F16 - Most Useless Modern Plane?

**PubFather** · 13 May 06,, 21:44

Sorry for the provocative title - just to get interest...
I wanted to see what people thought was the modern plane that was the most useless.

I dont just mean in terms of overall capability but to judge them by the below standards

1) Being a very poor design and unable to do the intended job.
2) Being much worse than contemporary aircraft in terms of cost/perfomance/ability
3) Poor proven combat perfomance
4) Not living up to intial design expectations and lacking flexibility.

My pick is the Yak 38 Forger... feel free to add others planes but stick to 1960's onwards...

**dalem** · 13 May 06,, 21:51

Wasn't the F-111 a real dog in its intended role?

-dale

**PubFather** · 13 May 06,, 21:54

lol - didnt even include that on the poll..

**TopHatter** · 13 May 06,, 22:24

I voted for the Yak-38 Forger as well.

Originally Posted by dalem

Wasn't the F-111 a real dog in its intended role?
-dale

All depends on which version are you are referring to

Intially the F-111A was something of a disaster over Vietnam due to various reasons.
But after corrections, fixes and lessons learned, "1972 saw the F-111 back in Vietnam, participating in the Operation Linebacker II aerial offensive against the North. F-111 missions did not require tankers nor ECM support, and they could operate in weather that grounded most other aircraft.
One F-111 could carry the bomb load of four F-4 Phantom IIs. The worth of the new planes was beginning to show, and over 4,000 combat F-111A missions were flown over Vietnam with only six combat losses". (apparently there was an additional 3 operational losses during this time.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111

See also
http://www.f-111.net/combat/index.htm

The F-111B "fleet-defense fighter" was three lies for the price of one.

The last model F-111F was one of the best all-weather attack aircraft of all time.

**Bill** · 13 May 06,, 22:26

Shiit.....i voted YAK-38 BEFORE i saw Osprey way at the bottom!

LOL.....even still.....compared to a YAK-38, an Osprey is a real winner of a design.

Tehehehee...

F-16 is a good little jet. Just got short legs is all. Still more range than the Harrier, F-18A-D or F-35B though.

**Bill** · 13 May 06,, 22:28

Originally Posted by TopHatter

I voted for the Yak-38 Forger as well.

All depends on which version are you are referring to

Intially the F-111A was something of a disaster over Vietnam due to various reasons.
But after corrections, fixes and lessons learned, "1972 saw the F-111 back in Vietnam, participating in the Operation Linebacker II aerial offensive against the North. F-111 missions did not require tankers nor ECM support, and they could operate in weather that grounded most other aircraft.
One F-111 could carry the bomb load of four F-4 Phantom IIs. The worth of the new planes was beginning to show, and over 4,000 combat F-111A missions were flown over Vietnam with only six combat losses". (apparently there was an additional 3 operational losses during this time.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-111

See also
http://www.f-111.net/combat/index.htm

The F-111B "fleet-defense fighter" was three lies for the price of one.

The last model F-111F was one of the best all-weather attack aircraft of all time.

"Three lies for the price of one"....lol, oh man.....that's classic.

So what's JSF? Let's see....3 variants times 13 custemers.....39 lies for the price of.....39?

LOL...

**dave angel** · 13 May 06,, 23:33

got to be the YAK-38, i thought about the Tornado ADV (F1, F2 and F3) but while most western fighters are better than it for its role, it can actually do its role (long-range interception).

the YAK can take off, fly around the carrier twice and then has to land - total waste of space.

**dalem** · 14 May 06,, 00:05

Ahh, thanks for the info TH.

From what little I know I've cast my vote for the Yak-38 then.

-dale

**Tronic** · 14 May 06,, 00:37

who voted for a Mig-21??? lol... it's quite amazing that a machine more than 50 years old can still serve in airforces around the world...

**TopHatter** · 14 May 06,, 01:27

Originally Posted by dalem

Ahh, thanks for the info TH.
From what little I know I've cast my vote for the Yak-38 then.
-dale

You're welcome

I've always been fond of the F-111.

Dave Angel sure said it best about the Yak-38:
"the YAK can take off, fly around the carrier twice and then has to land - total waste of space."

Pretty much sums it up

Although, I guess its only mission was anti-ASW helo; so it didn't have to be anywhere near the same category as say, the Harrier.
But, it sure helps you accomplish your mission when you don't have to return the boat after 10 minutes.

**Shadowsided** · 14 May 06,, 01:46

Yup the Osprey is a piece of **** we don't need it really.

**The_Burning_Kid** · 14 May 06,, 02:27

We don't need a lot of things. We don't need the Marine Corp but they still find themselves alive and trying to become a new branch of military. The V-22 is the biggest piece of crap really. We could use that money to buy more Raptors (hell they cost around $100 million+ so we could buy a good 50 or more with that money).

**gunnut** · 14 May 06,, 07:34

Why is the MC useless?

I guess I'll vote for the Yak as well. V-22 is pricy and not very capable, but we haven't seen it deployed in real missions yet so I'll hold off on making fun of it.

**hello** · 14 May 06,, 08:44

Originally Posted by M21Sniper

Shiit.....i voted YAK-38 BEFORE i saw Osprey way at the bottom!

LOL.....even still.....compared to a YAK-38, an Osprey is a real winner of a design.

Tehehehee...

F-16 is a good little jet. Just got short legs is all. Still more range than the Harrier, F-18A-D or F-35B though.

I never thought M21Sniper would call the F-16 "lawn dart" good. Until now, I always thought he hated it.

I voted Osprey. It's too expensive for a transport helicopter/plane tiltrotor. The Yak-38 Forger is really something. And people call the F-35B bad...

Well, actually it is compared to other planes, but compared to previous STOVLs, the Forger and the Harrier, it's state of the art. I mean, it can actually go stealthy, supersonic and not have to take off, fly around the carrier/base twice and land like the Yak. For the price of a squadron of Yaks...

Strange, the MiG-21 and the Tornado were picked. Those two aren't useless.

-{SpoonmaN}- · 14 May 06,, 09:32

Originally Posted by gunnut

Why is the MC useless?

I guess I'll vote for the Yak as well. V-22 is pricy and not very capable, but we haven't seen it deployed in real missions yet so I'll hold off on making fun of it.

It's not useless, it's just superfluous as a seperate branch of the Military from the Army. If it was truly useless, it wouldn't be getting used. Nor is the V-22 useless, it's just not worth it's staggering price tag when there are cheaper and perhaps better alternatives on the table. If it was significantly cheaper then it'd be worth it, but as it stands it's using up too great a share of available resources when considering its capabilties.
Now the Forger, I wouldn't pay any money for one of those.