Aircrafts' construction philisophy

[Webmaster]

Yep, means Tornado, NATO reporting name was Foxfire...

[Globetrotter]

They say the radar was soooo powerful, that it practically 'burnt' any ECM of enemy aircraft.

So it's ok for me... that's the way they like it, heavy, powerful, and blasting anything else... it's not for nothing they've got 17.5--.--- sq.kms
(that's the philosophy of theirs, resumed)

Could you tell us something about the GREAT Su-7, valkyrian? I am always ready to be surprised by your comments on aircraft

[Raptor]

This is so wierd. Can someone explain that vacuum tubes thing again?

[Globetrotter]

Try this, I found it very interesting : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_tube

[valkyrian]

Dear Thomas, i never liked much that "tube plus wings" philosophy, although i must say that the MiG-19 looks somehow attractive to me....

What always troubled me, when i was considering a Russian jet fighter, was why their electronics were so "primitive". When the F/A-18 was presented, it had 3 screens, whereas the best Russian cocpit was full of analog instruments. The answer must be that the Russians are thinking  that numbers win technology, so the cheaper the aircraft, the bigger the fleet, the more chances to win a battle...

[Globetrotter]

Well, a pitty you don't like the first of the Fitters, though I have to assume it is not the niciest of all .
However, I like it not for its beauty, but for what pilots tell about it. The Indian pilots regreted it when they took it out of service. I am sure it must have been a very very tough machine. Hardly borkable. And it had an awesome fuel eater that handed in 10.500 Kg of thrust to whoever pulled the stick (A lot for its time!!)

[valkyrian]

i didn't know India had fitters......and yes, the russians used to built...enviromentally unacceptable engines (though they have improve the situation somehow....

Back to the topic, the Fitter proved to be a fine bomber when they put swing wings (17&22)....

[Raptor]

Well, the russians aren't far off... Except for the fact that more aircraft take up more space, and more time to take off etcetera, etcetera... I'm sure you all know what i'm talking about. But, assuming 20 russian aircraft are up against, say... 4 American aircraft. And the american aircraft each carry 4 missiles. Do the math. The americans die.