| Tango01 | 01 Sep 2015 1:14 p.m. PST |
"A spokesman for Lockheed Martin today denied that there is any reason to be alarmed about possible shortcomings of the military's newest and most expensive fighter plane after reports surfaced this weekend that an F-35, piloted by a crack Air Force fighter pilot, lost a mock dogfight with a Fokker Dr.I Triplane similar to the aircraft once piloted by World War I German Ace Manfred von Richtofen, the "Red Baron," piloted by a World War I reenactor. "The F-35 isn't really meant for that kind of fighting," said Lance McCory, a Lockheed spokesman. "We intend it to be a first-rate mulitrole attack aircraft, and to excel at long-range fighting, what we call BVR, or ‘Beyond Visual Range' air combat. Not to worry about some Hun who's been dead a hundred years. Frankly, the two aircraft involved in this battle represent two different philosophies of air combat." The Fokker Dr.I Triplane, made of wood and doped linen, entered service with the German Army Air service in 1917. It was famous for its considerable maneuverability and its high rate of climb. The pilot sat in an open cockpit, exposed to the weather, and had primitive controls by today's standards…"
Full article here
link Amicalement
Armand |
| Mako11 | 01 Sep 2015 1:24 p.m. PST |
Too funny! Thanks for sharing, Armand. I see I'm not the only one with a cynical sense of humor. Would probably lose to an angry pitbull, on the tarmac, too. |
| paulgenna | 01 Sep 2015 1:39 p.m. PST |
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Micman  | 01 Sep 2015 2:21 p.m. PST |
There was a story back in Analog in the 70's. A pilot with a hypersonic aircraft ends up going back in time to WWI and tries to shoot down the Germans. His radar can't see anything as there is no return off the DR 1. No lockon, the aircraft was toothless. He ends up blowing past them at some high mach number and basically tears bi/triplanes apart with the turbulence. |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 01 Sep 2015 3:08 p.m. PST |
Well, they don't call him the Red Baron for nothing. It would be even funnier if it loses a dogfight to Snoopy in his Sopwith Camel. |
| elsyrsyn | 01 Sep 2015 3:19 p.m. PST |
It would be even funnier if it loses a dogfight to Snoopy in his Sopwith Camel. Note the lower right hand corner of the picture. Doug |
| zoneofcontrol | 01 Sep 2015 7:20 p.m. PST |
From the linked story: "Lockheed officials have separately downplayed reports that the same F-35, flown by the same pilot, previously lost mock dogfights with the Goodyear Blimp and a beagle on a flying doghouse." Yeah, but only 'cause they ganged up and attacked at the same time. |
| Whatisitgood4atwork | 01 Sep 2015 10:46 p.m. PST |
'There was a story back in Analog in the 70's. … He ends up blowing past them at some high mach number and basically tears bi/triplanes apart with the turbulence.' I remember that one. I seem to remember a bit where he tried to use a canon but couldn't slow down enough to get a good shot, but it was a long time ago and my memory could be just plain wrong on this. |
| bsrlee | 01 Sep 2015 10:57 p.m. PST |
The story was 'An Eagle amongst Sparrows'. The pilot also had problems sourcing enough fuel for the 'plane – he ended up stripping the sector's supply of kerosene, and eventually the 'plane crashed after the engines ingested debris from the shredded enemies. Strangely enough, the futuristic 'plane was also V/STOL. |
| Tango01 | 02 Sep 2015 10:51 a.m. PST |
Glad you enjoyed it boys!. (smile) Amicalement
Armand |
| Dennis | 02 Sep 2015 3:03 p.m. PST |
The story was "Hawk Among the Sparrows," by Dean McLaughlin, cover story in the July 1968 edition of Analog. |
