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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: SW Cheese Country
Posts: 13,625
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HOBS missiles, especially with a HMS, negate the need for such maneuvers in a real dogfight. All these do is reduce your energy. Our F22s have 2D thrust vectoring but when you use thrust to maneuver you are taking away thrust to accelerate. Think of a FWD car in the corners. The Eurofighter Typhoon gives our Raptors fits WVR because of it.
The US has a few planes that can hit 90* alpha without thrust vectoring but with little control. The F-14 test pilots could do it. The F/A-18 also off the top of my head. The X29 could reach nearly 60* alpha and still maintain control, but again the high off bore sight missiles render that ability moot.
It does make an impressive air show.
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Brent
The X15 was the only aircraft I flew where I was glad the engine quit. - Milt Thompson.
"Don't get so caught up in your right to dissent that you forget your obligation to contribute." Mrs. James to her son Chappie.
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