Used to see those things screaming around the pattern at PHF when I was working on my PPL. Always wondered what they were for.
They use the Kfirs and Hawker Hunters to provide advanced red air simulations for us. Real cool jets, I'd love to strap into a J79 powered one man rocket one day. The Kfir is seriously about the most ridiculous dinosaur eating loud maker I have ever seen
The guy I talked to a couple weeks back told me the centerline tank is all burned on deck during start/taxi/takeoff, and just allows them to get airborne with full internals. Gotta love that motor, nothing makes gas into noise faster or less efficiently than a J79 in blower![]()
They got longer or shorter legs than the F-5?
Probably a retard fight right there, though I'd honestly put my money on the F-5. I know they couldn't get to the W291 from Yuma and back without centerlines, but I'd *guess* they have better max E/max R numbers. The F-5 is real slick......last time I flew wing off one, it damn near took me into space and showed no signs of slowing down.
Any idea on the first question regarding ATSI?
I've wondered that myself. I'm pretty sure ATAC just got signed off on dropping inert for CAS training X's in A-4's, so I'd guess those were the same jets ATSI flew back in the day. I'll have to ask next time I talk to one of them.
On that note of you wanting to do this for a while, what's the USN's plan for their model of the F-35? Replacing baby Hornets in VFAs? We hear all about the USAF and USMC versions, but not much on the USN version.
Last word I heard was that legacy Hornet will be the first to transition. No idea if that is true or not, but I'm not complaining.
Any idea of where in development the Navy version is? Is it further behind the AF and USMC versions?
www.neptunuslex.com
A true gentleman and one helluva writer. He flies Kfir's for ATAC and is in Fallon right now. All of his readers are hoping to hear good news that he's okay.