Alan Minyard wrote in
:

On 2 Nov 2003 19:13:22 -0800, (robert arndt) wrote:

Alan Minyard wrote in message
...
On 2 Nov 2003 02:39:53 -0800, (robert arndt)
wrote:

(Tom R. Rastell) wrote in message
.com...
because the French are frogs and frogs can´t fly!


Oh really? Then please explain why Americans were flying French a/c
in WW1. Ever heard of the Lafayette Escadrille? Nieuport or Spad
ring any bells? Moron.

Rob

Let's see, 85 years ago some US pilots flew French aircraft, so
current French aircraft must be wonderful. Really strange logic at
work there.

Current French aircraft, while not exactly "crap", are not state of
the art and are clearly inferior to their US counterparts.

Al Minyard

Funny how the French had the Dewoitine D.520 and M.S.406 during the
first year of the war and how good they were. The M.S.406 while
inferior to the Me-109E still racked up 175 kills from 1939-40. The
D.520 OTOH was the best French fighter up until the surrender and was
certainly equal to the Spitfire and Me-109 of the time.
After WW2, the French sold many of their aircraft to the Israelis who
racked up more kills and got a lot of mileage out of the aircraft
against the Arabs: Ouragan, Mystere, Super Mystere, Vautour, and
Mirage.
Currently the French have the Mirage 2000 and Rafale, both very
capable aircraft.
You just don't like anything foreign Al.

Rob

Not when they are clearly inferior. The F-15, F-16, F-14. F-35 and
F-22 are all clearly superior to anything ever produced in France. And
quoting unverified numbers from a war that France lost in record time
does little to bolster your case.

Look at the export sales of the Rafale compared to the export sales
of the F-35.

Al Minyard


Al,

While the superior F-16 and F-15 were released into production and
'operational' they were actually severely handicapped. The much vaunted
F100 engine had severe restrictions imposed on it. Should the pilot
violate the operating procedures he would find himself cruising in a
very heavy glider. Not the most enjoyable scenario to encounter should
one find himself in combat, eh? Of course it was resolved effectively
with that high tech solution of de-rating the engine a significant
amount.

Contrast this the Mirage 2000 (comparable to the F-16), a fly-by-wire
aircraft released with absolutely no operational restrictions.

About the superiority of American aircraft: they are the best (at this
time). The US has the defense budget to prove it. As far as next best,
there are plenty of excellent aircraft produced and armed in the world
today, you just chose not recognize them.

Many of them are not as far behind as you think.


-Chuck