Hornets better than F-16s?
No USAF pilot will ever agree to that. No, Tomcat pilot will agree
to that. Even those Tomcat pilots that are qualified in Hornet Es.
And other than the powerful BVR capabilities the Tomcat used to
have, the Fighting falcon was well respected in terms of
performance, T/W ratio, capabilities, turning radius, rate of
climb.
Look at international sales. Both planes are born out of the same
programe, the YF-16 and the YF-17. Until now, FMS of the falcon is
still higher than the hornet.
And in anycase, in an air war, its not really who has the best
planes in the region. But who can keep them flying. Soon I will be
forbidden to comment on military matters, so this is my last few
takes on the Hornet. If you told me the Fulcrum is superior to the
Falcon, I MAY agree to some extent. The damned thing doesn't have a
G-limiter, and can turn enough G-s to knock the pilot's brain down
to his ass. But the Hornet can't maintain a low-speed OR highspeed
dogfight without bleeding airspeed profusely. Its too much an
energy fighter to fuck around with planes that can just kick in
their burners for instant energy.
Even the US Navy hates the hornets, and are eagerly awaiting the
JSF. Any bug pilots out there will hate me. But they will love the
JSF if they get their conversion to it. The hornet belongs in the
pages annals of history. Best forgotten. Stuff it in a closet,
throw it away, sell to afghanistan. ANYWHERE... don't leave it on a
runway and delay other more important flights.
