F-35 "Will get pilots SHOT DOWN"

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

The thing with the F-4 is not that it has no agility but that most other foes that it might encounter have better agility.Of course an important element to any combat aircraft is its pilot/crew if the plane is flown where it has advantages and the opposing aircraft is at a disadvantage that aircraft will likely win the engagement.

Therefore an F-4 driver that knows his plane and knows his enemy this pilot will have confidence in his aircraft.

I think you could say that about most aircraft, if you know what you can get away with and know the limits of the enemies aircraft then you have an advantage in an engagement. For example a Spitfire pilot who knows his aircraft and the enemy would know to try to lure a 109 pilot into a turning dogfight where he has the advantage rather than a climbing dogfight where the 109 has the advantage.

I think how long the F4 stayed in service and the sheer number of nations it served with is another good indicator of what sort of aircraft it was at the end of the day.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Oberon

I think how long the F4 stayed in service and the sheer number of nations it served with is another good indicator of what sort of aircraft it was at the end of the day.

True. There are numerous evaluations of the F-4 and its combat capabilities and actual performance to many to list in this thread without going a good way off topic.Though that already seems to have happened some what.

The the F-4 also ended up taking over the F-105's role in the USAF from 1968 onwards and performed very well as a strike aircraft.The F-4G was an excellent SEAD platform.The F-4 also has the honor of being the first aircraft to use laser guided bombs in combat back in 1972.

[MH]

I think how long the F4 stayed in service and the sheer number of nations it served with is another good indicator of what sort of aircraft it was at the end of the day.

Yeah it was a work horse and flexible air plane but not very exceptional at any role.
F35 is possibly going the same route but on different level by today's standards.