F-14 to F-15

[jmcquate]

once such CO after landing made a report that he was locked on SR-71 for four minutes with all missiles

................if had a dolor for every-time a V-PVO guy claimed to have tracked a sled

 

[Renegade One]

(Russian Air Defense Forces "TINS" story…)Nothing to compare with F-14 or F-15 spirit but this, generally.

Nah, I was always pretty sure "the spirit" probably compared directly. "..the spirit of attack born in a brave heart…" and all of that Richtofen crap.

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

and all of that Richtofen crap.

But not the spirit directly attracts chicks and glory. You should be lucky, otherwise you'll die, right? What about the "luck training"?

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

.if had a dolor for every-time a V-PVO guy claimed to have tracked a sled

Uh, it's like to make a million dollars in casino: you can boast by it but it's better to shut up since tax inspectors (let alone street gangs) are not deaf. If someone on MiG-25 or -31 was really riding on the tail of -71, he hadn't been awarded with anything but an extra drink, on the house maybe, in a local bar. USSR had never been akin to North Korea or Mao's China: while Commies in general were fucking cruel, an airplane costs money, a pilot/WSO too, and money is not something one can neglect.

 

[HackerF15E]

Late to the party, but to the OP: I flew with one WSO in the Strike who'd previously been a Tomcat RIO. So can't speak for the guy you ran into, but such exchanges/transitions did occur.

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

By the way, why Strike Eagle has nickname "Mudhen"? I can understand "Beagle" (Bomb-Eagle), but what in its shape or behavior is resembling that swamp bird?

 

[RadicalDude]

It likes to get dirty, and play in the mud. Hen is a pejorative form of eagle. Probably something is lost in translation here.

 

[ryan1234]

By the way, why Strike Eagle has nickname "Mudhen"? I can understand "Beagle" (Bomb-Eagle), but what in its shape or behavior is resembling that swamp bird?

One of the design features of the Strike Eagle was its Terrain Following Radar, allowing it to go exceptionally low even at night or, theoretically, in bad weather. The A/G load gives it a relatively high amount of drag compared to the A/B/C/D Model. Many of the first F-15E pilots transitioned from the A/B/C/D model, so it was quite a bit different. The term "mudhen" is an affectionate contrast to the sleeker, high-altitude C-model "Eagle." The E-model is also dark gray, where the C-model is light gray. Coincidently, if you look at each aircraft side-by-side, you'll see the the Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) on the E model give it "big hips" that look a little like a coot standing next to an eagle.

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

Thanks Gentlemen. Was the aircraft in the role before Strike Eagle that F-111? Why then "many of the first E pilots" were from A/B/C/D?
In turn, here the Fencer (Su-24) is Woodpecker, while the new Su-34 is Duck-Bill

 

[ryan1234]

Thanks Gentlemen. Was the aircraft in the role before Strike Eagle that F-111? Why then "many of the first E pilots" were from A/B/C/D?
In turn, here the Fencer (Su-24) is Woodpecker, while the new Su-34 is Duck-Bill

The E-model did replace the F-111F, however the E model is dual-role. The F-111 training syllabus didn't have a strong background in Air to Air, so those that didn't previously have F-4 or F-15A/C time had some difficulty adapting to the air to air environment - or so it's been said. The initial batch of E-model pilots and WSOs were from E/F-111Fs, F-15A/C, and F-4 communities.

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

Thanks, now I see. All pilots here except those trained in Balashov Air Force College who fly airlifts, maritime patrol, AEW, tankers and strategic bombers are trained in fighters: up to 1994 the main advanced trainer in other colleges was twin-seater MiG-21 (nickname Balalayka due to the triangle wings, resembling that national half-guitar) so it is to say that all Russian Air Force pilots are fighters from the beginning. But it doesn't mean that they all are skilled and proficient fighters...

 

[Pags]

Thanks, now I see. All pilots here except those trained in Balashov Air Force College who fly airlifts, maritime patrol, AEW, tankers and strategic bombers are trained in fighters: up to 1994 the main advanced trainer in other colleges was twin-seater MiG-21 (nickname Balalayka due to the triangle wings, resembling that national half-guitar) so it is to say that all Russian Air Force pilots are fighters from the beginning. But it doesn't mean that they all are skilled and proficient fighters...

I read my kids a story in which a balalayka played by a mouse features prominently. I can't pronounce it so I just call it a guitar.

 

[jmcquate]

while the new Su-34 is Duck-Bill

Thought the MiG-27 was the "Duck Bill", and the Su-34 was the "Platypus".

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

Thought the MiG-27 was the "Duck Bill", and the Su-34 was the "Platypus".

It's the same in Russian AF parlance;-) Though MiG-23 and its derivative like -27 were famously known as Clamshells due to very funny folding system of the main gears, and for the wings.

I read my kids a story in which a balalayka played by a mouse features prominently. I can't pronounce it so I just call it a guitar.

Right, in a sense that it can be used as a solo instrument, but has no bass strings, so it is closer to banjo in a sound. I called it half-guitar as full common guitar has six strings, while that fucking device has just three. By the way, this has no serious musical usage here for a century at least. Once I with my elder son asked a salesman in a Moscow musical gear shop to show the most popular thing that Russians are buying. A young man did not hesitate to bring the Oscar Schmidt acoustic with a set of a metal string. Doubt he knows the word "balalayka" ;-)

 

[Max the Mad Russian]

Huh, today a friend of mine recalled Tu-22M3 Backfire had a nick "Bull", as in Russian the word "Back" is close in pronunciation to "Byck", a bull. Probably the only case when the NATO codename was used as a basics for a nickname in Russian.