DazDaMan,

Can’t argue your point, while I’m way more partial to the Mustang, and It was probably a better aircraft performance -wise than the Spit (though not by much, and of course a later design) But the Spit rose to the occasion when the “chips were down”
To put it in terms you Europeans would understand…A soccer player who scores the big goals in the world Cup Finals may not be the best in the world, but He did it when it counted!!!
TTP

Sharmaji,

First , the US values China as a trading partner way more than a potential enemy, second, The US has no desire to invade China……hopefully China and Taiwan can work out their dispute, and the North Koreans will come around to join the rest of the world, then the carriers will go home……
TTP

Plawolf,

You make some excellent points, but your last post is quite revealing. You state there are many radicals who feel that China should regain her former glory…If you know this from chat-rooms I’m sure the CIA knows it as well. Therefore, maybe it may be prudent to prepare for the eventuality that at some point in the future, the Communists may lose power, the radical element may become a stronger force, and with billions of people, and a HUGE army, China in 2025 may be a potential threat? Look at Germany after WWI. only a few short years later they conquered a large chunk of the world.
Also, look at the large/HUGE standing army that China has….to defend yourselves against Taiwan? Japan?……so Americans may look at your huge army the same way you question our large Military.
Also, all this military spending in the US is a source of Jobs and pushing the boundaries of High technology….technology that eventually finds its way to all the worlds peoples…too bad its this way, but the world is not a perfect place is it?
TTP

Plawolf,

The US doesn’t regard China as an enemy. Our trade, economic ties, and relationships are not those of two adversaries. What is going on, is in military circles…which many of you are not as familiar with as you think, The US defence Dept has to think twenty years into the future….not today or even 5 years from now. Alot of the debates you read about today are based on studies for POSSIBLE SCENARIOS 20 years from now. Now put yourself in the position of a US defence official…What nation could possibly pose a threat to the US? only one I can see, China, potentially Russia…..hopefully nobody.
Put yourself back in time, 1978 for example, Iran was a great Ally in the mid-East…Iraq, not even a blip on our radar screen, in a matter of 1 year everything changed, and If a nation fails to prepare,for all eventualities then it may face many disasters…look at Sept 11….No plannning……
TTP

Kityhawk,

Two questions,

One, what type of plane are you building?

Two, I too admire these warbirds, and I’m also an Air Force Pilot, who frequents Air shows often, so I’ve met many of these owners. For the most part they are avid enthusiasts , a small few who can be spoiled….but look at it this way, instead of taking their millions and blowing coke up their nose, they buy Mustangs and Corsairs and fly to airshows!! I think its great, and hope one day to be just like them…..I do get annoyed at times when one of these guys wrecks these treasures due to limited training/experience.
You seem to have your heart in the right place, but have alot of class envy, I’d guess your a Democrat!! Either way, pretend you win the lottery and won 10 million dollars, wouldn’t you go and buy a warbird too? The rich are just like us, except they either got very lucky or earned it the old fashioned way, I don’t ever look down on them……….
TTP

Plawolf,

No offense but, if 2 aircraft are flying in a formation and get bounced, in the heat and excitement of battle, it could be very likey they could collide….I know for a fact that an F-111 got credit for a kill during the opening night of Desert Storm after he was chased by an Iraqi fighter, he dove down to the deck, and the Iraqui hit the ground or a mountain pursuing him.
Even the best trained pilots make mistakes, though I too, have never heard of this F-18 incident
Take Care,
TTP

Hand,

Again if the Enron scandal were the norm and not the exception, the US economy would be in a shambles. I for one, think it was a good thing with respect that it exposed these crooks. Stiff penalties will be forthcoming, and every corporate big-wig is on notice that this type of behavoir will not be tolerated. Unfortunately many innocen stockholders were hurt. Trust me, if you just watch CNN or any other news network its all doom and gloom! As an example, New York city is enjoying a great renisance, crime is way down, and tourism up..the city was largely cleaned up, and despite 9-11 its very prosperous and has a great reputation. Yet say for instance each night on the national news Dan Rather recites all the robberies, rapes, and criminal activity that routinely occur in a city of 9 million plus…after a while the viewers would think that New York was a crime-infested wasteland……….though its just a normal or less than normal amount of crime for such a large city……..its all in the perception, and how its rerported.