The US Secret Aircraft That Made Everyone Go Crazy When It Was Released

The Scorpion armed reconnaissance jet from Textron Aviation is one-of-a-kind. No other tactical aircraft like it is currently in existence. The manufacturer took it upon itself to develop a unique aircraft to meet a specific need in the market no other aircraft could fulfill. In their confidence, they decided to use their own money against the norm for military aircraft development.
Typically, the government foots most of the bill and becomes the first user. But the Scorpion is not a typical aircraft. It can be built right in the US and then easily exported to countries all around the world.
At a quarter of the price of an expensive F-16, the Scorpion can cover border patrol, maritime security, drug interdiction, disaster relief, and counter-insurgency warfare roles. It may not have all the bells and whistles of a fully loaded fighter jet, but that is one of many reasons it is such an impressive aircraft.
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

[@countchocula8884]

I was an engineer on this program in Wichita KS. This jet was a slow ugly plane that nobody wanted. It's like an F-18 and a Cessna 172 had a one night stand. The head of Textron at the time thought it was a great idea and somehow imagined a huge market for it. For months and years the marketing department told Textron what they wanted to hear - "Yeah we're SO CLOSE to selling a bunch of these jets to XXX...." For some reason the orders never materialized but Textron kept pushing it. Their frustration at a lack of sales was taken out on the development team. I don't think I've ever been in an office setting with such horrible low morale. This program is another perfect example of some idiot with an MBA who doesn't understand aircraft and won't listen to the common sense of the people who actually know better.

[@katherineberger6329]

It really looks like this would be a sweet plane to tool around in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 in. I'm sorry you had to deal with terrible bosses while working on this hopeless diamond.

[@spareparts7630]

I'm sure it goes from bad to worse when the government and beancounters get involved.

[@katherineberger6329]

@@spareparts7630 If the government HAD been involved, Textron wouldn't have wasted money and time building an airplane there was never going to be a market for.

[@Oilburnerful]

Preach it.

[@Rye042]

Textron should pushed AT-6 instead, they can compete actually with super tucano's and grab a contract for FMS.

[@FastNBulbous]

Lol, Dark Skies is doing commercials now? I worked at Textron while they were building it and it wasn’t a secret, and nobody wanted to buy it. The Scorpion was absolute failure from a business perspective.

[@eliclegg3804]

which is a shame, ive gotten to see it at airshows a few times, i genuinely thought the air force would grab it for the light attack program but the F-35 kinda stopped that.

[@liamh9814]

The Air Tractor looks to have taken the proposed market instead.

[@excell211]

That's the porpuse of the channel, actually

[@lancerevell5979]

Same thing that befell the Northrop F-20 Tigershark. Good aircraft, no market. No contracts.

[@laurentj7998]

What a pity, the design of this airplane was very nice !

[@scottconyac7846]

I worked for Textron Aviation on the Scorpion Program in the Engineering Dept. It was way over budget and behind schedule and during its first flight. We all had to go back to work because they couldn't get the engines to start. A month later, almost all of us got laid off. Simply a commercial aviation had no business building a light fighter jet that was already crowded by so many other companies. Since than I moved to Fort Worth and working for a true defense company... Lockheed Martin delivering 6th Gen; F-35 fighter jets around the world!!!!

[@jailbird1133]

Cessna already had a light attack aircraft and a trainer.

[@michaelbartley9572]

You're an engineer that builds f35s but don't know the f35 is a fifth gen shot 6th. Yeah I'm calling bs. The u.s. hasn't developed the 6th gen of fighters yet.

[@user-mp3eq6ir5b]

Ill bet the Security was crazy at the Fort Worth plant.

[@daviddehass6877]

More updates: In February 2018 the Scorpion was eliminated from the USAF's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft competition, in favor of the Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine and the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson described the AT-6 and A-29 as "most promising". In 2021, Textron's CEO says other programs have been prioritized above the Scorpion in its defense business.

[@howardg2435]

The turbo props may be slower, but they have a longer loiter time over target. that is very appealing to militaries for doing low level light strike work.

[@BigIronEnjoyer]

Its interesting how "cheap light attack/ISR" has become a niche in the aviation world. We should get a video on the AT-802U Sky Warden that JSOC just bought. A crop duster converted into an attack plane. Almost as versatile as a helicopter in terms of where it can land and take off from, but with the higher reliability and capability of a fixed wing aircraft. I think that is low key going to be one of the coolest aircraft one could fly in the US military.

[@solofilmproduction]

Looks excellent! So much potential for Central / South American and Asian markets.

[@paulqueripel3493]

Hasn't he done it? I watched one the other day by someone.

[@stewartcarroll304]

Ed Nash wasn't it

[@ernestmalone44]

Dust the corn fields or the enemy. Just change your loadout.

[@philsalvatore3902]

A jet cannot begin to compete with a helicopter for certain missions such as attacking armor. The helicopter can attack from difilade, hiding behind trees and firing over top of them to attack enemy troops and armor. Helicopters can navigate around the battlefield at altitudes below 15 meters using terrain and foliage to hide their movements. The stiff wingers cannot do this.

[@captaintoyota3171]

Dude if i was rich id totally buy one of these. Personal jet with big stable wings on a budget? Yes please

[@angelosasso1653]

There are more affordable options for you.

[@PureCountryof91]

​@@angelosasso1653ones that look better too..

[@user-mp3eq6ir5b]

Duslde if I was rich I'd do something else with my $$$$$

[@PureCountryof91]

I would look at the Aeralis. Its super modular, multi engine capable, and by that, it has various available options. And, it looks sooo much better.

[@JCMills55]

When I was a crew chief on fighters we could get a new F-15 for $19 million and the F-5E Tiger II's I worked on were $5 million each. Days long past.

[@Classified-cj3uk]

You can buy an f-5 for 995,000

[@icemanxidkp]

whats that cost adjusted for inflation

[@princybella6]

​@@icemanxidkpExactly money was worth a lot more back then.

[@ltcuddles685]

Yeah... the value per dollar was different back then. Doesnt technically make them cheaper back then.

[@dannydaw59]

Was that 1990? In Top Gun Tom Skerrit mentioned $15 million as the price. It might have been the f14 tomcat.

[@drones7838]

Part of this jet was designed in my hometown. This jet has been around for a long time at least 10 years it’ll go somewhere when the war kicks off

[@TheWorstBridger]

Why? The f35 and f22 fill its roll perfectly as is

[@stratometal]

@@TheWorstBridger Less expensive, easier maintenance, quicker deploy and they will fill in the gaps as F-35 and F-22 get downed from use or shot. The amount of time either of those 2 take to manufacture plus the required rare metals means they are slow to replace. Heck the F-22 is no longer in production thanks to Congress, loosing one means zero replacement. But I am sure the plane to fill the gap will not be this one but the Air Tracktor.

[@katherineberger6329]

@@stratometal Countries that can afford jets want fast jets, not a subsonic POS with a marginal weight capacity (fully fueled it can only tote about 3,500 pounds) and countries that can't afford jets will buy a fleet of turboprops, not a handful of smurfjets flying on a pair of APUs.

[@stratometal]

@@katherineberger6329 Oh I know, but sometimes the want what they can't afford, those are usually the "Kim Juns" of the world. They want what the big bois do cuz monkey see monkey do, all about perceived status. That's all I am getting at. These people wanted to cater to those from what it looks like. Also Turboprops are freaking awesome, superfan of the SkyWarden and other similar turbo props.

[@agentp6621]

I worked on this project installing testing equipment. They were hoping the USAF would seek a dual role as an attack and a trainer. They failed to realize the standard to be able to withstand a 6.5 G climb. This aircraft could only handle a 6 G climb. It was rushed and haphazard. They hired people off the street who had no prior aviation experience. I only knew about FOD and took accountability because of my experience as an aircraft electrician in the army. I’m thankful no one got hurt. They would spend a full day cleaning out rivets and whatever else. Backwards from the “clean as you go” method.

[@Hardball1Alpha]

They've "hired people off the street" since 1776. Now the politicians get their panties in a twist if you contract without union kickbacks.

[@cyclonicleo]

At the very least, it would make a great jet trainer, but I feel that it has a lot of promise.

[@LackofFaithify]

It only suddenly became a jet trainer when they could not sell the thing. Oh, it also lost a competition to be a trainer. So yeah, no.

[@philsalvatore3902]

Most modern air forces specify a trainer that has the qualities of their front line combat jets. They want supersonic and often want afterburners so the trainee gets to learn how to manage these systems competently before they get into the front office of their $100 million combat jet.

[@sim.frischh9781]

I know the Scorpion, it´s an interesting design, i hope for the creators that it will see success. Would be a shame if it just dies out.

[@arnehurnik]

It'd be a great addition for poorer countries.

[@sim.frischh9781]

@@arnehurnik Even for the rich ones it could be a good addition, like for the southern US border patrol, given all the surveilance systems it has on board. Just to give one example.

[@Rye042]

@@arnehurnik the poorer countries bought Kai FA-50 and M346. Border patrol uses turbo prop (super tucano) since it's cheaper with more load out than this. This aircraft is DOA.

[@WTH1812]

Bring back the F-20 Tigershark and the YF-23 airframes with upgraded engines, electronics, and avionics.

[@Leon1Aust]

silly comment on many levels.

[@WTH1812]

@@Leon1Aust ... Really? Huge cost of new aircraft development is designing the airframe. Why reinvent the wheel when it's cheaper to refit the tyre?

[@jamiestallwood5080]

⁠@@WTH1812They have refit the tyre with proven platforms I.E F-15, F-16, F-18 etc. There is no market for a modern F-20 when you can offer the F-16 with its massive spares, support & knowledge pool. The legacy F-5 operators are few and far between nowadays and those of which who are friendly with the U.S have ordered F-35.

[@WTH1812]

@@jamiestallwood5080 ... One of the most under appreciated facets of WWII military production is the value of differing capabilities. For example, the P-47 which with fuel drop tanks reach most targets in Germany was supplanted by the P-51. The P-47 then switched to a role of suppression bombing ahead of the front lines using increased bomb loads and strafing to target troop assemblies, rail assets, marshaling yards and so forth. This pattern continued in Korea as the transition to jets was made by both sides with varying levels of success. In Vietnam, there was no match for the F-4 II Phantom until there was. F-111s supplanted F-105 in bombing sorties. And so forth. The point being, that while selling off James Wright's excess production of F-16s from 35 years ago, and there's big profit margins in the F-35, the NGAD scheduled for 2014 is still scribbling on drawing boards and drafting tables while ego's squabble over whose willy is widest.

[@mikedrop4421]

This plane has definitely not gotten much coverage. Thanks guys.

[@MGAFFY]

It almost reminds me of what a modernised A-10 would look like.

[@pahtar7189]

Much smaller payload but higher speed. And of course no gigantic gatling gun. It could mount machine guns, but they're not going to take out hard targets like the A-10 can.

[@stratometal]

@@pahtar7189 Yup, the A-10 is built around its gun, they will never take it out no matter what, its an integral component

[@chasespeer251]

I imagine if someone asked me to draw a light attack version of a F-14 with static wings this is damn near what I would come up with

[@Leon1Aust]

@@stratometal The A10 is old tech and would not last long over a battlefield, as for the 30mm it would not be capable of penetrating modern MBT but would be capable of damaging a modern IFV or APC.

[@jeffrielley920]

Look up the A-9 and the SU-25.

[@dlkline27]

I never heard of this aircraft until I found this video. Evidently it suffered a fate similar to the Fairchild T-46.

[@konekillerking]

Desperate for new material. If I remember it was third in a group of three, and was the most expensive.

[@LackofFaithify]

If by suffered you mean was surplus to requirement, then yes. It was one of the many shit hardware ideas born out of fighting insurgent groups but unlike so many, thankfully was not purchased.

[@cojaxart8986]

Two prototypes? N531TA and 532TA.

[@whytebearconcepts]

Except the Eaglet helped bankrupt Fairchild and led to the company collapsing.

[@missalaineous8468]

there are many secret aircraft types that were never disclosed. my uncle was a test pilot for the FR-426 and the T-32b (the latter's top speed was over Mach 7.6)

[@CF26CEnt]

I've always liked the look of the Scorpion, it looks like a mini Tomcat to me, in a "we have a Tomcat at home" kinda way.

[@SamaelVR]

The Housecat

[@what3973]

THATS WHAT IM SAYINGGGG

[@undertow619]

It peaked my interest the moment I saw the compact shape and Harrier-like overhanging bubble cockpit.

[@geoffkingman-sugars4515]

'piqued'❓

[@markl8111]

Amazing how private industry can design, build, and fly a advanced fighter, less expensive than a gov. There's a lesson somewhere in this.

[@Pau_Pau9]

I wish they also implemented swing-wing version of this aircraft. It will essentially be mini-F-14!

[@Eis_]

That's like saying that a Cessna 172 should have swing wings. Lmao. This thing can't even go transonic. Adding that would just be detrimental to its turn rate while not really improving it's LD ratio.

[@Pau_Pau9]

@@Eis_ Bu-bu-but, Its swing-wing!

[@X-JAKA7]

Content like this is getting better and better as everybody gangsta until we all die.

[@RamJetJockey]

The same reason the F-20 Tigershark was never built may sink the Scorpion. It won’t be used by the US military so foreign governments won’t be satisfied with “substandard “ jets.

[@Legion-xq8eo]

It’s not that they are “substandard” jets, it’s that they won’t recieve the continued support and upgrades that a US military adopted fighter would!! What u bought is what u get, there would be no future upgrades or things added to it like if u bought something adopted by the US military!!

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

@@Legion-xq8eo Off-the-shelf commercial aviation engines and avionics could make it cheaper to maintain and longer lasting/more easily upgradable to future tech than proprietary milspec stuff, so there’s probably a useful crossover point in engineering longevity here.

[@johnslugger]

*It's about time we made something cost effect and mass produced!!!*

[@michaelreedx6823]

I'd hate to say this but the area of the market they were trying to corner was taken over by Drones.

[@modelermark172]

It's an interesting aircraft to be sure. That said, a better name would have been "Scorpion II," since - as far as I know - the first US aircraft of this name was the Northrop F-89.

[@johnforsyth7987]

It was a good idea. But it suffered the same fate as the F-20 Tigershark. As for being a secret. Wichita, KS. is a city of over 400,000. This jet flew directly over the largest city in Kansas many times.

[@Rilesmansan]

F20 was purposefully killed by DoD to reduce the cost of the F16.

[@peceed]

F-20 was created in bad time, and deals with Taiwan and India were blocked (perfect aircraft for them). Scorpion is unsellable as it is. L-159 ALCA and AT-802U kill it.

[@bobbyduke777]

Civilians would love them also

[@ThumperH60]

Interesting and very versatile airframe.

[@biddinge8898]

MODULAR WINGS?!?!?!?!?! we can make it the next F14 Tomcat.

[@skeletononcrystals5608]

Man, it looks so nice

[@joaosabino2909]

Aermacchi MB 339, M345

[@miket2120]

I wouldn't call it a US secret aircraft, as least not in the national security sense. It's more of a commercial project secret, so the competitors don't get any proprietary information. It's common practice in many industries, from aircraft to sports apparel.

[@DallasGraves]

“Cheaper than upgrading an A-10 or F-16” USAF: “you had my curiosity but now you have my attention”

[@docgillygun9531]

Cool concept but with no armor, light payload, no main gun, and low speed and ceiling, this plane just won't fit the bill for any kind of offensive or defensive action in 2023. It's like an unstealthy F117 stealth bomber.

[@sojolly]

Bravo to the team that pulled this off. It reminds me of the breakneck pace that the A-12 and SR-71 was developed. You have achieved what the folks developing the F-20 Tigershark could not. A cheap workable fighter for those countries that need such a beast. They dont need a modified commercial aircraft as many have tried before, they need a purpose built machine. You folks have done Wichita Kansas proud and honored the great aviation heritage that flows thru your community. As a member of the original prototype YF-22A design team i salute you.

[@David-b9c7j]

Your video of the Textron Scorpion was most interesting. However, when you count/number munitions stations, you count them from left to right facing FORWARD. I was in the USAF in the eighties and I['m pretty sure the stations are still numbered the same way. I hope this helps.

[@sarc88]

This looks 99% like a private venture "if you build it, they will come" private industry project. As in no requirements, no funding, no program office.

[@matdrat]

Seems like the new trainer T-7A Red Hawk can be adapted to these roles.

[@Darkstar77_1]

Aermacchi M-345 has entered the chat...

[@dareka9425]

The Scorpion looks like it is made for Hot Shots 3!

[@georgeclontd4984]

Great aircraft. I hope one day it might be revived and find its place...

[@Ghost_Hybrid]

Scorpion is a cool jet! Saw one in person, static display at an airshow.

[@atom7nine]

Absolutely fabulous Textron

[@utley]

this aircraft wasnt very well hidden from public, I used to see this aircraft while being developed in Centennial airport in Denver. AFAIK it never was finished except for the first model.

[@Vagabond_Etranger]

Then they PURPOSELY didn't care to hide it. Former USAF. If they want to hide it, they'd put it in Area 51.

[@JSFGuy]

It was hidden in its development, once it has blown and going cross-country then it's no longer hidden.

[@utley]

@@JSFGuyactually I might be thinking of another aircraft called the javelin that was designed by the israelis. Looks very similar to the scorpion.

[@jadams3427]

Does this aircraft bring anything new to the world that is not already covered by many others; some quite old ? E.g. Super Tucano, Saab 105, Cessna T37/A37, Pilatus PC-21, BAe Hawk, Alphajet, Alenia M-346, KAI T-50,..... I think the list can be a lot longer.

[@what3973]

i mean its a mini f14

[@thekulolali]

It's just new f5 tiger with more money and less capabilities. I mean drones exist, what the point having this.. Basically it's the missing middle class. Like in society. It's rather going bigge or smaller

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

It reminds me of the F-20: an excellent machine that NOBODY WANTED because it was obsolete, despite achieving all published goals. I doubt that there is any serious market for such an aircraft.

[@jamiestallwood5080]

Excellent machine but didn’t sell due to market saturation, in the F-20’s case it was due to everyone buying F-16’s but in the Scorpions case it had to compete with the AT-6, A-29, AC-208, AT-802, L-159, OV-10, M-346/YAK-130 and many others. It is claimed Cessna/Textron investigated their market potential but for £10 I could have told them to not to bother. I appreciate ambition but their efforts were in vein as this segment has many platforms with very few apparent buyers.

[@katherineberger6329]

Countries that can afford jets want fast jets, not a subsonic POS with a marginal weight capacity (fully fueled it can only tote about 3,500 pounds) and countries that can't afford jets will buy a fleet of turboprops, not a handful of smurfjets flying on a pair of APUs.

[@chief8388]

I wish Burt Rutan's/ Scaled Composites ARES "Mud Fighter" had made it to production. Great little battle craft. Light, cheap and effective.

[@NetVoyagerOne]

I wonder if a stripped-down racing version could be made for the civilian market.

[@undertow619]

That would be sweet!

[@stratometal]

I was thinking the same!

[@justsomedude8118]

These are bizjet engines and aren't rated for aerobatics.

[@katherineberger6329]

@@justsomedude8118 The F124 is an aerobatic version of the bizjet engine - it's fine. This would be a sweet plane to tool around in Microsoft Flight Simulator in. Yes, I said in Microsoft Flight Simulator. That's the only real use case for it.

[@justsomedude8118]

@@katherineberger6329 F124 has a much higher fuel burn, but is a fantastic powerplant. Using one of these would likely be ideal vs two higher bypass engines for this use type. Sure, there'd be less thrust at low speeds, but it wouldn't suffer in the lapse of thrust vs airspeed common with higher bypass ratio powerplants.

[@DIREWOLFx75]

"sees a market for up to 2 thousand" The problem is that noone is sane enough to actually go for this SMART concept. Seriously, even just reducing your "advanced" number of aircraft by 10-20% and replace them with an equal cost of this aircraft would allow a huge increase in both training hours for the pilots as well as having a larger airforce overall which is a great advantage. . In many ways, this plane is basically a modern version of the SK-60/SAAB-105 trainer/light strike. It's a great concept, but the question is whether buyers will be able to overlook the lack of bling to just get something that WORKS and that they can fly ALL THE TIME.

[@stratometal]

Buyers know nothing about anything except if its being in use by the guys they envy, bling bling indeed. Blind idiots. And that is good. Less well armed rogue nations out there.

[@nexusoldbind5015]

It's a shame they never put this into production this could be an excellent jet engine trainer for someone switching from propeller and turboprop to jet engine aircraft I'm amazed no one wanted it 🤔 I also love the fact that kinda looks like a mini F14 😅 I think it's kind of ingenious to use off-the-shelf parts for a fighter aircraft

[@effervescentrelief]

@@hvacqualityassurance7116 Exactly, it wasn't sanctioned by the powers that be who could make a little cash on the side, so it never got the green light. Corruption.

[@kevinschultz6091]

@@hvacqualityassurance7116 - you have a cite for that? Because I just checked the wiki, and there's no mention of it being banned for sale - just that some folks were "interested", but nothing came of it. Because otherwise, you're attributing corruption where "the product didn't meet our needs" (as the video above mentioned) is sufficient.

[@nomorerainbows]

@@kevinschultz6091 Corruption should always be assumed when we are talking about DC and the DoD. Always.

[@kevinschultz6091]

@@nomorerainbows - then it should be simple for you to provide evidence in this particular instance, then.

[@recoil53]

@@hvacqualityassurance7116 Actually it's market would be strange. It costs $20M with a $3000/flight hour maintenance cost. The newest version of the F-16 is $63M and $7000 maintenance. It's not surviving against a force that can shoot back. So if there is a real insurgency, it's dead. So yeah, repressive states like Myanmar that kill their own civilians could use it. But over Ukraine or Afghanistan? No go. In those instances, a regular turboprop plane is cheaper - the A-29 is $10/each & $1000 maintenance. If the market is poor countries that can't afford jets, they will give up some capability to save. Half the upfront cost, 1/3 the maintenance cost So you don't need corruption to explain it.

[@timbrwolf1121]

If they beef this up a bit and give it the ability to act as a missile truck. It would be perfect for the national guard. It would free up huge amounts of budget for other air services. Then if deployed the guard aircraft can be used to truck missiles for more capable combat aircraft and perform air patrols over less contested areas.

[@SuperTrb0]

When you ask your mom for an FA-18 but she says you already have one at home.. The FA-18 you have at home.

[@stewartstone3926]

Looks like a revisit to the T-38/F-5 and T-37/A-37 Dragonfly concepts

[@geoffreyherrick298]

Like an enlarged BD-10.

[@nevrock1]

First Dark Skies video not to have a film clip of the wrong aircraft in the wrong theater. Thought for sure they show B-24s over North Africa or an F-84 in Korea.

[@michaelhowell2541]

🤔😂🤣

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

If random stock images bother you, go watch cartoons. Literally every documentary made by anyone with any budget will end up using stock images that are not 100% accurate to the specific words on the screen at that exact moment. Get over yourself.

[@nevrock1]

@@jrrarglblarg9241 or a Zero over California.

[@joshschneider9766]

​@@jrrarglblarg9241nah dude stop making excuses for crappy film making.

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

@@joshschneider9766 You seem angry. Go touch grass. Buy a frisbee or something.

[@BlueWaterSTAX]

BADASS. I like it. Im a cheap SOB though 😂

[@blin_tonk]

It gives me a faint image of a Cessna A-37 Dragonfly

[@mikewaterfield3599]

Secret? Cessna had a marketing team on this thing.

[@1milesnpr]

Probably late to the party but I'll say this anyway. Reminds me of the F5. More or less same production schedule off their own backs, lightweight, can throw it around, fast enough and can carry whatever you want. Unfortunate this aircraft was overlooked. The F5 and its descendants were, and still are, such great planes.

[@PlugInRides]

The F-5, while lightweight, was a capable A2A, supersonic jet fighter. The Textron Scorpion, unlike the FA-50, HAL Tejas, or JF-17, is a sitting duck if it encounters enemy fighters.

[@southerncross86]

No possible comparisson with F5, the F5 was createdwith a purpose, a rqmt from politicians, and it is a true capable fighter

[@profo4544]

@@southerncross86 he might not mean the f5, he probably means the f-20. The later descendant

[@Boredoutofmywits]

We are not in the late 50's. And the F5 was like twice as fast.

[@occamsrayzor]

That is one beautiful aircraft.

[@vojtechpribyl7386]

L-159 should be at the same cost per flight hour if not less.

[@robertwhatley9861]

Smart design. Thanks for the video

[@miketran4289]

Its like a F-14 and F18 had a baby.

[@halonsox]

Exactly!

[@venteryn2541]

The point is generally missed with this aircraft and other light attack / ISR platforms. Admittedly the theatre in which it could have been utilized to its maximum has expired (Afghanistan/Iraq). Theatres that had no significant air to to air threat and little in the way of ground to air threat. The time these should have been demonstrated has passed. However, the benefit this aircraft brings to the table is generally overlooked. You can utilize a fleet of these alongside top tier platforms like the F35. In effect utilizing the F35 for air superiority and initial neutralization of ground based threats. Following this the Scorpion could easily slot in and provide the required ISR and light attack to maintain dominance. Essentially this would cut down on the cost of acquiring a greater volume of expensive to acquire and operare top tier jets. Further to this, a nation with a fleet of Scorpions would be able to consistently and affordably contribute to joint operations with partner nations operating more expensive platforms. I think the one machine to do all approach of the current military mindset fogged the possibilities of this platforms potential. The future with all one type of aircraft is risky.

[@GarudaLeader]

It looks like the T-7A Red Hawk.

[@Lord_of_ChaoSan]

Well, at least now I know why everyone is crazy. Thanks for the enlightenment!

[@jbauern57]

It would make a good COAST GUARD plane for the coastlines

[@imM4T_]

Bruh this is a modernised AMX "ghibli"

[@thecommentaryking]

Only worse

[@schlirf]

Now, if only the powers that would permit enlisted and lower NCO's use it; they'd have volunteers beyond belief...including a certain slightly over-the-hill 19 delta! Great Video, and Thanks!

[@Hurpdurpdipidydoo]

Seems like a damn good plane for countries on a budget

[@darvinclement8404]

Kind of reminds me of an Su-25.

[@williamscoggin1509]

Cool Aircraft! 👍🏻

[@katherineberger6329]

The Textron Scorpion is literally an American manufacturer going "What if we duplicate a plane that is already readily available for under $10 million, and make it cost $20 million because no government is footing the development bill?" The Scorpion is an Aero L-159 ALCA but less capable and more expensive.

[@JSFGuy]

Less capable and more expensive? The video clearly stated its interchangeability and Mission profile flexibility. Cost to operate and loiter time. How is that less capable? Composite design and modular.

[@katherineberger6329]

@@JSFGuy The Aero L-159 is ALSO modular, has a similar loiter time, costs less to operate (about $1,600 per flight hour)... AND it's faster (so it can get into and out of trouble spots quicker - "shoot and scoot" and built on a well-understood airframe. When you're comparing it to $30,000 an hour to operate an F-16 the Scorpion sounds good, but most air forces are comparing it against a plane with a much more modest cost per flight hour; and if it comes down to it an F-16 can tote ten times the payload and still snipe as many Scorpions as it has missiles.

[@JSFGuy]

@@katherineberger6329 well now you're comparing two opening day or Frontline service, it's not meant to be a with adversaries. That 159 cost $1,600 per flight hour I find that a stretch. Now the 159 can be an affordable fighter. The Scorpion is not quite done for that I think you know. I don't know that 159 to be as modular as this proposed new design with off-the-shelf components. One thing you do want is Parts availability and that would be the engine avionics and landing gear.

[@katherineberger6329]

@@JSFGuy L-159: Proven airframe + less expensive + dirt-common engine (the Honeywell F124 is a military version of the Garrett (now Honeywell) TFE731, one of the world's most common bizjet engines - and in fact the SAME engine the Scorpion uses). The L-159 is the airplane that the Scorpion is trying to compete with, and there's absolutely no reason to put funds into an unproven airframe when a proven airframe with over a half-century of success (the L-159 is a modernized version of the L-39 and L-59 trainers) is available for less money. The only way the Scorpion is going to get users is if the USAF buys it, and that ship sailed with the T-X program. If the USAF buys a new jet ISR/strike plane it's almost certainly going to be based on the Boeing/Saab T-7 airframe.

[@JSFGuy]

@@katherineberger6329 well, that it shows the 802 and already had a mishap with it and that operation has kind of cooled off. They have made blunder decisions in the past and they continue to do so. Willits surveillance and some closer support so they did once a different approach with a different platform and wind up choosing a crop duster a damn good one at that. 30 years ago they put out for a JPAT wound up ordering a turboprop instead of a jet again

[@LittleManFlying]

"A Cessna One Eight Two" 😂

[@ice-xv1hi]

It looks like a cross between an F18 and an A10.

[@evanbenjamin4578]

May not have all the High speed low drag features by comparison,...But This aircraft has some incredible reconnaissance capabilities.

[@davedixon2068]

like?...high altitude capability? high speed? long range? high payload? stealthy?

[@Easy-Eight]

The big competitor to this aircraft is a good drone. Also, there is a huge market of rebuilt Cold War jets. Most nations don't need over 75 refurbished and upgraded Mirage jets in their air forces. Israel and South Africa rebuilt one Nesher, Kfir, or Mirage III (V) per week. BTW, the way the USA is going, that state of the art military is doing us no good when we're losing control of two to three cities per year to absolute crime. Portland, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, Detroit, New York City, Philidelphia, Baltimore, and many other cities are third world bad.

[@DrSkippy1]

There’s a lot of misinformation about Scorpion, beginning with the notion it started as a single engine aircraft. It did not. Scorpion started as an all-composite rebuild of the A-37B Dragonfly, with updated avionics, Martin-Baker ejection seats, conformal tanks, the center fuel tank converted to a HUD-enabled 20mm cannon, and refurbished J85-GE-17A engines, because that was the only motor that would fit in 17-inch vertical nacelles. The SECDEF/IA had two Brigadiers in the room when the original design was proposed. They loved the mission but not the side-by-side configuration. In one week the design was reworked as a tandem stepped cockpit. It looked like a small A-10, all composite to defeat metal fatigue. The original build plan was a $135M JCTD with Air Combat Command and AFRL. Epic Aircraft, Bend Oregon, was going to produce the five prototypes. They went belly up. Obama took the JCTD funding in his 4th-5th round of Pentagon cuts after 20 Jan 2009. That left private industry. What got the program rolling was a personal declaration by a member of the Joint Chiefs to the senior executive team that the ANG needed to recapitalize and couldn’t afford F-35s. Norty Schwartz, AFCS and chief of the USAF high-fast mafia, took the ANG’s recap funding for use on the F-35, so the original build went from 350 units to zero. By then, the company was committed. The CEO of Textron was visionary-all respect to him. But the original composites team, composed of the number one commercial composites AC builder (Dieter Koehler), and former LMCO composites experts (built the F-16, F-22, F-35 and led by Lee McKague) was replaced by Cessna composites guys, who had absolutely zero useful experience in composites. The JV founders planned to bring Textron up to date in the composites world with this program, but the Cessna-heavy management team fired them all. Stupidest move in the history of aviation. The prototype turned into black aluminum, gained weight and lost capability. It was still vastly superior to any single-engine turboprop “solution” anywhere in the world, including the Super Tucano, Wolverine, or that ridiculous Skytractor dressed up like a war machine. A lot of good people worked hard on this but were beaten by terrible management, petty politics, and ultimately, the high-fast mafia. Noble airplane with fabulous capability (could loiter 4+ hours 100 nm from base w/o refueling, with 6,000 lbs bomb load. Could prosecute two EO/IR missions simultaneously. Max ceiling 45,000 feet. Airliner speed but could fly as slow as a Cessna 150.) Ultimately a very sad chapter in the idiocy of the USAF.

[@larrys.feraca306]

Looks like a variant could be made into a "swing wing" or oblique angle wing design. Why not??!

[@pahtar7189]

Because the mechanism for a swing wing is heavy and would have dramatically cut payload.

[@Leon1Aust]

lmao....................why not?

[@jrrarglblarg9241]

“Modular wing design” with easily dismounted wings was mentioned.

[@geoffreyherrick298]

Cost effectiveness. Swing wings were big in the 60s and 70s, but they've gone out of style. Nowadays, the watchword is stealth.

[@troyyoung953]

I like the concept. Good looking bird

[@MTD156]

A glorified training aircraft. You describe it and the work on it as if you were talking about reverse engineering a flying saucer.

[@what3973]

the f14 if it was a trainer

[@Hardball1Alpha]

Must be a competitor... insults before reason.

[@frankthespank]

That jet looks like an F-14 Tomcat when its wings are fully forward in dogfight mode. Did they basically build a Tomcat that’s stuck in dogfight mode?

[@W1ckedRcL]

Looks a lot like the T7A trainer. With swept wings instead of straight, a slight redesign of the engine air intakes, and more powerful engines this plane could be a real contender for smaller or poorer countries to have a light attack fighter.

[@gordonhorn8867]

I'd buy one!

[@bobfeller604]

You can achieve outstanding results when the government is kept out of it.

[@AwesomeNinja1027]

That's what the Philippine Air Force exactly needs.

[@geoffreyherrick298]

S.211 replacement?

[@AwesomeNinja1027]

@@geoffreyherrick298 yes

[@Rye042]

No, it lost to FA-50. The S211 replacement where the KT-1 woongbi as per PAF TWG.

[@viperq]

The PAF has FA-50s and Super Tucanos for that role.

[@utkarshg.bharti9714]

I wonder why Textron is not promoting this to the Philippine and other smaller air forces allied with the US. Countries like Malaysia, Thailand and others in Southeast Asia that are under the US protection could do very well with this jet.

[@recoil53]

It's only good against rebels that aren't very armed. Against a modern jet? And Embraer has a turboprop that's half the cost and 1/3 the maintenance cost.

[@countchocula8884]

I was an engineer for this jet in Wichita KS. Textron marketed this jet EVERYWHERE they could think of. At the end of the day nobody wanted it because it was a slow ugly POS. It didn't have any capabilities beyond other existing aircraft.

[@minovskyparticles1834]

Super Tucano is a cheaper and better option for CAS

[@philsalvatore3902]

Philippines bought FA-50s from Korea.

[@Azman_Hamid]

Malaysia is buying the FA-50 . I think most of our SE Asia neighbours have as well.

[@billlhooo6485]

you know why our own fighter cost so much its because up pricing, not the labor or material. everything is there to mass produce but we keep it a limited production because profit its more important than making it cheaper for our military. f35 could cost us about 2 million dollars for the material and labor but we made it so much about 70 - 80 million dollars for one aircraft.

[@PC-vq5ud]

Too vulnerable to current ground anti-aircraft, manpads, etc.

[@rnish2958]

The T7 RedHawk is going to dominate this part of the market (IMHO).

[@c123bthunderpig]

Must not have made it - it wasn't at Paris Air show - obviously not super sonic with that wing configuration, and with those inlets, its open to a lot of issues including compressor stalls. Very successful development plan but not a great idea to spend development money prior to market research. Kind of like a drone with two pilots. It would make a nice trainer for Air Force, and non carrier landing Navy.

[@jailbird1133]

Supposedly they researched the market potential prior to startup.

[@c123bthunderpig]

@@jailbird1133 supposedly being the operative word. Engineers should never do market research, especially for military products. The military puts out a list of " needs" then selects the best company who will screw them the most if government approves the project. This companies features advantages and benefits were excellent but did not fit the good old boy system. Their primary fault of this airvraft it was not a good design for combat aircraft.

[@black8art]

I cannot think of a better TRAINER for developing nations, and one that COULD be reconfigured for combat , at a pinch! Ukraine could use a flight of these, and even use them for recon/border patrol work after hostilities are minimised!

[@djtomoy]

They made it as cheaply and as quickly as possible? Then I’m sure there will be no problems with it in the future.

[@stratometal]

There should be little problems. Sticking to already proven components, stuff that is in production and readily available rather than purpose built is definitively cheaper and quick to acquire.

[@djtomoy]

@@stratometal i know that’s what the guy in the video said but that’s not necessarily true

[@daystatesniper01]

A very useful design with lot's of options

[@toadelevator]

Seems like the best fit for this would be the same niche as the OV 10 Bronco used to fill. The ease of maintenance seems like it would also be a big selling point over the "big boys". F 22s and F 35s are fantastic aircraft, but the systems and the humans onboard might get a bit saturated trying to do everything in a modern war scenario. Might be nice to have an asset that can loiter nearby, in a more dedicated role supporting specific actions within the big picture.

[@bobhopemaryjane2]

It's been ten years since it's been available. You have no reason to not know whether this is a success or not!

[@leb6206]

saw one of these flying in wichita last year, it was a great sight to see!

[@oxcart4172]

U saw the only one!

[@leb6206]

@@oxcart4172 i was very confused as to what it was, it didnt look familiar. once i saw it was a scorpion my jaw dropped!

[@geirbalderson9697]

Gosh, i would love to have one in my garage!

[@larryhyak2529]

Nice looking top wing support aircraft............

[@nellinecronje6911]

This would make a great PSS subject!

[@mikeharvey9184]

This feels like the spiritual successor to the "Super Tweet".

[@geoffreyherrick298]

The BD-10?

[@mikeharvey9184]

@@geoffreyherrick298 Cessna A-37 Dragonfly (a.k.a. The “Super Tweet”). Same kind of idea… low cost attack aircraft.

[@kentstray1]

Wikipedia copied this video almost word for word.

[@My-Opinion-Doesnt-Matter]

Yeah, that's how KZbinrs make money...