F-22 Raptor

[CapnJim]

Naw dog.

I'm puttin' down coffee and munchin' my toast,
Gotta catch a deadhead to learn RNAV approach.
Just maxin', relaxin', and sippin my tea,
While I'm spillin' out rhymes all up on J.C.

I'm out. PEACE!

[gevo]

[quote=mhcasey;730834]Any potential enemy that's even thinking about engaging us knows that we will gain complete control of the skies very very quickly. What does that mean? Most people will think long and hard before choosing to go to war with us. If they do, we will be able to bomb whatever the f*** we want at anytime at the strategic or tactical level. Our problem now is making sure we don't blow up too much (aka civilians and infrastructure).

.........quote]
We have had this capability for a long, looooong time.

Aside fromt he political and economical aspects of it all, I love the technological advancement in such machines. As they get closer and closer to perfecting the 3D Thrust vectoring technology manueverability becomes much more than the human can withstand. WIth that, view this video of a MIG 29 OVT, kind of cheesy mix, but deal with it.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/253062/mig_29_ovt/

Now, for the political and economical version...
I don't mind having these things around. Its been an arms race ever since the first bullet was invented. You can't help it, one might say that the A-Bomb was the end of the race, but, everyone is terrified of using it (THANK GOD!)... so they just continued to outgun eachother again... its the inevitable mentality of the human mind, loosely based on the instinct of survival... Eonomically? whatever, we never minded the defense spending, its the war thats the problem.

I can't wait until proper working versions of the X-35 come to air shows!!!!!!!!!

[SeanD]

Originally Posted by Hacker15e

I have fought against the Raptor, actually in the lead-up to their employment in Red Flag earlier this year.

They completely kicked our asses...and we knew where they were. Not even a contest. The first we knew they were coming to get us was the "15 miles, check blocks" call from the ground controller...followed shortly thereafter by the "Hoss 03, you're dead" call.

Very, very, VERY impressive piece of machinery. I'm all for it.

Not even a dogfight? Where's the fun in that?

[Stinger]

It's all about the F-35 JSF now. 3 variations of it for the US and the Marine version can hover.

[FiveO]

Originally Posted by calcapt

BTW, I heard an alligator ate a guy running away from a robbery down there. If true, those K9 units of yours really handle business. Most departments use dogs you know.

Yup, it's true. Two guys were breaking into cars in the casino parking lot. They realized they were about to get nailed so took off running. One jumped into a lake. It was a 9 foot gator that got him too. The Indians obviously have their own police dept and don't want help from anyone. As of now I don't think they have even released his name.

So yea, these gators have a 100% apprehension rate. They can't say the same about the dogs.

[LoadMasterC141]

Gorgeous plane. Great detterence. Whine all you want about the cost, but the rest of the world is scared of it and thats' all that matters to me.

I believe it was due time for a new fighter. The Eagle is, what, 70's? I mean even today impressive, but there are much more recent fighters from other nations that probably give it a run for the money.

CalCapt is right in sense; it is an expensive piece of deterrence and not really a used item in our arsenal in our current war.... but I have to agree air dominance/deterrence is worth it.

During the cold war, missile subs cost a fortune, and were never used. Even today they prowl the oceans, just so everyone knows they are there. Dunno, seems to be working. Having the best "stuff" scares away the competition. My buddy has the fastest car at our local drag strip. Everyone knows it. No one challenges him. The price of the plane is worth it to me when thought about that way.

After WWI, we went back to the isolationist ideals and got our arses handed to us in the beginning; substandard technology all around. The Sherman was a piece of crap, the P-40 was junk compared to its' adversaries. Since then, we have progressively learned our lesson on being behind the curve.

[falconvalley]

Ya'll can blast others for their -location- but if you touch WI, I'll personally send some cheese to you for your w(h)ine and then tell Brett Farve that you told me you think he throws like a...







...eh?

[Jim26]

How are they predicting the F-35 to do against the raptor?

[SeanD]

Originally Posted by Jim26

How are they predicting the F-35 to do against the raptor?

I think the Raptor would eat it up on speed. The F-35 seems like its biggest function would be for ground support kind of like the warthog or harrier.

[Maximillian_Jenius]

Originally Posted by SeanD

I think the Raptor would eat it up on speed. The F-35 seems like its biggest function would be for ground support kind of like the warthog or harrier.

The F-35 will be a good CAS fighter, but it and F-16 replacement fighter, much the same the F-22 is a F-15 replacement/serious upgrade!