First it was monkeys in space (or not) and now it’s “GI Joe” fighter jets. Not the best of times for Iran’s aviation and aerospace programs, at least if you listen to the skeptics.
First there were doubts about Tehran’s claim it sent a monkey into space in late January. After photos of two different monkeys that were aboard the alleged one-monkey space shot surfaced, Iran media said there was a photo mix-up and, yes, there was just one Iranian monkey in space.
Then this week Iran unveiled what it said was its new high-tech stealth fighter plane. The jet shown in pictures on the website of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been the butt of jokes all week from aviation bloggers.
“This aircraft looks a lot like an old GI Joe toy,” wrote one blogger.
And from another, “This has to be a joke, right?”
Click through the gallery above to see the bloggers' comments and evidence in the photos.
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I worked around aircraft for a while, and this mockup is just that, I see what looks to be incorrectly stretcged fabric along the nose, the area behind the seat is suspiscious.the intakes are too small.
Remember, the british empire made fun of the american continental army/navy for their subpar military equiptment. Americans tend to forget a lot.
HAHAA HA!! Now I know who my mom gave all my toys to when she cleaned out my closet. That funny looking, non scary mock up of a fighter jet will break up during take off. Maybe they will have 2 dudes standing behind the engines making whoooooooshing sounds?
Aviation experts have already weighed in on this thing. Their conclusion? Not a real plane and even if it was, it is not aerodynamically sound.
And this is the same Iran that the GOP is worried about getting a nuke huh? Seems legit......
Agreed. Coming from an aerospace engineer, this plane has visible design flaws. The one that jumped out at me immediately was that the intakes are very, very small. They probably kept them small to keep the fighter stealthy, but the comment made earlier regarding engine stall is absolutely accurate. No way this thing is a viable fighter in its current configuration even if it does have a working engine because of choked/distorted inlet flow.
Does it have the Kung Foo grip?
Their jet is a hoax just like our President.
Dave – President Obama is not a hoax; he is the real thing. If you are interested in political hoaxes, consider some of the statements by conservatives (such as yourself) and Republican politicians. Every week we are treated to outrageous statements by Sen. McCain, who is probably senile, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, who seems to be suffering from terminal megalomania. These hoaxes pretend to represent the American people whereas they actually represent the opinion (if you can call it that) of a small number of people with an even smaller I.Q.
Dave,
Please take your one trick somewhere else, you one trick pony.
Hey waheid... stick it up your wazoo
You must think yourself to be very clever, huh? You're nothing but a tea-party imbecile.
Best comment iv'e ever seen!
Unfortunately Obama isn't a hoax. He's very real, as is the damage he's doing to our country.
This one looks like a real winner
Look at those inlets -TINY! Indicates a very low thrust engine.... if they even have one installed .... wouldnt even feel safe to taxi in that "aircraft"
G, of course it has an engine. A 5HP Briggs and Straton so that it can propel itself in parades, and the pilot will wear a red fezz.
Small inlets are a sign of stealthiness. Small inlets help obscure jets from the radar of adversarial jets flying below it. It's features like inlet size that play a big part of what confers stealth technology to jets. Yeah, all new stealth jets have small inlets. Go figure
For an aircraft that tiny, do you really need a large engine? That thing looks smaller than a Predator drone!
If C N N cared about having a legitimate conversation about aircraft they'd talk about how Iran purchased the J-10 Chengdu fighter jets, which are on a par with F15s and F16s. They're too busy making sport of war, and comparing war to high fashion, to offer serious conversation about diplomacy over the military option.
Anyone else see a flying version of the "The Homer"?
I think it will float!
no joystick, no seatbelt. Very few wires to the console. I know what this is, a video game you get into!
not to mention you can't even see thru the plastic canpoy!
canopy oops
I disagree about it looking like a G.I. Joe toy plane. Those used to have pins where you could clip on missiles and bombs!