The Greatest Fighter Jet of All Time.

FLYBOYJ · 10-25-2005, 11:20 AM

D has a great point - TRAINING. And that always seems to emerge as a factor with an aircraft with a high accident rate.

The AH-64D has an extremely high flight hour to maintenance ratio (I don't remember exactly was it is) making it one of the most labor intensive combat aircraft in the world today - it won't surprise me if it's higher than the Harrier....

It's been obvious over the years that Marines have a bit more rambunctious with regards to "Operational Risk Management" or ORM. Each branch of the US Military embraces this process, but the Marines, based their mission and their operational physique seem to sometimes brushes this aside, take the risks, and ultimately experience the higher losses. As an old Marine once told me, "Spare me the details, make it happen."

Bottom line, the Harrier's performance during the Falklands cannot be disputed, severely outnumbered, it put up one of the greatest performances of combat aircraft next to the Spitfire or Hurricane during the BoB......

jrk · 10-25-2005, 11:58 AM

syscom3 wrote

Top notch against the Argentinians, "ho-hum" against Iraq. Price does matter in combat. If its too expensive, then you dont get enough of what you need. Its obvious the Brits need the Harrier because of the lack of an alternative. But the reality is you have a 2nd (or even 3rd rate) attack plane. For fleet defense, it does the job well enough as long as its going up against non-maneuvering aircraft.

if the harrier is only supposed to hold the aces over non manouverable aircraft then why is it several harriers ACTUALLY destroyed several MIRAGE,DAGGERS(which were israeli lisense built mirages) A4 SKYHAWKS.i wouldnt describe them as being non manouverable aircraft.

syscom3 · 10-25-2005, 01:16 PM

They were flying at the maximum extent of their range, loaded with ordinance. Quite simply, they (the ones that were intercepted by the harriers) were too few in numbers, commited in piecemeal fashion.

They also didnt have a clue that the Harriers were going to do some thrust vectoring while in flight. Excellent surprise for them, but once it was known, unlikely to repeat that experience.

Now, if the harriers were closer in, where the fighters had enough fuel to dogfight them, the result might have been far different. All you need is some IR countermeasures and use your superior speed to advantage, and then the Harriers would be EXPENSIVE junk on the ocean floor.

Glider · 10-25-2005, 01:19 PM

Syscom I have mentioned before that you don't anwser questions.
Can you explain how the Sea Harrier does so well against the US Aggressors in the Red Flag exercises. I doubt that you would call F15's and F16's flown by the worlds experts in air combat, non manouvering?

PS Please don't mention using the vector thrust. Its a manoever of absolute last resort as you lose speed, energy, position and become a sitting duck if there is another plane around.

syscom3 · 10-25-2005, 01:47 PM

The harrier is quite maneuverable. I think its the wing shape and dihedral that makes it very quick for a snap roll. And the harriers did do thrust vectoring against the Argentinians.

And they dont always dominate the F15's and F16's, cause if it were true, then the AF would be buying the Harriers left and right.

As Ive said.... as a fleet defense fighter, it has its role and place. As ground attack, its second rate. maybe even third rate.

They probably did quite well before the AF had it figured out.

Glider · 10-25-2005, 01:54 PM

Syscom. The only example of using Thrust vectoring that I have found was to slow down enough to shoot down a damaged Pucara. I know that other people found one more example but it certainly isn't the norm for the reasons I posted before.
I have also never claimed that they dominated the F15 and F16. Just matching them with those pilots is a significant achievement in any aircraft by any airforce.

FLYBOYJ · 10-25-2005, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syscom3

Now, if the harriers were closer in, where the fighters had enough fuel to dogfight them, the result might have been far different. All you need is some IR countermeasures and use your superior speed to advantage, and then the Harriers would be EXPENSIVE junk on the ocean floor.

That's called exploiting your enemy's weaknesses!!!! The FAA suckered the FAS into their tactics, kicked their butt with "a piece of junk" and then walked away with destroying 35% of the Argentine AF!!! Your argument is like crying foul becuase you got kicked in the nuts during a street fight!!

Here's some more info....

"Argentina lost 22 Skyhawks—19 from Grupos 4 and 5 and three more from a naval Skyhawk squadron. Grupo 8 lost two Mirages, and Grupo 6 lost 11 of its 30 Daggers. The 2d Bomber Squadron lost two Canberras. In all, the FAS lost 41 percent of its aircraft to combat and operational accidents."

syscom3 · 10-25-2005, 02:15 PM

Flyboy, my point is the harriers engaged the argentine fighters when they didnt have the fuel to dogfight.

A kill is a kill, and sure doesnt deminish the achievement.

But, in a hypothetical engagment, put those Harriers 200 miles farther to the west, and let them go two on twowith a Mirage. Things would be different.

And again, I will repeat........ I repeat........ I repeat........... Its a capable fleet defense fighter. Its junk for close support or attack.

FLYBOYJ · 10-25-2005, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by syscom3

But, in a hypothetical engagment, put those Harriers 200 miles farther to the west, and let them go two on twowith a Mirage. Things would be different.

I doubt that - Air-to-air the Harrier was superior with the exception of speed, which didn't factor in the dogfight.

Got this from a report about the Falklands....

"The FAS launched almost all of its strike forces into action on 1 May 1982. The first two flights of fighters ingressed at medium altitude, failed to find the British force, reached their “bingo” fuel limits, and had to turn back. In midafternoon, the third flight of four Mirages sent to engage the Harriers found their prey. The flight of two Harriers flying CAP outmaneuvered the Mirages and quickly downed two of the Argentine fighters with Sidewinder missiles. A third Mirage pilot used up too much fuel to return to his Argentine base and tried to make an emergency landing at the Port Stanley airfield. The Argentinian air defenders mis-identified their Mirage for an attacking British aircraft, successfully engaged, and shot it down, killing the pilot."

syscom3 · 10-25-2005, 03:09 PM

Ok, so if a sidewinder was shot at the Harrier, it would miss? Sounds like Argentine pilots were not skilled enough to engage the Harriers. Or they didnt know the correct tactics. If one thing the Harrier ISNT is.... is a fast aircraft. Use the correct tactics against a small nimble aircraft that is slow relative to you, and you will blast it from the skies. Just like the F4 pilots did against the Mig 17's in Vietnam, after they relearned the tactics.

The Harriers moment of glory was a quarter century ago. Its time has come and gone. Its now just an overpriced airplane with a one act show.

lesofprimus · 10-25-2005, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Its time has come and gone. Its now just an overpriced airplane with a one act show.

Now thats alot better than saying its a piece of junk sys.... I agree with u 100% on ur above post...

syscom3 · 10-25-2005, 03:45 PM

Wow..... you finally agree with me?.............. I need to have a beer! Best beer in the world of course........ Budweiser!

evangilder · 10-25-2005, 03:55 PM

I think I will stay out of the best beer debate.

But I will agree that the Harrier is past it's prime.

lesofprimus · 10-25-2005, 03:57 PM

What about being over priced??

evangilder · 10-25-2005, 04:06 PM

I haven't seen the price lately, but what military hardware is cheap? It probably is pricey, but are they still buying them, or just "upgrading" them?