3) LDG INSTRUCTIONS

Reduce Airspeed at 250mph and below
Align with Runway at 1.500 ft Altitude and 2NM distance
GEAR DOWN
THROTTLE: 10-15% (depends on weight)
AG2: Activate for Gyro-stabilization
VTOL: FULL DOWN gradually
TRIM: FULL DOWN gradually
AG1: Activate for Air-brake extension
• Establish reasonable Rate of Descent
Airspeed 130-145mph (depends on weight)
Make corrections using small THROTTLE movements (~1-3%)
• Maintain Attitude 2°-5° Nose Up
20ft before Touchdown add 3-5% Throttle for Flare technique
• At Touchdown: THROTTLE – 0% and AG4 for Drag Chute (if needed)
When all wheels on ground and airspeed below 100mph - APPLY FULL BRAKES
• At speed below 20mph use nose wheel steering
• Maintain ground directional stability with slight yaw inputs



4) SPECIAL TRAINING PROCEDURES

Carrier Landing Approach Procedure

Reduce Airspeed at 200mph and below
Align with carrier ship at 1000 ft Altitude and 1NM distance
GEAR DOWN
THROTTLE: 10-15% (depends on weight)
AG5: Activate for Arresting Hook extension and CLASS activation
VTOL: FULL DOWN gradually
TRIM: FULL DOWN gradually
AG1: Activate for Air-brake extension
• Establish 5-7m/s ~750ft/min Rate of Descent (use units mod for monitoring)
Airspeed 110-125mph (depends on weight)
Make corrections using small and quick THROTTLE movements (~2-3%)
• Maintain Attitude 1°-3° Nose Up
20ft before Touchdown THROTTLE RETARD and BRAKES for 2 seconds
• When aircraft comes to a complete stop :
ADD THROTTLE 3-5% for stopping backward movement
AG5: De-Activate for arresting hook retraction and CLASS de-activation
AG2: Activate for nose wheel steering and confined-space turning
• At deck maintain ground directional stability with slight yaw inputs and use nose wheel steering with AG2

OEI Training – Simulation for Automated Flame-out Engine/SAFE

Recommended Altitude for training initiation: >2.000ft
Recommended Speed for training initiation: >200mph
o When ready for training initiation
AG8: De-Activate for OEI mode
AG2: Activate for Gyro-stabilization assistance
Maintain aircraft control and turn towards nearest safest airfield
Prepare aircraft for landing configuration
THROTTLE: 20-25% (depends on weight)
VTOL: 1 TAB DOWN gradually
TRIM: FULL DOWN gradually
AG1: Activate for Air-brake extension
• Establish reasonable Rate of Descent
Airspeed 120-140mph (depends on weight)
Make corrections using small THROTTLE movements (~3-5%)
• Maintain Attitude 2°-5° Nose Up
o IF A SAFE LANDING CAN BE EXECUTED, then:
20ft before Touchdown add 3-5% Throttle for Flare technique
• At Touchdown: THROTTLE – 0% and AG4 for Drag Chute (if needed)
When all wheels on ground and airspeed below 100mph - APPLY FULL BRAKES
• At speed below 20mph use nose wheel steering
• Maintain ground directional stability with slight yaw inputs
• Bring aircraft to a complete stop and activate AG8
• Continue normal ops
o IF A GO-AROUND IS SELECTED, then:
AG8: Activate
THROTTLE: 100%
AG1: De-Activate for airbrakes retraction
GEAR UP
VTOL: NEUTRAL
TRIM: SET for climbing attitude ~15-20° nose-up
THROTTLE: Adjust for cruising flight ~60%
AG2: De-Activate for manual control
• Continue Flight


5) AIRCRAFT OVERVIEW

The T-61N Sparrowhawk II is a highly modified navalised version of the HarpiaDS T-101A Tercel land-based training jet aircraft. Co-manufactured by Raytheon and HarpiaDS, the T-61N has been selected by the United States Navy, under its T-XN program, as a replacement aircraft carrier-capable trainer for the previous T-45 Goshawk jet trainer.
The T-61N Sparrowhawk II is a fully carrier-capable version of the HarpiaDS T-101A Tercel, retaining a limited combat capability mainly for weapons and combat systems training apart from standard operational training as an entry-level training platform for future F-35B/C and F/A-18E/F fighter pilots. It was developed as a jet flight trainer for the United States Navy (USN) and United States Marine Corps (USMC) under the evaluation and development control of the T-XN program, initiated at early 2019 by the Naval Air Training Command. The Tercel had not originally been designed to perform carrier operations; accordingly, numerous modifications were required to produce a suitable aircraft for such use, such as the extensive strengthening of the airframe, which had been necessitated in order to withstand the excessive forces imposed by the stresses involved in catapult launches and high sink-rate landings, both scenarios being routine in aircraft carrier operations.



Most notable amongst the changes made to the T-101A's design was the adoption of a comparatively simple leading-edge slat system, operated by an actuator and linkage mechanism capable of being housed within the limited free space available, along with the addition of strakes on the leading edge which improved airflow. Other modifications to the Sparrowhawk included its reinforced airframe, the adoption of a more robust and widened landing gear, complete with a catapult tow bar attachment to the oleo strut of the new and more strengthened nosegear design, and an arresting hook.
The aerodynamic changes of the aircraft, which were developed by HarpiaDS at Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems existing facilities in McKinney, Texas, included improvements to the low-speed handling characteristics and a further 12% reduction in the -already relatively- low approach speed. During flight testing of the Sparrowhawk, it was revealed that the aircraft had retained quite smooth and predictable flight characteristics, even when flown within stall conditions at the required low approach speed.
Work on the production of the Sparrowhawk II was divided between the two primary partner companies. HarpiaDS was responsible for manufacturing the fuselage aft of the cockpit, along with the air inlets, and the vertical stabilizer of the T-61N at their facility, while the wings were produced at the company's plant at New Zealand. Raytheon performed the manufacture of the remaining elements of the Sparrowhawk, as well as conducting assembly of the type at a production line at Texas.
The Sparrowhawk retained the typical powerplant used by the Tercel, the Aeneas TFJ-100-KL2 high by-pass turbofan jet engine. Early production aircraft were designated T-61A; however, from July 2020 onwards, later-built production Sparrowhawks were constructed with enhanced avionics systems, which included the adoption of a glass cockpit and head-up display (HUD); as such, they were designated T-61N instead and offered the benefit of making the trainers more similar to the U.S. Navy's frontline fighter aircraft.
The T-61N Sparrowhawk II can be outfitted with a synthetic-aperture radar capability to allow them to support rear crew training requirements, and it is considered a possible requirement for a follow-on order for such equipped models of the type. All of 150 T-61Ns are equipped with the Virtual Mission Training System (VMTS), which emulated the capabilities of the US Navy's Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's Raytheon APG-73 radar (including ground mapping, air-to-ground and air-to-air targeting modes, along with an electronic warfare training capability). The type was used to prepare weapon system operators for the Super Hornet, as well as rear crew members for the Boeing EA-18G Growler and P-8 Poseidon. Apart from that, the T-61N has all the necessary wiring and electronic modules to carry modern A/A and A/G weapons in four under-wing hardpoints as well as external fuel tanks or target pods for dual-role missions or advanced tactics training.



Credits
xjm22 for his air-to-air missiles.
Indecision for his F-55 Lammergeier wing design that I used as a basis for the new T-61N wing structure.
EternalDarkness and ChiChiWerx for their excellent building advises, test-flying feedback and clever general suggestions.

Spotlights

General Characteristics

  • Created On Windows
  • Wingspan 36.7ft (11.2m)
  • Length 50.9ft (15.5m)
  • Height 19.6ft (6.0m)
  • Empty Weight 6,379lbs (2,893kg)
  • Loaded Weight 16,456lbs (7,464kg)

Performance

  • Power/Weight Ratio 8.603
  • Wing Loading 25.5lbs/ft2 (124.5kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 645.5ft2 (60.0m2)
  • Drag Points 8681

Parts

  • Number of Parts 580
  • Control Surfaces 8
  • Performance Cost 2,565
  • Log in to leave a comment
  • Profile image
    1,140 SPXML

    @SimpleplanesTerTech prob because this wasn't posted after the carrier update which included tail hooks and more interactions on the aircraft carrier. Btw this is an awesome craft!

    2.3 years ago
  • Profile image

    But why don’t you use an actual tail hook? They provide one in game!

    3.2 years ago
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    34.4k Dimkal

    @Franticmatty Give this training bird a test-fly! U will enjoy it, guaranteed!!!

    5.8 years ago
  • Profile image
    34.4k Dimkal

    @bjac0 Yes! Its a very useful tool and has many features

    6.1 years ago
  • Profile image
    57.1k bjac0

    @Dimkal wait, you used paint.net for the screenshots? i didn't know you could do stuff like that with it

    6.1 years ago
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    Cool thanks @Dimkal

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    34.4k Dimkal

    @XjayIndustrys prepare it in word doc before and paste it right after posting.

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image

    Wait how do u do your desc?
    Before and paste
    Or
    After and take a long time?

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image

    @Dimkal no mate they are pretty good its just u see the realistic photos then see the graphics of simpleplanes and it looks out of the ordinary great build BTW

    6.2 years ago
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    30.4k soundwave

    That description is thiccer than a bowl of oatmeal

    +4 6.2 years ago
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    30.3k ChiChiWerx

    @Dimkal I know! But it was really fun to go blasting off the deck in full reverse before I figured it out! Great build, though, now it’s possible to land on the boat without first being an awesome pilot!

    +1 6.2 years ago
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    34.4k Dimkal

    @Tazziedevil04 It's a new technique I'm working on. If u don't like the pics just ignore them...no need to make fun of someone's honest effort....

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image

    What took longer to make? the jet or all the text for the jet?

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image

    THOSE PHOTOSHOPS HAHAHAHA

    +1 6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    11.2k danman12

    @Dimkal okay cool, thanks I’ll make sure to get that app when I get my new computer

    +1 6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    34.4k Dimkal

    @Tessemi I don't see why someone do not like a trainer jet. I believe that they are nice planes and quite useful in their role.

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    34.4k Dimkal

    @danman12 I'm using a picture editing program called PaintNet. Its free, easy to use and helps me to create these images.

    6.2 years ago
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    1,051 SwiftAirTM

    damn... the description was beautiful

    +1 6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    11.2k danman12

    @Dimkal can I ask on how you were able to get such beautiful screen shots of your aircraft and add the aircraft carrier, what app did you use on your computer?

    6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    34.4k Dimkal

    @ChiChiWerx If u read the instruction, u should use the brake button only for 2 secs and after stop immediately dis-engage AG5. It takes some practice but after a couple of times u know how to use braking.

    6.2 years ago
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    30.3k ChiChiWerx

    Easy to land on the carrier, easy to stop on the carrier, tends to throw the airplane into high powered reverse, so you have to deactivate AG5 as soon as possible!

    6.2 years ago
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    6,332 Sarin

    hot ice

    +2 6.2 years ago
  • Profile image
    57.1k bjac0

    cool as ice brooooooooo

    +2 6.2 years ago