*sigh* ... this still continues to rear it's head from time to time and I don't know about Hornets and other assorted gnats ... but:
... I also don't know where you guys continue to get this stuff re: USMC "superiority" in close-air. I know, I know, the USMC HAS to believe its own propaganda or they would be in deep shit at the end of the day ... but com'on ....
I have NEVER seen or been in a bombing/rocket/strafing "real-world" evolution nor competition where the USMC drivers did any better overall than their USN counterparts NOR where the USMC drivers "pressed the target" w/ any more zeal or competence than their Brother-in-Blue.
It's a good thing that you're not even a little bit biased.
Professional is professional; good is good. The rest is PR ...
True, that.
At the end of the day it comes down to optimized systems, training, and professionalism that makes a good CAS (or any other type) player. Always has, and always will.
Practice makes perfect, and those that spend the majority of their time in the A/A master mode will always trail behind those that don't. That's not a slam on anybody else (Hornet or Navy), just the facts.
As to "clubbing baby seals".........sure. Just reread my words above and change A/A to A/G. When it comes to A/A a Harrier may have professionalism going for him, but optimnized systems and training are certainly lacking when compared to our split-tailed compadres in air to air.
Like I've said before to other Hornet guys.......you should be less proud of the 90% of the times that you've shot me, and more embarrassed about the 10% of the time you got shot.
It's like beating an S-3 in a bombing derby. It was a great aircraft for what it was designed to do, but beating it at what it wasn't optimized for is no great feat.
