WOW !!!!!!!!!, you wouldent need a gaurd dog if you had that…… 😀

there must be something good about the Mig-21, 10.000 + have been built, and hundreds are still in service nearly 50 years since it first flew.
as for the Tornado, if they are so bad, how is it that they have served 4 of the the worlds major airforces very well for the past 20-25 years, and some will still be in service for a long while yet.
in a close in dogfight, as past air battles have proved. pilot skills and tactics are the most important, try and put a poorly trained pilot in a Su-27, and a experienced crew in a F-3. and see what happens. 😉

it is strange that the UGLY Tu-98 Backfin evolved into the gorgeous Tu-128 Fiddler and the beautiful Tu-22 Blinder…. 🙂
i think i have found the soviets answer to the SR-71, has enyone have some info on the Tsybin RSR, R-020/3. a mach 3 capable reccie platform. i dont think it ever flew, apart from a scaled down prototype. though 5 was almost completed before the project was cancelled. eny pictures ??.

The Tornado is a decent ac, but lets not kid ourselves about it being ‘great’.

no aircraft that has been made is perfect in every way… all GREAT designs had there faults… eg, the Mig-21 was a great design, but had limited range and a poor weopans carrying capability, the Harrier, not supersonic [so what] and limited payload [early models]. the DH Mosquito, wooden struture didnt like hot and high climates…. i could go on and on.. i think the Panavia Tornado has every right to be one of the GREATS….

the Tornado in my veiw is a fantastic aircraft. it has always lived under the shadow of the F-15.. but give me a tornie enyday.. i can remember the tornado being ribbed a bit during desert storm, a few was shot down, but they where bombing heavly defended targets.. i think they done a fantastic job over Iraq….the Tornado GR-4 in my veiw is the most capable attack platform in service today….
as for the ADV, F-3….whats wrong with them..i cannot see eny major flaw.. the RAF did have some teething troubles with the radar syestem, but when they was ironed out the ADV became a very effective interceptor fighter.. as for agility, i think a tornie could turn and burn with all types from there era.. 😉

I believe that the A-4 Skyhawk was developed early 1960s. Then later
a different version of it was fitted with Rolls Royce engine, and vertical
gizmos by McDonnell Douglas to create the Harrier VTOL fighter/bomber
used by the US Marines after the 1980s.[/QUOTE]

i think ive just landed on Mars….. 😮