MigBuster 2,884 Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) Interesting read for those interested check out the AIM-7 photo: "THIS IS AN AIM-7 AIR-TO-AIR MISSILE SHOT FROM AN F‑15 EAGLE DETONATING ON AN IRAQI MIG‑29 FULCRUM DURING OPERATION DESERT STORM." "]http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2009/03/the-last-ace/7291/[/img] Edited June 13, 2011 by MigBuster 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ezlead 42 Posted June 13, 2011 It has been magnified or it's photo shopped. I believe AIM-7 is proximity fuzed. It goes off away from aircraft with shotgun type of effect(ball bearings or rods). Maybe an ordy can tell us. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MigBuster 2,884 Posted June 13, 2011 From what he describes I'm not sure we are seeing the entire photo there (where is the F-15?)- would need a higher res image - and not easy to tell the actual range either. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+warthog64 94 Posted June 13, 2011 It has been magnified or it's photo shopped. I believe AIM-7 is proximity fuzed. It goes off away from aircraft with shotgun type of effect(ball bearings or rods). Maybe an ordy can tell us. I believe the AIM-7 is both a hit-to-kill weapon, and proximity fused. I think it all has to do with what the circumstance are when the missile finds its target. I could be wrong though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+warthog64 94 Posted June 13, 2011 The silhouette of the aircraft in the picture looks like a Mig-23 to me. I know Col. Rodriguez shot down both a Mig-23 and Mig-29 in Desert Storm, but his Fulcrum kill was achieved through maneuvering. Either way great article Mig Buster, Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KJakker 910 Posted June 13, 2011 The silhouette of the aircraft in the picture looks like a Mig-23 to me. I know Col. Rodriguez shot down both a Mig-23 and Mig-29 in Desert Storm, but his Fulcrum kill was achieved through maneuvering. Either way great article Mig Buster, Thanks The picture is not the silhouette of a Mig-23 but a nose on view of an AIM-7 Sparrow. Compare and Contrast This. http://cdn.theatlant...f22_003_200.jpg With This. http://gigapan.org/g...apshots/204942/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+warthog64 94 Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) The picture is not the silhouette of a Mig-23 but a nose on view of an AIM-7 Sparrow. Compare and Contrast This. http://cdn.theatlant...f22_003_200.jpg With This. http://gigapan.org/g...apshots/204942/ Oh I see now, I guess I missed that, thanks. I thought it was a view from an F-15 of a missile about to strike an enemy aircraft. But I see now that this photo shows Rodriguez's F-15 in a defensive maneuver, while the Aim-7 is the one fired by Craig Underhill. This is off topic, but one other USAF fighter pilot since the Vietnam War also scored three aerial victories. Capt. Wilbur Wright shot down three Serb J-21 over Bosnia in 1994, however Col. Rodriguez was the last pilot with three aerial vicrtories to remain in USAF service until 2 years ago. If anyone has seen dogfights on the History channel it shows all three of Col. Rodriguez's aerial kills in two episodes, I'd reccomend it to anyone who hasn't seen it. Edited June 13, 2011 by warthog64 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MigBuster 2,884 Posted June 13, 2011 Oh I see now, I guess I missed that, thanks. However Col. Rodriguez did not shoot down a Mig-29 with an Aim-7 in Desert Storm. He did shoot down a Mig-29 over Bosnia in 1999 but he used a Aim-120. Its the AIM-7 from his wingman Craig "Mole" Underhill apparently - check out page 2 or 3 I think Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+warthog64 94 Posted June 13, 2011 It has been magnified or it's photo shopped. I believe AIM-7 is proximity fuzed. It goes off away from aircraft with shotgun type of effect(ball bearings or rods). Maybe an ordy can tell us. But yes you are right ezlead, this is very close. The Mig was obviously milliseconds from destruction when this was taken. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+warthog64 94 Posted June 13, 2011 (edited) Its the AIM-7 from his wingman Craig "Mole" Underhill apparently - check out page 2 or 3 I think I didn't realize there were more pages to the story, I assumed it was Underhill's missile but thanks for letting me know that there were more pages to clear that up. Very interesting story. Thanks Mig Buster Edited June 13, 2011 by warthog64 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DWCAce 19 Posted June 19, 2011 I read somewhere a few years ago that this was taken from a drone.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+ST0RM 145 Posted June 20, 2011 I don't see how you guys are seeing an F-15 in that tiny, grainy image. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MigBuster 2,884 Posted June 20, 2011 I don't see how you guys are seeing an F-15 in that tiny, grainy image. Didnt think we were - the article describes features that don't appear to be in that shot, or you cant make them out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+ST0RM 145 Posted June 20, 2011 But I see now that this photo shows Rodriguez's F-15 in a defensive maneuver, while the Aim-7 is the one fired by Craig Underhill. This is what I was reading. I guess I misunderstood. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
