Peter Collins and the Eurofighter Typhoon?
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Sorry to take a while coming back; magazine deadlines are way more important than this topic.
I’d actually argue that PC is very well placed for what we require on Flight, having now done reports on the T-50, M-346, M-311, PC-21, and Rafale for us. Plus his past experience on F-16, Mirage 2000, Tornado GR1/4 and F2 and many others, including VAAC Harrier.
I find it odd that you assert that the magazine’s reputation has been gravely damaged, yet to my knowledge we have received no negative correspondence from our readers. The Rafale test was a massive scoop, and very successful.
Also, we’ve strangely seen no official reports/comments from those RAF pilots who supposedly flew Rafale recently – no photos, nothing. So when can we look forward to reading a flight test report on it from one of your six much better TPs, maybe in Combat Aircraft Monthly?
I’d actually argue that PC is very well placed for what we require on Flight, having now done reports on the T-50, M-346, M-311, PC-21, and Rafale for us. Plus his past experience on F-16, Mirage 2000, Tornado GR1/4 and F2 and many others, including VAAC Harrier.
I find it odd that you assert that the magazine’s reputation has been gravely damaged, yet to my knowledge we have received no negative correspondence from our readers. The Rafale test was a massive scoop, and very successful.
Also, we’ve strangely seen no official reports/comments from those RAF pilots who supposedly flew Rafale recently – no photos, nothing. So when can we look forward to reading a flight test report on it from one of your six much better TPs, maybe in Combat Aircraft Monthly?
If you've detected no unease and negativity about PC's Rafale piece, Spruce, then you really do need to get out more.
It was certainly a massive 'scoop' (is that rhyming slang for p**p?) - and it was a real coup for Dassault to get a magazine of Flight's reputation publishing quite such a breathlessly enthusiastic and sensationalist piece of what read like advertorial.
As to RAF pilots 'supposedly' flying Rafale - weren't you at Dubai? Didn't you meet one of them there?
Rest assured, I'm sure someone will publish something more intelligent and more considered on the subject.
They may even get an award for it!
It was certainly a massive 'scoop' (is that rhyming slang for p**p?) - and it was a real coup for Dassault to get a magazine of Flight's reputation publishing quite such a breathlessly enthusiastic and sensationalist piece of what read like advertorial.
As to RAF pilots 'supposedly' flying Rafale - weren't you at Dubai? Didn't you meet one of them there?
Rest assured, I'm sure someone will publish something more intelligent and more considered on the subject.
They may even get an award for it!
Obi Offiah
Obi, I've done some research and my impeccable journalistic sources report that Pete Collins can, at present, only compare the Rafale FBW Digital FCS, that he evaluated airborne during his FLIGHT assessment at Istres in 2009, with the Typhoon FBW Digital FCS, reproduced in the RAF Typhoon Simulator, that he evaluated at RAF Coningsby in 2008.
However, on the basis of what he saw and what he evaluated, Pete Collins's personal opinion would still be to strongly rate the Rafale Digital FCS as giving the better pilot 'fighter type' handling characteristics of the pair, irrespective of the fact that he believes that the Eurofighter advanced control laws are still highly adequate as a similar, very advanced and very agile fighter. According to PC, the Rafale remains the best handling aircraft (by a long way) of the 34 fighter/fighter trainer types he has flown to date.
I know that aircraft handling chararcteristics can be a very personal pilot 'subject' but perhaps a clue as to how good the Rafale is to manoeuvre is that the French Air Force Rafale won the individual 'Best Display' this year at RIAT?"
However, on the basis of what he saw and what he evaluated, Pete Collins's personal opinion would still be to strongly rate the Rafale Digital FCS as giving the better pilot 'fighter type' handling characteristics of the pair, irrespective of the fact that he believes that the Eurofighter advanced control laws are still highly adequate as a similar, very advanced and very agile fighter. According to PC, the Rafale remains the best handling aircraft (by a long way) of the 34 fighter/fighter trainer types he has flown to date.
I know that aircraft handling chararcteristics can be a very personal pilot 'subject' but perhaps a clue as to how good the Rafale is to manoeuvre is that the French Air Force Rafale won the individual 'Best Display' this year at RIAT?"
Best display at IAT? That must prove it.
Following as it does in the footsteps of aircraft as diverse as the L-39, MiG-29 and Fokker F27.
And PC's 34 fighter/fighter trainers don't include extensive experience (eg more than a single hop) in any aircraft remotely comparable to the Rafale.
Following as it does in the footsteps of aircraft as diverse as the L-39, MiG-29 and Fokker F27.
And PC's 34 fighter/fighter trainers don't include extensive experience (eg more than a single hop) in any aircraft remotely comparable to the Rafale.
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You can't beat a perpetual pissing contest.
Even if the french had the F-22, they'd still be surrender monkeys. It's not the tool in your box, it's what you do with it that counts.
Even if the french had the F-22, they'd still be surrender monkeys. It's not the tool in your box, it's what you do with it that counts.
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Obi, I've done some research and my impeccable journalistic sources report that Pete Collins can, at present, only compare the Rafale FBW Digital FCS, that he evaluated airborne during his FLIGHT assessment at Istres in 2009, with the Typhoon FBW Digital FCS, reproduced in the RAF Typhoon Simulator, that he evaluated at RAF Coningsby in 2008.
However, on the basis of what he saw and what he evaluated, Pete Collins's personal opinion would still be to strongly rate the Rafale Digital FCS as giving the better pilot 'fighter type' handling characteristics of the pair, irrespective of the fact that he believes that the Eurofighter advanced control laws are still highly adequate as a similar, very advanced and very agile fighter. According to PC, the Rafale remains the best handling aircraft (by a long way) of the 34 fighter/fighter trainer types he has flown to date.
I know that aircraft handling chararcteristics can be a very personal pilot 'subject' but perhaps a clue as to how good the Rafale is to manoeuvre is that the French Air Force Rafale won the individual 'Best Display' this year at RIAT?"
However, on the basis of what he saw and what he evaluated, Pete Collins's personal opinion would still be to strongly rate the Rafale Digital FCS as giving the better pilot 'fighter type' handling characteristics of the pair, irrespective of the fact that he believes that the Eurofighter advanced control laws are still highly adequate as a similar, very advanced and very agile fighter. According to PC, the Rafale remains the best handling aircraft (by a long way) of the 34 fighter/fighter trainer types he has flown to date.
I know that aircraft handling chararcteristics can be a very personal pilot 'subject' but perhaps a clue as to how good the Rafale is to manoeuvre is that the French Air Force Rafale won the individual 'Best Display' this year at RIAT?"
I had completely forgotten about this thread.
My only critique of the Rafale article, was is that there is very little information given about the rafale FCS and what made it such a cut above the rest. I've read and enjoyed Peter's articles on the T-50 and M-346 trainers, as he gave quite some insight into the FCS of the respective aircrafts, such as the types of control laws used and their effect on the aircraft.
It would have been better if he done the same for the Rafale and perhaps compared the differences between the FCSs of the aircraft I mentioned. Peter could also have gone further and talked about what he liked and disliked between those systems.
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ANALYSIS: We check out Eurofighter's P1E upgrade in simulator - 1/19/2015 - Flight Global
2015 Peter Collins evaluation of P1E standard took place using BAE’s active cockpit rig (ACR) for the Eurofighter, and was overseen by Steve Nuttall, one of the company’s senior Typhoon cockpit engineers.
Compare with his Rafale 2009 piece FLIGHT TEST: Dassault Rafale - Rampant Rafale - 11/9/2009 - Flight Global
2015 Peter Collins evaluation of P1E standard took place using BAE’s active cockpit rig (ACR) for the Eurofighter, and was overseen by Steve Nuttall, one of the company’s senior Typhoon cockpit engineers.
unmatched lethality in both the air-to-ground and air-to-air roles.
Compare with his Rafale 2009 piece FLIGHT TEST: Dassault Rafale - Rampant Rafale - 11/9/2009 - Flight Global
Rafale is Europe's force-multiplying "war-fighter" par excellence. It is simply the best and most complete combat aircraft that I have ever flown.
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To make those assessments after an unclassified look at one aircraft and the simulator of another is not justifiable. It sounds like the lunch budget formed part of the assessment criteria.... 
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