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Hey, maybe we need to build a slower, heavier, F-16 "minivan to replace the F-15/F-22?

http://www.military.com/NewsContent?fil ... net_080102

A sucking chest wound is life's way of telling you to slow down...

I think Pete should start a F-14 Tomcat section for me on this forum, lol.

Notice that direct performance comparisons F-18E/F v. F-14D are NEVER made.

Notice that the SuperHornet claims equality to the Tomcat in A2A, probably the first time in aviation history that a aircraft hangs its reputaion on being equal to what its replacing, and superior to an airframe that was never designed for deep interdiction power projection (F-18).

No fly-off competition was allowed between the F-14D and F-18E/F(humm.........I wonder whay?)

I will probably lose years off of my life fretting about this decesion. I wish the Naval Aviators taking the SuperHornet on operational deployment godspeed, and I hope they can make a believer out of me.

If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!

Edited by - Tomcat Tweaker on Aug 04 2002 7:11 PM

Edited by - Tomcat Tweaker on Aug 04 2002 7:12 PM

Well said Tomcat.

"US Snipers-Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

I was also always puzzled why they wouldn't have a fly off with the Turkey. That's one question I would've loved to personally ask that question to the admiral who was in charge of procuring the new air plane.

Well, I personally know of one test pilot whose flown both and is ecstatic...well, maybe not ecstatic, but very pleased about the big insect. I hope the rest of the pilots have the same feeling as he does.

i think the Super hornet is ok, i wish it didn't replace the Turkey, but This is how i think the Super hornet got in. Boeing has some "people" and money to persuade if u know what i'm sayin and i also think Boeing is trying to take over the world. but i could be wrong on that last one.

Boeing is also trying to keep any C-17 work away from Civil Service at Robins also...We are lucky to get what we do here...

Brought to you by your friendly neighborhood moderator...

If you can't go fast...go Ugly

_________________

Well I think Lockheed Martin showed Boeing that it is still a force to be reckoned with in the US Defense aerospace industry.

If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!

I think another question is whether or not anyone really knows what the future threat(s) will be. Very few saw the Cold War end coming; we were barely ready for Desert Shield/Storm; we were blind sided on Sept. 11; who's to say China won't be the next Cold Warrior? Hope for the best, Prepare for the worst.

"...if you RTB and the lead enemy tank commander is eating breakfast in your snackbar--Jack, you've lost the war!"

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

"Hope for the best, Prepare for the worst."

Spoken like a true scholar 30mm

"US Snipers-Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

Thanks, I think, Snipe! And preparing for the worst means having the right hardware and attitude to get the mission accomplished.

"...if you RTB and the lead enemy tank commander is eating breakfast in your snackbar--Jack, you've lost the war!"

_________________
\"Those who hammer their guns into plows
will plow for those who do not.\"
- Thomas Jefferson

The F-18E is starting to be the worse at all of the above.........The F-14D with the updated mods gives the US navy a multi-role aircraft with the same capabilities of the F-15E, with better maratime airsuperiority capabilities.........With the Advances in Radar,Navagation, GPS..........etc The F-14D Bombcat is proving to be a better deep interdiction aircraft that the venerable A-6. No escort required as well. With the Tarps capabilitys, and the ability to perform at low altitudes like the F-111, there is no reason why the 14 could not have assumed the EW role as well. The stink of this whole situation, was that the D Tomcat was in service, comming of assembly lines in 1991, when the F-18E/F was going through the R&D Phase. It was in service, fully developed and ready to rock. Why the US DoD poured billions of dollars into an aircrat that was already second string to active duty fleet F-14D squadrons makes absolutley no rational sense what so ever (in fact that waste of the taxpayers money should warrant a formal congressioanl inguiry)......... The low cost argument is a dupe, the performance capabilites is a major compromise. I would have no problems with the F-18E/F if was a improvement over the F-14, but the F-18E/F is hardly an improvment over the mighty F-4 as a multi role platform. Our country invests billions of dollars into our carrier battle groups (CVBG) and now they are being compromised by a more expensive, less capable dog. Remeber the British defending their fships in the Falklands with Sea Harriers? Well the Argentine Airforce with SkyHawks and Exorcets sank six ships, including the H.M.S Sheffield. That doest even compare with todays SU-24 Fencer/Kingfish threats that many countrys such as the Chinese and the so called Axis of Evil Iran have. Whether or not Iran deserves that dubious distinction is another matter all together.

I hope I am wrong, and that the F-18E/F has a stellar career, but it makes no sense to go to the second string, when the game is far from over in such an important part of out military capabilities.

If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!

Edited by - Tomcat Tweaker on Aug 06 2002 10:07 AM

I wonder how long it's going to be before they start hanging torpedos on the Super Hornets and saying that they'll replace the S-3's? <img src=icon_smile_blackeye.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ted

<img src="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/dark2.gif" border=0>

Not long at all Ted.

A little anecdote here, This past May on Memorial Day my friends and I were witness to a "missing man formation" of F/A 18's(don't know if they were Super Hornets or not, was trying to tell) over his house to commemorate the ceremonies at the Intrepid. Let me say this: They were LOUD and a bit intimidating.
Although it was a big thrill for this military enthusiast, I still would of loved to see a fly-by of Tomcats instead, since their days are numbered.

Go o the Confederate AirForce Show in October.
The US Navy F-14 Demeo team will be there.

If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!

Tedg, SHUT UP! LOL! Don't you DARE say things like that on an OPEN FORUM! You don't know if a congressman, or other government official, is reading this, and before you know it, BANG!, F/A-18Fs will be dumping sono-bouys and extening their MAD gear at mach .98 ('cuz they can't do super-sonic below angels-10) tyring to get the right angle for a drop on, well, I don't know, it's not like they'd ever find anything at those speeds...

A sucking chest wound is life's way of telling you to slow down...

Hey, I only said it because I seem to remember reading somewhere about the Russians thinking about doing that with their carrier based Su-27's (Su-33?). Anyway, where would you put MAD gear on an F-18?<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ted

<img src="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/dark2.gif" border=0>

Trust me, the Hornet mafia will find away. Next thing you know there will be a C-18 variant (and I don't mean the Canadian Hornet)

If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!

I'm waiting for them to make a V/STOL varient...<img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

Ted

<img src="http://www.stopstart.fsnet.co.uk/smilie/dark2.gif" border=0>

A variant that can actually outperform a 50's vintage F-8 Crusader in a knife fight would be nice......

"US Snipers-Providing surgical strikes since 1776"

As long as it only fights the MiG-21F it shoudl be fine, as long as the MiG-21 does not get close enough to fire its R-13 (AA-2).

But really, I hope it is better than I keep reading it is. = (

Troung my friend.........I think we all hope its better than what we have read, and heard. I suspect it will be, but never a Tomcat.

If you are not having fun, you are not doing it right!

As long as the F/A-18E/F only fights in Rwanda/ Congo/ Madagascar/ Nigrea it should be fine. But those MiG-21FL/PF/MFs (armed with the AA-2/R-13) over there could still give it trouble. Hopefully it will stay at BVR the whole time. = P

LOL, yup.

Hehehehe, yer gonna fit in here nicely

Trample the wounded- hurdle the dead.

I'm just waiting for the C/F/A-18 which would replace the C-130.

Or the E/F/A-18F which would replace the E-2C/T and E-3.

And of course the F/B-18F which would repace the B-2 and B-52.

Edited by - troung on Feb 11 2003 10:43 AM

Oh My God- Another one?