Posted on 05/16/2006 9:48:51 AM PDT by Lunatic Fringe
As an air defense weapon, I don't see this helping Iran much, if at all. They simply won't have the training or the electronics to stand up against us.
As a one way offensive weapon, however, they might be of some value. Whether they would be any better as kamikaze aircraft than what the Iranians already have I do not know.
A suicide aircraft has significant advantages. It can go a lot further if it does not have to come back. It can take chances at very low altitude, thus making it harder to spot on radar (if it does not crash). And the pilot gets an extra chance to hit the final target (first he fires his missiles, then he flies the plane itself into the target).
A lot of posters have commented about spare parts. Obviously, without spare parts they won't be flying long. They may be able to find some things on the black market, but not everything they will need. Hence I would not expect the Iranians to put these in the air very often.
However, the Iranians can cannibalize some of the planes in order to put the rest in the air. So a lack of parts will not keep them from putting at least some of these in the air at least once in a while.
A lot of posters have also commented on training. Remember, the Venezuelans will have at least one flight simulator that will accompany the sale. Simulator time is not enough, by itself, to train up a good pilot. But it would be sufficient to teach someone how to take off and go somewhere in an F-16 if they already knew how to fly some other kind of fighter first.
All in all, it seems likely that Iran could put some of these in the air and get them to a target unless they were shot down first. If they came in low they could be hard to detect at long range unless we had an AWACS bird in their area at the right time. So they might be able to do some damage with these things.
The big question is TIME. Iran seems to be in a big hurry to make trouble. Shipping these things to Iran would take time, as would getting them ready to fly and training people to fly them (even if they will be suicide missions). So, given the time element, I doubt we will actually see these things in combat even if Venezuela sells them to Iran.
They consider themselves Persian and of Germanic descent.
Interesting...
Next time read the Ebay listing - it for an F-104 not and F-16.
Chavez would get a better deal if he sold them to americans, maybe the Minutemen would put a bid in for a few.
who cares. without booze, I bet their O-club sucks.
"We're going to have to do something about that cockroach."
Yep. Latin America's goin to crap.
While it is still taxiing to the runway.
This was mod 2. Broke free of mooring in lower Euphrates. Things were going well until evening prayers and bridge watch team all kneeled together.
I can picture the Iranians trying to scrounge for parts. Why would the Iranians buy f-16s when they can buy a much more seviceable aircraft with a continuing parts supply from the Soviets?
I will belive it when I see it.
But maybe the Iranis are stupid enough to buy them, because our pilots know all of the f-16's combat weaknesses.
The Iranians are also very unlikely to purchase a single engine aircraft.Their service record of aircraft is notoriously unreliable, and they need at least 2 engines on anything they fly.
"I say good. They should absolutely do that.
And we should absolutely intercept them with some F-22's over the Atlantic...oh wait...they have no clue about inflight refueling and own no tankers, so...that is a no-go."
Actually the Iranians do have tankers. They're KC-135s and are therefore compatible with the F16
Target rich environment coming.
I am sure a good shade tree camel mechanic could make it fit.
Let the screwballs have as many F-16s as they want.
As he does everyday.
I forget who had the idea, but it was to tell Hugo that we were invading so he'd torch his oil fields, then send a 'just kidding' letter. I loved it, be worth the hike in gas too. What a clown!
How have you been?
That's an excellent idea, but I don't think he's that stupid. Or maybe he is.
I'm doing well, how about you?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.