Rafale squadron on USS Truman - Aircraft of World War II

sunny91 · 04-21-2009, 11:26 AM

French Naval Squadrons practiced on US Navy carriers because the Charles de Gaulle (R91) was being refitted and is the only serving French aircraft carrier.

Sunny

Matt308 · 04-21-2009, 12:19 PM

The french sure build some pretty planes. Wonder why they can't sell them overseas. I just read that India has rejected the Rafale for their fight competition.

Arsenal VG-33 · 04-21-2009, 08:26 PM

The Rafale has performed "touch and Go's" on the USS Stennis, Eisenhower, and now the Truman. USN F-18s have done the same with the French carrier Charles de Gaulle. It's all part of an exercise designed to have NATO aircraft and pilots familiarize themselves with other country's carriers. As far as I know, only French and US carriers utilize the CATOBAR system, though the Brazilian Sae Paolo ( ex-French Foch) also has it. The future UK carrier will also have CATOBAR.

Matt - The biggest obstacle to Rafale sales is it's high price tag. Though Dassault Aviation has improved it's sales pitch over the past few years, an impasse was reached with the Indians on two issues: 1- India wanted much more technology transfer than France would have liked, and 2- India insisted the deal include France buying back old Mirage aircraft.

Right now, Switzerland and Oman seem to be two possible buyers. I hope the Swiss buy it.

Matt308 · 04-22-2009, 12:50 AM

I think you are right on. It also included indigenous manufacturing of either kit parts or wholesale. India, China, Brazil and other fighter markets are only willing to buy if they can develop their own fighter manufacturing basis.

No different than F-35 Tier I, Tier II and Tier II participants.

renrich · 04-22-2009, 05:46 PM

Don't you know those French pilots feel some pressure performing in front of the USN.

Matt308 · 04-22-2009, 05:53 PM

Yeah the guy who got a bolter was probably really pissed of at himself, dontcha think.

But then again, imagine the self imposed pressure on the US pilots. They missed a few traps too!

pbfoot · 04-22-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by renrich

Don't you know those French pilots feel some pressure performing in front of the USN.

landing on that huge deck was probably pleasant for them but to even it out landing on a dry ship wasn't pleasant

renrich · 04-22-2009, 07:14 PM

I thought maybe they were doing touch and goes. Good point PB about the dry ship, although there may have been a taste or two available in a clandestine manner.

04-21-2009, 12:19 PM	#2
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	The french sure build some pretty planes. Wonder why they can't sell them overseas. I just read that India has rejected the Rafale for their fight competition. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

04-21-2009, 08:26 PM	#3
Arsenal VG-33 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 312	The Rafale has performed "touch and Go's" on the USS Stennis, Eisenhower, and now the Truman. USN F-18s have done the same with the French carrier Charles de Gaulle. It's all part of an exercise designed to have NATO aircraft and pilots familiarize themselves with other country's carriers. As far as I know, only French and US carriers utilize the CATOBAR system, though the Brazilian Sae Paolo ( ex-French Foch) also has it. The future UK carrier will also have CATOBAR. Matt - The biggest obstacle to Rafale sales is it's high price tag. Though Dassault Aviation has improved it's sales pitch over the past few years, an impasse was reached with the Indians on two issues: 1- India wanted much more technology transfer than France would have liked, and 2- India insisted the deal include France buying back old Mirage aircraft. Right now, Switzerland and Oman seem to be two possible buyers. I hope the Swiss buy it. __________________ You'll live. Only the best get killed. - Charles de Gaulle England is a former colony gone horribly wrong. - Georges Clemenceau

04-22-2009, 12:50 AM	#4
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	I think you are right on. It also included indigenous manufacturing of either kit parts or wholesale. India, China, Brazil and other fighter markets are only willing to buy if they can develop their own fighter manufacturing basis. No different than F-35 Tier I, Tier II and Tier II participants. __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

04-22-2009, 05:53 PM	#6
Matt308 aka Dickcheese Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Washington State Posts: 13,386	Yeah the guy who got a bolter was probably really pissed of at himself, dontcha think. But then again, imagine the self imposed pressure on the US pilots. They missed a few traps too! __________________ "Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the [U.S.] Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan Master of Duplicate Posts

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04-22-2009, 05:46 PM	#5
renrich Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montrose, Colorado Posts: 3,271	Don't you know those French pilots feel some pressure performing in front of the USN.

04-22-2009, 07:14 PM	#8
renrich Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montrose, Colorado Posts: 3,271	I thought maybe they were doing touch and goes. Good point PB about the dry ship, although there may have been a taste or two available in a clandestine manner.