Nowadays it would be a cross between Firefox meets Gran Torino and maybe a bit of AARP auto insurance commercial. He'd would steal the plane alright, but he'd fly it back slowly, gear down, with the nav lights blinking the whole way.
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Nowadays it would be a cross between Firefox meets Gran Torino and maybe a bit of AARP auto insurance commercial. He'd would steal the plane alright, but he'd fly it back slowly, gear down, with the nav lights blinking the whole way.![]()
While they have the "A" designation, and can certainly do some air-to-ground wor, it doesn't make sense to wear down that expensive of an asset in a very low air threat environment. The AF is developing many planes for the current war - MC-12, UAVs, other ISR assets (as is the Navy/MC with some of their current announced UAVs); the F-22 is a fighter for the next war. The AF F-15Cs (dedicated air superiority fighters) are experiencing the same issue; while they are part of the homeland defense effort, there is not much call for MIG-killing until we go up against a country with MIGs.
While they have the "A" designation,
All I know is that the Russians make one thing that might be better than anything the US has.................................................ejection seats.
How does it get better than 0-0 capability...?
Same was said about the Mig-29 for example. F-15C's are what, 11-0 agains the Mig-29 (US and Israeli)....meaning it's about the pilot as well.
I've seen a MiG-21 up close and it struck me as more of a rat rod than a hot rod. Tough, functional, but not what I would call refined. Same impression with any commie hardware I've seen up close and/or put my hands on- small arms, helicopters, etc.
"Quantity has a quality all its own." -J. Stalin
"Where did all these f---ing Indians come from?" -G. A. Custer
I've seen a MiG-21 up close and it struck me as more of a rat rod than a hot rod. Tough, functional, but not what I would call refined. Same impression with any commie hardware I've seen up close and/or put my hands on- small arms, helicopters, etc.
"Quantity has a quality all its own." -J. Stalin
"Where did all these f---ing Indians come from?" -G. A. Custer
How does it get better than 0-0 capability...?
I agree with you. The Soviet aircraft I've seen up close at air shows or airports in the Midwest I fly to look like they are built tough, but not nearly as clean or refined as their US counterparts. I was told my Yak was designed to withstand drunk Russian pilots. I'm sure that was just a joke...
I ain't so sure about the Israeli's, the only reports I have seen are pretty sketchy and both deny it. Either way Russian-built aircraft have a pretty poor record in air to air combat the past 35 years, a lot is the operators but their 'kit' sure doesn't seem to help at all.