Captain Drunk

In this thread, vote for which Air Force pilots you think are deemed best and, give the reason as well.

I think the IAF is, if I’m not mistaken the fourth or fifth largest Air Force in the world? India’s also had a wide range of multi-national top quality fighters from Anglo-French Jaguars to British VTOL Harriers, delta-configuration Mirages, variable geometry Mig-23s and All-American B-24 ‘Liberator’ Bombers.

Comparing the IAF to the USAF, I think Mig-29 and Su-30 pilots either beat or were evenly matched by the US F-16 and F-15 pilots in DACT. I think IAF Mig pilots are only second best to the Russian pilots. Then comparing IAF pilots to Israeli pilots, PAF Mirage pilots supporting Egypt and Syria proved better skilled than Israeli pilots in the Yom Kippur war, but the IAF beats the PAF hollow, so my assumptions that the IAFs better.

Captain Drunk

Alright, although I voted for IAF pilots I’ll owe up and say, as for now, US pilots do have an edge over IAF pilots only because of stealths. So they're in the lead.

However in a decade or so, when India and Russia have Stealthy and Speedy Migs up against US fighters, then it’ll be another Cope India like scenario, with the US again pressing the IAF to keep mum on their slightly close cut victory

indianguy4u

Israeli AF pilots. F15s, F16s, python5, advance A2G missiles & under such weapons to give it an edge. But as an AF, theres no match for yanks.

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Insomniac

The Israeli airforce is the most experiance of any other airforce today since they have had to take on nearly every Arab nation. Even today their pilot's skill is only rivaled by that of the U.S. Navy Top Gun aces.

Quote from a documentary:

"Since it take only two minutes for arab nation pilots to cross the boarder of Israel to Jerusalem the pilots of the Israeli Airforce go up into the air knowing full well that if they fail their homes and families could well pay the price."

That's some serious motivation.

leib10

Israelis.

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TheGreenSmoke

Israelis

Their 30:1 kill ratio over their neighbors speaks for itself.

Maximus

This is why...

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Officer of Engineers

As opposed to the Soviets? The IsAF would have been blasted out of the sky had they faced a Soviet onslaught. On a per pilot basis, per plane basis, I'll even go as far as per flight package, the IsAF is better but there was and is no way they could've stop a Soviet air campaign.

We were.

I find it absolutely ludicrous to praise the Israelis so much just because they beat up on some 2nd rate Arabs when they were scared crapless everytime the Soviets said "boo." Thank God that we didn't have to take on that superpower but there is absolutely no question that we were far more ready and far more willing AND FAR MORE CAPABLE to take them on than the Israelis could ever dream of.

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Maximus

OoE, so according to you, based on events that happened 30 years ago the best fighter pilots in the world are, Russians? We are discussing which Air Force has the world's best pilots in the present world.

Well, I'd rate Russian Pilots at 6 or 7, considering whether I include China in my list or not.

I would say, if it is about pilots then I should be about pilots skills only, with other air support systems excluded.

Officer of Engineers

You've included experience which automatically pits alot of things against the Israelis; namely the lack of experience and expertise to prepare for and to fight WWIII.

Based on what? How about the ability to fly a 48hr mission half way across the globe and fly home again?

Then, you have a guy sitting on the ground looking at the sky, waiting for the other guy to drop his bomb.

Franco Lolan

I think it's a better idea to approach this discussion by comparing individual units and pilots (the question asks about "pilots," not AF's) the amount of time they train, environment, against whom, etc.

Officer of Engineers

Most AF across the globe is defensive or at the best, locally offensive (ie, PLAAF against Taiwan). They simply do not have the infrastructure to deliever planes, fuel, supplies, and ordnance halfway across the globe (CVBG).

So, automatically, this limits the very nature of most AFs, including the Israelis. Let's put it this way, the Vietnamese would have chewed the IsAF had they been the ones who tried LINEBACKER I & II. Hell, the IsAF would not even have tried it. Is it fair to praise them above pilots, crews, and planes who did?

ZFBoxcar

But if the discussion is pilots rather than infrastructure is it fair to judge defensive air forces by the same standard? I guess the original question is difficult to answer because not all air forces have the same goal. Although if the question were rephrased to address only defensive action (because even air forces with massive offensive capabilities still need to be able to be defensive) perhaps it would be more reasonable.

Gun Grape

I think its another "Big Penis" thread.

(scarcasm on)
I vote for Kuwait AF. They have 16 kills and no losses
Never been defeated in AtoA combat. (scarcasm off)

SuperFlanker

I vote for the Pakistani Air Force, since they supposedly deafeated the entire Israeli air force(according to many PDF members) and since they supposedly have the best training in the world(according to many PDF members once again).