Farewell, Tomcat

Nothing else carries the Phoenix, right?

Whcih was fired in earnest exactly how many times?
These days, rules of engagement almost always call for visual id before
shooting, or at least making a lot surer you know who you're shooting
at than is possible from 100 miles away.

Thomas, you obviously have not seen footage as recorded through the
target/imaging pods! They can see a LONG way off! Couple the onboard
sensors with airborne C&C AWACs and you are going to have a very high
probability of knowing friend from foe.

-F model Super Hornet is the replacement.

From what I've read, the Super Hornet doesn't have nearly the range or the
payload of a Tomcat.
True?

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f18ef/
Yes, the result of a drag penalty of the new wing and underwing stores.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...aft/f-18ef.htm

Three missions from one basic airframe.
F-18E single seat fighter/bomber replaces the F-18C "Hornet"
F-18F two seat fighter/bomber replaces the F-14D "Tom Cat"
and another version, the EF-18G "Growler", replaces the Grumman EA-6B
"Prowler" ECM aircraft.

"john smith" wrote in message
...
-F model Super Hornet is the replacement.

From what I've read, the Super Hornet doesn't have nearly the range or
the
payload of a Tomcat.
True?

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/f18ef/
Yes, the result of a drag penalty of the new wing and underwing stores.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...aft/f-18ef.htm

Three missions from one basic airframe.
F-18E single seat fighter/bomber replaces the F-18C "Hornet"
F-18F two seat fighter/bomber replaces the F-14D "Tom Cat"
and another version, the EF-18G "Growler", replaces the Grumman EA-6B
"Prowler" ECM aircraft.

Now they just need to replace the Viking anti-sub plane with a S-18 variant
and parts stores can be reduced significantly.

Just like a Tomcat driver, that made my "radar lock" alarm go off, big
time...


That lit up your radar, didn't it, Denny?

("Jay Honeck" wrote)
Say what you want about the movie, but the Tomcat in "Top Gun" did more
for naval aviation than any other single thing.


I choose my film... "Flight Command" (1940)
" ...the film likely also contributed to turning the tide of public opinion
toward a willingness to fight the rise of fascism in Europe."

http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/Multimedia/Popup/0,,62160|62163,00.html
View movie trailer for this 1940 film - worked for me but I had to wait for
it.

From the trailer:
The real "Hell Cats"- The saga of the Eyes of the Navy


GOOD GOOD STUFF BELOW. No really, some interesting reading in the links...
In-The-Links.

For instance, Greg (Pappy) Boyington and Paul Mantz both worked on this film
(bottom link). Robert Taylor took up flying because of this film and, later,
became a Navy flying instructor during WWII (top link).

BTW, my review of "Flight Command" (1940)... ok silly love story at best,
GREAT plane story.

http://www.turnerclassicmovies.com/ThisMonth/Article/0,,93522%7C93523%7C62543,00.html
Flight Command (1940)

"Although couched in a sensitive love story, the film likely also
contributed to turning the tide of public opinion toward a willingness to
fight the rise of fascism in Europe. Ironically, Flight Command, done in the
more "realistic" patriotic action style that would dominate American screens
for the next several years, marked the decline in his career. Such
finely-wrought, tender romances as Seventh Heaven (1927), which earned him
the first Best Director Award ever given by the Academy, A Farewell to Arms
(1932), and Desire (1936), a wry romantic comedy about jewel thieves Gary
Cooper and Marlene Dietrich, had fallen out of favor by 1940, and Borzage's
work has become largely neglected.

Red Skelton appears in a small role in Flight Command, his third movie. He
would shortly become one of MGM's top comic stars of the decade."



Red Skelton plays less of a clown and more of a gay sailor - it's a hoot.
Also, movie contained much insensitive 'fat' humor that I found particularly
offensive. g

Great site with photos and history.
http://home.att.net/~historyzone/Grumman3.html
Navy bi-planes in the movie ...F3F-2?


Best site of all
http://www.coastcomp.com/av/fltline2/avmovie.htm
MILITARY AVIATION MOVIE LIST.

Flight Command
1940 *
USN- Robert Taylor (ex USAAF Flight Instructor) Pilots develops blind-flying
equipment in their spare time. VF-6, VMF-2 Grumman F3F-2's at NAS North
Island, also shot on ENTERPRISE. (Also VS-6 on Curtiss SBC Helldivers, VB-6
Northrop BT-1, VT-6 Douglas TBD-1's supposedly in there somewhere. Cut from
the current print?).

Sikorsky PBS-1 Flying Boat, VF-6 SBC-4 target tug, N.A. SNJ's in background
(?) Seversky SEV-S2 and Ryan ST footage from "Test Pilot" One of the USMC
pilots in the air scenes was one Lt. Greg (Pappy) Boyington.

Paul Mantz flew Orion, Boeing 100, and Lockheed Orion camera planes.


Flight Commander (This was originally "Dawn Patrol". It was retitled after
the second version came out in 1938)
1930 v
WWI- Douglas Fairbanks; WWI epic. Nieuport 28's., Travel Airs ("Nieuports"),
Fokker D.VII's, 2 Pfalz D.XII's, Standard J-1. Directed by Howard Hawks (WWI
pilot).


I'm done. Thanks for reading.


Montblack

John,

They can see a LONG way off! Couple the onboard
sensors with airborne C&C AWACs and you are going to have a very high
probability of knowing friend from foe.


Ok. So WHY haven't they been used in earnest? In all likely situations,
shorter-distance weapons were used. Prime example is the Lybian
shoot-down.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

In article ,
Thomas Borchert wrote:

John,

They can see a LONG way off! Couple the onboard
sensors with airborne C&C AWACs and you are going to have a very high
probability of knowing friend from foe.

Ok. So WHY haven't they been used in earnest? In all likely situations,
shorter-distance weapons were used. Prime example is the Lybian
shoot-down.

Which Libyan engagement?

Maybe this one,
Jan 4 1989 two F-14 from squadron VF-32 engaged Libyan MIG-23 Floggers
over the Gulf of Sidra. One kill was with a AIM-7 Sparrow, the other an
AIM-9 Sidewinder. I think the F-14's were flying from the USS John F
Kennedy?

Patrick
student SPL
aircraft structural mech

"john smith" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Thomas Borchert wrote:

John,

They can see a LONG way off! Couple the onboard
sensors with airborne C&C AWACs and you are going to have a very high
probability of knowing friend from foe.

Ok. So WHY haven't they been used in earnest? In all likely situations,
shorter-distance weapons were used. Prime example is the Lybian
shoot-down.

Which Libyan engagement?

In article ,
Thomas Borchert wrote:

Ok. So WHY haven't they been used in earnest?

probably because the ROE haven't allow for it or one wasn't needed, yet.

In all likely situations,
shorter-distance weapons were used. Prime example is the Lybian
shoot-down.

"likely situations" aren't the only consideration in determining threats
and military weapon systems capabilities to meet those threats.

In any case, the threat assessement(s) used as the basis for the
long-range air-to-air missile requirements are almost certainly classified
and not something that can be discussed in a public forum.

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule

Are you serious? Using the Phoenix against Soviet Bears attacking the
fleet in the Atlantic escorting conveys to Europe is really old news. It
was to be the classic situation where everybody is a bad guy so they
could launch at long ranges.

"Bob Noel" wrote in message
news:ihatessppaamm-

"likely situations" aren't the only consideration in determining
threats
and military weapon systems capabilities to meet those threats.

In any case, the threat assessement(s) used as the basis for the
long-range air-to-air missile requirements are almost certainly
classified
and not something that can be discussed in a public forum.

--
Bob Noel
no one likes an educated mule