"Flying the Su-30 was the pinnacle of my career": how an American pilot ended up on a new plane

During the Vietnam War, combat aviation The United States has shown a sharp decline in combat effectiveness compared to the conflict on the Korean Peninsula in the 1950s. If earlier there were ten enemy aircraft for one American aircraft, then by 1968 this ratio was 2,5 to 1.

In this regard, a special study was carried out, following the results of which it was recommended to include aircraft of various types in training battles. As a result, this idea resulted in the creation of the so-called "aggressor" units. The planes in their service imitated Soviet cars (for example, with their coloring) or even were them, being purchased from third countries.

The home base of the "aggressors" is Nellis, Nevada. Lieutenant Colonel Jan Kuts Stahl is serving here. At one time, he asked a German pilot who flew in training battles on a MiG-29 what type of aircraft would be more adequate, in response to which he was advised to "Eagle":

F-15Cs outperform us every time on Red Flag [drills] - you should fly Model C.

According to Stahl, during flights, the "aggressor" must be able to reproduce the nuances of piloting inherent in enemy pilots:

When we look at the J-20, for example, we are focusing on trying to peer into the mind of the Chinese pilot.

As Stahl explains, the real luck is the ability to fly in the car of a potential enemy. When Indian pilots arrived for the Red Flag exercise in Alaska in 2016, he had that chance.

From time to time, fate smiles, and a specific object becomes available to us, about which we want to learn more. For example, I was lucky that I had the opportunity to fly the Su-30MKI [...] As "aggressors" we strive to use any such opportunity. Flying the Su-30 was definitely the pinnacle of my career.

- says Stahl, who found himself in a new car for himself.

Comments

[Sofa batyr]

During the Vietnam War, US military aircraft showed a sharp decline in combat effectiveness compared to the conflict on the Korean Peninsula of the 1950s. If earlier there were ten enemy aircraft for one American aircraft, then by 1968 this ratio was 2,5 to 1.

"It is you Americans you're lying " In Korea, you were blown to smithereens in the air, the loss ratio you supply is trite a joke. In Vietnam, a sequel followed ...



There are a lot of clips on "Phantom" by the "Chizh" group, for every taste and mood. Here's another version from War Thunder.

[LiSiCyn]

Thank you.

Quote: Divan-batyr

Here's another version from War Thunder.

I liked it.

[tikhonov66]

"..." It’s you Americans lying in vain. "In Korea, you were smashed in the air to smithereens, the loss ratio you supply is trite a joke. ..."
- truly !!
- you can google "korea black tuesday"
Quote
"... April 12 went down in history as the" Black "Thursday of US aviation. On this day, the Americans carried out a massive raid on the bridges over the Yalujiang River in the Wujiu region. 48 B-29 Superfortress bombers were supposed to destroy them. , which were accompanied by 76 cover fighters.

Only 44 MiGs acted against them. However, they also had an advantage: the American escort aircraft were moving at the speed of bombers - only 700 kilometers per hour - and at an average altitude of 7000 meters. Soviet pilots met them at an altitude of 10 kilometers and dived at full speed at different angles of attack. As a result, 10 Super Fortresses and three enemy fighters were destroyed. After that, the leadership of the US Air Force did not risk sending large groups of aircraft beyond the 38th parallel for almost a month.

Another "black" day for American aviation was October 30 of the same year. This time, 21 flying fortresses were sent to bomb the Korean airfield in Namsi, which were supposed to cover almost 200 fighters of various types. On the Soviet side, 44 MiGs took part in the battle, another 12 machines remained in reserve to cover the airfields. The fate of the battle was decided by the fact that the screen of F-86 fighters was late with the exit - the Sabers planned to intercept Soviet aircraft in a slightly different area, but they miscalculated. Defending the B-29s were lower class vehicles.

As a result, 12 B-29 bombers and four F-84 fighters were destroyed, the Americans were put to flight, and not a single bomb fell on the Namsi airfield that day. The Soviet pilots missed one MiG. After this battle, the leadership of the US Air Force abandoned the use of the "Superfortresses" in the daytime and transferred them to night flights.
..."
- but the Americans, like the Israelis, according to their good tradition, DO NOT RECOGNIZE their losses
8-)))

- but they were forced to abandon the plan to "bomb" 50 Soviet cities with vigorous bonbs (Drposhot), because after Korea the concept - which is trivial - WILL NOT FLY ...
8-)

[tikhonov66]

but the Americans - according to their good tradition - their losses - DO NOT RECOGNIZE:

There is still no exact data on the total losses of aircraft in the air battles of the Korean War. The fact is that not every victory described by the pilots could be confirmed by photographs or the remains of an enemy aircraft. The Soviet command made it a rule to keep strict statistics, when the victory was counted only in the presence of such evidence. The point is that for each CONFIRMED downed plane, the pilot who shot it down received a very large monetary bonus ... So the registration of "shot down" was very strict.

According to Igor Seydov from the book "Red Devils" - during the hostilities in the skies of Korea, Soviet pilots conducted 1872 air battles, in which they shot down 1097 enemy aircraft, of which 642 F-86 fighters and 69 B-29 bombers. battles amounted to 319 MiG-15 and La-11. It is curious that the American data not only differ from the Soviet, but give a radically different picture.It is alleged that in air battles they shot down more than 700 MiGs, and themselves lost only 147 aircraft! the manipulation of the facts causes only a grin among specialists, apparently, the American command really wanted to justify the huge military spending in the eyes of taxpayers.

Note that in the first month and a half of air battles, only three Soviet MiGs were shot down, while the enemy's losses were many times greater. And the American pilots later called the zone of operation of our fighters along the Korean-Chinese border "Alley of MiGs", thereby admitting that the sky in this part of the Korean peninsula was confidently controlled by Soviet aces.

[vm68dm]

classic, video matches words.

[Theodore]

As "aggressors" we strive to use any such opportunity.

Better not to admit it! Pass!

[rotmistr60]

we are focusing on trying to look into the mind of the Chinese pilot.

Aviation psychologists are no less. The Americans still cannot "look" into the consciousness of the Russians, but at the same time they strive to do it with the Chinese. Don't you find it strange?

Flying the Su-30 was definitely the pinnacle of my career.

Although I did not dissemble and said honestly that I liked it.

[serg.shishkov2015]

In Vietnam, there was ONE battle with the participation of our pilot. Our instructor with a local cadet practiced low-altitude flight in an unarmed MiG-21U twin. Were attacked by a flight of * Phantoms *. Our pilot took control. Three F-4 attacks were unsuccessful - all missiles passed by. But afterburner maneuvering at low altitude led to rapid fuel consumption. On the remnants, they began to gain altitude for safe ejection. At that moment, the fuel ran out, the engine stalled and the MiG-21U hung on a * candle *. And at that moment a rocket hit him. But both pilots survived. The only loss of the MiG-21U in Vietnam. The total score between MiG-21 and F-4 is 4/1 in favor of ours! So that the Merikos lie, but know when to stop!

[vm68dm]

the video I posted has a photo of him. (Mig 21 vs F 4 Fantom Russian Army) I could not find the name, in some video fragment of which there is a name and title in the video.

[Thrifty]

It is a pity that the Indian pilot of this Yankee did not catapute somewhere over the snow-covered Alaska! !!

[Alex777]

For some reason, my interest in selling our Su-57 to the Indians suffered greatly.

[Sergey79]

... He does not admire our plane, but says that he managed to fly on a new one.

[Doliva63]

Quote: Sergey79

... He does not admire our plane, but says that he managed to fly on a new one.

Yes, for some reason the author did not indicate the assessment of the aircraft by the pilot. And the fact that they fly on our technology, we are already aware of it.

[tikhonov66]

Quote: Sergey79

... He does not admire our plane, but says that he managed to fly on a new one.

- yes, but for some reason he called this flight "the pinnacle (!) of my career."
8-))

[Alex_You]

Quote: tikhonov66

Quote: Sergey79

... He does not admire our plane, but says that he managed to fly on a new one.

- yes, but for some reason he called this flight "the pinnacle (!) of my career."
8-))

It's like a scout got into a room with important intelligence. He is an aggressor from the squadron and it is extremely important for him to know what the machines of a potential enemy are capable of.

[Zahar derugin]

This is not my opinion. What a pilot who did not fly this type of aircraft can understand, may the flight pilots forgive me! He can only appreciate the ease or difficulty of controlling the car, but he will pilot what he piloted on his own. Well, how can he know and perform other aerobatics, or pilot differently, if he was not taught this on this plane, they did not tell that it was possible! ...) Something like this ...

[Svetlana]

Because it was something new that put in and the people got a bunch of Andrealin. But in general, "Top of Career" is a thing that passes and after a short time, "Top of Career" may turn out to be a more recent, different event.

[bober1982]

In the late 80s - early 90s, there was a program for the exchange of experience between our and American pilots, the Americans were sent to us and, they flew our MiG and Su, our testers, respectively, went to America and flew the F- 16 and F-15.
There are not only memories of our pilots about flying on American planes, but also reports on the advantages and disadvantages of American planes.
These reports are available and executed very professionally and, of course, arouses interest.
There were times, there was mutual respect.

[qaz]

Quote: rotmistr60

Flying the Su-30 was definitely the pinnacle of my career.

Although I did not dissemble and said honestly that I liked it.

It is not about the combat qualities of the aircraft, but about the fact that he, as a pilot, as an "aggressor", managed to fly a real Russian aircraft.

[Bradley]

F-18 vs Su-30 - the impression of a US Navy pilot (translation of the video from The Ready Room)

[Minotavrik]

13:38 - the pilot says that his tactics are to merge speed and energy - i.e. the person deliberately transfers the fight to low speeds and high angles. All experts unanimously say that Sushki in this regard has a significant advantage in terms of angles and maneuverability (this is also confirmed by the American himself). It turns out he knows, but he deliberately transfers the battle to such flight modes. What is the conclusion? The only explanation is that the Indonesians are not very good at piloting.
Moreover, all three times the American makes the same turn on the target, cutting through the bottom after converging .. and each time Drying loses the same ...

[Object.F7]

Drying loses the same every time, but for some reason the Indians and Indonesians declare their victories with a crushing score based on the results of the exercises, here is such a phenomenon from the series "10 to 1" long spaghetina voiced in the topgan film. By the way, the Ukrainians also beat NATO on the Soviet Su-27 quite recently.

[Runoway]

In general, one can only envy such an opportunity in pilot training.

Nellis, Nevada

An interesting base, but I didn't see the "aggressor" technique, only the F-16s were repainted

, also euroweiter

And ..... this plane did not recognize, it looks like the F111, but not it

[volodimer]

It reminded me of the F-19 game, where, in order to enter, you had to identify the plane by its silhouette. "Tornado"?

[Runoway]

That's right, thanks, I didn't know. Well, it turns out that the aircraft of the Aerospace Forces, the Middle East and China imitate the F-16, but also work out battles with NATO members , good allies, straight Rafale and Gripen are not enough in the collection

[Pete mitchell]

Quote: Runoway

An interesting base, but I didn't see the "aggressor" technique, only the F-16s were repainted

These F-16s are the aggressor

Quote: Runoway

more euroweiter

Eurofighter is clearly visiting the exercise ...

Quote: Runoway

this plane did not recognize, it looks like F111, but not it

Tornado, percussion version, most likely German, they live there

[Runoway]

The planes in their service imitated Soviet machines (for example, with their coloring) or even were them, being purchased from third countries

I was looking for just purchased from third countries

[Pete mitchell]

Quote: Runoway

I was looking for just purchased from third countries

But these have their own databases, google for example draken international; the fate of the F-21 Kfir in the states ... - you will find the base

[akarfoxhound]

In the Soviet Maras (TurkVO), such a part stood, on the MiG-23MLD, painted, on the keels, cognac yellow stripes with stars. The bison were real, then they retrained on the MiG-29 and almost immediately the union collapsed, transferred to the Russian Zherdevka and dispersed the unit ...

[tikhonov66]

Quote: bober1982

There were times, there was mutual respect

- for the military - perhaps ... They UNDERSTAND who they may face.
And force - the Americans - traditionally RESPECT.
They even have a special term "unacceptable losses". And with an enemy capable of inflicting such losses, the Americans DO NOT CONTACT.
...
But for the ruling class of the United States, Russians in life are second-class people.

[Shkodnick]

About how respectful the American military is towards the Russians, at the end, but understandable.

[iouris]

First, this Stahl is most likely German. Secondly, it serves as an "aggressor" ("aggressors" are the pilots of the Russian Air Force on current aircraft).

[akarfoxhound]

Is this loss ratio from the Topgan propaganda film given? No questions argument!

[Pavel57]

--- The most interesting thing in the article is the implicit comparison of the MiG-29 and F-15.