fake military pilot?

[Occam's Razor]

If his story starts, "I was in the Air Force...", then you know he was never in the military.

I keed!

 

[Whidbey]

I knew a dork in college who claimed to be a Navy reserve EA-6B nfo.

///////////////////////////////////////

.... Of all the things to brag about. Anyone who brags about flying it has never flown it!

Whidbey

 

[Gunfighter]

Actually the most combat effective use of two engines is a F15E. (F22 left out due to generational gap).

A. Ask the guys on the ground, 1 Mudhen or a pair of Vipers? My vote is for a Pair of Block 30s w/ Litening AT.
B. Got our money's worth from Eagles. Never said we didn't. Throw in some new avionics and the A models are very attractive on the resale market.
C. It's done a good job and will have it's place in the history books. Time to pass the torch to Raptor.
D. GW2 - F-15s sat on the ramp, while Vipers went 2 at a time into combat.

The most combat effective use of two engines is a 2 ship of Vipers, until they become a legacy fighter replaced by the F-35.

 

[BiffF15]

A. Ask the guys on the ground, 1 Mudhen or a pair of Vipers? My vote is for a Pair of Block 30s w/ Litening AT.
B. Got our money's worth from Eagles. Never said we didn't. Throw in some new avionics and the A models are very attractive on the resale market.
C. It's done a good job and will have it's place in the history books. Time to pass the torch to Raptor.
D. GW2 - F-15s sat on the ramp, while Vipers went 2 at a time into combat.

The most combat effective use of two engines is a 2 ship of Vipers, until they become a legacy fighter replaced by the F-35.

Dude, you are hilarious. How the Viper is better at CAS than a E model is beyond me, you will have to explain that one. Yes, grunts will ask for whatever they think they will get (I'm a former FAC/ALO) however the reality of what they get will be different. Two Vipers on station (with less time available due to shorter legs, half the ordinance of one E model), and more likely to hit the ground due to spatial D (Viper trademark).

I would bet if you asked a grunt which he would rather have:

A. Two combat Vipers with X weapons and Y time on station, OR
B. One E model with 2X weapons and 1.5 Y time..

I know where my vote would be and it has nothing to do with the airframe.

We won't even mention the tankers required to keep that two ship on station either.

Actually Eagles aren't good on the resale market, too expensive for almost all nations. Bang for your buck the Eagle is still a better deal however most countries want numbers, not capability or they are restricted by our government from buying F15's.

Yes, Eagles sat on the ramp for GW2, mission accomplished without pulling the JFS handle. Not sure why you stated that as it undermines your point.

Yes, it is time to pass the torch onto the Raptor. I thought the point of this thread was comparing the Eagle and the Viper. You are drifting away from the point. I have a few buds flying it and they speak highly of it. However, it will be interesting to see where it is 30 years from now. Notice the number of engines.

I'm sure the F35 will be a strong player. Hopefully it's safety record will improve the single engine average significantly.

 

[NewmanF16]

Why does the Eagle need two engines?
To overcome the frontal area required to contain the craniums that fly them. (Sorry Biff, couldn't resist).

The Lightning AT pod on a Block 30 is the perfect CAS machine for the conflict we are in. The combination is so good, the Army requires there always be one squadron of guard/reserve block 30s in country. It's a testament to what can be done when fighter pilots can lead in the development of an airframe and be supported by their command. It's a great thing about the guard/reserve--they cut through the crap and get the job done.

It's amazing how different an organization operates when most everyone can be a day away from quitting. I think total force will end up being total farce, and ruin all the things that make the guard/reserve great. Guys will not want to stick around as TRs without the camaraderie but all the active duty BS.

 

[Gunfighter]

How the Viper is better at CAS than a E model is beyond me, you will have to explain that one.

Easy to explain. Carrying bombs doesn't count, putting them on target does. Vipers with pods, datalink, etc. are the platform of choice, because they get the job done most effectively. The 15 needs the "X" more time and "Y" more bombs because it take longer to find the target and get the bombs on it. Put pods, datalink and HMS from a Viper on the 15E and you might have something.

The 15s sitting on the ramp didn't keep the Iraqis from flying. The mission they accomplished by sitting on the ramp was saving fuel for the Vipers. The airplanes that were flying kept the Iraqis on the ground.

 

[BiffF15]

Easy to explain. Carrying bombs doesn't count, putting them on target does. Vipers with pods, datalink, etc. are the platform of choice, because they get the job done most effectively. The 15 needs the "X" more time and "Y" more bombs because it take longer to find the target and get the bombs on it. Put pods, datalink and HMS from a Viper on the 15E and you might have something.

The 15s sitting on the ramp didn't keep the Iraqis from flying. The mission they accomplished by sitting on the ramp was saving fuel for the Vipers. The airplanes that were flying kept the Iraqis on the ground.

I see your point that the Viper might better at CAS than an E model. However, I'm a light gray driver and can't speak with the certainty that a E model guy / gal would. Yes, SADL is built for doing CAS. Which blocks of Vipers actually have HMS?

However, if you are going to go deep and hit targets that will bring a country to it's knees you would want your force equipped with Link 16 (standard equipment on Eagles). You are also not going to be doing CAS with out air superiority, something gained by Eagles in GW2 regardless of whether they were airborne or not.

Your last comment about Eagles on the ramp is pride overriding logic. The IAF stayed put due to lessons learned form GW1. The Eagles stopped flying in GW2 once the air fields were shut down. The Eagles accomplished their mission by presence.

History is doomed to be repeated by those who don't know it.

 

[NewmanF16]

Block 40-50 F-16s have link 16 and HMS (if they don't have it yet, they are being modded). Block 25-30s can get on the Link with SADL through a Gateway.

 

[ExAF]

Naaaaaaa...Don't think so.

I don't think the grunt on the ground would ask for vipers or E's unless that was all that was available. I think if the threat allowed and you asked the grunts on the ground what they would really want for CAS, the answer would probably be the AC-130 followed by the A-10. This also from a former FAC/ALO.

 

[tumbleweed]

Upgraded Vipers

All platforms have areas where they excel. The Viper community has learned a lot about CAS over the past several years and is top notch.

The 388 FW has been the first to field the full-up Blk 40/CCIP/HMCS/SniperXR jet in OIF. The 4th is doing some stellar work with the new toys - including the Laser Mav borrowed from the Navy. We continually work to get better at this mission!