I’m very disappointed to see such a comment from you Arthur, as one of the most respectful and knowledgeable members here.
The Tomcat is also a much larger and heavier airframe with a far larger frontal area, so just giving a speed/thrust ratio to suggest the F-14 is draggier is nonsense. Of course it is – because it is a lot bigger.
Well, what else where you thinking of taking for drag comparison if not frontal area?
As for those inverted double-kinked bathtubs hanging under the wings of both vanilla and sewer Hornets: yeah, they are draggy as hell, and heavy too. The Swiss refused to buy those SUU-63 pylons for that very reason, and instead opted for a far lighter, less draggier pylon. The original Hornet bathtub was designed for the Hornet to have it carry TER and (not sure about the latter) MER bomb racks because it was purchased as an A-7 replacement in the USN. Of course, MER and TER bomb racks aren’t used anymore, now with PGMs you can hit a target anyway and the combination of bathtub + TER/MER created so much drag that the range of a loaded F/A-18 became really, really pathetic.
Again, diverting from the subject. Are we discussing the hornet’s drag here or its weapons? As you said “for the same token” one can state that the Tomcat has very limited ability because Iran lacks replacement parts for it.
The information you gave about the Swiss substitue only proves that this is only true to the ones who uses these pylons, and has nothing to do with the plane itself or its capabilites.
Also, you comfortably failed to mention that these Swiss pylons only has A-A carrying ability, and no A-G what so ever.
Also, the linked article states that the Swiss pylons are less draggy than the American ones, but doesnt say if the SUU-63 are very draggy all-around. My guess? – If they really were so draggy, the USN would have replaced them with something better.
But again- this whole area has nothing to do with this thread.
. By the same token, a Tu-160 is a lot draggier than an A-7: see you’re talking nonsense, ohadbx?
If you want to go to unrelated areas than yes, the Tu-160 is much draggier than the A-7. But what these two planes have to do with eacother, or this thread- you are the only one to know.
I did’nt invent this Cat Vs. Hornet battle and comparison wars, just simply answeredthe guy’s question. Fact is, that most Hornet bashers rely mostly on hearsay and prejudices (“both vanilla and sewer Hornets” is one example), rather than hard facts.
I’m sad to see that non of the information you presented in your messege has something to do with mine, or this thread in general.
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