How To Win In A Dogfight: Stories From A Pilot Who Flew F-16s And MiGs

Foxtrot Alpha ^ | 03 February 2015 | Tyler Rogoway

[sukhoi-30mki]

Lt. Col. Fred "Spanky" Clifton is one of the most experienced aggressor pilots ever, having flown the F-15, F-5, F-16 and the notorious MiG-29. He's been in dogfights with pretty much every fighter out there and he's an instructor at the prestigious Fighter Weapons School. Now he's here to share his expertise with you.

How in the hell did you end up becoming the first USAF fighter pilot to fly the Russian-built MiG-29 Fulcrum as an exchange pilot?

First – a little (actually, a lot of) background. I earned a degree in aerospace engineering in 1979 and worked for Boeing in the Seattle area for two years after graduating from college. I had no real interest in joining the military at the time since I was an Army brat, growing up mostly at Fort Bliss, TX, and probably felt I had done my time. Plus, my dad told me if I ever joined the Army he'd kick my butt. Trust me Dad, an Army career was never on my radar screen. The Army doesn't have cool jets!

I had a life-long fascination with airplanes and had built hundreds of plastic models, eventually moving on to u-control models and then radio-controlled models. I had always wanted to learn to fly myself, but could never afford it. One of my coworkers at Boeing told me about the Boeing Employees Flying Association (BEFA). BEFA had a range of different airplanes at affordable prices to members. For example, a Cessna 152 rented for $19 / hour, including fuel. An instructor was another $10 / hour. I joined BEFA and got my private pilot's license in 1981. The

[sukhoi-30mki]

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Aircraft is among the highest forms of art.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Must read this later.

[edpc]

It's a good article with a lot of interesting information/insight. However, the first part of the title can be summed up in 3 words: Speed is life.

He reinforces that old flying adage indirectly many times in his examples.

[Azeem]

He picked the Viper over the Hog?

[jsanders2001]

It’s a very long article and somewhat interesting....if you’re a pilot

[Bucky14]

There is an old USAF video called ‘How to Survive Your Friendly Air Defenses.” Someone out there has got to have a copy.

[riverdawg]

Very interesting interview with a guy who knows first-hand the strengths and weaknesses of key front-line aircraft. To me, his most telling statements were

1. The MiG-29 isn't nearly as capable as many in the West thought.

2. The F-22 line should be restarted.

[ryan71]

Most excellent reading. Thanks!

[ryan71]

3. And the F-35 dropped.

[mcshot]

And his question regarding the F35: “Why did they build such a pig”.

[Chainmail]

An excellent read.

[skinkinthegrass]

THANKS!

[Skooz]

bfl

[virgil283]

Thanks.. very good article on A/C and tactics.

"It was found that thrust vectoring was really only useful at speeds below 250 knots" -- I've wondered about this and this explains a lot...(however I say ---Fly Navy)

[Hot Tabasco]

That’s a pretty amazing life that guy led........

[GBA]

And his question regarding the F35: “Why did they build such a pig”.

Because they don't build F-105s any more?

[GreyFriar]

dogfight ping

[real saxophonist]

Bump

[Half Vast Conspiracy]

13 of my classmates had been selected for one of the ultimate USAF screw jobs, First-Assignment Instructor Pilot, and were staying at Laughlin to instruct in T-37s and T-38s.

FAIPs. The equivalent of letting someone who just finished drivers ed…teach drivers ed. I had 2Lt FAIPs that couldn’t even demo maneuvers in the Tweet. Most were pissed that they didn’t get the fighter that they “earned”. They had no concept of how the operational USAF works. Useless.