Many of the foriegn buyers are getting the CFTs because they do not need huge combat ranges. Israel needs to have aircraft that are able to make it to what would be the next state here in America, and be ready to defend them. Their true combat radius is not much. More of being able to use burner more, to get there…

Is that why in mock combat flying, the F-16 two seater was able to get the jump on the F-35? Recent headline, and happened at EDWARDS. But it was said the F-35 was not wearing its stealth radar avoiding coating. BUT, if in a major combat operation, high mission demand, will that coating hold up to mission after…

So far only thing that is has “proven” is that it’s cost is way too much for what is being received. And the fancy computing of its fuel versus combat, is not being done “real world”, as the other planes mentioned have proven themselves. Even the F-117, more of a stealth bomb toter, than a fighter, proved itself…

But it was also designed to be supported by a large number of F-22’s and that has been cut to the bone. And without the support of air superiority fighters, the F-35s will end up being fresh meat. The recent mock battle between an F-16 and an F-35, where the old plane won. Was a
two seater at that, shows there is…

The Air Force tried to kill the A-10 all the way along. Yet the two planes in the fly-0ff, the A-9 and the A-10, we got the A-10, and the Soviets ended up with an almost copy of the A-9, doing the same job as designed. Funny how function follows form. But the A-10 never has had support of the upper fast mover crowd.…

And now that Russia is ramping up production of tanks, what kind of threat might be in the future? Those same tanks churning through the Fulda Gap? Perhaps. Or perhaps it is a whole Jihad mass, and then what? But of course those that equate stealth with survivable flying even if it means having less aircraft to do the…

Perhaps that is because they are doing their job still. Why retire a plane that is mission capable. As to the plane’s age, not a problem, the assembly line could be ramped up, Boeing is trying to promote the aircraft for foreign sales anyway, so a production line would be not that hard to establish. Upgrade its…

I have been wondering as the costs of the damages. I had already posted that as this is the first failure mode for the type, it would probably be sentenced to become a training aid, etc. Parting it out, would make some sense, and put some spares into the supply pipeline. But the cost of the airframe, makes it a very…

Or in an emergency, they more often make it home. One flight we hit turblence, and lost an engine, #2, and when we called in the IFE, were told C-130s flew just fine on three engines. Once the tower understood that the engine had departed in flight, and we required a straight in approach, did they realize what had…

Back in the early seventies, I was stationed at Edwards, and we had an assigned C-130A, that even had three bladed props, instead of the now standard four. It also had no radome, and sort of looked like a bulldog from the front view. The last three of its numbers were 131, and I believe it was a 52 year model. I…

And with the A-10, it was designed from the start, to carry the 30mm gun, and bust tanks. Since there is little glamor in a slow jet, that does not promote air-superiority, the Air Force has not wanted it from the start. Low and slow, the FAC's dream, enough armor to protect the vital systems and the pilot against…

All the comments about the black smoke, to me, it might just be the tire rubber being blown off the roads, along with the roadway itself. The output of jet engines is mega-heat, and since these are not concrete stretches of roadway but black-top, I wonder. And too, some of the video, is in rainy weather, and lots of…

Yes, I could see my GPS unit flagging my speed as being too high, until it had a nervous breakdown. Or take the next off-ramp in, oh, never mind you missed it too. Make a U-turn at Dallas, and follow the road for xxx miles, and then, etc.

Nothing new about using off the shelf electronics. In the Vietnam era, before a aviation device could be developed, the Wild Weasels and others were using off the shelf ''Fuzz-buster'' brand radar detectors. At least I know of some of the Hun drivers that used them. To keep their hind ends protected. Later…

This has been in practice for years. Back in the seventies even. But while the roads are pre-selected and stressed for aircraft landings, the problem is with the logistics. You have to have a large amount of tankers, to supply the jet fuel, and the ordinance also must be staged or transported. And if the main air…

Once I told our Col. Chief of Maintenance that I could order anything if I could get a NSN for it. He jokingly told me to order him a couple of new F-4s. Soon we had four F-4Es arrive. We got the old Thunderbird F-4s assigned to replace some we lost during flight testing. He quickly got into the spirit of things,…

From my time in the Air Force, any nuclear capable bomber, had security close to it. Preventing such as this. Funny yes, but anywhere in the area of the aircraft would have been a no-lone zone. And if caught would have put the doer face down on the ramp. I once put an aircraft commander face down, for being in a…

Yes, but twice now, America has risen to the call and entered war, ending up the winner, both times. No, I am not talking about Iraq, but WWI, and WWII. It was our manufacturing strength, and men, that carried on to victory. Now that we do so little manufacturing at home, I am not sure we could do so. But the…

We have cut the F-22 program, mothballed squadrons of present frontline aircraft, tried to do away with the A-10s, and focused our entire future on the F-35. An expensive new toy. And so far it is failing to live up to its hype. Sure once the bugs are worked out, we will have a plane that fails to live up to its…

Depends on what you mean by advantage. In size, of course, in training, there too we stand out. Most of Russia's air force, is based on defending Russia, not offense. And while they have bombers capable of reaching America, really, you think they are mad enough to enter a shooting war with us? We both have enough…