The OP has not introduced the concept of “fair” into the conversation.

This has been introduced by those rushing to defend the record of the F15.

The OP merely pointed out the lack of quality opponents faced by the F15.

In my view it in no way downgrades the achievements of the F15 and its pilots to understand the quality of the opposition.

You can only fight what is put in front of you and the F15 did that impressively.

In another time and another place the SE5a, SPAD XIII, Sopwith Dolphin and Fokker D.VII all competed for the mantal many accord the F15 today, however no one would seriously suggest that any of them should be thought of as the ultimate fighter.

I agree. Moreover, people often think along the lines of “which plane is better than which”, something that often overlooks the fact that -modern- planes are “weapon systems”, not merely flying machines.

For instance, plane X might fly better and be more impressive than plane Y, but plane Y might be a 10x more effective weapons system and completely dominate an engagement irrespective of the fact that is not as good a flying performer as the X plane.

Yes, and the evidence clearly points in one clear direction. Towards a heavy missile (not some stupid R-60) coming from ground. From a Buk. Whose location at the time of shooting has been exactly pinpointed, inside of rebel area. With Buk parading through a town just some hours prior. It is a game of connect the dots. Sorry, but the evidence is so massively out weighing any other hypothesis it isn’t even funny.

But that is the last i will have on this discussion as i feel people are entrenched and will not budge despite the evidence.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but where is this evidence? Before you think I am being sarcastic, I have simply stopped looking into this since the last thread was closed and I am really interested in finding out what new evidence has surfaced. I’d gladly take some pointers.

China’s FC-31 fighter disappoints in first display

As I said in a previous post, we don’t know how heavy this bird is. It could simply be that its weight is significantly larger than that of the MiG-29 (which shares its engines with)

Incorrect. The image is definitely a fake. The Boeing is not even on the correct flight route. See following for details of the composite imagery that they used. Why on earth didn’t the Russian media check out the mapping imagery?

https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2014/11/14/russian-state-television-shares-fake-images-of-mh17-being-attacked/

Another example showing the same cloud/cloud cover in the following link.

https://www.metabunk.org/threads/debunked-this-photo-shows-a-ukraine-mig-29-shot-down-mh17.5107/

fair enough, I accept that.

Before we can comment on the type, we need to know

What the weight of the plane is
What the drag of the plane is is
How it compares to the MiG-29 (that boasts the same engines)

Then we will know if it underperformance or over performs or whatever.

Also HUD and helmet can go together, they are not mutually exclusive

Berkut, I’ve been strongly advised to place you on my ‘Ignore List’. I’m going to heed that advice given your somewhat bizarre habit of provoking a heated response then running sobbing to the mods. Your modus operandi has resulted in mounting warnings & infractions for myself, clearly such behaviour is evidence of your flawed character – itself symptomatic of your intellectual frailties.

So, прощайте!

FalconDude, the active e-scan IFF maybe somewhat of an anticlimax for those wishing for an anti-stealth sensor, but it is in itself quite revolutionary. The IFF antenna cannot be mounted on the Irbis-E’s PESA array because it rotates – this would result in severe polarity issues.

The 4283MP requires sensor-fusion with the radar, ESM, RWR and IRST. However, the fact that the IFF is separate allows it to work in close conjunction with other sensors, it can operate with any one (or combination) of these sensors. For example, it means the Su-35S can remain ‘radar silent’ operating ‘passively’ with the L-150-35 (which uses Interferometrics via distributed sensors to detect & track incoming radar target sources) and affords the pilot an up-to-date picture of the battlespace without having to resort to his radar.

The following quote supports such a mode:

Alternatively it could be used passively with the IRST. Another major advantage over traditional IFF is the matching field of regard with the radar.

ActionJacksonMan, I’ve got some new stuff on the T-50’s beam-aspect stealth issues which is definitely worthy of debate. So ready when you are.

OK, fair enough, but in passive mode, you’d be listening for IFF codes from enemy transmitters. When you are up against contemporary adversaries surely they would remain silent again I presume.

And been so since atleast last year. (zoom in and notice the red/black areas and their sizes, compare now to the new pic)

But Jo will never agree, never mind the glaring evidence above. He either deleted his posts or mod cleaned them out:
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?125974-RuAF-News-and-Development-Thread-part-13&p=2162883#post2162883

1. Never realised the IRST takes up so much space in the nose
2. What exactly doesn’t jo agree with?

1)
4) So the Greeks are getting EU aid and then transfer it over to LM to get F-35s? Dream on..

This interesting on many levels…
Clearly the point above is valid, but at the same time, The Greeks are no longer a free nation so they are unlikely to buy anything for the next 20 or so years. Probably only overpriced second hand mirages at the most.

Also, why would the Greeks want the F-35? How does it help them? What the Greeks need is a plane to help them intercept the Turks violating their airspace, since the F-35 is “VLO” nobody would have early warning of the violation of said airspace taking place, so how can you intercept what you can’t see coming?
besides we already established F-35s can’t see F-35s with the radar from a meaningful distance so what is the point?

And finally the F-35 is a first strike weapon, Greece traditionally (with the exception of A-7s) deployed interceptors to contain the THK, what is the point of the f-35 in its inventory? Especially so, when Turkey can buy about 100 and Greece only about 12 with the best of economic conditions? The only way for Greece to get about 60 (sensible number) is for the price to drop to $50 mil a piece. Then not even the Germans (true rulers of Greece ) would object..