Posted on 04/21/2009 2:18:21 PM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins
Stephen Trimblemaster of all things flyinghas found this video that apparently shows a T-38 training fighter shooting down the theoretically invincible F-22 Raptor in a combat training exercisefirst kill documented on video ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXmDj3mFrXQ&feature=player_embedded
It's not the first time it has happened, however: An EA-18Ga modified F/A-18 F Super Hornet Block II"got lucky" and killed another F-22 with an AIM-120 AMRAAM in a simulated combat exercise over at Nellis AFB. This is something that Stephen confirmed himself.
However, this time instead of a high-tech EA-18G, the killer plane was this:
A humble T-38 training jet, piloted by a trainer on a combat training exercise over an unidentified air space. And it killed this:
An F-22 Raptor, the most advanced air fighter in the planet.
Stephen says that this doesn't mean much, except thatif it was really a T-38, the pilot was "either absurdly lucky or insanely skilled." Here's hoping all those Chinese and Russians flying next-generation fighters don't get either lucky or skilled anytime soon. [Flight Global]
Yeah, I remember first time I saw him in the Club with the “party” nametag that said “THOC”
He was NOT a happy camper that Friday
Semper Fi and thanks for all the good gouge!
TS
What a lot of people never look for in stories like this are the specifics of the scenario in which the F-22 got killed.
Exercises are highly scripted to test responses to certain scenarios. Including those in which an F-22 would be highly unlikely to find itself. For example, a T-38 finding itself in a position of perfect advantage and the F-22 without AWACS or datalinks to other F-22s.
In situations like that what matters is the ability of the ambush pilot (flying something like a T-38) being able to recognize the potential of the situation faster than the F-22 pilot, and to take full advantage of it. IOW, it all comes down to pilot skill and any advantages conveyed by their respective aircraft is negated.
Not a Zoomie...I got my commission the real way, through ROTC!
And I always consider it an honor to make FRiends with Marines!
The T-38 fired its twin 20mm M39A2 cannon at it.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
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