Bullockracing
Airman 1st Class
timshatz said:
Unless my target accuracy knocks you out of the sky on the first encounter...
If you Designed your own Fighter plane, what Characteristic would you want most?
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Unless my target accuracy knocks you out of the sky on the first encounter...
Probably not going to happen.
Bullockracing said:
As an air defence mechanism, your point is a good one. So much so that is a valid way of defending airpspace
(and what are fighter planes in the first place but a basic unit of aerial defense). AAA is based on the premise of being stronger and more accurate than it's target. It land based and no particularly moble. Effective without a doubt, smart commanders have always tried to manuver around it to save casualties.
However, when it comes to a bomber formation defending itself against fighters, the theory of "the bomber will always get through" was found bankrupt. Even when 12-13 .50 machine guns were on the aircraft, the faster fighters could pick where and when they wanted to attack as well as which formations to attack. Firepower and a steadier platform did not overcompensate for the ability to pick you spot and exploit weaknesses (stragglers, coffin corner, ect.).
Moving forward to the Jet age, air to air missles and radars, it gets more complicated. In this realm, it is system against system. A pilot in a modern jet is as much a system operator as he is an aviator. Much tougher question to get your head around.
As long as your systems do not fail...
True, to paraphrase Scotty, "The more complicated the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the pipes".DerAdlerIstGelandet said:
When the fire control radars go down, or data links or whatever, you go back to the mark two eyeball and then...
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
To be honest, the pilot that could fly faster at higher altitudes had the advantage in 90% of all combats... Dive outta the sun and surprise! ur dead....
In the old days yes, but not so much today.
Bullockracing
Airman 1st Class
I do believe the poll is a little too open. The feature most wanted for a fighter plane is the ability to dominate the airspace. Doing that requires the ability to find your foe, maneuver into firing position, and knock him out of the sky, in that order. Everything else is icing on the cake.
Perhaps SbW can come up with a poll that is a little more pointed?
Perhaps SbW can come up with a poll that is a little more pointed?
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
Well, seeing how this poll is in the WWII Aviation section, I was concerned with WWII combat....
As u may have noticed, the majority of posters here are either for maneuverability or speed.....
As u may have noticed, the majority of posters here are either for maneuverability or speed.....
The 2 things that would keep you alive in WW2.
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
Exactly....
Bullockracing
Airman 1st Class
Roger that, but stealth was included, I guess that threw me off...
102first_hussars
Tech Sergeant
Okay, my aircraft's characteristics would be in the area of Manouvarability, with a decent speed, its ability to maintain full speed without losing its entire fuel supply, it would be a stealth Strike Fighter with the ability to identify individual targets from extremely high altitude, my plane would be equipted with the latest and most innovative weaponary, and have a f**king Slick airframe.
Bullockracing
Airman 1st Class
102first_hussars said:
You all see how easily I'm confused? I'll weigh back in with a better thought out answer than my original.....
102first_hussars
Tech Sergeant
FLYBOYJ said:
MISSILE PROOF AND CRASH PROOF
Bullockracing
Airman 1st Class
Okay, I say speed, with it's companions horsepower and climb rate. I would justify this with the AVG experience using less maneuverable planes against more maneuverable planes. Getting to pick and choose my battles would be paramount, see the 190D-series planes that outran P-51s when they didn't start in an advantageous position...
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
YEP!102first_hussars said:
Damn now we are getting into Star Wars aint we!?
lesofprimus
Brigadier General
If thats the case, I want Slave II as my combat aircraft.......
I would just build the Millenium Falcon! With modifications to make it more maintenance friendly and reliable.
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