Am Mittwoch, den 06.12.2006, 13:17 +1000 schrieb Jonathan Hepburn: > 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.
The Mirage is Mach 2, that is true, but over the Falklands they operated at the edge of their range, so using Afterburner too much would end up in a ditched Mirage. Additionally must be said that the Mirtage is quiet underpowered compared to other Mach 2 Jets of that aera. That said, a hit and run tactic was not an option for the argentinians. On the other hand the big wing area makes the Mirage a good dogfighter in tight dogfights and at low speeds (as was reported by israelian Fighters against the Mig-21). so the Mirage and Harrier really met in a part of their flight envelope they both perform well. So the "VIFFing" (Vectoring in forward flight) is really an advantage for the Harrier. Another advantage in favour of the Harrier is it's nozzle arrangement which diffuses the hot air so they are a weaker target for heatseeking missiles. It has to be mentioned, that the Sidewinders Air to Air missiles the Harrier used were the latest "All aspect" ones. Greetings Detlef > 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
