ViperEagle

I think the idea would be to have several on station at a given threat area..just in case?Even tho the Patriot is a killer SAM, I dont think this is ever going to happen, it's a study anyway.

The Tomcat was suited for one or two plane Demo's. It was simply too large for close formation demo teams. And the Tomcats wing sweep was automatic, unless the pilot over-rode the Wing Sweep Computer. In that case, the Tomcat can do manuvers at 300-400 knots with the wings swept back. Also, the old TF-30 powered Tomcats would have had problems with the aggressive throttle actions and high alpha manuvers done by the BA's. Now, had the Angels been flying the GE powered Tomcats, it would have been a very nice show. The Hornet is the right choice for the BA's, just as the Super Hornet would be.

IIRC-The Oregon ANG F-15's that have been going to Bulg. arent the latest upgrades. Most have the AN/APG-63V1 radar. However, I have seen a few carrying the training rounds for Aim-9X's. Most of the time the USAF doesnt release information from DACT exercises. the Cope India exercises got attention as they were high profile, AND the first and only time USAF F-15's faced off with the Flanker family, with India.As far as I know, the Oregon pilots have the greatest respect for their Bulgarian partners, and had a very good time.

VERY nice...It's a F-4D for one, at the United States Airforce Academy. Navy pranks!

Actually..The Blue Angels DID request Tomcats, but were turned down as they were needed for frontline squadrons. They got the A-4 instead.

I do believe I said that it wasnt a bash on Russian aircraft or pilots. And what I SAID is that the AIR FORCES have different policies when it comes to demos, not the airshow venues. "Just admit that the F-teen engines are more prone to engine stalls, don't keep on whining, making wrong comparisons and showing opinions on how you like US jets."Yes..they are vulnerable to compressor stalls. And in the ENTIRE post I didnt whine, or make an unfair shot, I was responding to a statement that said that the F-teen series were incapable of doing tailslides. Dont come off nasty at me please, all I did was state my opinion and facts, I didnt come off saying that the Russian pilots suck, or Russian aircrafts suck, or blah blah. Essentially, yes, it boils down to uncontrolable elements, such as mechanical problems, and pilot error, however, most USAF demo policies have limits and requirements that some Russian demos do not, this isnt a aircraft issue, it's an Airforce policy and regulation issue.

Just as an FYI? The F-teen series of US fighters can and have done tailslides. It is USAF policies and regulations that prohibit it being done. It IS preformed over Edwards AFB as a practice of advanced handling. The PW F100-P220 engine can handle the airflow issues associated with those manuvers, as can the P-229 found in the F-15E and F-16 Block 50-52's. The manuvers you see US aircraft do at airshows are what are deemed safe for audiences. One of the reasons you have seen how many SU-27/30 family aircraft/MiG-29's crash at airshows..and how many F-15's and F-16's?In reality, the F-15 and F-16 are capable of *very* complex and high G manuvers, just not at airshows for safety reasons. The Thunderbirds lost one F-16 recently (in 2002-2003 I think) due to mechanical problems. This isnt a bash on the Russian fighters, but to say that because the USAF plays it safe at airshows, means the F-15 and F-16 are clearly inferior isnt fair. NOR is it fair to say that because the MiG-29 and SU-27 have crashed at airshows makes them unsafe aircraft, what I am saying is that the two Air Forces policies are different.

Strictly speaking, it isnt a star of David. Traditionally, a Star of David is a six pointed star formed of a upright and upside down triangle, essentially. It is then surrounded by a field of white, such as a white roundel. In many cases, a six pointed star is used as a symbol for many law enforcement agencies. I would honestly say it is simply the fact that it is a easily recognizable geometric shape on the HUD. The triangle is used to designate Aim-7 shots, the circle Aim-9 shots. The Square is the Target Designator on the HUD. They needed a symbol that was distinctly unlike the others and was recognizable to pilots. It's not a Star of David, it's a geometic shape. THAT is a Star of David.

The last Block 15's in the Air National Guard were ADF's from North Dakota. They're being sent to the boneyard as we speak.

We have to look at the time. The Cold War was over, the Tomcat had not yet been cleared for a bombing role. At the time, it was a logical decision.I love the Tomcat, but lets be realistic.

I wasnt taking a jab at the Indian Air Force. I am saying that it's generally highly discouraged and forbidden to leak HUD footage, much of it is classified anyway. any AF that does that offically as a means of propaganda is a sham. What IS out there is largely pilots looking to stroke their egos, which is plain not cool.

Maybe we could also see some pictures of the SU-30MK's and MKI's in the gun funnels and WEZ's of F-15's and F-16's? we know it happened.. Oh wait..thats right..because respectable AF's dont release such footage, as it largely means nothing. Again, that SH vs. F-22 shot has been the cause of so much "F-22 sucks!"..I'll point out it was likely a hotshot Rhino pilot breaking the ROE's to get that. Also, a valid Kill Call is 15 frames. Or 1-3 seconds, that is not. We do know that the F-22 has lost at least once in training, a F-15 got a heater kill on a F-22. That was the first time, and it was publically known.

Kind of a shame that this thread has falling down to the 4TH PAGE. Any further ideas folks?

If a bogey is ID'ed as a bandit by AWACS, and the F-15's IFF system ID's it as such, then the F-15 would fire BVR. In an actual war, if a bandit gets WVR, you've screwed up.

The Su-37 doesnt exist anymore. Just a little FYI

There are plainly alot of things that can be done to F-15's to enhance them. Replacing the Cockpits with the MFD type found in the Super Hornet or Raptor for one.

IIRC- The Aim-120D series will have a very nice long range, close to the Meteor's. Remember tho, range/ramjet etc doesnt always make a perfect missile, tho I will say it's got alot of promise!

In September of this year, the Air Force announced it's intentions to fit about 180 of it's best F-15's with the APG-63V3 AESA radar. So that is already happening. Adding the Dash 229 engines would be a bit more of a challenge, as it would require strengthing the airframe and doing stress tests on it. And, IIRC, both a F-15A and a F-15C were refitted with -229's, and both were a waaaaay hot Eagle.

Thats right, the US did supply alot of components for the Gripen. The most obvious is the engine, which is the same that powers the Legacy F/A-18's.

Because..... I dont know why, something about people dragging me down to their level.. Nah..I give up.

FWIW- The AMRAAMS fired at the Iraqi MiG-25 were fired when the target was at near max range, and going at least 1.5 Mach, if not faster, and going away. No missile would be able to overcome that headstart, plus with the MiG-25's high topend speed, it's not really shocking. The USAF doesnt turn down DACT offers due to "fear of looking bad", more so because the Rafale is not a likely threat aircraft, or because the French may have wanted certain things that the USAF would not agree to. The R-77 is equal to the baseline AMRAAM, however, the Aim-120A's and B's arent nearly as common now as C's, each AMRAAM model is gaining increased range and sensors with each succession. AND..no F-15's have been lost in actual combat. Despite what "some media sources" claim, there have been no A,B,C or D models lost in actual combat. I can find sources claiming that B-2 Spirit steath bombers have been shot down, despite that every serial number produced is still in service..so..I can throw that line too. The MiG-25 kill on the Hornet and Predator are mostly confirmed via US and outside sources, so that I accept. The F-15 has the best combat record of any aircraft in history, with a 100+ to ZERO kill ratio, and it will likely retire with that ratio intact. The F-15 was produced and was decades ahead of it's time, and in some ways, with the continued upgrades, is still on the pointy end of the spear.

the F-16 MLU is one hoooot Viper!

A2A: Typhoon, it's the better, more effecient choice. It has a wider capability range with western weapons, such as the ASRAAM, AMRAAM, etc.. A2G: Rafale, it's simply got a better range of weapons and has actually been cleared for it. It's also proven for Carrier Ops. I'd say Typhoon, honestly. It also looks better :smartass:

I'd certainly like for LockOn to be more open, but the fact is, having gamers develope their own stuff doesnt stuff the pockets of the companies, they are after profit afterall. Maybe once BlackShark is out, and LockOn is done, and isnt going to be developed any further by the companies, they'll release a SDK or such, and we'll be able to add more, until then..probably not. Lord knows I'd love a modern F-15 :thumbup:

Ok..so the Typhoon was able to "best" a: Overweight Under-powered Dedicated Ground Attack aircraft? Strip all the CFT's, bombs and LANTIRNS, ATFLIR, LITENING and SNIPER pods off of a F-15E, take out the second seat, and leave the pilot alone in a F-15E with P229's for engines, and throw a few Sidewinders and Amraams, then it might be a little more fair, because basically that Typhoon was clubbing baby seals. Even then, the F-15C and F-15E are more different than that. So you're taking a Built-as-Ground Attack F-15E vs. a Fighter/Interceptor Typhoon. The F-15 has never faced the SU-27, or the SU-35 in simulated combat. The only time the F-15 faced the SU-30 family was in DACT at Cope India I, and even then it's arms were not tied, they were handcuffed behind it's back. The fact is, and remains, the only aircraft to actually shoot down an F-15..was an F-15. Even then, that doesnt count because it was an accidental Blue Vs. Blue kill in the JASDF!