[F-15/16 fuel endurance]

It all comes down to the mighty $$! That's why the 767 tanker deal got shot down. Man, that would've been nice to get!

[F-15/16 fuel endurance]

Originally posted by BeerMan:

The other day my IP, who has been across the pond twice in an F16, was telling me that they have to refuel 10-12 times (about once an hour). Not because they can't make it across on fewer hits, but because they always have to have enough fuel on board to make it to an alternate or divert airfield if somethign goes FUBAR with their jet or the tanker. He said there were times where #4 would finish refuling and lead would start right back up again because it was a long way to concrete.

We always use tankers as Toro said -- every time you put a jet on the ground, you have a chance of it breaking there. Then you have to fly people and parts there to fix it. Plus it would take a few days to do the hopping because of pilot rest, etc when you could get all the jets over the pond with a couple of tankers in one day.

Cheers,

BeerMan

Exactly right -- we could go faster across the pond without a tanker -- with them we have to stay at our refueling speed. (for and Eagle it's 310 kts indicated). You usually can't get the tanker to speed up between refuelings, so you are stuck at that speed. Also, we don't tank at high altitude, so staying low (mid-upper 20's) eats at our fuel consumption rate as well.

[F-15/16 fuel endurance]

They are pretty much done after the show. The question really has no answer other than the standard fighter pilot response of "it depends" It all depends on if they are using AB, what altitude and airspeed they are flying. In a clean Eagle I've flown as short as a 0.5 or 0.6 and as long as a 1.6 (could've flown longer with no tactical stuff)

[Fighter-isms]

I think the deceased insect thing probably started on a very drunk evening long ago...

From what I've heard, cranium, "so to speak" & container started after tailhook. All the other stuff is basically airframe specific. Eagle guys have the most "lingo" that I've heard. We can't say much of anything...

a-word

b-word

g-word

3-letter s-word

6-letter s-word

p-word (aka 5 sided wind tunnel)

-- it borders on the rediculous, but it's fun.

[ 31. March 2005, 13:23: Message edited by: EvilEagle ]

[Moody AFB information]

I was at Moody on casual and back again for IFF. I'd live in town, it's a painful drive, but it's much easier to go out if you live downtown. I rented a house when I was casual out by the base, but realize the base is 10 miles from town (speed limit 45 with lots of cops). But, it was convinient for work. (wish I'd lived in town).

[Aggressor pilots]

You have to be an IP in any current fighter. It's not a very tough assignment to get into. You just have to fly the single seat ejection platform for a while. Some Eagle guys that become aggressors never get out of the Viper community (same with T-clones).

The rumor is still floating about the Eagle aggressors, I'm hearing maybe this fall...