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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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1 Reply
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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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