Originally Posted by
BEagle
100% correct - although a little luck can help too.
As the artillery (and men with little willies) often said: "It's the gunner, not the gun, who counts most!"
Best combat proven air defence jet? Still the F-15C, I would think.
Apologies for a tiny thread drift, but reading Beagle's observation about the F-15C, and I from what I a non-pilot understands, I wouldn't disagree. However, one question, I often wonder how our own much vaunted EE/BAC/BAE Lightning would have faired in actual combat? I read once that in much later years one Lightning pilot admitted to having been bested, eventually, by a Belgian F-16. I believe it was a mark 6, the Lightning chap was using reheat and keeping the F-16 boy off his tail. Eventually the F-16 got a shot and claimed victory.
Later, on solid ground, the RAF pilot asked the FAB pilot how he managed to get a shot finally, the Belgian replied that he was finding it difficult, so he decided to use reheat himself!
FB