Thread: Defense analyst: Australia's purchase of the Super Hornet is a big mistake

I thik the Superhornet would be a great aircraft for australia. I dont work for boeing or any other aircraft manufacturer. Butwould like to point out some things. First thing is I didnt realize Austrailian press was as bad as the american press in not looking into facts before posting an article..lol. Anyway there are a few things he got wrong first and foremost the F-18 Superhornet is probably the most under-rated of any of the newer aircraft built. Yes is is perfectly capable and well equiped for combat with any of the new modern fighters including the f-22 if in the hands of well trained pilots which I believe the Aussie's would fit in the catagory. There was a pic of a Superhornet acually scoring a kill on a f-22 on a training excersise on an aircraft board I wish I could remember which one it was but I cant sorry. Now I am not saying the Superhornet is better than the F-22 its not but in the right hands could at least hang for a few anyway, now saying it cant handle the flankers is ridiclous it can not at the kill ratio of the f-22 but it does pretty well against them. I agree if australia has the money buy the f-22 but if not the Superhornet would be a great replacement for the F-111. Not to mention most of your pilots fly the older f-18c anyway training would be a breeze on the newer ones.

Originally Posted by highsea

Kopp is an experienced pilot, and has flown quite a few types.

He's an experienced and certified glider pilot. I'm not sure of his current status though for powered aircraft. (Although he is a member of AOPA - not that it means much in jet capability terms)

I'm pretty sure all he's done in oz has been backseater work in twin tub bugs and the pig.

I really don't know either, Gary- his bio says he holds multi-engine and aerobatic endorsements but is "not current". That could mean anything from failing a flight physical to a yanked ticket.

By "types", I wasn't really referring to military AC, but GA. Usually by the time you get multi and aero endorsements, you've done a fair bit of flying. I don't think he has ever held a jet endorsement. Didn't mean to imply he had. I think he was more of an airshow pilot.

Certainly doesn't translate into expertise on the subjects he chooses to write about, lol.

Originally Posted by highsea

Certainly doesn't translate into expertise on the subjects he chooses to write about, lol.

I'm already in trouble with him for not agreeing with his views on super-pigs for the RAAF - so no comment.

I think he also uses his AOPA membership as a form of validation. I'm also a member of AOPA and I don't have a plane and can't fly anything except paper gliders. - go figure.

Originally Posted by gf0012-aust

I'm also a member of AOPA and I don't have a plane and can't fly anything except paper gliders. - go figure.

Lol. I didn't know you were an AOPA member!

I never joined, but all I fly is light singles and the occasional Boeing simulator...

Originally Posted by gf0012-aust

I'm already in trouble with him for not agreeing with his views on super-pigs for the RAAF - so no comment.

Well, they are good planes but reaching the end of their practical lifespans. Overhauling them would be pricey.

Unrelated- did you go to the UDT conf. in San Diego this year?

Originally Posted by highsea

Unrelated- did you go to the UDT conf. in San Diego this year?

No, I didn't make it. Everything went pear shaped at my end on another contract so it screwed up my schedules. It was a damn shame as I was intending on catching up with old friends from prev UDT and other forums.

This year is also already out of whack, I was intending to go to Avalon but I'm driving a wedding car instead.

^^^Sucks! Any chance you can convince them to elope?

Originally Posted by highsea

^^^Sucks! Any chance you can convince them to elope?

nah, no chance, its my ex - so I need to make sure she does get married on time.

hahahaha.

Well, I hate to say it Gary, but that's probably more important than LanDef.