| From: | Paul Jonathan Adam <Paul@********.DEMON.CO.UK> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | Re: How to handle missiles? |
| Date: | Sat, 2 Sep 1995 23:31:03 GMT |
> From: Duke Diener <DukeDragon@***.COM>
> >True for Air to air missiles but remember the A-A missile gets the advantage
> >of starting with the speed of the launching platform and accelerating from
> >there. But a missiles turning radius is MUCH smaller than any jets (except a
> >harrier in hover, but then you could hit one of those with a paper airplane).
>
> Obviously you've never been near a harrier hovering...they put out alot of
> wind, you couldn't hit it with a paper airplane... :)
>
> But seriously, Harriers can do VIF, Vectoring in Flight, which means that the
> pilot can change the direction of the thrust even while flying, which means
> he can pull a _really_ tight turn, which is why Harriers have an incredible
> dogfight kill ratio. I don't remember what it is, but only like 5 have ever
> been shot down.
This comes up regularly over on rec.aviation.military. I have it on good
authority both from Fleet Air Arm FRS.1 Sea Harrier pilots, and from a
US Marine Corps AV-8B instructor-pilot, that Harriers do not VIFF in combat.
Why not? Because you bleed off huge amounts of energy, to end up flying slow.
And speed is life. Speed and/or altitude can be converted into evasive
manoevres. Once you're slow you're helpless. "Out of airspeed, energy
and ideas" describes someone about to be embarrassed (in training) or killed
(in war).
However, the Harrier is a very agile aircraft (its instantaneous turn rate
exceeds that of a F-16, although the Falcon can hold that turn for longer).
That, plus superior pilot training, made the difference in the Falklands
where 20+ Argentinian aircraft were shot down for no air-to-air losses.
(The supply by the U.S. of advanced models of the AIM-9 Sidewinder was also
a major factor, BTW).
The USMC use the Harrier as a ground-attack aircraft with only self-defence
air-to-air capability and AFAIK have recorded no air-to-air combat in that
type.
All Harrier losses to date have been either accidental or to ground fire,
either gunfire or IR SAMs such as SA-7 and SA-16.
<Pedantic propeller-head mode off> :)
--
"When you have shot and killed a man, you have defined your attitude towards
him. You have offered a definite answer to a definite problem. For better
or for worse, you have acted decisively.
In fact, the next move is up to him." <R.A. Lafferty>
Paul J. Adam paul@********.demon.co.uk
