Increase load on F16s/Migs

[Sirsolo]

I think that we should get F/A-18 Hornets in the game soon =)

If/when we do, Im going to be in the air 24/7. I will not crash those babies under any circumstances =)

If I cant shake you, I'll line up with the runway, and jump out.. the Jet will then slowly glide in and land, waiting my arrival =)

Fo sho..

~Sirsolo

[Liquid_Cow]

After some intense searching, the A-16, which was intended to be a CAS version of the F-16.

BING BINB BING

Marine Seaknight, CONGRATULATIONS, you've just won an all expense paid trip to EJOD City (after the fighting stops, if there's anything left of it of course)

I just thought it was funny that in this thread we were having an argument about those two birds...

Anyway, yes, the F-16 can already do the job of the A-10 and carry all the same ordinance (except for the GAU-8 of course). The USAF is a big proponent ot the Swiss Knife theory, they wanted to only have 2 tactical airplanes: The F-15 and F-16, so they reduced their inventory, and prior to GW1 got rid of all their A-7's, A-37's, F-4's (except for the Wild Weasels), and were activly transfering the A-10's out. They even went so far as to commision an attack version of the F-15, a plane build to be the ultimate air superiority fighter, the plane that was designed with the motto "Not a pound for Air to Ground". There are a lot of things in the F-15's design which made it tough to turn into a low altitude bomber, not the least of which was wing loading, it was too low which makes for a very bumpy ride in turbulance.

There were huge problem with using F-16's though. As they have learned in every war since jets were invented, fast is not good when it comes to bombing close to friendlies. In Nam, US troops were always told how was providing their CAS so they could prepair. The VC got to know, if the Marines were falling back there was probably an F-4 on its way in.

Anyway, the F-16 could not carry as much ordinance (though it could carry all the same type), did not have the lotier time, could not absorb anywhere near as much small arms fire, and lacking the 30mm gun it just was not as effective as the A-10. Oh, and due to high speed it could not keep a visual on its targets as it banked around, meaning occationally the wrong target was engaged on the 2nd pass, leaving the troops on the ground wondering where the heck thier CAS went.

For once in recent military history, the Generals learned a lesson and decided to reverse their decision to scrap the A-10. I was very please to hear the A-10's were getting the C model upgrade (and it sounds like there will be a D ir ICAP mdl not long after), looks like they are committed to keeping it in inventory.

[Bob_Marley]

Well thats not quite true, the F16 did have a 30mm gun pod for a bit, until they actually used them in GW1 and found that the mountings were so unstable its hit pattern was more like a cluster bomb than a cannon.