From some Bug driver friends that had a chance to do some disimilar
training.

Better energy, sustained maneuverability ... they could out-rate the F-18.
Not as good High AOA ... the F-18 could out-radius the Mig-29. Helmet
mounted sight with Archer was deadly. Not as good as the F-18 + AMRAAM on
the run-in.

The generation of Russian aircraft to which the Su-27 + variants and the
Mig-29 belong are characterized by superb aerodynamics. Avionics lag US
designs. Cockpit ergonomics ... the F-18 sets the standard here ... are
still clearly behind (albeit not nearly as crude as early Mig series).

R / John

"Charles Gray" wrote in message
...
There have been a lot of unkind things said about Russian hardware on
this board...but... There are the following facts.
1. In most cases, it's been U.S. frontline (and face it, Israeli AF
is equivelant to the U.S. frontline air force) against export models.
2. We've been fighting services with very poor levels of maitenance,
professionalism, and just about anything else you care to name.
3. In many caes, we've had great superiority in numbers, operating in
an enviroment where we are the only ones about with AWACs-- quite
correctly, the Air Force isn't interested in making a "fair" fight.

But... suppose we bought a squadron of Mig-29's, provided U.S.
pilots and U.S. level maitenance, training and flight time.
How well would they stack up then? Mainly, how good is the hardware
of the Mig-29, absent the deficiencies in operating it?