Ex-Navy pilot loses libel suit, again

Washington Times ^ | 12/13/03 | Rowan Scarborough

[HighWheeler]

I thought the accident in 1982 during a line abreast loop was caused by a malfunction on the leader's A/C related to a control line.

[Pukin Dog]

You are correct, but the leader failed to call for an emergency breakaway in time for the other members to get clear. He could not pull out, and they just followed him right into the ground. Remember, they dont look anywhere but at his plane, they had no idea they about to die.

[HighWheeler]

Yep, I didn't know what the details were about. I saw the video of that crash too, it was just sickening to see them all sequence in.

[Taxman]

As a former RAG Flight Instructor/LSO and Training Command Flight Instructor, I'd be much obliged for recent news which might, just might, mind you, indicate that sex (and heavy Brass oversight) is not the flight grade determinant it was when I was involved in training the ladies to become Naval Aviators.

BTW, I thank both of you for sharing your Tomcat insights. Hellofanairplane! I was out of the business before the F-14 hit the Fleet -- our excitement was the Viggie!

[Pukin Dog]

I'm out too, but I can tell you that from what I am told by friends is that women are having a hard time hacking the Hornet. They can fly it fine (who cant fly a Hornet?), but their SA is lacking, their calls are slow, and above all else they lack the aggressiveness to use the airplane's advantages. This is a gross generalization of what I hear, but it does not look good for women as we transition away from the Tomcat.

For the women who did fly the Tomcat, it was a reverse situation, as SA stayed good due to the RIO, but they could not fly the beast. The good news is that the RAGs are quick washing these days on tendencies and not waiting for final grades most of the time. Also, almost no women are getting sent to the RAGs anyway without proven ability. Nobody is getting transfers these days except out of Tomcats.

[Taxman]

Thanks for the comeback and the update.

Do I hear you saying that the playing field has been leveled, and spades are being called spades? I.e., ability over PC bullsh!t?

Damn shame Grumman tried to get rich overnight on re-opening the Super Tomcat line -- it really is a Hellofanairplane! Grumman miscalculated very, very badly and the USN (and the taxpayer) paid a huge price for their greed.

Truth time: Is the Super Hornet as good as the Super Tomcat? Air-to-air? Air-to-mud? What is the cost of the Super Hornet?

[Pukin Dog]

Truth time: Is the Super Hornet as good as the Super Tomcat? Air-to-air? Air-to-mud? What is the cost of the Super Hornet?

Air-to-Air, about even if I'm in a "D" Altitude will decide it, but I can run if in a bad position. Air-to-mud, not even close, the Bombcat is a better platform. The Super Hornet is an super waste of money at $40m apiece. The Tomcat is a better fleet defender, if not as nimble as the Super Hornet. The Super Hornet is underpowered, overweight, and has a mysterious wing-drop problem. Makes a great Texaco though.

[Pukin Dog]

Do I hear you saying that the playing field has been leveled, and spades are being called spades? I.e., ability over PC bullsh!t?

Yes. Probably because if one more woman screws up, they will halt their eligibility. They still get a fitness break, but nobody gets through the pipeline on BS or kneepads anymore.

[quietolong]

How many woman are in NavyAv and in F-14s? I know there are some very capable woman pilots out there. But they don’t seem to find there way into these position. Think there smarter than the figureheads Fembots send out to break barriers.
I was in the first Navy squadron to test the implementation of woman into seaduty back in 79
We had the a few that were capable, More that tried hard ( I’m sorry but a 100 lb girl is not going to pick up 150 lbs and fling it like a guy) And a number.. well no matter how cute they tried to be the Aircraft didn’t care. And then what do you do when your trying to bitch one out for doing a job wrong and they start crying on you.
Over all I’m supportive woman in the military but not in combat or on ships or how they have is setup now.
Then you put “don’t ask don’t tell on top of that. It’s no wonder everyone I knew that stayed in got out after Billarey became C&C

A line from the book Crossed Currents (It’s about woman in the Navy from 1917 to present)

Woman felt safer sleeping in the mens barracks that in there own! Because of aggressive lesbians in there own.

Navy Women Head to the Sick Bay Much More Than
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3a78fc3b6e1e.htm

Since the F-14 Vs F-18 was brought up here’s some oldies

F-14D Tomcat vs. F/18 E/F Super Hornet
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/595147/posts

The Carrier Myth
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/fr/577009/posts

[Pukin Dog]

There are 2 women flying Tomcats that I know of, but I cant tell you how many are training in the pipeline right now. The Tomcat is being retired, so there wont be much of a line, and women are failing at Hornets. Many women are flying CODs, Helos and other boring stuff though. I'll check in tomorrow, but I'm outta here for the evening.

[Taxman]

'Bout the damn time!

Still worries me that they get the FITREP break, though.

Sure would like to be SECDEF for a day!

[Taxman]

Damn shame that Cheyney and Grumman got their panties in a wad!

[USNBandit]

Who are the two women flying Tomcats? I haven't seen any of them make it through a full tour, yet. In the defense of other female aviators, I have seen a couple recently that would be considered fleet average, and one that is pretty good. She is definitely better than her husband. It is all a matter of treatment in the training pipeline. Selection base on gender alone has been a total failure.

[HighWheeler]

Hey Pukin Dog, how are the engines between the A-B and the C & D?

The GE engines have a lot more power, but how are the throttle responses, the reliability, the air restart, stall resistance to disrupted airflow, etc?

[Pukin Dog]

Dont know them personally, I'll try to get you names. I have heard that one of them is really hotshit though.

[Pukin Dog]

There really was no Tomcat C, they went from A+, which was just the new engines, to the B, with better avionics to include air-to-mud, to the D, with the new digital radar and AIM-120 support.

Let me tell you that the F-110 powered Tomcats were fantastic. At 25 ft or below, we beat up on Eagles like they stole something. Only altitude kept them alive when we hassled. We had every advantage until the air got thin where the Tomcat wing does not work well enough to sustain corner speed. The only kid who ever beat me when I was flying the F-16N, was in a Tomcat B. (he cheated, though:-))

The single biggest benefit of the GE's was the ability to throttle slam without worrying what was going on with the compressors. With the old TF-30, you had to baby the throttle. Restarts? Flawless. Great stall resistance, due to the faster second stage, and acceleration was incredible. Just a great package all around. The problem is that it all came too late.

[HighWheeler]

Thanks, Pukin, that matches what I had heard about the GE engines from the B-1 bomber squads at Dyess.

Those guys loved the F101, which was design modified to make the F110. The F110 had some improvements to it after the long development phase of the F101.

Thanks