>I noted that the F/A-18 on display had a tailhook, and I asked a young NCO why. His answer- for short highway landings and low-friction coefficient (i.e. winter) conditions- made perfect sense.
I don't think this is necessarily true. Pretty much all fighters have tailhooks (even Air Force ones) in case they need to do a high-speed abort or have brake problems. Obviously, an F-16 or the like isn't stressed for carrier landings, and the hook design is quite different to minimize weight (IIRC, there's an explosive bolt holding it back, and it requires maintenance to retract if the pilot deploys it). For naval fighters flying from land, they usually just leave the naval tailhook system in place because it's easier than designing a new one.
That said, Finland could have a portable arrestor system. I just wouldn't assume they do on the basis of the tailhook being fitted.
I learned after posting that yes, other fighters do have tailhooks- small ones designed for single use operation in emergency situations. Finland does have a portable arrestor system, as they use shorter fields and roads for dispersal operations. It's impressive to see in operation. I'd have to go back to the documents from the late 1980s/early 1990s to see what the specification was when the Finns decided to buy the F-18s over the F-16 and other competitors. I am a bit curious as to how much it was influenced by the post-WW2 treaty that limited what Finland could do militarily.
With the F-35s, they will be deploying drogue chutes for the same purpose. IIRC the drogue chutes were fitted specifically for the Norwegian F-35s; the ability of the aircraft to land in ice and on shorter runways was a major consideration in determining which aircraft Finland would choose to replace their F-18s.
It was Dupuy who wrote that dispersal was the response to increased lethality on the battlefield. True then and still true now. For reference see the HERO study and QJ model along with the book "Numbers, Prediction and War."
The F-35A doesn't have a true tailhook, but I believe the Norwegians use a drogue chute to help in winter landings. The Finns will probably do the same.
>I noted that the F/A-18 on display had a tailhook, and I asked a young NCO why. His answer- for short highway landings and low-friction coefficient (i.e. winter) conditions- made perfect sense.
I don't think this is necessarily true. Pretty much all fighters have tailhooks (even Air Force ones) in case they need to do a high-speed abort or have brake problems. Obviously, an F-16 or the like isn't stressed for carrier landings, and the hook design is quite different to minimize weight (IIRC, there's an explosive bolt holding it back, and it requires maintenance to retract if the pilot deploys it). For naval fighters flying from land, they usually just leave the naval tailhook system in place because it's easier than designing a new one.
That said, Finland could have a portable arrestor system. I just wouldn't assume they do on the basis of the tailhook being fitted.
I learned after posting that yes, other fighters do have tailhooks- small ones designed for single use operation in emergency situations. Finland does have a portable arrestor system, as they use shorter fields and roads for dispersal operations. It's impressive to see in operation. I'd have to go back to the documents from the late 1980s/early 1990s to see what the specification was when the Finns decided to buy the F-18s over the F-16 and other competitors. I am a bit curious as to how much it was influenced by the post-WW2 treaty that limited what Finland could do militarily.
With the F-35s, they will be deploying drogue chutes for the same purpose. IIRC the drogue chutes were fitted specifically for the Norwegian F-35s; the ability of the aircraft to land in ice and on shorter runways was a major consideration in determining which aircraft Finland would choose to replace their F-18s.
It was Dupuy who wrote that dispersal was the response to increased lethality on the battlefield. True then and still true now. For reference see the HERO study and QJ model along with the book "Numbers, Prediction and War."
Dispersal makes total sense .. any straight road can become an airfield .. all planes need tail hooks
The F-35A doesn't have a true tailhook, but I believe the Norwegians use a drogue chute to help in winter landings. The Finns will probably do the same.