Quoted:
Quoted:
but I really think I'm one of these:
{deleted image of F-16)
CJ
View Quote
I'd rather be one of these
(deleted image of F-14)
Why would you prefer a Tomcat to a Viper?
Tomcats have substantially lower mission readiness rates. They're cranky, irritable, maintenance-intensive, hard to maintain, expensive to maintain, and as pure dogfighters go, Tomcats are simply not the better plane to be in. In a dogfight situation, F-14 vs. F-16, if you can't score a hit on an F16 with missiles beyond visual range, then the Tomcat pilot better remember exactly where the ejection handle is and make sure the ejection seat safing pins were removed before flight!
Tomcats are reaching the end of their service life, too, with no new ones having been made since the 80's, while new F-16's are being cranked out every day.
And, a crew of one is all a Viper needs.
I'd choose an F-15 before I'd choose an f-14, too. Partially because the F-15 has a perfect air-to-air combat record with 101 kills and no losses to date.
Of course, the new hot tickets are (will be) the F-22 and the JSF.
CJ