Skull Leader

It's really not bad (I liked it!), just don't watch it expecting it to be 100% accurate (in terms of aircraft), The aircraft have really well drawn moments sometimes (one of the later missions that shows Kim hovering over an oasis in his Harrier is just awesome, and most of Shin's dogfight scenes in his 'sader are awesome too). I've never seen the original either, and I sorely want to. I DO want the soundtrack for the new TV series they did (I have both of the soundtracks for the original), but that's because I like techno/trance

I don't believe there is any significance to the number of planes involved, I've witnessed two of these before (one done by the blue angels and the other by the F-16s of the 188th TFW, the Arkansas air national guard). It seems as though the "open slot" missing man formation is probably more personal to military pilots. I've never seen it publically, nor have I seen any pictures of it. The significance of the single pilot peeling off from the group signifies the fallen comrade taking his last flight (his solo ascendancy to Heaven, or what have you). I believe it is probably just predetermined who will perform the salute... although it has always been the far righthand pilot that does it when I've seen it. I also believe it is significant for the maneuver for the parting plane to bank into the west (towards what where the setting sun would be), but I can't confirm that.

Thats why I started this thread.. As far as athletes go, Tyson is the greatest to walk the earth in my time. his personal life aside, I have to agree... during my childhood, if you asked ANY of my friends who the "best boxer" was (the few that knew or cared at that age), they all would've said Tyson, hands down.

LOL, there were all kinds of fumbles in Area 88.... Mickey's Tomcat contained a single center-line droptank (ala the G.I. Joe Skystriker), and on the massive ground attack mission about halfway through the series, you see him carrying massive amounts of Mk.82s on MERS mounted on stations 1 and 8 (it "can" mount TERs on said stations, but I've only ever seen one aircraft that had those, and it was just for Zuni Rocket pods) Hellohikaru, we see pleny of pictures of Shin's Crusader cockpit, was it pretty accurate for the F-8E? I didn't know if that radar screen really existed or not

I've read somewhere about pylon mounted droptanks (I know they COULD carry them), but i've never heard mention of bullpups.

I believe the 30 year old AWG-9 radar could hold it's own quite nicely against it's more modern counterparts. The fact that the tomcat never recieved any heavy-duty radar upgrades is proof of this (if it isn't broke, don't fix it). If the navy went through all of the trouble to update their F-14Bs with the new sparrowhawk HUD system starting around 99-00, they surely would've made a new call about the radar if they decided it was obsolete. (David, any idea if they received new block numbers after that upgrade? M.A.T.S. doesn't even mention the upgrade, but I know they did it) When I mentioned that there were combat experienced people there, I was more or less referring to those who might be serving in a training or command function. Any of the standard line pilots today that MIGHT have been active then (highly unlikely) would've been total rookies and nearing the end of their service tenures now. Their instructors have been in combat though, and THEY learned to fly the tomcat from the US Navy. Effective as our red-flag excersises? Not even close, but it's pretty much the best they can do under the circumstances, I think.

that was quite possibly one of the coolest things I've seen so far this year!

Yes, there was a fight with big boss that happened in a room quite similar to the room where you fight the Machine gunner. (lots of long columns I believe)... and you know the American solid snake was hella worn out for that fight... after fighting bravely against a stationary super computer that does not fight back..... .... (who the F$*K came up with a name like "Vernon Cataffy" anyway!?) *sighs and goes back to playing the MSX version of the original Metal Gear... where you actually FIGHT said Metal Gear....*

You're thinking too much on a one to one basis in terms of aircraft though. Any Tomcat or Phantom carry a LOT of missiles (admittedly, certainly not the TEN AMRAAMS demo Super Hornets have been seen carrying), just like American aircraft do. I would like to point out that I've never said that the US couldn't knock Iran's airforce over, just that I don't think it's going to be as easy as some of you seem to think it will be. Just because Iran doesn't get the opportunity to run red-flag excersises with other nations airforces or benefit from some of the other things our naval/air forces do, that doesn't mean they aren't dangerous. American pilots haven't stepped in to an ACM environment any more recently than they have (while in fact they've had all of the 70s and 80s to use Iraq's airforce as target practice... and that's pretty much how it's lined out. All jokes aside, that's certainly more dangerous than hunting down and sinking a QF that won't do anything but run from you.) I have no doubt that in the end our forces would win out, but it's gonna be costly and I don't think it will happen without us losing a few planes in the process (and possibly even lives)

Which you seem reluctant to do. Say what you will, I just don't think it's going to be that easy.

I feel otherwise... I'm willing to bet the family farm that IRIAF tomcats SPANK any hornets (Rhinos OR legacy) that come within firing range (or at the very least give them a run for their money)... and here's why: Iraninan Tomcats: -unknown capability... russian software (could be better or worse) -Russian-made AIM-54 knockoffs (AAM-3s? I can't remember) equivilent in capablility to an AIM-54A Phoenix missile... and they have lots of 'em -Variable-Wing Geometry... to maximize efficiency of turning energy used (in the off event that it becomes a WVR battle) -Still in good shape after 30 years (they don't have the wear and tear on the airframes that our tomcats get) -AWG-9. Still one of the greatest radar/Target aquisition systems developed by man. US Super Hornets: -AMRAAM missile... long reach, but not quite up to specs with a phoenix (or derivative) -Eats energy in turns like I eat bacon for breakfast -Needs more fuel to stay in the fight -Couldn't keep up with a Tomcat in the event that the 'cat decided to extend and escape. -stealth? (I wasn't aware that the RCS of a Super Hornet was anything remotely close to approaching stealth-like, but I've never looked in to it before. I'll take your word on this one!) speculation on my part, I know... but I'm just calling it as I see it

some of those changes (IE the block 5 changes) are representitive of the design alterations that were made for the VF-1 as seen in DYRL (so in effect, those were design changes made for the VF-1X Plus Valkyries), although the prototype stuff is new to me. Hikaru, I was under the understanding that the VT-1 was "supposed" to have the same kind of tails as a standard VF-1 (the brief moments you get to see it in the movie it looks normal), I can only assume they were altered for model and toy functionality.

best controller EVER? The NES Advantage (That's strictly a personal feeling, I understand that it has tons of shortcommings while compared to the PS dualshock)

I would argue the PS1/PS2 dual shock is about as close to perfection as we're likely going to get. Pressure sensitivity was the only thing really added for the PS2, and that was all the change that was needed. If it's not f-ed up, then don't fix it. (and it's not so they shouldn't)

well, it DOES include the disclaimer that the final product may differ... here's to hoping they don't have their heads so far up their asses to miss a key thing like that.

man, ain't THAT the truth...

Splash, please don't be too bothered by us... we all get it from time to time, and we would've roasted even a veteran member for a pun joke like that, it's all in good fun. Welcome to the boards and join in the insanity!

oh, if we must

no, and Hasslehoff probably isn't either... but Gary Coleman....

lol....

online RPing moves wayyyy too slow for my tastes... I've tried a Macross online RPG twice now, and neither time have I been happy with the pacing.

I like the scheme, it's decidedly "russian" You can bet aviation enthusiasts world wide will be watching to see what happens. All of our remaining tomcat squadrons are now under CINTLANT, and I'm sure mediterranian cruises will be in order

wow, Cooper says they still have (at least) 16 Tomcats still in the air! (which given his credentials I tend to believe over most) AIM-54 clones as well? That's impressive to say the least... and the airframes probably still have plenty of time on them, they don't get the day-in-day-out carrier bashing that our service tomcats get... I would imagine them to be still very reliable aircraft... and the electronics in them? There's no telling anymore. As much as I loved their old cammo schemes, I'm liking this new air-cammo scheme they're putting on them!

might wanna check that again That's VF-103 (notice the SECDEF PHOENIX markings on the tail?) I'm so picking one of those up.

"You didn't take anything from our tent, did you?" "DAAAAAmmmmmmnnn! These beats are so fresh! SNAP!"