"Scott Ferrin" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 14:02:52 -0800, "Tarver Engineering"
wrote:


"Scott Ferrin" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 4 Mar 2004 13:26:12 -0800, "Tarver Engineering"
wrote:


"Scott Ferrin" wrote in message
.. .

I agree. On the other hand China has close to 300 Flankers and
counting, have intriduce the AA-12 into service, and are working on
acquiring the J-10. I have no doubts that Russia would offer the
KS-172 to China if they asked. I wouldn't want to face a Su-30 with
THAT thing in an F-15. Again, I'm not saying it's impossible I'm
just
saying that the cost in pilots and airframes lost would be higher.
This is a rhetorical question but is it worth losing F-15s, F-35s,
and
their pilots to save a few bucks by not buying the F-22?

You make an excellent case for the reliable airborn weapons platform
designated F/A-18E. The USAF could do well by tabbing to USN's
application
of AFRL's parts and software reliability technology. I wonder if the
pirates at China Lake could make the F/A-18x weapons data port USAF
compatable rapidly.

The F/A-18E is a reliable platform true, but I'd be surprised if there
is a pilot out there who wouldn't rather be in an F-15K or I if they
had to go air to air.

The F-15's politics have taken a serious turn for the worse.

I know I bitch about political stupidity a lot myself, but fortunatley
politics aren't the be-all and end-all.

All aviation is politics and the F-15 survives on Gephardt's vote. The USAF
has less options than they did last Summer. I personally believe an F/A-18x
buy would be symbolic of why dishonest management leads to humble pie.