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F-22 pilot unilaterally acts to desecrate Iranian flight suits...

kage69

kage69

Lifer
Not really a big deal here, no thunderbolt political revelations or scathing indictments of parties or pundits - just something I saw that made me smile and it is indeed news.

http://theaviationist.com/2013/09/19/f-22-f-4-intercept/#.UnUfLhDfLzP


Now, I recall the warning from Top Gun being a little more flamboyant, but honestly I'd be mad if I heard about a professional, in such a valuable piece of machinery, trying to emulate a movie just to intimidate an opponent. I also think in most situations the "put a shot across his bow" mentality is, to use another naval metaphor, a little overboard.


This is way more my speed. 🙂
 
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reminds me of the scene from Hot Shots where Topper's aircraft slaps the enemy aircraft with its wings, haha.
 
The Iranians are probably trying to figure out how to detect the F-22. Next up: the F-4 with curb feelers.
 
Twenty five years ago the Iranians were having a difficult time finding spare parts for the F4. I am surprised they are still able to fly those things.
 
Heh don't want to be a party pooper. But do we really want this expensive plane to be within ramming distance of an Iranian F4? Secondly what is the point of using a drone for surveillance when we are escorting it with real planes?
 
gevorg said:
^^^ drones can do all the dirty/illegal work
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Like? From the article it appears these drones are staying in international air space while spying on Iran. If we are going to send them up with fighter escorts what is the point? Just equip the fighter escorts with the same capability.
 
I find it a bit scary that a pilot (with supposedly higher than average intelligence) in charge of millions of dollars of military hardware, while flying in a part of the world that isn't exactly the most hospitable towards Americans especially, thinks that it is a good idea to go re-enacting a willy-waving manoeuvre from one of the worst ego-trip action flick movies out there.
 
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Never a bad thing to get into the heads of potential enemies. Their pilots, no matter how hot they are at the stick, will know how easily they can get blown out of the air.
 
Genx87 said:
Heh don't want to be a party pooper. But do we really want this expensive plane to be within ramming distance of an Iranian F4? Secondly what is the point of using a drone for surveillance when we are escorting it with real planes?
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This was my thought as well. It reminds me of a press conference given by some Petagon flunky circa 2005-6 explaining that the primary mission in Iraq was now force protection. US soldiers were in Iraq to provide protection for US soldiers in Iraq.
 
Shouldn't be too surprising that a F-22 can sneak up on an F-4. Doubt the Iranians have much of an upgrade to offer the F-4 avionics. The current use in the USAF for the F-4 is as a target drone.
 
IronWing said:
This was my thought as well. It reminds me of a press conference given by some Petagon flunky circa 2005-6 explaining that the primary mission in Iraq was now force protection. US soldiers were in Iraq to provide protection for US soldiers in Iraq.
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If I am remembering this scenario it was worse than that. We were paying contractors(mercenaries) to protect our troops. /facepalm
 
I think that it sent a message loud and clear to that Iranian pilot that, "if we were to go to war with those guys, they're going to kick our butts, big time." Word will spread via word of mouth, and just maybe, be a bit stronger than whatever propaganda that they've heard. Perhaps if there were a conflict, many of their pilots would rather avoid confrontation/surrender/whatever, vs. get shot down as a result of this. Of course, this explanation ignores that what we're hearing could be construed as propaganda as well, and instead, takes that information at face value.
 
Genx87 said:
If I am remembering this scenario it was worse than that. We were paying contractors(mercenaries) to protect our troops. /facepalm
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Actually, IIRC there were some pretty fucked up stories about our enlisted running errands for the PMCs.

Blackwater guys are out of beef jerky and Gatorade. Someone pick some specialists to haul ass through Ramadi to do a grocery run. Tell them to not get blown up too; our 'friends' need those drinks cold.

I guess you go to war with the delivery service you have, not the delivery service you want.
 
Genx87 said:
Heh don't want to be a party pooper. But do we really want this expensive plane to be within ramming distance of an Iranian F4? Secondly what is the point of using a drone for surveillance when we are escorting it with real planes?
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The Iranians have been going after our drones like it's their new national sport. Every time they shoot one down or wing tip it into a fatal dive, we kiss good intel and millions of dollars goodbye.

As you can tell from the article, the F22 pilot had complete control of the situation, displayed caution despite his overwhelming military and situational superiority, and created a situation where our asset was saved and Reza the Iranian ground crew noobie probably earned his pay when those pilots landed. No inverted flip off with Polaroids, no situation where people are asking for permission to fire.

And believe me. Few people are as keenly aware of how much those things cost then the guys strapped into them. Doing something stupid that could result in a crash or fiasco would be a career ender for someone who has spent their entire life busting ass making it to Major.
 
“He [the Raptor pilot] flew under their aircraft [the F-4s] to check out their weapons load without them knowing that he was there, and then pulled up on their left wing and then called them and said ‘you really ought to go home’”
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This guy is awesome. He needs to be on reality TV tomorrow!
 
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