IMHO…
Sorry guys, the US isn’t going into any armed action against Iran (yes, it would make a heck of a show for “armchair generals” but it isn’t going to happen unless Iran directly attacks US interests or allies).
Why?
-Mr. Bush doesn’t have the public support for another war…unless Iran does something really stupid like having an F-14 strafe the Pentagon…
-The US military has its hands full now. Yes there are plenty of aircraft, etc. but personnel are the issue.
-If the US does anything, it would be part of a coalition…especially if Iran holds of doing anything stupid until early 2009 when President Hillary Clinton is in the White House…(Just a prediction, not a wish). If there is military action in the future and the EU does its fair share, it would be interesting to see Eurofighters at work.

As much as I hope that you are correct in your assumption, I unfortunately think that mister Bush will continue to carry out his agenda no matter how badly his opinion in the polls would be. Otherwise, he would have pulled US forces out of Iraq a long time ago.
As for your belief that the US Military has its hands full in Iraq, as much as you may have a point, I can assure you that they do have the resources and the equipment to begin high-intensity actions in Iran.
As for the EU getting their hands dirty, as much as it pains me to say, I don’t think they will take part in any action against Iran unless they have exhausted every single means to avoid a conflict!

If you’re talking about the yellow fire bombers from Marseilles, I’m afraid that they were DC-6s, and not the DC-7C. However the pair in Spain that used to fly for Basaer are 7C models!

T J

My apologies! I do recall now that you mention it that they were in fact DC-6s. No matter, these were great birds as well!

7. Kate Beckinsale :diablo: :diablo:

After all the complications with the JSF program, especially with transfer of technology, it may be better if Eurocopter builds this themselves and Sikorsky stays home.

I agree! With the apparent bickering we have seen over the JSF, I do think the US should go about designing the machine that will fit their needs while Eurocopter should do the same. According to reports which have surfaced in the past, Sikorsky is going to create a highly improved CH-53 which should suit the USMC.
In the mean time, the HTH which seems to be on the drawing boards or at least in the minds of engineers at Eurocopters, could become the machine European forces have been desiring for so long.

So, than let me ask a question in regards to the S-300 in Iranian service. SOC, you seem to believe that the information might not entirely be true, and after all why not, none of the information seem to be viable. However, one would have to agree that when a rumor persists for so long, there has to be a certain level of truth with the potential of this air defense system being purchased by Iran? Why is it so hard for people to understand that this could be the case? I can understand that since it is only a rumor, no one would want to waste their time incorporating this deadly system in the equation.
Very little is known of what is presently going on inside Iran and unless a network of HUMINT has been created by the west or Israel, not much information will leak out to aid either the US or an alliance in getting the info needed to be able to lauch a successful military campaign against Iranian forces. At this point, high-resolution satellite pics would be the most desirable option as spies have been none to fail recently, as the captured Mossad agent shows that Iran’s counter-intelligence network seem to be well entranched.
On the other hand, let’s for a second suppose that Iran does have the S-300 system, would it really be a nuissance for a force which could realistically, as long as they knew where those batteries were, destroy them by simply lifting one finger that would then unleash a dozen or so Tomahawk missiles?

Had too much Flight Simulator and glued too many models I guess? But you obviously did not bother about modern air warfare.

If a conflict starts (what I highly doubt), the US (or alliance) sets date, target and character of the campaign. The Iranians have no means of taking initiative. they have though a very good window seat and can watch first-hand how to do it right. Their air force is good for a two day interference, but after that they are either shot down, destroyed on the ground or so outnumbered, that only taking off becomes an act of bravery. An F-14 still gets most people excited, but an 1980s F-14A without Phoenix, proper AEW and in small numbers is less effective than an F-18E with one engine.

Iran has no CCC to do any harm to US/alliance forces. If they are lucky they get at least some clue what is going on and try to improvise defence, maybe with the chance of a lucky shot. If they’re unlucky, they can only count the dead and call it a day.
The US/alliance will take out AD first, concetrationg on well-known AEW-radars and SAM-sites, preferrably with cruise missiles. After that take out air fields and other CCC-targets. Some planes might get lost, but that is unlikely as US/alliance can concetrate their forces as they wish. They will always have local superiority and can reduce effectiveness of Iranian AD to a bare funny non-existant nothing.

Losses:
Iran: all that dare to interfere
US/alliance: depends on their approach, if they take it slow and respect Iranian capabilities, the losses are zero due to enemy activity.

That is not US-happy, MiG-bashing propaganda. That is just what will happen if the World’s best air force starts a conflict against the remainder of a 1980s air force.

And please get serious and leave MiG-31 and S-300 out. Even if they have it, it won’t make a big difference.

This to me seems to be the most realistic analysis in regards to such a situation. Nothing, however, seems to point toward any military action at this point although that is not to say that it could happen in the near to distant future.
As for the Iranian F-14s, do we really have any hard data to inidicate that any important number of them are still in active service. These aircraft, even if spare parts have been reversed engineered, are getting old and I doubt that Iran’s aeronautical capability would be able to cope with such a difficult task. In all effect, what type of capability does Iran truly have to withstand any sorth of high or low intensity attacks from the west or even Israel for that matter!

This is the SAHSA L-188 HR-TNL shortly after its landing at Cancun,Mexico.The aircraft lost the 2 propellers on #3 and #4 engine while in flight:

What created such a situation that this aircraft would loose two of its four props, and on top of that, both on the same side!