ISIS will be taking to the sky

[seasidemike]

great, like things aren't bad enough already:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-17/islamic-state-militants-said-to-be-training-to-fly-captured-jets/5823464

 

[DrLeftover]

Did you see who was going to be on Big Dancing Idol this week?

 

[Matthew-NC]

great, like things aren't bad enough already:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-10-17/islamic-state-militants-said-to-be-training-to-fly-captured-jets/5823464

Yeah, it'd be bad...if you forget that the MiG-21's in the story are 2nd/3rd generation fighters that were designed to be used in conjunction w/tight Soviet-era air-control systems. Put those up against 4th+ generation Western fighters w/their attendent air-control capabilities, Mike....wake me up when the tiny bits of ISIS fighter jet debris finally float to the ground, m'kay?

 

[DrLeftover]

The 23 is a nice little airplane that can hold its own in the supersonic race.

Now, as to what arms are available for it and what sorts of on board systems are fully functional, that's a good question. AND, how has it been maintained?

You can't store an air superiority fighter in a camel barn for a year or two and expect it to go play 'top gun' games with NATO jets.

But there is nothing wrong with the Mig 23 airframe and a capable pilot can raise some hell in it.

 

[Matthew-NC]

The 23 is a nice little airplane that can hold its own in the supersonic race.

Now, as to what arms are available for it and what sorts of on board systems are fully functional, that's a good question. AND, how has it been maintained?

You can't store an air superiority fighter in a camel barn for a year or two and expect it to go play 'top gun' games with NATO jets.

But there is nothing wrong with the Mig 23 airframe and a capable pilot can raise some hell in it.

Oh, there's nothing wrong with those MiGs per se' (other than that ISIS may've gotten their hands on a few of them)...all I'm saying is that, even in the hands of a capable pilot, you still need a very decent air-control system to assist it (which is one of the major weaknesses of the MiG platform in general) and ISIS doesn't have that at present. Throw in the other points you mention above, Doc, and that's why I said what I said in the earlier post.

 

[DrLeftover]

You mean we, essentially, agree on something else?

Damn, I'll have to try harder.

 

[Matthew-NC]

You mean we, essentially, agree on something else?

Damn, I'll have to try harder.

Yes, I believe we do stand in agreement on this one, Doc...I know, shocking, but still..