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Iran's newest warplane something from 'GI Joe?'
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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This reminds me of that episode of the Simpsons when Homer designed a car.
Does this thing carry bombs or have any guns, or do they think the mere presence of a cardboard-like go-cart version of an airplane in the air is enough to scare away American fighter jets? I think we have obviously been wasting our money developing war planes that can kick the daylights out of anything. We should be spending our money developing war planes that can chuckle when they lay their eyes on this joke.
Where the hell are the weapons? Is he going to open the canopy and throw rocks? It looks like painted plywood.
Can you see weapons on an F22 and F35? No, because there are retractable missile bays within the wings....helps reduce drag and radar cross-section
The Iranians don't realize that the canards need to be above or below the main wing for the aircraft to fly, theirs is right in line with it.
Maybe that is a decoy and the real one is secret ?
Just kidding. That is the most horribly put together aircraft that I have ever seen.
I think it is time they seek out some new engineers.
Looks like a non operational kids toy
Put an outboard motor on it and it'd be a nifty little boat
Went to the website for a better look. The close ups show that this plane is a very poorly done fiberglass/cardboard replica/K-Mart ride. If you look at the edges and fittings it is easy to see that this 'aircraft' is nothing more than a cheap cut out to 'impress'. One has to wonder, why are all of the caution devices in English?
Who ever wrote this article is a flawed, looks nothing like a GI joe plane. Looks good and war like.
Is that you Mahmoud?
The Iranians are too simple in their minds to make a plane like the USA airforce
It's Starscream's illegitimate son.
1. Notice the plane is in a fairground barn. The Iranian local rodeo had to move outside for these pictures to be taken.
2. There's about 5 wires running to the monochrome 1992 Mac they placed in front of the pilot.
3. Shouldn't they at least have used a midget for a pretend pilot?
You know you're an Iranian government employee (sneaking onto the World Wide Web) if you are, in any form, defending this awesomeness as a 'war machine' a 'serious threat to not be taken lightly' or any form of support for it. The reality will be seeing it being 'flown' down the street, with a rope attached to a donkey and Borat sitting on top of the canopy waving.
Don't forget the placement of the engine inlets. It is about the worst position for a plane flying at any angle of attack. Big old vortices coming off the sharp chines the minute it rotates off the ground and no form of boundary layer diverters whatsoever. I believe any engine would stall upon rotation for liftoff let alone dog fighting.
Looks like 'stealth' sheet metal on an F-5.
Didn't Revel make this in the mid 1990's ?
I am thinking you meant Mattel...
But, does it fly?