Iran Airforce Capabilities - Analysis by Iranian Aviation Analyst

[Mech_Engineer]

I don't mean to be completely rude, but this thread is really setting off my propoganda-radar... or at least my "fake-o-meter." An Iranian "aviation analyst" volunteering to answer any questions we have about their air-force's capabilities? It seems to me people can get far more credible information with a quick search on Google.

It seems to me that the only information being presented here is a series of pictures of F14's with "missiles" bolted to them. Just because the missile is physically bolted to the plane says nothing about its ability to hit a target or even be fired (other than kamikaze style)... F-14 Tomcats, in the past were an incredibly advanced airplane, but are now obsolete in every sense of the term, and their so called "hi-tech deadliness" (paraphrased from the "Ramjet Topic!" thread) has passed.

However, as Fred pointed out I do find the point of view from someone in Iran quite interesting. Is it a widely held opinion in Iran that the IIAF's F-14's are technologically superior to any planes flown by western countries? Where did you determine that the "US Navy has limited its engagement range to 30 miles by retiring its F-14's"? Why is it you refer to the F-18 as a "dummy"? the fact is that the US Navy has retired the F-14's because it has planes that outperform the Tomcat.

 

[LURCH]

... F-14 Tomcats, in the past were an incredibly advanced airplane, but are now obsolete in every sense of the term, and their so called "hi-tech deadliness" (paraphrased from the "Ramjet Topic!" thread) has passed.

However, as Fred pointed out I do find the point of view from someone in Iran quite interesting. Is it a widely held opinion in Iran that the IIAF's F-14's are technologically superior to any planes flown by western countries? Where did you determine that the "US Navy has limited its engagement range to 30 miles by retiring its F-14's"? Why is it you refer to the F-18 as a "dummy"? the fact is that the US Navy has retired the F-14's because it has planes that outperform the Tomcat.

I don't agree (personally, I think the retirement of the Tomcat was a bad idea). Although the Hornet does have superior versatility, it is not even close to being a match for the Tomcat in a fight. The Tomcat was a dedicated air superiority fighter, the Hornet is a jack-of-all-trades. The Navy retired the Tomcat because it's cheaper to use the Hornet and get everything you need in one package; interceptor, air superiority platform, and ground attack all in one airframe. I suspect that they also anticipate being able to use a naval version of the F-22 (or the JSF) soon.

But many in the Navy agree that the Hornet should not be relied upon to do everything. "One man, one bomb, one hour" is the slogan you'll hear sailors using to describe the F-18, it just doesn't have the tools for bombing like a true ground-attack aircraft, or for fighting like a dedicated air-to-air specialist. It does many jobs adequately, but excels at none.

 

[Mech_Engineer]

I suspect that they also anticipate being able to use a naval version of the F-22 (or the JSF) soon.

BINGO! The F-22 is indeed a formidable aircraft, but I think the Navy is planning on using the F-35 Lightning II (A.K.A. X-35 JSF) to take over strike-fighter duties of the F/A 18.

 

[FredGarvin]

Here's a pretty good article
http://www.flightjournal.com/articles/f14f18/f14f18_1.asp

I had no idea of the aero problems they had with the wing.

It has always been a contention that the Hornet would have range issues when compared to the F14. However, the issues raised with the F-18 E/F especially in regards to acceleration and turn radius are more than pretty significant. This does appear to be all politics and bean counting. Is Macnamara running the DoD again?

 

[LURCH]

Thanks for the article, Fred. Very interesting indeed.

 

[Jet-designer]

Mech_engeenier, what I mention here is somthing the aviation experts also say. please don't defend your opposition when you don't know well about the subject we're talkin' about.

 

[FredGarvin]

Mech_engeenier, what I mention here is somthing the aviation experts also say. please don't defend your opposition when you don't know well about the subject we're talkin' about.

Well, perhaps you could provide something to back up your position? Are you referring to the notion that usually, visual contact has to be made prior to any engagement?

 

[russ_watters]

Here's a pretty good article
http://www.flightjournal.com/articles/f14f18/f14f18_1.asp

Boy, that's a depressing article. I had no idea the E/F was that bad.

 

[FredGarvin]

Boy, that's a depressing article. I had no idea the E/F was that bad.

Yeah. They really make it sound like a sick pig, don't they?

 

[Jet-designer]

OK, so you knew that I was right. Please collect enough information for the discussion first then come here and give a "right" opinion.

 

[berkeman]

OK, so you knew that I was right. Please collect enough information for the discussion first then come here and give a "right" opinion.

Mellow out, JD. You aren't really in a position to be saying things like that. At least not based on your posts so far in the two threads.

 

[russ_watters]

Besides, J-d - very little of that article applies to the Iranian Air force.

 

[LURCH]

Anyways...

Where did you get the range of 120 miles for the Iranian Tomcat, JD? Was it the range of the MIM-23B?

 

[FredGarvin]

I don't mean to be completely rude, but this thread is really setting off my propoganda-radar... or at least my "fake-o-meter." An Iranian "aviation analyst" volunteering to answer any questions we have about their air-force's capabilities? It seems to me people can get far more credible information with a quick search on Google.

I am unfortunately starting to agree here. Originally I thought troll, but I held out hope that this could be an opportunity to get a different viewpoint on a usually heavily slanted topic. This thread is nothing more than a huge disappointment. JD started off (and still says according to his bio) that he is a jet engine designer. He definitely is not, especially when he doesn't even know what a diffuser is. He then changes his tune and says that he is an Iranian Air Force analyst from Iran, but his bio says he lives in the US. His linked website is in arabic, so there is no way to tell if it his work or not. I have a sneaky suspicion that JD is really a young kid or teen that likes aviation, but has absolutely no idea what he is talking about and no analysis or engineering knowledge to his name. It appears his analyses are simply pictures collected from various places on the net.

I would suggest to the mentors that this thread be axed unless JD can come in here and provide some kind of relevant information or anything other than "hey...here's a picture of an F-14." Plenty of questions have been presented by myself and others which has not even acknowledged, let alone answered.

 

[Lisa!]

He then changes his tune and says that he is an Iranian Air Force analyst from Iran, but his bio says he lives in the US. His linked website is in arabic, so there is no way to tell if it his work or not.

No comment on other part of your post since I'm not an expert in this area so I can't say whether he's wasting our time or not, but I just want to say that's persian not arabic!
Hmmm..he's not replied my own question too. I still don't know what's made him to start this thread!

 

[FredGarvin]

...but I just want to say that's persian not arabic!

I stand corrected. I hope my slip up wasn't too grievous.

 

[Cyrus]

Yes, my crap-o-meter went off the scale when I saw that old foto of an f-14 he took from some guys website.

 

[russ_watters]

I've been keeping an eye on this thread and I have gotten a couple of pm's about it. I was pretty ambivalent about it, but yeah, I'd have to agree that it is a pretty useless thread.

Thread closed.