The most prestigious air to air kill in history?
 

Wait, what? :doh:

What was this pilot flying? An X-15! :haha:

Anyone know where the X-37Bs are? :shifty:

Source

Way too little information there how is that even possible honestly? Unless maybe the plane fired an air to ground munition just as the Scud launched because I don't see other wise this would really be possible a Scud would be far to fast I'd think for a missile the Patriots can hit something coming down to earth but that is using a lot more ability than an aircraft would have.:hmmm:

I am thinking an ATG munition was used and just so happened that the Scud was just launching when hit so they considered it an air to air kill.Or it was just perfect timing and the ac was at the right place at the right time and did fire and got a hit.

Early in the acceleration stage of the launch, I'm sure a sharp pilot could get lucky.

In Vietnam you could "out run" a SAM by going into a semi parabolic pattern at full power

This is not nearly as difficult as it is thought to be. Your dealing with a ballistic missile here. Its not like a cruise missile where its going flat out horizontally. The only struggle is if the shooter acquires the target from the rear quadrant. Otherwise, its not difficult depending on the weapon used.

The issue is really one of math - and one that us subsimmers use alot when we play. Target is moving a course X, speed Y. It will be at a certain point at a certain moment in time. Make your shot hit (or get close enough to FOD out) the target. 20 years ago the Patriot system proved that computers could pull off this trick at extreme speeds in three dimensions. Now, 2 decades later, increases in technology (not just computer power) has allowed other weapons to do the same.

You only have to have a weapon that moves faster than your target if your chasing it.... if you have a good angle (and remember - the Scud-C is designed to follow a ballistic trajectory) then the shot is high percentage.

What goes up, comes down - and in a predictable way. Your shot can move at a relatively slow 1.5 Mach against a Mach 5 target if your ahead (or - from another perspective - below) your target and close enough to its course.....

Think about it... 20 years is a long time in weapons tech....

Lets not forget that a B-24 Rear gunner shot down a V2 during its acceleration stage in WWII

Would like to see more detailed information but I would have thought it possible, especially if it was during the early launch phase.

You have a source for that? I'd like to read that story.

For my money I don't think you can beat the feat of the WWII fighter pilots who physically tipped the wings/fins of the V-1 rockets...up real close and personal like.

Well, that's the ABM program out the window then, Congress will just ask the Airforce to be the new ballistic missile shield to save money.

I was thinking the same thing.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...lying_Bomb.jpg

Thank you.

Most welcome. :up:

Me too. I would assume this to be a bit risky tactic. Do anyone know did there happen any mishaps when doing this?

As far as i can remember from reading some books it sometimes ended with shattered wing tips of a fighter plane when V1 giro kicked in to stabilize the flight.
The pilot had to flip the wing beyond the correction point.
This tactics was used to avoid shooting on V1 which occasionally exploded in mid air.