Farnborough Days

Talking bout the fighter aerobatics shown so far (Monday, Tuesday). Please no comments about that aerobatics close to the ground was not what these machines are built for, that they are weapons systems, not showbits, and that they are flying naked, etc – we all know.

# The one that blew all others away: MiG-35 (MiG-29OVT). Just better in all dynamic aspects that the rest. Absolutely spectecular.

# As number two I’d still put the F-16. Maybe the only area where the Euro-canards are better is the diameter of the full circles. But the F-16 still can do quite good vertical maneuvers and tight circles.

# Number three perhaps the FA-18F they have here. Can turn on the spot as long as slow, and is slow most of the times, since acceleration is not its strong point, even though better than A/B/C/D versions.

# Ok, now the Eurofighter. As fourth. Underpowered. Agonizes in going over the top in loops, climbs loud and slow and not too step, and if he does it’s slow. And that strange effect that its wing doesn’t “grip” when coming out of a loop. Nothing new, but I think it’s getting worse every year.

# Gripen, Tornado, Trainers, Indian stuff.

# The Osprey? Tame. Careful, no simulated assault landing, like for e.g. the USAF did with some C-17s during airshows. (Forget if it was Paris or Berlin or some other place).

# Talking about trainers: That Italian M346 is quite one lively machine it seems. Quite good dynamics for a trainer.

What else? Nimrod overflight Tuesday morning, B-1B overflight Tuesday noon (setting off car alarms). But I didn’t see all flights since business was priority. And no French. Haha. But it’s a pitty. Would like to see Rafale in operational condition.

Cheers!