N328KF From United States of America, joined May 2004, 6222 posts, RR: 3 Posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3501 times:
According to The Wall Street Journal, Spanish police have busted a smuggling ring (allegedly tied to Iran) which was attempting to smuggle F-4 and F-14 parts:
Quote: MADRID (AFP)--Spanish police said Friday they have broken up a network suspected of smuggling spare parts for military aircraft to a country in the Middle East, which Spanish media identified as Iran.
[...]
Europa Press said the parts were for F4 and F14 fighters jets, Hercules transport planes and helicopters.
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12708 posts, RR: 80 Reply 1, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3413 times:
So despite the loud Iranian claims about those various re-engineered F-5 versions, they still feel the need to try and keep airworthy some US types all at least 30 years or more old.
If I were them, I'd concentrate on the Mig-29's and the inadvertent gifts from Saddam in the shape of the SU-24's.
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3347 posts, RR: 30 Reply 2, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 11 hours ago) and read 3280 times:
If the F-14 and F-4 were beyond repair, they wouldn't try to smuggle them. This means that the F-4 and F-14 could still be airworthy, at least some of them...
Let's just hope we will not see USAF F-18 Super Hornets vs F-14s soon. But even if we will, I am pretty confident the outdated F-14s will stand no chance against sophisticated Awacs-supported, Amraam equipped F-18s...
P3Orion From United States of America, joined May 2006, 544 posts, RR: 3 Reply 3, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3258 times:
Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 2): Let's just hope we will not see USAF F-18 Super Hornets vs F-14s soon
The Air Force does not fly the F-18. Only the Navy and the Marine Corps.
Keesje From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3141 times:
Quoting TheSonntag (Reply 2): If the F-14 and F-4 were beyond repair, they wouldn't try to smuggle them. This means that the F-4 and F-14 could still be airworthy, at least some of them...
They have build an industry durig the last 20 years to support and even launched signiicant support programs.
During the Iran/Iraq war the Iran Airforce was even secretly supported via Israel. Sadam winning the war was considered more dangerous than supporting Komeini.
Oroka From Canada, joined Dec 2006, 788 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2972 times:
IMO a modern F/A-18EF would wipe the floor with a IAF F-14A. Tomcats are great aircraft, but thses ones are still 30 years old and not upgraded. Im pretty sure in a conflict they wouldnt even take off.
CURLYHEADBOY From Italy, joined Feb 2005, 921 posts, RR: 2 Reply 8, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2910 times:
Quoting Oroka (Reply 7): IMO a modern F/A-18EF would wipe the floor with a IAF F-14A. Tomcats are great aircraft, but thses ones are still 30 years old and not upgraded. Im pretty sure in a conflict they wouldnt even take off.
Either that, or the F-15s F-16s and F-22s would wipe them off the sky shortly. And please God forbid this from ever happening, because winning air-to-air is the least of the concerns compared to the mess that would ensue.
If God had wanted men to fly he would have given them more money...
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 9, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks ago) and read 2901 times:
Remember, the IIAF F-14s are all (lessor) F-14As, the lessor version of the USN F-14A. They have only yhr TF-33 engine, which the USN found very problematic during the 1990s and up until the F-14A retirement.
The F/A-18E/F will still have a very difficult time against the F-14As, but US CAP will be provided by F-15Cs and F-22As, should it ever come to hostilities between the US and Iran. The F-15C/F-22A will not have very mush difficulty with the F-14As.
But, everyone seems to by-pass the bigger threat here, the IIAF F/RF-4D/Es. This multi-role airplane is still very formidable. It has excellent low-level capabilities, and is a very good bomber that can defend itself.
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3247 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 10 months 2 weeks ago) and read 2899 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 9): The F/A-18E/F will still have a very difficult time against the F-14As, but US CAP will be provided by F-15Cs and F-22As, should it ever come to hostilities between the US and Iran. The F-15C/F-22A will not have very mush difficulty with the F-14As.
The quality and training of the crew are at least as important as the type aircraft flown. Given a veteran F-14A pilot vs a nugget in a Super Bug... I like the F-14A odds...
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KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 11, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 2744 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 10): The quality and training of the crew are at least as important as the type aircraft flown. Given a veteran F-14A pilot vs a nugget in a Super Bug... I like the F-14A odds...
I don't know, but the US fighter pilots are as good as the Israelis. That could be some very long odds for the IIAF F-14A crew.
TheSonntag From Germany, joined Jun 2005, 3347 posts, RR: 30 Reply 12, posted (4 years 10 months 1 week 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2704 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 10): The quality and training of the crew are at least as important as the type aircraft flown. Given a veteran F-14A pilot vs a nugget in a Super Bug... I like the F-14A odds...
Yes, but despite all needs to save taxpayer money, which is a concern especially in the German Air Force, I would bet that this favours the US, as well. Don't forget that Iranian F-14s, if still able to fly, have only limited amounts of spare parts available. This means that they can only have limited flying hours in order to last as long as possible.
But, to say it again: I hope such a war will not be necessary. This could set the whole world on flames...
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