Fly by wire vs Hydraulic controls

[Mohoender]

I had been thinking of this because 15 years ago, as I was on Cambrai's air base, one of the old air mechanic told me that he would regret the old Mirage F-1 that were being replaced by Mirage 2000.

He recognized that the system was superior but stated that in case of a long conflict, the Mirage 2000 would quickly be grounded if one could disrupt the production/supply of replacement parts. On the other hand, he would be able to keep the F-1 flying almost endlessly (I agree he might have been slightly exagerating on that one) constantly repairing them with what he had at hand and remaking new parts from old ones (something he couldn't do with chips).

If I consider this testimony to be valid (What I tend to do) most aircrafts given as flyable ones in RDFSB (One of the few book giving an OOB for aircrafts) shouldn't be airworthy by the time.

IMO Soviets wouldn't fly any Su-27 or Mig-31 being replaced by Mig-21 and may be Mig-25 (The Soviet side is slightly better of but I think that pure luck). France might have some Mirage 2000 (as it still can provide spare parts) but most of its aircrafts would be Mirage III, Mirage F-1 and Sepecat Jaguar. In the case of US, I would expect most F-14/F-18 to be replaced by A-4 Skyhawk, A-7 and F-4 while F-15 would be replaced by F-4. Finally, some F-16 might survive but with a high level of attrition while several would have been replaced by F-5 and may be more A-7 (or even captured aircrafts). Finally, Iranian F-20 would probably be F-5 or F-4.

[95th Rifleman]

I think the RAF will be the same, we'll soon find the Buccaneers, canberras and Jaguars being put into front line service. (we still had some left in the mid 90's thankfully).

The Tornados and Harriers would end up being grounded for lack of spare parts and the complications of maintenance. Sure you can set up a Harrier base anywhere, but you have to supply them still.

[Grimace]

I think the F-16 would be grounded before the F-18 would be for America. F-18s are used by the Navy and Marines. I know Marine pilots are taught to fly with no electronics and I'm guessing the Navy pilots know that as well, so I'm pretty sure they can keep going even without all the fancy do-dads and gizmos buzzing and whirring.

F-4s I could see coming back, but I think they'd keep F-15s around as long as they could. They're an old enough aircraft they could probably make do for a while longer than something else.

[Sanjuro]

Without the electronics, the F-18 is unflyable; just as with any FBW aircraft. As for the spares issue, in many cases the existence of the electronics actually makes servicing easier; certainly the maintainance hour:flying hour ratio of the F-18 is a fraction of that of the F-4.
I would expect all the contractors making the various boxes to be running round the clock right up to TDM; the big problem then would be the damage caused to the electronics by EMP.
Here's an adventure hook though; the project to return the last airworthy Vulcan B2, XH558, to the air began at Bruntingthorpe in Leicestershire in 1997. In the RW, this project took until 2007- but a campaign that aimed to get XH558 flying in T2000 could be a great game.
For anyone interested, look at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/

[95th Rifleman]

I can see allot of the 50's and 60's era warbirds at Duxford museum being dragged out and put into service as COIN aircraft for fighting the UK marauder bands.

[Mohoender]

Originally Posted by Sanjuro

As for the spares issue, in many cases the existence of the electronics actually makes servicing easierhttp://www.vulcantothesky.org/

As for my car. Replacing them is, however, much more difficult and funny how non essential components can now imobilize it.

[Sanjuro]

Unfortunately, something of the age of the F4 can be immobilized by the lack of any one of hundreds of components! Keeping track of a smaller number of black boxes is somewhat easier...
When RAFG had F4s as the main Air Defence fighter, there was a saying
"If a Phantom isn't leaking, it's empty!"