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Before I say anything, I would like to commend USNBandit for having the patience of Job. You are a credit to your nickname, and living proof that not all fighter pilots are arrogant assholes.

Kevin, I have pinged everyone I know on FreeRepublic who actually flies or has flown military combat aircraft. Those aircraft include the following: A-6, A-10, F-4, F-15, F-16, and the F-18. I not pinging them to gang up on you. I'm pinging them to give them the opportunity to validate or refute what USNBandit has been trying to help you understand.

You are obviously a big fan of the Harrier, and there are many things about the Harrier that make it a great aircraft. "VIFFing", however, is not one of them. Neither is its air to air capability. In short, you really do have no idea what you are talking about. I would like to believe that the fact that neither the RAF nor USMC considers the Harrier a primary air defense asset to be strong indicator that maybe your assessment of it is not accurate. Certainly USNBandit has done his able best to set you straight. But rather than listening to him, you reported him to Jim Robinson as being a fraud. Having read this whole thread, it is very clear to me the USNBandit speaks with the knowledge of actual experience. It is equally clear that you do not. I have flown with Harriers and against Harriers. I think they are one of the coolest aircraft around. But air to air killing machines they are not, and they never will be. Despite the best anecdotes you can Google on the web.