Sublime fighter jets

Since we are going down this rathole try the following:

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=british+speeding+ticket+snopes&l=1

(yes, it's safe, even for work)

Regards,

Mike

dhmartens · Post by **dhmartens** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 11:35 am

The snopes article said a sidewinder would not be used against a ground target. That is false, there are variants that are used against light ground targets according to wikipedia.

Post by **Mike M** » Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:40 pm

The story has been circulating since 1995. The AIM9X air-ground capability has been present only since 2007.

From the original source (not Wikipedia)

"The test marks the third time an AIM-9X engaged moving surface targets. In April 2008, a U.S. Air Force F-16 launched an AIM-9X and sank a maneuvering boat, and in March 2007, a U.S. Air Force F-15C fired an AIM-9X and destroyed a fast-moving armored personnel carrier."

Within the context of the facts of the story, the Snopes analysis is correct.

dhmartens · Post by **dhmartens** » Wed Jan 25, 2012 11:18 am

Over 200,000 sidewinders were produced since the 50's

In 1981 the first air to ground variant was tested and renamed the sidearm because a hardware change was made to an existing sidewinder. These (700) were produced from refitted sidewinders from 1986 to 1990.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AGM-122_Sidearm

The media may have been referring to the sidearm missile since it is visibly identical. Given the media calls hang gliders paragliders or handgliders its possible they miss-classified the missile.

What is more likely is Raytheon or Motorola ran the stories in order to panic the public and force the congress to fund the variant and thus award the large contracts.

OP · Post by OP » Wed Jan 25, 2012 7:37 pm

Busto · Post by **Busto** » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:55 pm

This was sent by a long time pilot.

It's roughly 45 min, but if you put it on 720 HD and full screen, it's worth the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvtQ3g0ELuE