I was on You Tube the other day looking for references for my Tupolev Bear bomber when I saw some videos that kind of caught my attention. I thought you guys would like to see this.
Question…where and how did those sneaky bastards get their hands on the super secret U.S technology to start work on these aircraft? That Russian T50 looks almost identical to the Raptor.
I know it’s good practice not to believe everything you read on the internet but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a little truth behind these aircraft.
So what do you guys think?..other than “Where can I get those freakin’ kits!”. Do you think this is all bull? Or do you think there is some truth here?
Sorry to be off topic but how are you liking the Trumpeter Tu-95? That is something on my to get list, but I haven’t seen any reviews or seen any being built to hear how the kit is.
Okay first off they didn’t steal any tech from us since people have known about the Raptor for almost 8 years now, and second, half of those planes are concept sketches that have been floating around the internet for a couple of years (I know because I have some of these designs in one of my books, they were early Raptor concepts and competitors) the other half all appear in the latest Tom Clancy games “Hawx” and “Endwar”. The only real picture is of the modified Mig 29 and the Chinese are stilll at the pretty picture phase.
By the time these things become viable weapons the US will have already neutralized them even better 5th Generation weaponry.
Should we be afraid? No I don’t think so. But I have to ask an honest question… do you think their security agencies suddenly stopped working? The thing is we still spy on them and they still spy on us.
No. There is no reason to worry. Most of our current aircraft designs are on the internet so if the Russians or the Chinese want them, they can access at least rough plans. The F-22 and F-35 will still rule the skys for years to come. Even with the Russians new aircraft designs like the fourth and a half generation Su-37 and Mig-29M/Mig-35 and their fifth generation S-47 and Mig-1.44(which are most likely just technology demonstrators) and the Sukhoi PAK FA, most of our technology is still more advanced. Also, none of those are as stealthy as the F-22 or F-35. Plus the Russians just don’t have the funding for large-scale production of an advanced aircraft. When the Russians have mostly fifth generation aircraft, the US will be on fifth and a half generation and sixth generation aircraft. For right now though, the F-22 is just a superior aircraft.
But, the Soviets/Russians, and other states, have been benefitting from our advances in military technology throughout the Cold War and to the present day through their active spy activites. The Frogfoot and MIG 29 especially have much of the technology we developed for our A-10 and F15 aircraft.
It’s still a conscript army and Ivan hasn’t gotten any better at maintaining his stuff… Their pilots haven’t gotten any extra flight-time either… Probably a third that of NATO pilots…
Ain’t any secrets either… Anything we OR Ivan come up with is on the internet or printed up in Jane’s two weeks after it’s thought up…
I personally gave up being afraid back in Sept. '04 when I checked out but was brought back thanks to the advances of modern medicine. Nothing can be done to stop the turning of the Earth, the position of the stars or the schemes of men, so just roll with it friend. Every day above ground is a good day.
Thanks for the assurance guys…I guess when it comes down to it, a super advanced fighter is nothing without a superb pilot. Also, when you consder the sheer numbers of aircraft, missile systems, subs and carriers at the disposal of the USAF, Navy, Army and Marines…it would be a suicide mission to mess with the red, white and blue and their friends. Makes me sleep better at night living a stone-throws distance from the U.S.
Oh yah…they better not mess with us Canadians either…we’ve got a total of 18 CF18’s in our Air Force [sigh]. Not to mention hockey sticks, frozen pucks and steaming hot pots of Tim Hortons coffee to splash in their faces…HA.
To be honest, the kit is great but way too expensive. For over a hundred bucks, they could of at least opened up the bomb bay doors and shown off some bombs or a cruise missile or two…
There is no interior detail besides two seats in the cockpit…pity.
Other than that, the panel lines are clean…flaps are moveable and all control surfaces are poseable…I’d wait to get it on sale or if you’ve got a coupon to Hobby Lobby.
I would have thought so too. I thought that the CF-18 was Canada’s front-line fighter. Canada will most likely eventually upgrade to F-35’s though or at least I think so.
Tiny, you brought up a good point in pilots. NATO does seem to be producing better pilots now a days. Plus Hans brings up a good point about Russia still being a conscript military. That would be a factor. And simple economics. Yes the F-22 is very expensive and the US can not afford that many at one time, but it is a lot worse in Russia. They can design some great stuff but they don’t have the funding for it. The Mig 1.44 has the possibility of being a great fighter but the Russians just don’t have the funding for it. So Mig might possibly go to the Chinese for help along with Russia. I am glad that you feel better Tiny. Don’t lose any sleep over this at all.
All the talk of aircraft is interesting, but the aspect of the cold war that continues, and worries me, is all the leftover nuclear material out there and still available to unfriendly people.
I think that their are still nuclear missile silos run by Russians that still think that the USSR is still around. Very unlikely and I know it isn’t true, but something in me thinks it is.
My mistake guys…I looked into it a bit more. We have aboot 100 CF18’s…still kinda stingy for the second largest country in the world.
My cousin is a retired CF18 pilot for the Canadian Air Force, when he returned from Bosnia/Cosovo in the early 90’s, he had mentioned that there were only 18 in our arsenal. Probably beefed that up since 2001 of course.
I found an article about what we may be replacing the F-18’s with…The Joint Strike Fighter…SWEET!
I know they make CF18 decals, I was at my cousin’s place last weekend and he showed me a model of his CF-18 that someone built for him…beautiful piece by the way. I’m sure if you checked online you could find them for sure. Check this site out.
Holey freak’n crap! Anyone else watch this?! I’ve seen some crazy things during my time in iraq but havent seen kids making AK ammo and people making semi auto handguns BY HAND in caves! People like this scare me the most because they will happily die to kill a few american’s. Tiny, I think your safe, other than south park, never really hear of others sceaming down with canada.
By the way tiny, I grew up in the buffalo area, we have tim hortons on every other corner, god I miss that! None here in stupid ohio. I’m a BIG hockey fan too!!!