Endoplasmic Reticulum

OK. Then I got you wrong. Sorry. I want to throw something in the round and it's called 'talent'. It's not always the amount of hours you take. A talented pilot maybe achieves the same or even better results in a shorter period of time. There are many other factors that make someone good in a shorter time in a certain thing than others. This is now pure speculation, but I doubt that the indian pilots have as many flight-hours as american pilots have, but they proved their talent to the world. I think we're getting a bit off-topic. I hope Uncle ED won't get mad on us ;).

You got it ;).

No. I'm not concentrating on the planes. It's a fact, that a good plane is only good in the hands of a skilled pilot and you can't say that Russian pilots are'nt good, just because they have'nt participated in a real combat. You misunderstood me in this case. And those Indian pilots that took part in Cope India were excellent pilots and they showed this. They achieved good kills, even with maneuvers like the 'cobra', which many people say are useless in combat. I don't understand where all the people get the idea that russian pilots are bad. I think this still is a prejudice against the former East-Block. They had and partially still have a hard time, because of financial problems, but this says nothing about the skills of a pilot. If I would have sprinted 100 meters in 8 seconds, although not having participated in the olympic games doesn't make me a slower sprinter, just because I did'nt earn a medal. Or do I see this wrong?

So you have been a customer of ED, even before they got into the sim-market ;)?

Good one :smilewink:. I want one , too.

I have to clarify one thing. You compare apples with pears. The F-15 may have such a high kill rate. I'm not gonna deny this fact. But you have to make a few more calculations before you declare the F-15 as the best fighter ever. Please name the conflicts and the duration of each Russia and USA have taken part in. USA has taken part in much more worldwide conflicts than Russia has. The only major conflict, Russia has taken part in is Afghanistan (1980-1980). There were also other 1-2 'minor' conflicts as well. Now we come to USA. Gulf War 1 and 2, Afghanistan (and some others as well) and not to forget Israel and Japan that use F-15s as well, although Japan has a strictly defensive airforce, Israel uses them regularly in the conflicts in Palestine. So you get higher kill-rates for the F-15s. Another thing you have to keep in mind is, that numbers about wars that Russia has taken part in, are more classified, so that few numbers leak out to the public. The only comparison you can make between the Russian and US top fighters (and also some Europeans) are the the excercises with the Indian Airforce during Cope India (2004-2006) and the exercise in Garuda (SU-30K and 30MKI). I remember a French pilot saying in an interview: 'Those planes are damn agile and have a mindblowing firepower. If you can't shoot it down at first try, you have no second chance. The indian pilots are well trained and have a more fluid command structure, that overwhelmed us and made us rethink our strategies. I see these exercises as an eyeopener'. I would'nt want Russia to start one more war, just to feed us with numbers of their firepower. So these exercises are a good chance to show the world what those planes are capable of without killing people. You have to put some of these facts into your statistics as well and the numbers would be a bit different than '106-None'. And the Russian alphabet is not difficult. Since I began playing Lock-On, I quickly learned the symbology and each time I'm in Russia (MAKS), I have no problem reading the signs. It's not difficult. Give it a try. And the Russians like it when foreigners are interested in their culture and language. Especially their women LOVE you for that :D. Ochin horosho ;).

Must have overread it in the posts. ED! Go and sign the contract with Saab. Tell them, if they agree, I'll buy a Saab9003 from them ;).

It brakes with the ailerons, like the F-22 does. I think the missing dorsal airbrake reduces weight and gives the plane more stability in flight while braking. I also think that it remains stealthier than when retracting the huge dorsal brake, which can reflect the radar-beam back to the enemy.

I agree in general. The more you get to know the 'soul' of an aircraft, the more beautiful it looks. On the other hand, the Su-27 was love at first sight. Although comparable to the Mig-29, it was totally different. The wings attaached far in the rear, the long fuselage and the radom tilted down, gives it a unique appearance. Like a cobra or a raptor preparing for an attack. And the huge dimensions, -only realizable when standing right next to it- gives me a strange feeling in my stomach. I think this is called 'LOVE':wub:?!?!?!? A question about the final appearance. Is it known if it gets 2D or 3D TVC nozzles, if any? The tail-boom makes me think that only 2D deflection, like the SU-30MKI has it would be possible. Yep. I like it raw, too as I like my meat :D. I like the yellow color, like the Su-30MKK prototype. It's no optical illusion. The LERX definitely move (or they got bended during flight :D.

After 128 pages in this Topic, it seems that I'm the only one interested in the JAS-39 Gripen. Not just the machine, but also the wide array of operational abilities. The ability of using road strips as temporal bases is just one of them. Is really noone interested in an aircraft that is quite new and has never been simulated before? I'd be interested in its level of classification. What is the probability to make a sim with this plane (JAS-39 A or B)? Anyone from ED to answer my question? At the ILA 1996 i had the chance to sit in the cockpit of the "A" version. The pilot was a very beautiful young woman (but when having fighters around, I guess none of us would have an eye for any woman, right ;)? ) and she was very kind, chatty and informative. She took an hour or so to explain me a lot about this plane. Just great! I think that's the way how a pilot on an airshow should be to the visitors. Since then my interest to the Gripen rose.

That tells us a lot about our skills in the Ka-50 :doh:.

I have the slight feeling, that it could be classified ;). I could be wrong as well, though. Well, it's not love at first sight. After a period of acclimatisation, I think we'll bury it in our hearts. And in my oppinion it's a nice plane and it looks like a mixture of the MiG-29 and the Su-27 put in a wafer-toaster. On the other hand, don't forget: it's made for war and on the battlefield you have no jurors that give 'look-points' like in the Eurovision song-contest:P. Although this way we could have nicer and unbloodier wars. "And here are the results of the Turkish jury...";).

Then go to Turkey and strap into a Turkish Phantom. They are ugly, but ugliness has its' own beauty, like the monster in the "Alien" movies ;). Phantoms.... Aren't those the planes that were constructed with the words in mind: "with enough thrust, even a brick can fly" ;D ????:D

Although I had placed my order a few months ago (still waiting it to be heard by the producers ;) ) I would want either the MI-28N (I know, i know CLASSIFIED) or the JAS-39 Gripen (CLASSIFIED?!?!? I guess it is). The Gripen would be an ideal multi-role aircraft wich you can operate on Highway-strips. So it would be a unique aircraft with a unique operation spectrum (and Sweden isn't far away from Russia either). But sometimes I can't make up my mind if I want either a rotary- or a fixed wing aircraft. Then I'd go with the AV8-B (or whatever variant) Harrier. The best of two worlds in one aircraft. Buy one and get two ;). I love russian aircraft and would love to see some great Flankers and Fulcrums, but we should give aircrafts a chance that have never been simulated before (at least not realistically). Or would'nt you get bored to see yet another new Dracula-Movie?

You are a gifted pilot. Made for emergencies ;).