RyboPops

No, the AIM-9X followed by AIM-120 storyline is just that...a story. It hasn't been confirmed by any official source that I've seen. Regarding the AIM-7, they don't carry them into combat AFAIK. I believe each squadron gets an allotment of them for a yearly SHOOTEX.

They fly double ugly a lot in that part of the world which typically only includes a single AIM-9 and a single AIM-120. That's a possible reason.

Source it. I've been searching AFT for the past 20 minutes and see nothing related to airborne laser testing on those platforms.

Some of you may already know this, but I work for LMSSC. Let me share a brief work story... So this morning I got into the office and checked my email. I had an email requesting a meeting with HR and Ethics "officers" which is usually a bad sign. I had no idea what it could be about but I was obviously nervous. I responded that I was available and they replied with a time and a conference room. I wandered down to the conference room and they were already there waiting for me. I couldn't think of anything I had done wrong but feared that a pink slip was headed my way. We all shook hands, expressed some pleasantries, then sat down and the HR guy closed the door. They started out by thanking me for the work I do, saying I'm an asset to the company, blah blah blah. I'm pretty sure they say the same thing to everyone. Then they dove right into it. "As you know, all computer systems are monitored for inappropriate activity." Great...they found out that I watch a lot of gun videos during my breaks and they think I'm a threat to the company. Here comes the "offload date." He continued "We noticed that you do a lot of google searches for erectile dysfunction forums. We respect your privacy and don't wish to pry, but we ask that you search for personal health related topics on your own time." Wait..WHAT!? I must have had the Tucker Carlson face because they quickly understood that I was very confused (or, more likely, they thought that I was faking it). "We have the log here that shows that you google searched 'ED forum' X number of times over the past several weeks." A wave of relief flooded me and I let out a good laugh from the gut. What a relief. I explained what I was searching, showed them the website and the forums, and we all got a good chuckle. The HR guy explained that their internet usage monitor logs keystrokes and search engine queries and flagged repetitive searches. After that, they reminded me of some company document that directs employees not to abuse internet usage, we laughed about it some more, and then went back to work.

Touche. Well...the ABILITY to load 3 pylons per wing. You can still see the mounting hardware/holes if you look hard enough/the jet is close enough. Either way, best indicator is the inlets IMO.

To add to this... Legacy = 2 pylons per wing Super = 3 pylons per wing

I'm hearing similar rumblings on my end that seem to confirm this. Not all that far-fetched either. Pro-MILF/ISIS crew (not the MILF you're probably thinking of...), sees US vessel, decides to ram it as a TOO thinking they can get away with it because it looks like an accident.

VFA-87 is aboard as well.

Definitely not a reliable sauce.

I'm curious...have you actually documented/benchmarked a frame rate change with shadow settings? I have a significantly inferior PC to your build and noticed no change in FPS or overall performance between medium and high shadow settings. If anything, the sim felt smoother with shadows on high.

Glad you're not dead. I need some more "Hullo again everybody and welcome back to another edition of On the Range..." in my life. Hoping for an F-18C series soon-ish :)

Where is this report you speak of?

This is precisely why they should (and most likely will) focus their efforts elsewhere. It saves them time and money, and we get a Hornet sooner rather than later.

Bingo. ROE over there are almost guaranteed to require VID, and against an ancient Su-22 the best way to do that would be a stern conversion. That said, I'm not convinced that firing an x-ray from .6nm and then following it up with a slammer is actually what occurred.

And for the lulz, here's the image they posted with the article:

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Company (in cooperation with Boeing Phantom Works) has recently won an ~$19 million contract to develop, manufacture, test, and integrate a laser pod weapon for an F-15 (the article doesn't specify if it's a C or E model Eagle). The SHiELD (Self-protect High Energy Laser Demonstrator) program will be for characterizing the effects of transonic and supersonic flight on directed high energy weapons. It will also be the first stepping stone to generating future program requirements for a mass-produced airborne laser weapon system able to be carried by front line fighter and/or attack aircraft. Sauce is on the LM intranet, so I can't link to it. Here's the copy - paste:

I'm not sure...haven't seen anything specific. I'll try to find out.

I'm seeing new reports of a second Iranian drone being shot down by another Mudhen. That brings the AA kill tally to 3 in the past two weeks.

Probably not that much different, it at all. The MRT is not flown at full G load.

+1. I would totally wear that at work.

I'll get it too, pending that it doesn't cost one of the family jewels.

Well played.

Tears of joy. MOAR TEARS! I think I'm going to have to resign as (INSERT CIVILIAN FLIGHT SIM MADE BY LARGE DEFENSE CONTRACTOR WHO HAPPENS TO BE MY EMPLOYER HERE) beta tester in the near future so I have more time for cat shots and traps and all the fun stuff in between.

That big-mouth shark-mouth Spang Viper looks pretty wicked.

Generated wind is the wind created over the deck just by sailing the boat into the natural wind. For example, if the natural wind is 15 knots and the carrier sails directly into the wind at 15 knots, their combined velocities produce a wind over the deck of ~30 knots with maybe a knot and a half of slight crosswind due to the angled deck.