Awesome F-15C video - 2011 Raytheon trophy winners

[eagl]

Is it a yearly event? And from what I understand, you aren't let loose into an active duty squadron until you've participated in a Red Flag. Is that the case?

Red flag runs almost continuously.  Units cycle through for up to 2 weeks at a time, with an occasional "special" flag for things you will probably never hear about

Units usually go to red flag every 18 months or so, and they try to time it for when the squadron is getting ready to their turn to deploy.  The cycle is anchored by the deployment cycle, with periods set aside for training, upgrades, re-qualifications, red flag and other special training deployments, and an inspection cycle of about 2 years for each type of inspection that the squadron has to do.  For example, at RAF lakenheath they have 4 continuous inspection cycles.  Unit compliance inspection which validates adherance to regulations, NATO certification which validates readiness to fulfill nato obligations, nuke cert, and pre-deployment readiness inspections.  Each of those happens every 2 years except the pre-deployment occurs before each AEF cycle which is not 2 years.  In the middle of all that inspection prep are training deployments like red flag and other events, upgrade training, re-qualification training, new guy qualifications, etc.

[ScottyK]

Red flag runs almost continuously.  Units cycle through for up to 2 weeks at a time, with an occasional "special" flag for things you will probably never hear about

Units usually go to red flag every 18 months or so, and they try to time it for when the squadron is getting ready to their turn to deploy.  The cycle is anchored by the deployment cycle, with periods set aside for training, upgrades, re-qualifications, red flag and other special training deployments, and an inspection cycle of about 2 years for each type of inspection that the squadron has to do.  For example, at RAF lakenheath they have 4 continuous inspection cycles.  Unit compliance inspection which validates adherance to regulations, NATO certification which validates readiness to fulfill nato obligations, nuke cert, and pre-deployment readiness inspections.  Each of those happens every 2 years except the pre-deployment occurs before each AEF cycle which is not 2 years.  In the middle of all that inspection prep are training deployments like red flag and other events, upgrade training, re-qualification training, new guy qualifications, etc.



  woot.

[Seanaldinho]

Little bump but I still watch this video every couple of days because its still awesome.

Anywho been watching it very closely and a question arose: Is the hat switch on the stick the trim?

[eagl]

Little bump but I still watch this video every couple of days because its still awesome.

Anywho been watching it very closely and a question arose: Is the hat switch on the stick the trim?

The large round stair-stepped coolie hat on the stick is trim, yes.

[Seanaldinho]

The large round stair-stepped coolie hat on the stick is trim, yes.

Thank you sir.  

I also noticed that they now have left handed sticks. Is it a conversion kit to make it left handed or is tge whole plane shipped lefty?

[eagl]

Thank you sir.  

I also noticed that they now have left handed sticks. Is it a conversion kit to make it left handed or is tge whole plane shipped lefty?

If you saw a left-handed control stick they must have flipped the video to make it look better or more consistent.  All of the stick grips are right-handed with the throttles on the left.  The only left handed grips that I know of in an F-15 are in the back seat of Strike Eagles for the WSO, but those are bolted to the consoles and not attached to control sticks.

[B4Buster]

Little bump but I still watch this video every couple of days because its still awesome.

Agreed. One of my favorite videos on the interwebs

[Slash27]

Greatness!! Made my night, thanks eagl 

[Seanaldinho]

If you saw a left-handed control stick they must have flipped the video to make it look better or more consistent.  All of the stick grips are right-handed with the throttles on the left.  The only left handed grips that I know of in an F-15 are in the back seat of Strike Eagles for the WSO, but those are bolted to the consoles and not attached to control sticks.

Ok ill find that part and see if maybe I was mistaken.

[mcboi]

This may be a dumb question but howcome some of the 15s are fighting with the DTs on while some of the others arent? Wouldnt that be a disadvantage to the ones with them on?

[eagl]

This may be a dumb question but howcome some of the 15s are fighting with the DTs on while some of the others arent? Wouldnt that be a disadvantage to the ones with them on?

It is a slight disadvantage but not as critical since the tank is generally empty by the time the planes get to a situation where it matters.  The idea is that if you get to the merge with advantage then it doesn't matter if you are carrying a centerline tank or not, and that's the learning point.  Never EVER accept a fair fight, and the learning point and desired training objectives are usually achieved before it gets to the point where the tank matters.  If they get to the merge and are disadvantaged, the best option may be to plug it into burner, unload, and extend, rather than try to regain an advantage in a knife fight.

Imagine you're riding a bicycle, with your pockets full of rocks.  Your opponent has a pocket full of tennis balls and a knife in his hand.  You stand off some distance trying to hit him with rocks, but he works his way close enough to you to threaten you with his knife.  Do you hop off your bike and fight him on foot hoping to take his knife away, or do you wait until he commits to hopping off of HIS bike, then pedal away far enough that you can start tossing rocks at him again?

[mcboi]

Makes sense thanks eagl 

[Shuffler]

It is a slight disadvantage but not as critical since the tank is generally empty by the time the planes get to a situation where it matters.  The idea is that if you get to the merge with advantage then it doesn't matter if you are carrying a centerline tank or not, and that's the learning point.  Never EVER accept a fair fight, and the learning point and desired training objectives are usually achieved before it gets to the point where the tank matters.  If they get to the merge and are disadvantaged, the best option may be to plug it into burner, unload, and extend, rather than try to regain an advantage in a knife fight.

Imagine you're riding a bicycle, with your pockets full of rocks.  Your opponent has a pocket full of tennis balls and a knife in his hand.  You stand off some distance trying to hit him with rocks, but he works his way close enough to you to threaten you with his knife.  Do you hop off your bike and fight him on foot hoping to take his knife away, or do you wait until he commits to hopping off of HIS bike, then pedal away far enough that you can start tossing rocks at him again?

For us rednecks simply sustitute horse for bicycle.