As an intermediate range strike replacement for the F-111, USAF made the correct choice (this from an engineer who worked the XL prototype program in the ancient past).

Any specific reasons? 😀

I seriously doubt it. Too many security holes in the Isreali government. Besides, the F-117 is pretty limited in what it can do. While it’s potent, its very maintence intensive.

And if you’ve got your SHs playing tanker who’s going to be shooting down aircraft and missiles?

More SHs. 😎

If the Soviet bomber threat was still around, the F-14 would still be around. Bascially, the mission it was truly designed for is gone. It’s still a great fighter and in many air to air situations, it is superior to the SH. The Navy just isn’t going that way anymore. What’s done is done.

Any chance the VSTOL version will be axed? Or is everybody too busy on their high horse to answer a JSF question?

The B model is still a go. Their Hornets and Harriers are pretty beat these days.

You will probably see more in the coming years.

Bomber pilots yes but fighter pilots? I’d like see some published info on that.

Found an story about the F-15E by Kurt Plummer(this guy knows his stuff), just a small pice of that:

“During OEF, ‘just to prove they could’ an F-15E was flown all the way from Dharan to Kabul and back. A 17hr trip, they had to peel the aircrew out with a snow shovel and a jammer.

During these and subsequent missions out of the Arab republics, the F-15E was typically flown assymetric tanked to allow it to carry at least one heavy weight, large finned, munition under wing and a mix of GBU-12 or GBU-31 on the CFT. Ignoring the fact that ANY use of external gas (where you don’t drop the tanks on emptying them) is an exercise in diminishing returns and that the F-15E /already/ has 24,000lbs internally and in the conformals…”

I wouldn’t call it great but it’s good. It high-alpha capabilities are pretty much second to none in terms of non-TVC fighters.In close the SH, is a pretty dangerous plane especially with HMS.

However, the SH is not quick and it’s not fast. The Hornet’s aerodynamic design doesn’t really provide for good accleration. With some uprated engines it will get much better.

The strengths of the SH do not fall in the performance category.

I came across this response on another board. I’ve edited it a little.

“Gentle turning fellow and Fedupkin man you may hav trolling technic but you have NO knolidge of aerospacial, only a limited comprehension of what you are bubling about and a taste for escapism manure of the sort pedalled by Typhoon fan club superioricist gurus. You are not fit to wipe my beeg Franche harsse.

You’re totally out of your socket. You are living in the cave age. You cant distinguish between your mum ironing plank and the short plank of wood zat I am as thick as. You know too litle your subject to make an impression on ME or any of us for that matter.

You GOT ZILTH but your usual mythological manure

Of course Saudi buy Rafale and not useless not detailed eurofeeter

You’re talking to a guy who was a conscript armourer fitting nuclear bombs to Spad XIIIs at a time your grand mummy weren’t even born yet, so don’t you come up with pseudo-specialist bulls because though I didn’t even make corporal I can spot spin,twist and ignorance on knowledge and experience only.

Go back to primary BOYS you’re not good enough to make the slightest impression on ME, i KNOW far better than you.

When i WANT to learn about anything, i go to the library and look in Jane’s, as i know some libraries for as long as you have been on this hearth. Did I tell you I was Guynemer’s batman, washing his underrpants and socks when you were not even before yet born before then? I was aeronautical consultant to the Emperor Napoleon himself, and before that I took Louis Quatorze flying in my Montgolfier balloon.

You want to know about it? Simple. The Spad XIII is superior to your so-called Typhoon. Renault could builderate better fighter than britis aerospacial who has never desiyned a sole aeroplane fighter on there own. Dassault are Number ONE in the EUs. You should learn to discernate between you silent wishes and reality. Franche is always best, I am always RIGHT, YOU are WRONG. And I’m laughing LOUD. If you don’t like the fact too bad, try suicide, you should have been born French.

Get a life, schoolboys. You are DISMISSED.

If you want ot be of any sort of usefuness you can tell me when the library closes……?”

That might be the funniest things I’ve read all week. What board was that on?