F/A-18 2 vs 2 guns only in Persian Gulf

[+streakeagle 864]

There is an instant action for the Hornet in the Persian Gulf that is a guns only 2 vs 2 fight against the MiG-15bis. It reminds me of so many SFP1/SF2 fights with the F-4 vs the MiG-17. AI response is similar and tactics required to win are similar...

Given both sims have fairly realistic flight models, here is why the combat feels so similar:

Weight: F-4 41,500, F/A-18 36,970

A/B thrust: F-4 2x17,900, F/A-18 2x17,750

Mil thrust: F-4 2x11,905, F/A-18 2x11,000

Wing loading: F-4 41,500 / 530 = 78 lbs/ft^2, F/A-18 36,970 / 410 = 90

Wing span: F-4 38 ft 5 in, F/A-18 40 ft 4 in

The Hornet's aspect ratio and maneuvering flaps make up for its wing loading, but a slatted F-4E has respectable AoA authority. 

The F/A-18C is really a slightly smaller F-4 with more agility, a bubble canopy, but slower and smaller stores load. The F/A-18E pretty much matches the size and payload of the F-4.

Of course the MiG-17 is basically a MiG-15bis with an afterburner and wings swept back a bit more for better transonic/supersonic performance. At dogfight speeds, the MiG-15bis is a lot like a MiG-17F stuck in military power with a higher wing loading.

So, beating the Korean War era MiG-15bis with an F/A-18C in a guns only fight is not much easier than beating a Vietnam War MiG-17F with a slatted F-4E. The Hornet can climb and turn using its power/weight advantage to spiral above the MiG-15 and then bleed that altitude pulling high AoA to saddle up for a medium to close range gunshot. It is a little bit easier than the F-4 vs MiG-17 because the Hornet can briefly pull some radical AoA to lead for a gun shot while the MiG-15 can't turn or retain energy quite as well as a MiG-17. If you try to beat the MiG-15 with a ham-fisted turn-n-burn fight, you will bleed your speed giving the MiG-15 a chance to gain angles or even get a decent shot. Of course flying an unslatted F-4 or better yet an F-100D or F-105D vs the MiG-17 is far more challenging, but the overall fight looks the same. You just have to be more proficient at exploiting boom-n-zoom opportunities given the AoA restrictions on unslatted F-4s.