Posted on 04/21/2009 2:18:21 PM PDT by MyTwoCopperCoins
Stephen Trimble—master of all things flying—has found this video that apparently shows a T-38 training fighter shooting down the theoretically invincible F-22 Raptor in a combat training exercise—first 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-18G—a 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 that—if 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]
Isn’t the F-22 getting cut?
I am SO gonna analyze this.
Before analysis, I do want to note that the F-22 is designed for BVR.
But this should be great :)
My son trained on the T-38. He loved it.
On any given Sunday...
New production is. They aren't scrapping the ones in inventory already.
it was proved long ago that the F-5, with the right pilot, can out manuever an F-15 and shoot it down.
It is all about the Pilot and his skilllevel
The F-22 has NOT been around long enough to know it’s tough spots, but the F-5 is ancient, aggressive, and manuverable
I would want to see what the rules of engagement and flight rules are. If the F-22 started in the T-38's gunsights, with its landing gear down and wasn't allowed to go supersonic, I could see the T-38 getting a kill.
Not to worry...the pilot in the ‘22 was afraid to “shoot down” one of the Thunderbirds!!
I get it now — the T38 got inside the curve of the F-22. We always forget the advantages of a craft than can fly “slowly.”
The F-22 should have used his ability to change the delta.
Of course, having never one beyond simulators what the heck do I know?
Nut that does bring up the question — could an F-16 defeat an F-22 using similar tactics?
I find it amusing that its HUGE NEWS when an F22 is ‘shot down’ in training exercises.
I think it diminishes their kill ratio to about 10000:1
During Exercise Northern Edge 2006 in Alaska in early June, the F-22 proved its mettle against as many as 40 "enemy aircraft" during simulated battles. The Raptor achieved a 108-to-zero kill ratio at that exercise. But the capabilities of the F-22 go beyond what it can do. It is also able to help other aircraft do better.
Sure, this may have happened as shown; but in 99.9% of the cases the aircraft would have been destroyed before it even 'saw' the F-22. Being armed to the teeth, invisible to radar, and extremely maneurvable has it's advantages.
Perfect analysis right there!
Do you know how many we have?
BTTFL
Lends credence to my theory that the F-22 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, hence the cancellation. It’s better than anything we have today, but not advanced enough to justify its huge cost.
I have a great poster from Magu NAS way back when with the autographs of the T-Bird T-38 team. Nice folk and very audience friendly :)
To this day, I cherish the handshakes and the autographs. And there were 2 women pilots that were — well — hot :)
181, I believe. Two were destroyed in accidents.
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