"Chad Irby" wrote in message
. ..
In article ,
(phil hunt) wrote:

Tom clearly comes across as more of an expert than you, since he
uses sources and facts, and not just his prejudices.

Really? Which sources and facts has he come up with in this case? I
mentioned knowing some guys who have dealt with the Saudis, and he
merely questioned that and asked for more info, giving none of his own
in counter.

Very fine, Chad.

I actually asked you for your sources, as you claim you're talking "for
everybody". I.e. you said "everybody knows" (that Arab air forces are poor).
To this you come back with a counter-question.

But, never mind. You asked for "my" sources. Together with Dr. David
Nicolle, I authored the book "Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat", which
is to be published in Osprey's "Combat Aircraft" series next year. The book
is based on years-long research with the help of many sources within
different Arab air forces (foremost Egyptian, Syrian, Algerian, Libyan, and
Iraqi): I haven't counted, but we interviewed in extension of 100 active and
retired pilots that not only flew MiGs, but did so in combat against the
Israelis and the Iranians in several wars. Additionally, for the other books
I co-authored (regardless if already published, or not yet), I interviewed
also plenty of Indian, Pakistani, and Iraqi MiG- and Mirage-pilots too.

I would, nevertheless, still not call myself an "expert": I'm not
interested in any titles, but in research and publishing, and know all too
well how much is still unknown and how much is left to be found out about
all the possible air wars - especially those fought in the Middle East since
1948, to ever even come to the idea to call myself an "expert".

So much about this. Having, hopefully, cleared this, would you now be so
kind to answer my questions?

Specifically, I asked you how much do you actually know about their (Saudi)
air force, so to find out if you really can say you know what are you
talking about, as you seem sooooo sure about your statements?

Also, I asked if you know the sellection process for their pilots? How many
hours Saudi, Syrian, Egyptian pilots get per month, or annually? What is
their training sylabdus looking like? Do you at least know where do they
learn to
fly?

Finally, and if you don't mind, I'd like to ask if you know what exactly is
most of the "mechanician's work" on the EF-2000 looking like?

I'm asking this because I have a strong feeling you're not the best informed
to this topic either.

Thanks in advance,

Tom Cooper
Co-Author:
Iran-Iraq War in the Air, 1980-1988:
http://www.acig.org/pg1/content.php
and,
Iranian F-4 Phantom II Units in Combat:
http://www.osprey-publishing.co.uk/t...hp/title=S6585