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Quick Guide for UPT Hopefuls to USAF Aircraft & Terms
The goal of this discussion post is to give aspiring aviators a quick start guide to help them navigate aircraft, terms, to give a baseline understanding, and a good place to start before going to units to rush. I recommend deep diving on specific units you will be rushing and not just use this post alone.
I’ll start with fighters today so let’s dive right in!
F-16 Fighting Falcon
- known as the “Viper” to pilots
- USAF/ANG/AFR currently fly F-16C and F-16D
- C= Single seat
- D= Two seater
- “Block” is a generational, avionics, and engine type derivative
- Block 30 is one of the oldest generation currently flying. It uses what is known as SCU computer to operate and is known as pre-block. They have had upgrades but baseline understanding is this information.
- Block 40 are the most prevalent and either have GE(blk40) or Pratt & Whitney(blk42) motors. They are middle aged aircraft and operate on the MMC computer. This is in the post block family.
- Block 50/52 are the newest aged vipers we fly. They are MMC and have further avionics upgrades. This post block of aircraft also performs the all the normal viper missions with the addition of SEAD.
- mech scan= mechanical sweeping radar, AESA= new electronic fixed radar, SEAD= suppression of enemy air defenses, sniper pod= manufacture type of targeting pod, litening pod= different manufacturer targeting pod, JHMCS/HEMIT/HOBIT= all different types of helmet mounted cueing systems, ATD/Bscope= referencing radar control screens
There is plethora of information on the F-16 but this will help get you started down the right path with your own research! I’ll will post about the other respective fighters throughout the day today, cheers!!
STK!
-CAGE
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2 Replies
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Next up on the fighter list…
F-35 Lightning
- Known as Panther or Puma to pilots and is 5th Gen
- These are prevalent in the USAF/Navy/Marines and will one day replace all F-16
- F-35A is the USAF variant
- F-35B is the Marine VTOL variant
- F-35C is the Navy & Marine variant for carrier use
- There are no 2seat F-35
- “TR” is similar to the “Block” system of the F-16 but is more so software driven.
- Each variant above has different capabilities based on the physical aircraft as well so it is good info to know
- The jets are capable of Air-to-Air(A-A) and Air-to-Ground(A-G) with multiple different missions including SEAD. Do your research!
- 4th Gen aircraft are incorporated with the F-35 using what’s called FI or Force Integration.
- F-35 carries weapons in internal weapons bays but have hard points for external carriage.
- Pratt & Whitney are the primary engine manufacturer but GE is in the process of testing
- AESA radar, has an internal “targeting pod”, is considered a stealth fighter
As before there is so much more on the F-35 so do some reading! BogiDope coaches or Panther pilots pile on with any other basic in, cheers!
STK!
-CAGE
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Next up on the fighter list is the;
F-15E Strike Eagle
- Known as the “Strike” or “Dark Grey”
- This is a two seat aircraft with the pilot in the front seat and WSO or a weapon system operator in the back. Both are officers
- The strike is flown by several other NATO non-nato countries.
- This aircraft is also a multi role capability with both A-A and A-G. One thing that sets itself apart is that this aircraft is simultaneously able to perform both functions at once. The pilot can fly and shoot A-A while the WSO can target A-G.
- Radar upgrades a changed the original APG-70 mech scan radar with the AESA APG-82 radar giving greater range capes.
- This MWS is capable of dropping almost every weapon in the USAF inventory.
- Most if not all E models are powered by the Pratt & Whitney 229
- Top speed of Mach 2.5+ and max altitude of 60,000ft
- They use a targeting pod like the F-16 and also have helmet mounted weapon cueing systems
As always do your research specifically to the unit rushing but here is a great place to start, cheers!
STK!
-CAGE
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