I have to wonder if the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, and others are copying these same production design limitations like the Russians did with the Tu-4 Bull?
“I have to wonder if the Russians, Chinese, Iranians, and others are copying these same production design limitations like the Russians did with the Tu-4 Bull?”
The Russians copied an F4 (I believe) but a model designed for carrier use. They copied the landing hook even though they had no use for it. I’ve seen and read about other copied technology and they copy everything because they have no idea why the engineering strangeness is there. The thing they don’t have is the political problems. (At least not the same political problems.) Therefore if they decide they’re going to build 500 duplicate F4’s over a five year period they can tool a production line and invest in the special design jigs and tools that will make it efficient as opposed to hand building everything. They aren’t worried about getting funding next year. Also, their air force isn’t fighting with the Marines to redesign the copy to a different mission than it was intended for.