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Posted

Speaking of forgotten aircraft exatly how good was the F-20 Tigershark? How well did it compare to its contemporaries, and how would it have fared in combat against say a mig-21 or 23?

Don't get me started

Posted

come by edwards too DH I will give you a mind blowing tour and maybe introduce you to folks who worked on the F-20 and YF-23 if the bribe is sufficient. Please no first born I have enough kids.

Posted

Speaking of forgotten aircraft exatly how good was the F-20 Tigershark? How well did it compare to its contemporaries, and how would it have fared in combat against say a mig-21 or 23?

I'd imagine the Tigershark would wipe the floor with a Fishbed or Flogger. It would probably give a Mig-29 or Su-27 more then a rough time aswell in a close in dogfight.

Posted

come by edwards too DH I will give you a mind blowing tour and maybe introduce you to folks who worked on the F-20 and YF-23 if the bribe is sufficient. Please no first born I have enough kids.

You should take him up on this offer. That would be amazing.

When I was a kid, my pal's dad worked for McDONNELL DOUGLAS. He let us sit in the AH-64. We got to put on those helmets where we could rotate the gun. He even closed the canopy on us and told us it was going to take us on an autopilot flight! (He was kidding. But I was young and naive and disappointed that I didn't get to fly an Apache.) It was an amazing tour.

They had an M1 there too, but we got to see that AFTER the AH-64...so, it wasn't as exciting!

Posted (edited)

Haven't seen good pics of Libyan Mirages in years. It helps when they defect:

183902_1664003314096_1057636592_31469068_759711_n.jpg

You know I find slightly odd about those mirages? They're absolutely pristine. they look like they've just come out of the factory, from the shiny state of the landing gear. and the perfect paintjob. I've seen airshow aircraft looking more weathered....

Edited by RFT
Posted

Not sure if this should be mentioned here but Space Shuttle Discovery made a successful final landing today. Sad to see it finally being retired.

Posted

Well, I'm not the type to know what aircraft is stationed where, and how many, or if they're in service or not. But on the way home from work tonight, I had the chance pleasure of seeing an F-14 flying overhead during the dusk "touch n go's" at MCAS Miramar. It was too dark, and my angle was wrong in order to see the markings. All I know is that it was definitely an F-14, and not one of the multitude F-18's I see flying out of there.

Twas a nice site to see. :)

Posted

Sure it wasn't a Luftwaffe Tornado visiting or something? I am unaware of (and frankly disbelieving) any F-14 having flown in the US in years. It's about as likely as seeing an SR-71.

Gotta agree on it being a Tornado. Not many swing wings models out there and only the Iranians fly the F-14 now. Besides, the Germans do show up here in the USA quite a bit. We shared a hangar with them in Mt.Home AFB while we trained there. Our younger Marines that haven't been around foreign military services were in shock about their whole thing with alcohol :lol:

On a related note, I recall a while back seeing Luftwaffe F-4 Phantoms sitting on the line, and before that in the early 2000's. Our Avionics Chief saw them and got excited because when he came into the Corps, he worked on those birds.

Posted (edited)

Just to point out that they're "over here"...even though not Mirimar, there is a German Air Force Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base that flies Tornadoes.

I drove by it on base last week.

I also had the fun of seeing a group of about 12 F-4 drones sitting on the tarmac.

Edited by hutch
Posted (edited)

I'd have a hard time believing anyone could mistake a Tornado for a Tomcat due to their different shapes, but I suppose it's possible.

What wouldn't surprise me at all though is if they were actually delivering an F-14 for permanent display at Miramar. With the destruction of so many of them due to fears of spare part leakage, they're going to be a precious commodity on the aviation museum circuit.

And as for the touch-n-go bit.. believe me, if I was the pilot on what was going to be the final flight for that aircraft, I'd be stretching that flight for as long as I possibly could. Even from a practical standpoint, if they're going to display the plane, they'll run the engines after landing until the tanks run dry anyway, so might as well get as much milage out of her as you can before she's parked on a pedestal somewhere.

I really wish they'd get one for display out at China Lake. While VX-9 mostly operates Hornets now, with the VX-4/VX-5 merger in the 90's they also picked up the legacy behind Vandy-1, and did have about a dozen F-14s there until they were retired. VX-4 did primarily operate out of Point Mugu I guess, but with all the Phoenix missile work that went on at China Lake, I'm surprised they don't have an F-14 on display anywhere yet.

Edited by Chronocidal
Posted

Just to point out that they're "over here"...even though not Mirimar, there is a German Air Force Training Center at Holloman Air Force Base that flies Tornadoes.

I drove by it on base last week.

I also had the fun of seeing a group of about 12 F-4 drones sitting on the tarmac.

True story back in 1999 or 2000, I was driving by Holloman and the germans were there with their MiG-29s. I was very cool to see them flying about, and escorting the F-117 in for landing while it was doing touch and goes.

Posted

AFAIK every F-14 that's going to a museum, already went immediately upon retiring. There was bunch of them for a few months, then that was it. Every movement since has been on roads via tractor-trailer.

Posted

All, I know what the silhouette of an F-14 looks like. Lived in San Diego practically all my life and saw them flying overhead constantly as a child. The only reason I even took notice, was because it WASN'T one of the many F-18's doing their dusk runs.

Maybe they flew one in for the aviation museum they have there? I see the banner for it on their advertising board on the way to work everyday. /shrug

Posted

Anyways, with the Libyan no-fly-zone+ imposed, just some interesting facts:

You need SEAD, and lots of it--not necessarily top-of-the-line fighters for CAP. F-22 not really the best here (and it's a waste to send them against MiG-23's). Can't deny airspace unless you control it first and can fly around without fearing SAMs. Tornado GR4 and F-16 Block 50/52 are among the very best at this.

Tank plinking would actually be quite useful, but could be a while before any A-10's get in-theater. I don't think Bentwater has had any for many years. Will probably fall to the Tornado and F-16 again. I'm not up on the Rafale or Typhoon's anti-tank weaponry.

IMHO the most-likely "early situation" is Su-24 vs Shornet or Rafale. I won't be surprised if something's been shot down when I check the news in the morning. Here's what's currently in the area, US Navy-wise:

Closest, on the Enterprise:

VFA-11 Red Rippers F-18F

VFA-136 Knighthawks F-18E

VFA-211 Checkmates F-18F

VMFA-251 Rhunderbolts F-18C

Next closest, on the Carl Vinson:

VFA-22 Redcocks F-18F

VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet F-18C

VFA-81 Sunliners F-18E

VFA-113 Stingers F-18C

Notably, the Sunliners got the Hornet's first kills in Desert Storm and they've been in combat in Libya before. Certainly "the squadron to watch".

For the USAF, Aviano's F-16s would be the main, probably followed by Spangdahlem's. Both could do SEAD and CAP. Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath likely IMHO for non-SEAD strikes if needed.

::edit:: Ah, forgot, Spangdahlem has A-10's now too. Good, because it's a LONG way to Libya from Arizona...

Posted

Anyways, with the Libyan no-fly-zone+ imposed, just some interesting facts:

You need SEAD, and lots of it--not necessarily top-of-the-line fighters for CAP. F-22 not really the best here (and it's a waste to send them against MiG-23's). Can't deny airspace unless you control it first and can fly around without fearing SAMs. Tornado GR4 and F-16 Block 50/52 are among the very best at this.

Tank plinking would actually be quite useful, but could be a while before any A-10's get in-theater. I don't think Bentwater has had any for many years. Will probably fall to the Tornado and F-16 again. I'm not up on the Rafale or Typhoon's anti-tank weaponry.

IMHO the most-likely "early situation" is Su-24 vs Shornet or Rafale. I won't be surprised if something's been shot down when I check the news in the morning. Here's what's currently in the area, US Navy-wise:

Closest, on the Enterprise:

VFA-11 Red Rippers F-18F

VFA-136 Knighthawks F-18E

VFA-211 Checkmates F-18F

VMFA-251 Rhunderbolts F-18C

Next closest, on the Carl Vinson:

VFA-22 Redcocks F-18F

VFA-25 Fist of the Fleet F-18C

VFA-81 Sunliners F-18E

VFA-113 Stingers F-18C

Notably, the Sunliners got the Hornet's first kills in Desert Storm and they've been in combat in Libya before. Certainly "the squadron to watch".

For the USAF, Aviano's F-16s would be the main, probably followed by Spangdahlem's. Both could do SEAD and CAP. Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath likely IMHO for non-SEAD strikes if needed.

::edit:: Ah, forgot, Spangdahlem has A-10's now too. Good, because it's a LONG way to Libya from Arizona...

Is the Brimstone operational yet?

IIRC the Typhoon should be compatible with that, just like the Tornado (GR.4, not F3 obviously)

That should provide plenty of anti-tank capability

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