On 12/6/06, Sid Boyce <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> I think the Harrier potentials in hovering and vertical takeoff/landing > >> are not for dogfighting but for strategic reasons. The Harrier can > >> takeoff/land without standard airfields, which makes them usefull even > >> when enemies destroy nearby airfields. The Harrier can takeoff from very > >> small carriers too. > >> > > > > Yes, that was the justification for doing it in the first place, but in > > the Falklands RNAF pilots developed an air to air tactic for reversing > > dogfights called "vector in forward flight" that is partly credited for > > their extreme air superiority in that war. Of course, they were mostly > > fighting Pucaras, with a small number of Mirages thrown in, but the > > point is that the pilots were definitely using the hovering capabilities > > in dogfights. > > > > Josh > > > > That's exactly my recollection from the extensive news coverage. I also > remember the reports of air-to-air missiles said to be exocets and > thinking it was strange as they were more noted for air-to-ship > operations, it could have been a reporting error. > Regards > Sid.
To add my 2c worth, I remember an analysis which reported the great benefit of the RN pilots to have been the great lack of training or experience of the Argentinian pilots. The general gist of this assessment had been that a fighter possessed of superior speed (which is an understatement: The Mirage is Mach2, correct me if I'm wrong, and the Harrier subsonic) should have been able to gain height and make slashing, high-speed firing runs before returning to altitude. Even if the Harrier could continue to dodge, and shoot upwards unexpectedly using VIFF, they should never have been allowed an opportunity for a decent shot, making a scoreless draw much more likely than an emphatic victory to the RN. It's not the tool, it's the hand wielding it. Slainte, J ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys - and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Flightgear-users mailing list [email protected] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/flightgear-users
