On Thu, 12 Feb 2004 14:22:53 -0800, "Tarver Engineering"
wrote:


"Ed Rasimus" wrote in message

That would be a hard call, but I doubt it. Certainly top speed for an
LES version of the F-4E would be lower than a non-slat (and range
would be lower because of the foamed tanks after LES conversion.)

But, I'd bet that with the cleaner airframe overall, the Eagle would
have the edge as well as the bigger engines. Certainly sustainability
of airspeed during manuever would be no-contest in favor of the F-15.

Might be a question of what he meant by "faster"--higher cruise speed?
higher top end? sub-sonic or super? clean or typical load? missiles or
not? etc. etc.

Now, an RF-4....

Weasel, super sonic 100 feet off the ground.

Would you mean F-100F Weasel, F-105F Weasel, F-105G Weasel, F-4C
Weasel or F-4G Weasel??? I've flown next to four of those five (in
combat) and will testify that none of them have any particular
advantage for going fast. In fact, the Weasel conversions for all five
aircraft add bumps and blisters for antennae that increase drag.

Yes, an F-105 is fast and I will testify that the airplane is capable
of supersonic flight at extreme low altitude, but I'd opt for
single-seat D model to really go fast and not a wart-encrusted
two-seater.

The F-4G Weasel, of course was LES.


Ed,
Society of Wild Weasels #2488


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8