Someone once told me that the WSO in a marine F-18 is more of an Airborne FAC. Any truth to that?
I also find it interesting that someone mentioned the loss of SA that caused the AF Viper crash in Iraq a couple months ago. Some people want to give him a medal. Then there are others that say he didn't make a conscious decision that put himself in harms way, he screwed up and didn't follow procedure.
It is interesting that the last 2 seater to go to war in the AF is going to be the Mudhen. The family model Vipers pretty much don't see combat with anyone in the back seat. The AF has been moving away from 2 seats since the late 70s, even the 2 seat A-10 was scrapped.
Perhaps it's the cockiness of the AF fighter jocks about how it's their airplane and no one else's, but it's odd that the AF tries to give more SA through technology, whereas the Navy promotes more aircrew interdependence. In fact, some AF guys like to comment that the WSO's (both Navy and AF) are part of a jobs program and not much more.
I don't mean to keep coming back to the AF, but it's what I know more about and am trying to get a better grip on Naval Aviation.
I also find it interesting that someone mentioned the loss of SA that caused the AF Viper crash in Iraq a couple months ago. Some people want to give him a medal. Then there are others that say he didn't make a conscious decision that put himself in harms way, he screwed up and didn't follow procedure.
It is interesting that the last 2 seater to go to war in the AF is going to be the Mudhen. The family model Vipers pretty much don't see combat with anyone in the back seat. The AF has been moving away from 2 seats since the late 70s, even the 2 seat A-10 was scrapped.
Perhaps it's the cockiness of the AF fighter jocks about how it's their airplane and no one else's, but it's odd that the AF tries to give more SA through technology, whereas the Navy promotes more aircrew interdependence. In fact, some AF guys like to comment that the WSO's (both Navy and AF) are part of a jobs program and not much more.
I don't mean to keep coming back to the AF, but it's what I know more about and am trying to get a better grip on Naval Aviation.