Gr.Viper 131 Posted January 26, 2012 The current endurance isn't spectacular though http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/26/us-iran-plane-crash-idUSTRE80P0I520120126 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-ml-iran-fighter-jet-crash,0,7591164.story It seems, the crew didn't make it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayethWhaaaa 245 Posted January 26, 2012 3 mins, huh? Still longer than a Kardashian marriage. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MigBuster 2,884 Posted January 26, 2012 RIP to the brave crew - those F-14s should be in a museum! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Dave 2,322 Posted January 26, 2012 Aviators around the world no matter what side deserve respect. RIP. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+DoctorQuest 125 Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) How well could these jets have been serviced? The certainly could not get parts from the US (legally). Spit and bailing wire will only get you so far with something like an F-14. Agree with Dave. Condolenses to the families. Sad to see any pilot go down. Edited January 26, 2012 by DoctorQuest Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast 153 Posted January 26, 2012 RIP to the crew as to the Tomcats there are probably birds out there in worse shape... But to the Iranians keeping the Tomcats airborne is a priority issue... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gr.Viper 131 Posted January 26, 2012 But to the Iranians keeping the Tomcats airborne is a priority issue... Yes, the area where it happened seems to be in the province with the nuclear reactor. The guys who fly them (30 years without manufacturer support?) must have incredible guts and sense of duty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Coupi 4,388 Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) RIP to the crew! Nowadays IRIAF is a sort of museum with Tigers, F-14s, Mirages F-1EQ, etc... I've read that Iran used with success the Tomcats during 80's but I don't know if this is the truth! Coupi Edited January 26, 2012 by Coupi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Stary 2,427 Posted January 26, 2012 what Dave said, RIP Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slartibartfast 153 Posted January 26, 2012 RIP to the crew! Nowadays IRIAF is a sort of museum with Tigers, F-14s, Mirages F-1EQ, etc... I've read that Iran used with success the Tomcats during 80's but I don't know if this is the truth! Coupi Yes they used the Tomcats in the 80's against the Iraqi Air Force with such effectivness that the Iraqi's would not come anywhere near if they picked up the AWG-9 signals some of the Iranian Jets launched without full operating Radar systems and only had Sidewinders such was the effectivness of the Jet... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MAKO69 186 Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) Article on Iran's Air Force Don't under estimate Iran's Gov't. If they can build a nuclear reactor they certainly can maintain thier fleet of F-14 and other planes. Edited January 26, 2012 by MAKO69 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Misty FAC 3 Posted January 26, 2012 I respect this Iranian aircrew as I will those that will get their brave asses flamed by the USAF and USN <IF> push comes to shove in the days ahead too. SA-LUTE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capitaine Vengeur 263 Posted January 26, 2012 Article on Iran's Air Force Don't under estimate Iran's Gov't. If they can build a nuclear reactor they certainly can maintain thier fleet of F-14 and other planes. Surely, IRIAF, USAF, and all of air forces in the World including Vatican's Seraphs, may now use the same Chinese-built cheap junk spare parts! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayethWhaaaa 245 Posted January 26, 2012 Surely, IRIAF, USAF, and all of air forces in the World including Vatican's Seraphs, may now use the same Chinese-built cheap junk spare parts! They've been cannibalising and manufacturing spares for a long time to keep the lion's share airworthy, but their biggest problem is their inability to manufacture all the components, particularly engines. The Saeqeh and Azarakhsh programmes have done a lot towards advancing Iranian knowledge in developing a capable aircraft manufacturing industry and probably has done more to keep the remaining 25 Tomcats and 60+ Phantoms in the air (and in the Phantom's case, incrementally upgraded) than anything else. But I do keep seeing these articles claiming the IRIAF has been covertly sourcing F-14 spares through several sources including Israel as recently as 2001, maybe even later which is odd considering... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Prowler1111 14 Posted January 27, 2012 Easy as sending one plane to China for some inverse engineering, and there you have your spare parts.While most of their military prowess are mainly badly photoshoped images and fantasy claims targeted for internal consumption rather than international deterrence, the IRIAF´s capability to keep the tomcat operational is nothing to underestimate.To my knowledge, Tomcats are not falling from the sky every year, and operational accidents happens in every air force.Now, what should be under the looking glass is the military value of tomcats in current world´s air warfare, which, i personally, doubt very much, they pose a real threat..other than a fast AWACS. R.I.P. to the aviators who lost their lives, no doubt, doing what they loved most, flying...regardless of their nationality. Best regards Prowler Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turkeydriver 4 Posted January 27, 2012 Easy as sending one plane to China for some inverse engineering, and there you have your spare parts.While most of their military prowess are mainly badly photoshoped images and fantasy claims targeted for internal consumption rather than international deterrence, the IRIAF´s capability to keep the tomcat operational is nothing to underestimate.To my knowledge, Tomcats are not falling from the sky every year, and operational accidents happens in every air force.Now, what should be under the looking glass is the military value of tomcats in current world´s air warfare, which, i personally, doubt very much, they pose a real threat..other than a fast AWACS. R.I.P. to the aviators who lost their lives, no doubt, doing what they loved most, flying...regardless of their nationality. Best regards Prowler Even China who is trying to show the world how developed they are have difficulty producing a modern fighter engine. They've been working on their WS-6 forever and a day and so far the its just going to be an afterburning turbofan with a low hour rework. Not very advanced at all considering they've only just started replacing all the AL-31s they've been buying from Russia. Iran has an ability to make things happen-a lot of their projected ability is subterfuge- 10 tomcats in the air aren't anything close to 10 battle ready tomcats. They do have an unmatched ability to rework and locally manufacture whatever possible. If anything conventional ever happened with them, I believe their F-14s would be limited to Sparrow shots at best as whatever AIM-54s they could make work are way to old to be anything near reliable, and the MIM-23 Hawk conversion AAM has a horrible hit rate- as far as the public knows anyway. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+Prowler1111 14 Posted January 27, 2012 Iran has an ability to make things happen-a lot of their projected ability is subterfuge- 10 tomcats in the air aren't anything close to 10 battle ready tomcats. They do have an unmatched ability to rework and locally manufacture whatever possible. If anything conventional ever happened with them, I believe their F-14s would be limited to Sparrow shots at best as whatever AIM-54s they could make work are way to old to be anything near reliable, and the MIM-23 Hawk conversion AAM has a horrible hit rate- as far as the public knows anyway Exactly my point! cheers! Prowler Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nesher 628 Posted January 27, 2012 as Dave said, it doesn't matter where they came from they died doing something they probably loved and honored which some of us can only wish we could do that's why they deserve our respect <S> Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capitaine Vengeur 263 Posted January 27, 2012 as Dave said, it doesn't matter where they came from they died doing something they probably loved and honored which some of us can only wish we could do that's why they deserve our respect <S> "The first guy who painted a roundel on a plane was a bastard." ( A Tempest pilot, quoted by P. Clostermann in his book "The big show" ) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted January 27, 2012 I'm sure they have a lot more flying Tomcats than they have fighting Tomcats. Just because the thing can take off and act like a 2-man business jet doesn't mean it's survivable against an enemy. Do the RWRs still work? Are they updated to handle modern threat radars? Do the radars work right if at all? Without new supplies, how old an AAM can you have and still be usable? Will a 30 yr-old Sparrow or Sidewinder do anything more than threaten the launching aircraft? How many of those missiles did they get on the black market that might be in better shape? In short, a flypast of F-14s only proves they're airworthy, not that they're still a threat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rotarycrazy 4 Posted January 27, 2012 I hope they stop flying them soon. I would hate to see a superbug shoot down a tomcat Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Murphy'S 15 Posted January 27, 2012 (edited) Do the RWRs still work? Are they updated to handle modern threat radars? they probably don't detect anything othe than 70's and 80's threats (if they are the same than those delivered in the 70's) Edited January 27, 2012 by Murphy'S Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
macelena 1,070 Posted January 31, 2012 Not too long ago, our police dismantled an illegal factory near Madrid making spare parts for the Iranian Tomcats. They keep trying to keep the aircraft serviceable, no matter how. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JediMaster 451 Posted January 31, 2012 Interesting that it was in Spain. Wouldn't have guessed that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
