[mulletman]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

I'm not sure I understand the logic (unless you've already worked out minumum intercept speeds and decided that the F18 *needs* to be on afterburner). Wouldn't operational range be a factor in making the choices above? Wouldn't an F18 squadron already know what they would do in most foreseeable scenerios based on, among other things, the ability of the aircraft to actually reach the target?

It seems to me "consumption at top speed" is irrellevent. A P-51 could fly longer at top speed, but that doesn't make it superior to an F-18 in any role.

I agree. So throw out the 18-minute figure, and use the combat radius that is 330 miles. Still.... there's a lot of Canada to defend, 330 miles (or 35 minutes) at a time.

And the Mustang is still superior if the mission is having a Rolls-Royce Merlin. Haha..

Originally Posted by JerryLove

That said: I think super-cruise (which is on both the F22 and F35) is a clear advantage for interception missions.

It is. Super cruise is not as effective as one might think, though. Fuel consumption at those speeds increases massively, resulting in large shrinkage of the combat radius. Although the F-22's capabilities are still classified, the rumored figures we have are 600 miles sub-sonic, like everyone else, or 450 miles on super cruise. Not bad. For comparison, the F-15 has a combat radius of over 1000 miles. So if you need an interceptor with relatively long range, the F-15 is still better than the F-22, because if you're concerned with range, you're not going to be burning the fuel to cruise over mach 1. If you need to go fast, the yes, the F-22 will get you there quicker, but you'll need to have a tanker in the air, which may or may not be feasible given the circumstance. Also, with the extra fuel, it's not like the F-15 can't go supersonic for a while. It will do 2.5, after all.

Boeing: F-15K Republic of Korea Home


In any case..... the reality of the situation is clear. F-22 production has ceased. The need was not there, and the costs were too high. To quote the Secretary of Defense, "the Pentagon cannot continue with business as usual when it comes to the F-22 or any other program in excess of our needs."

We'll see how the F-35 does.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

It is. Super cruise is not as effective as one might think, though. Fuel consumption at those speeds increases massively, resulting in large shrinkage of the combat radius. Although the F-22's capabilities are still classified, the rumored figures we have are 600 miles sub-sonic, like everyone else, or 450 miles on super cruise. Not bad. For comparison, the F-15 has a combat radius of over 1000 miles.

But that 1000mi is sub-sonic, and with external tanks (the former being more important than the latter).

The whole point of supercruies is a better range at a given speed (in this case, something in excess of Mach 1).

In any case..... the reality of the situation is clear. F-22 production has ceased. The need was not there, and the costs were too high. To quote the Secretary of Defense, "the Pentagon cannot continue with business as usual when it comes to the F-22 or any other program in excess of our needs."

This made sense till I read what we paid for the first several batches of F-35's. Last I heard, the F-22 was still considered a need; but in quantities that had already been met or exceeded.

[farouk]

Oh well, the F-18 might not have been Mr Chrétien's idea, after all..

Anyway, the F-18 is used by the Blue Angels.

(Whereas the Canadian Forces equivalent demonstration 'planes are Tutors.)

For use by the Blue Angels, the idea of the 'plane isn't to go places pronto, but rather instead to move around wonko...