Antix
Rear Admiral
Originally posted by NoRemorse
Wrong, french pilots aren't bad, you can see the RedFlag... Unfortunately, we don't have as many bucks as the USAF, but I really think we have the best training (swiss pilots are good too...)
And forget the Blue Angels - Come in France, and see the PAF (Patrouille de France)... lol
Originally posted by Kalfor
Btw, brazil, though a peaceful 3rd world country, has seen its share of combat in the past, being one of the most active allied airforces during WW2 in Italy and also operating in other parts of europe
Out of this, mentions go to the "esquadrilha da fumaça" (or Smoke Squadron) its the brazilian stunt squadron, think Blue Angels
They are amazing and can do a lot of shit in a Tucano
Personally I think these two posts were sheer crap. I had the distinct pleasure of viewing the Blue Angels' flying skills a short 48 hours ago at the local Sertoma Cajun Air Festival. The flight commander in the #1 craft, despite a pesky reoccuring glitch, continued flawlessly throughout the performance, and the manuvers and patterns the solo craft (5 and 6) were sent through tipified highly developed US tactics that are not unique just to the Blue Angels, but are standards in combat tactics for all Navy and Air Force pilots. What the Blue Angels do so well is not just something specially designed for their own showcasing. Their expertly executed manuvers are examples of the lessons taught to every US pilot. They were highly impressive and I doubt that man for man, you send either of the two flight groups mentioned above against any of the Blue Angels, it won't be our F-14s in Navy that come limping out of that one... By the way, I've followed the PAF's stats a considerable deal, and I highly doubt that they're any better (which doesn't mean that I think they're any worse) than the Blue Angels. As for the Tucanos, I'm sure you can do impressive things in them and all, but the paces you can put 6 F-14s are just as if not more impressive.
Originally posted by Kalfor
Newer combat jets are projected to require every time less exceptional skills to be flown
aircrafts like the F16, for example, has fly-by-wire flight command. the pilot doesnt spin down out of control (dont know how you call it in english) cause the computer doesnt allow it. Much less stall, cause there are limiters linked to the FMS. If the pilot forgets the flap, the computer warns him, if he is flying the landing strip too low, the aircraft tells him. If he is too fast on landing approach he is alerted and he can land using his HUD and attack angle
thats my point on higher technology and resources making pilots need less skills
Ok, this is complete bullshit. Sorry for getting so harsh but I have the tendency to call a spade a spade. Our aircraft are NOT puppets that you spit a voice command out to and it moves as you request. The fly-by-wire systems compensate for the inumerable flight surfaces that have to be coordinated just to keep the plane on a straight path and a level altitude. Once it manages to accomplish that, the difficulties of flying that plane are now EQUIVALENT, not easier than, any other aircraft. Just because we have warning systems when a pilot is doing something that may potentially put the craft in danger means absolutely nothing. It's the pilot's duty to correct. I'd have to say overall that flying state of the art US equipment is a far cry from a cakewalk.