On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 18:54:29 +0900, Michael Cash  ...
>
>I remember when the F-4s and the A-7s were retired. I thought the A-7s
>were cool as hell. Slower than molasses, but damned cool looking. I
>remember standing on the signal bridge one fine day when an A-7 came
>in from the starboard beam, turned up on one wing (so he could fit)
>and flew *between* our forward and after stacks. Right over the signal
>bridge. It felt like I could almost reach my hand up and touch his
>wingtip.  Crazy bastard. (Him, not me).

Pilots are intend complete idiots, naval pilots especially. How stupid do you
have to be to pilot an aircraft laden with bombs and fuel and get launched of an
aircraft carrier?





>The F-14 was unique in that, as far as I know, it was the only plane
>ever designed around to fit a missile. The Navy came up with a
>monstrous air-to-air missile, the Phoenix, which had a range of about
>a jillion miles. Having no plane that could carry the damned thing,
>they had the F-14 built for it.
>


I hadn't thought of that. I don't think Hornets can carry the Phoenix, I'll have
to google to see if the Super Hornet can. The Phoenix might be going the way of
the doodoo.



.





.

----
"I went to Japan once, and was very dissapointed in what I saw."
            quote from Japan Today forums.