Originally Posted by
orca
I personally found the story of test pilots engaged in air-to-air work brilliant. Haven't laughed so much in weeks. Test pilots! In combat training! Fabulous. I thought wind ups were a thing of the past, and they even got it into the press. Well done to all concerned!
orca,
As a member of SETP I have to respond. With 187 combat missions in the F-4 in SEA and and three year operational tour RAF Lakenheath, I was selected to attend the USAF Test Pilot School. After flying system and weapons testing in the F-15 at Eglin AFB, I was selected to join the Navy Operational Test squadron, VX-4, at NAS Point Mugu, where I did operational testing on the F-14 and F/A-18 including tactics development for mixed F-14-F/A-18 formations.
Sooo it is quite possible that the Operational Test Pilots who flew these missions where capable of making some kind of judgement on the capability of the F-35; meager as that might be.
