No the F/A-18 can not do what the F-14 could. It’s not superior.
"No the F/A-18 can not do what the F-14 could. It’s not superior."
Thank you, I stand corrected.
...and further supporting your input,
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2004/Highlights/
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Nellis2004/Highlights/
"...the F-14 has a top speed of mach 2.35 and its successor the F-18 Super Hornet can only do mach 1.7"
It appears we are having a fundamental change in strategic design priorities these days. I was intrigued to read this next sentence at the site linked above.
“...the F-22 (depending on who you believe) can only do around mach" "The Raptor (F-22), however, is much more stealthy."
and regarding the B-2:
http://www.asminternational.org/images2/cof/a0203_1b.jpg
http://www.asminternational.org/images2/cof/a0203_1b.jpg
"The B-2's speed range is high subsonic"
and regarding the F-117:
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blF_117A_Nighthawk.htm
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blF_117A_Nighthawk.htm
"The F-117A's top speed has been released as high subsonic, with its cruising speed as 684 mph."
It appears that aeronautic design doctrine for military aircraft these days, seems to be the opposite of President Reagan's famous statement, "You can run, but you can't hide." Then again, what good does it do to run from a missile you can't outrun, when you can far more effectively hide from it?
"Slow but invisible." appears to be the newest test that the nerves of our courageous military pilots will face in these new aeronautic designs.
