Top 10 Most Expensive Military Planes

Top 10 Most Expensive Military Plane

EA-18G Growler: $102 million
Hot off the presses, the Growler is a lightly armed version of the F/A-18 fighter that has been updated for electronic warfare (it is currently being delivered to the Navy). Growlers are capable of not only finding and disrupting anti-aircraft radar, but also jamming enemy communications.

V-22 Osprey: $118 million
This tiltrotor aircraft, which takes off and lands like a helicopter but can fly faster and farther like a fixed-wing plane, was first used in combat in Iraq in 2007. The Osprey's production has been bedeviled by design and construction problems: the craft claimed the lives of at least 30 Marines and civilians during its development alone (former Vice President Dick Cheney tried repeatedly to ground the plane). Still, because of its range and versatility, the Marine Corps plans to deploy a squadron of V-22s to Afghanistan by the end of the year.

Top 10 Most Expensive Military Planes

Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes / US Air Force

F-35 Lightning II: $122 million
Lockheed Martin's 2001 deal to build these stealth, supersonic fighter jets was at the time the largest military contract ever. The F-35s, intended to replace an aging aircraft arsenal, were developed as part of a Joint Strike Fighter program between the U.S. and its allies and were criticized as underpowered and overweight — and therefore easy targets. Making matters worse, from 2007 to 2008, cyberspies infiltrated the 7.5 million lines of computer code that powered the Joint Strike Fighter, raising concerns that enemies could copy the F-35's design and exploit its weaknesses. In April 2009, Lockheed Martin said it did not believe the program had been compromised.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye: $232 million
A major step forward for surveillance and reconnaissance, the Advanced Hawkeye's powerful new radar system will increase the range of territory an aircraft can monitor by 300%. "It can probably watch the pistachios pop in Iran," an analyst for the think tank Lexington Institute told National Defense in July. Though development of the plane is on track and two test versions have been delivered to the Navy, budget cuts may keep the planes grounded for at least a year longer than planned.

VH-71 Kestrel: $241 million
This high-tech helicopter project, intended to replace the President's aging chopper fleet, was running more than 50% over budget by the time Barack Obama took office. Soon after his Inauguration, the President announced plans to scrap the helicopters because of cost overruns. On July 22, however, the House Appropriations Committee unanimously approved restoring $485 million to fund the Kestrels

Airbus A380

The A380 has been winning over business and leisure passengers alike since its service introduction in 2007, providing levels of comfort and reliability that have led travelers to specifically request flights on Airbus’ 21st century flagship – which is in operation with carriers around the globe.

It takes an A380 to compete with an A380

The double-deck A380 is the world’s largest commercial aircraft flying today, with capacity to carry 525 passengers in a comfortable three-class configuration, and up to 853 in a single-class configuration that provides wider seats than its competitor. Overall, the A380’s two decks offer 50 per cent more floor surface than any other high-capacity aircraft.

With superior range of 15,700 km., the A380 is the ideal solution to alleviate traffic congestion at busy airports. It has two full-length passenger levels with true widebody dimensions: a main deck and an upper deck, which are conveniently linked by fixed stairs forward and aft.

The A380’s introduction on a full variety of routes is creating thousands of extra seats for airline customers while saving millions of dollars annually in operating costs. With this new-generation aircraft, operators are able to increase capacity by around 20 per cent at no overall extra cost during a week’s schedule, or maintain the same capacity but flying it at 15 to 20 per cent lower cost per trip and per seat.

Both decks offer widebody comfort on the A380, and they can be easily configured to match individual airlines’ needs and branding.  The A380’s spaciousness and economics allow new cabin products and services to be offered for passengers – providing a basis for the ultimate travel experience. 

Meeting the increasingly-important environmental standards for air transportation today and tomorrow were among the key design elements for Airbus’ 21st century flagship A380 – which has continually exceeded these high expectations since its 2007 entry into revenue service. 

The A380 embodies 30 years of Airbus experience in applying intelligent innovation to new products – resulting in its industry-leading performance in terms of eco-efficiency operations.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Responding to the overwhelming preference of airlines around the world, Boeing Commercial Airplanes in 2004 launched the 787 Dreamliner, an all-new, superefficient airplane. An international team of top aerospace companies builds the airplane, led by Boeing at its Everett, Wash., facility near Seattle and in North Charleston, S.C.

The 787-8 Dreamliner can carry 210 - 250 passengers on routes of 7,650 to 8,200 nautical miles (14,200 to 15,200 km), while the longer 787-9 Dreamliner will carry 250 - 290 passengers on routes of 8,000 to 8,500 nautical miles (14,800 to 15,750 km).

In addition to bringing big-jet ranges to midsize airplanes, the 787 provides airlines with unmatched fuel efficiency, resulting in exceptional environmental performance. The airplane uses 20 percent less fuel than today's similarly sized airplanes. The 787 also travels at a similar speed as today's fastest twin-aisle airplanes, Mach 0.85. Airlines also realize more cargo revenue capacity -- a 20 to 45 percent advantage over today's similarly sized airplanes.

Passengers also enjoy improvements on the 787 Dreamliner, from an interior environment with higher humidity to more comfort and convenience.

The key to the exceptional performance of the 787 Dreamliner is its suite of new technologies and its revolutionary design.

Composite materials make up 50 percent of the primary structure of the 787, including the fuselage and wing.

At the heart of the 787 design is a modern systems architecture that is simpler, more functional and more efficient. For example, onboard health-monitoring systems allow the airplane to self-monitor and report systems maintenance requirements to ground-based computer systems.

Advances in engine technology are the biggest contributor to overall fuel efficiency improvements on the Dreamliner. The 787 features new engines from General Electric and Rolls-Royce that represent nearly a two-generation jump in technology.

The design and build process of the 787 has added further efficiency improvements. Boeing and its supplier partners have developed new technologies and processes to achieve efficiency gains. For example, manufacturing the 787 fuselage as one-piece sections has eliminated 1,500 aluminum sheets and 40,000 - 50,000 fasteners per section.

The 787 program was launched in April 2004 with a record order from All-Nippon Airways (ANA). Fifty-eight customers from six continents of the world have placed orders for more than 850 airplanes valued at more than $185 billion, making it the most successful twin-aisle launch of a new commercial airplane in Boeing's history.

More than 50 of the world's most capable top-tier supplier partners are working with Boeing to bring innovation and expertise to the 787 program. The suppliers have been involved since the early detailed design phase of the program and all are connected virtually at 135 sites around the world.

The 787 program opened its final assembly plant in Everett in May 2007 and in North Charleston in July 2011. First flight of the 787-8 Dreamliner occurred on December 15, 2009, followed by certification in August 2011. First delivery of the 787-8 to ANA took place on Sept. 25, 2011.

Today, progress continues with the 787-9 Dreamliner, which is scheduled for first flight and first delivery in 2013 and early 2014, respectively.

Sukhoi

 Sukhoi Su-27UBK

Engine - 2 × Saturn/Lyulka AL-31F turbofans Power - 27,600.00 lbf Avionics - Sukhoi Fire Control Laser Rangefinder Maximum Cruising Speed - 2,500.00 km per hr      1,553.50 mph Service Ceiling - 18,501.36 metres      60,700.00 feets Rate of Climb - 19,507.20 mpm      64,000.00 fpm Numbers Ordered/Sold - 680

Cabin Height - N/A      N/A Cabin Width - N/A      N/A Cabin Length - N/A      N/A Exterior Length - 21.90 metres      71.85 feets Wingspan / Rotor Diameter - 14.70 metres      48.23 feets Fuselage Diameter - N/A      N/A Baggage Volume - N/A      N/A

MIG-Aircraft Series

Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG

Type	Division
Industry	Aerospace and defense
Founded	December 1939 (As OKB-155 in 1942)
Headquarters	Moscow, Russia
Key people	Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich, company founders
Products	Military aircraft Civil airliners
Parent	United Aircraft Corporation

Experimental

DIS/MiG-5, 1941 (escort fighter)

• MiG-6, 1940 (reconnaissance/ground attack aircraft)
• MiG-7, 1944
• MiG-8 Utka, 1945
• MiG I-210, 1941
• MiG I-211, 1942
• MiG I-220, 1943
• MiG I-222, 1944
• MiG I-224, 1944
• MiG I-225, 1944
• MiG I-230/MiG-3U, 1942
• MiG I-231, 1943
• MiG I-250 (N), 1945 (aka "MiG-13")
• MiG I-270, 1947
• MiG I-320, 1949
• MiG I-350, 1951
• MiG I-360, 1952
• MiG I-370, 1955
• MiG I-380, 1953
• MiG I-3, 1953
• MiG I-7U, 1957
• MiG I-75, 1958
• MiG SM-12, 1957
• MiG SN, 1953
• Ye-2, 1955
• Ye-4/Ye-5, 1955
• Ye-8, 1962, experimental fighter aircraft
• Ye-50, 1956
• Ye-150, 1958
• Ye-151
• Ye-152 "Flipper", 1959, fighter, NATO code name "Flipper"
• Ye-166
• MiG-23 – (first use of designation) production designation of Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-2A, 1956
• MiG-23 – (second use of designation) early name of Mikoyan-Gurevich Ye-8 (E-8/1 and E-8/2), 1960
• MiG-AT, 1996
• MiG-110, 1995
• MiG MFI objekt 1.44/1.42 "Flatpack", 1986–2000
• MiG LFI project
• MiG-105 Spiral, 1965
• MiG-33 "Fulcrum-E"
• Mikoyan LMFS

UAVs and drones

MiG Skat

MIG-29 M SUPER FULCRUM
Highly modified version of the MIG-29. Constantly upgraded, tested with experimental vector thrust engines. Eventually with further sophisticated modifications becomes MIG-35 FULCRUM E, one of the numerous MIG variants.

MIG-31 FOXHOUND
Two seat all weather interceptor. Up to eight air to air missiles, no cannon. A variant of the MIG-25, entered service in 1983. 500 produced, now upgraded to MIG-31 M. Maximum speed 1860 mph (mach 2.83). Armament 23mm cannon, long
range air-to-air missiles, plus anti radiation missiles in the suppression of enemy air defense. Has digital encrypted data exchange line, is capable of up to four simultaneously attacked targets.
RUSSIAN DESCRIPTION:
The two-seat supersonic MIG-31E fighter is a combat aircraft which has no analogues over the world. It is capable:
- To combat in group air fights at the distances which are inaccessible for any other fighter over the world.
- To realize the network-centric methods of controlling the combat operations in air when engaging within heterogeneous grouping of warfare means. 
- To perform the long-range flights with speed of 3000 KM/h (M=2.83) at high altitudes.

MIG 1.42/1.44 FLATPACK ?
Multi role frontline fighter, remains shrouded in mystery. Reported to have super stealth capability. Avionics are considered cutting edge by Western standards. The internal bay is large enough to carry eight R-77 missiles. It is possibly the test -bed for plasma stealth technology. The radar system is linked to a fire control system that allows the fighter to engage up to 20 separate targets at the same time, along with “beyond visual range” capability. This fighter is a delta- winged, twin tailed supersonic aircraft with all-moving forward canard plane. Equipped with AESA radar and thrust vectoring and automatic terrain following

Concorde

Concorde

Concorde Model unveiled at Brooklands Museum entrance - November 2012

The 80ft long 40% scale model of Concorde has finally been installed as a gate guardian at Brooklands Museum, where it will serve not only as an ongoing advertisement for Brooklands, but as a tribute to the thousands of local people who worked in the BAC factories at Weybridge.
On Saturday September 29th 2012 the model, which is 24m long and 9m wide, was loaded at the museum, then overnight, moved from the main museum site and installed on newly manufactured supports at the main public entrance to the Museum and Mercedes Benz World by Finch of Bookham, supported the museum’s Concorde team.
The model was removed from the Heathrow Airport tunnel roundabout in 2007, when the lease costs for the prime advertising space rocketed to £1.5M per year. The model was donated by the airline where it was full restored and painted into the livery that closely matches that on the museum's full size Concorde, G-BBDG.
Planning is now underway to ensure the model will be floodlight each evening, with its internal lights and exterior landing lights also being re-commissioned.
Allan Winn, Director of Brookland Museum said: " We are thrilled to have the model Concorde now installed as the gate guardian to the whole Brooklands site. "We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Mercedes-Benz on whose land the model now stands, and Elmbridge Borough Council, and especially Councillor Jan Fuller, for their generous support in getting it on display here, and to the team of volunteers who have worked so hard both to restore the model and plan its repositioning."
The Mayor said : As Mayor of Elmbridge, I feel truly honoured to be part of the unveiling of Concorde. "A huge amount of time and effort has gone into both acquiring this wonderful model and installing it at its present site. "We should all be grateful to those people that have made this possible."

RC Aircrafts

Carl Goldberg

Super Chipmunk EP ARF Specifications
Stock Number:	GPMA1928
Wingspan:	38 in (965 mm)
Wing Area:	242 in² (15.6 dm²)
Weight:	23-25 oz (650-710 g)
Wing Loading:	13.7-14.8 oz/ft² (42-45 g/dm²)
Length:	28 in (710 mm)
Requires:	4-channel radio with 4 micro servos, 400-size brushless motor (28-30-950kV), 25A ESC, 11.1V 1200-1500mAh LiPo battery & propeller

The molded cowl and wheel pants are already painted, for fast final assembly and scale looks.

Each wing half uses its own aileron servo to simplify assembly, increase precision and allow mixing.

The Super Chipmunk’s low parts count and generous supply of included hardware help you get into the air quickly. For easy ground handling, the model includes a steerable tailwheel.

PHAZER

Don’t blink when flying the Phazer. It can travel the length of a football field in just over two seconds! With its simple delta wing design, this EDF assembles quickly, too — the fuselage is painted fiberglass and the wings are built-up balsa and ply, already covered in MonoKote film. In no time, you can be airborne…accelerating with ducted fan power and speed.

• Fast and easy to assemble.


• Sleek fiberglass fuselage and tail fin.


• Includes HyperFlow ducted fan unit with Ammo  brushless motor.

GPMA1802 Wingspan: 23 in (585 mm) Wing Area: 224 in² (14.4 dm²) Weight: 30-31.5 oz (850-895 g) Wing Loading: 19.3-20.2 oz/ft² (59-62 g/dm² Length: 30 in (760 mm) Requires: 3-channel radio with 2 micro servos and elevon (or ailevator) mixing; 35A brushless ESC (min) & 14.8V (4S) 2200mAh LiPo battery

WARNING: The Phazer requires advanced flying skills and is not suitable for beginning or intermediate pilots. It reaches speeds over 90 mph (145 km/h) and should be flown only at an approved AMA flying site. Because it can quickly disappear from sight, pilots should remain focused on the plane at all times.

Built up from lightweight balsa and ply, the wing halves slide together onto a joiner tube and align easily for gluing. The delta design speeds assembly and requires only two servos.		The included HyperFlow™ ducted fan unit with Ammo™ 3790kV brushless motor installs easily and produces impressive thrust and speed.
The magnetically attached canopy doubles as a battery hatch, simplifying the installation of LiPos and radio gear.		The Phazer can be hand-launched, or you can use the included bungee for even easier launching. Fuselage skids help the model track straight and protect linkages during landings.
The Phazer features built-up wings with MonoKote film covering, and a fiberglass fuselage with molded-in inlets and exhaust tube. Its trim scheme is factory-applied.		Great Planes includes these decal options that allow for a custom sport or military look.
GALLERY

Future Planes

17 Future Planes Worth The Wait!

1. NASA Solar Flapper

 

2. Maverick Personal plane

 

3. Diving And Flying Spy Navy Aircraft

4. 0 Emission A2 Mach 5

 

5. Clean Era UFO Style Plane

6. MIT High Speed Concept Plane

7. The Puffin – Personal Aircraft For Maximum Thrill

8. Sailing Aircraft

9. See Through Planes

10. Dolphin Inspired Airplanes

11. Phantom Ray

12. Stingray Water Plane

13. Folding Wings Airbus Concept

14. Icon A5

15. SAX-40

16. MIT Concept Plane For NASA

17. Aeroscraft ML866

 NASA Supersonic Aircraft

Boeing 797 Hoax

Message claims that aircraft company Boeing is set to launch its Boeing 797, a new 1000 passenger jet that sports a radical Blended Wing design. The message features several images supposedly depicting a Boeing 797. 

Brief Analysis
The claims in the message are untrue. The hoax message has been circulating via email and online since at least 2006. Boeing has denied the claims in the message although, in conjunction with NASA and the US Air Force, the company has been working on an unmanned, non-commercial blended wing test aircraft dubbed the X-48. The images in the message are conceptual renditions of future aircraft designs