Boyd, however much his influence actually created it (or was exaggerated in biographical prose), made a damn good jet. So I'll give him that much
Did he? Boyd and the 'Fighter Mafia' certainly pushed for the Lightweight Fighter within the Air Force but it was General Dynamics that actually designed and made the jet, the Air Force then added on radar and other things the Fighter Mafia claimed would make the plane a goat.
So no, Colonel Boyd and Pierre Sprey didn't 'design' the F-16 as is often claimed. They certainly had a hand in drawing up the requirements and advocating for it but even then they didn't get what they really wanted. Many of their theories on what a fighter should and shouldn't have also have turned out to be incorrect, they thought VFR fighters with
only good maneuverability, short range, a cannon and IR missiles were all that was needed in air combat. They abhorred radar, BVR missiles and LATIRN-type systems that give our air forces many of their current capabilities. Ironic or not the fighter they railed against for so long, the F-15, has an unequaled record in combat and got most of its kills with BVR missiles and I don't think single one with a gun.
It is certainly fun to root for the underdog but there seems to be a lot more myth than fact when it comes to the 'Fighter Mafia' and their impact.
Opinions are like.... everyone's got one. For another one, again -
read this book. It's another opinion, and I'm kinda surprised that so many of our #
innovative, #
disruptive #
super-cool and "talented" thinkers aren't "acolytes" themselves.
If you actually read one of Mr. Michell's books you would see that he is rigorous with his facts and backs them up with numerous citations instead of legend and myth. His dissertation isn't nearly as good as his books, he definitely has strong opinions on the 'Critics' as he calls Boyd and his like, but it is still an excellent read with plenty of facts to back up his assertions and is a great perspective on the post-Vietnam USAF rebuilding efforts.