Quote:
Originally Posted by StainlessSteelCynic
I'm a little bit biased, I really liked the F111 - I don't think there is anything on the modern market that could replace it aside from types still in service such as the Tornado or older types no longer in service, such as the Buccaneer.
I don't know for certain but I don't think the F-15 has the same ability for low-level penetration that the F111 had.
It seems to be very much a situation caused by the end of the Cold War, low-level intrusion is not believed to be necessary anymore so nobody is designing planes for that role. As they used to say when the Buccaneer was still in service - the only thing to replace a Buccaneer is another Buccaneer, that is to say, the low-level intrusion ability was something specific to that class of aircraft and it is not something that a "multi-role" fighter is very good at.
As has been mentioned, the desire to make new fighters able to do everything means they're good enough at everything but they're great at nothing. |
I miss the old Bucky, she was a beutiful aircraft and a bloody good aircraft. Hell, I miss most of our old birds.
Back in my NAAFI days I was at RAF Marham when 39 Sqn where flying the Canberras. We used to joke who was older, the Canberras or the pilots. I think 39 Sqn had some of the oldest serving pilots in the RAF, good lads all of them, good memories.
I saw the Victors go and then the Canberras, hell even 13 Sqn has disbanded now. Makes me feel old and I'm only 31
