The Raptor is easy enough to kill, it one is prepared to loose enough aircraft to do it. For example, throw a regiment or three of MiG 23s with IRAAMs and bombs, kill the airbase.

Its not original, but i believe that back in the 80s the Soviet doctrine of numbers over high tech was the war winning strategy. Like it or not, the Raptor is a sitting duck on the tarmac, and a concerted attack by a large amount of aircraft would be able to decimate the small number of Raptors available in theatre. i realize this is highly unlikely today, but the possibility is there.

As i see it, the only major advantage the raptor has over contemporaries is the stealth (which admittedly is a huge bonus), but in other areas it is at the same level as others.

Back to TYPHOON :rolleyes: 😀
I just want to get one thing clear in my mind. In a few years and upgrades, the EF will be able to haul LGBs, brimstone, dumb bombs, rockets, stormshadow and jdams ( not sure about the jdam), so why do i still hear people criticise the a2g capability? This is all that other strikers such as F-15E/K, Tornado or Rafale can do, so why place typhoon is a lower league?

Apparently boxer shorts are better than briefs for the same reason, i prefer them either way.

I really hope people here will IGNORE Foofoone.:(

No way, he is way too entertaining 😀 :diablo:

I came a cropper last year, fell off my bicycle and hurt myself. It was nothing serious thankfully, but i cut my hands painfully and i noticed a small rock had embedded itself in the side of my helmet, would have given me stitches at least if i had not been wearing it.

Saying that you are highly skilled or that you have never had an accident before as a reason to not wear a helmet is unwise and immature, period. Many drivers never have a major accident, does that mean we shouldn’t have to wear a seatbelt? Most planes never crash, shall we take out all the oxygen masks and inflatable slides etc? Helmets might not look great, but who really cares?

Although it it would make much more sense to go for the PA2, for the reasons you say, that doesn’t mean politicians will do that :rolleyes:
It may be more expensive to cancel it than just buy it, but if they decide on one course of action they won’t be shifted. The English was great btw, far better than my French at least, 🙂

Given Blair’s behaviour of late, I think that the RAF would be at pains to afford anything decent.

Given this, and in view of what Mr. Blair deserves, i think an aircraft of this quality would suit him perfectly :diablo:

http://www.baaa-acro.com/Photos-43/An-2%20crash%20(Verkhnekhavskoye%2025apr04).jpg