Posted: 3/3/2018 1:16:03 PM EDT
[#5]
I'm just reading about Featherduster now.
Apparently, Tactical Air Command (TAC) conducted a series of tests of the Century Series fighters against simulated MiG-17 using F-86H in 1965.
The F-104 emerged as the top performer in those tests, along with the F-5, and F-8 Crusader. They ran the tests in preparation for what to expect of their F-100 through F-105 Fighter/Bombers in Southeast Asia in the mid-1960s, before HAVE DOUGHNUT was done. The MiG-21 didn't come into their hands until a few years later, so it made sense to use what they had to simulate performance of MiG-17, MiG-19, and MiG-21 at the time.
Project Featherduster was instigated by TAC to help develop
proper tactics against likely opponents that TAC aircraft
might face in SEA. The TAC aircraft of concern were the F-
100C/D/F, F-4C, F-105D and F-104C. Opponents included the
F-102A and F-106A (MiG-21), F-86H (MiG-17), F-8C/D (MiG-
19) and the F-5N (another story altogether). The TAC
aircraft were also flown against each other to practice
dissimilar air combat training (DACT) and to further evaluate
their individual strengths and weaknesses.
It should come as no surprise that the F-8s did pretty well
against the F-100s. It probably won't surprise too many to
learn that the F-4s generally beat up on the F-105s. The big
shock to most, however, was the fact that the F-104C ended
up at the top of the heap. It not only bested all the other
aircraft, but it did so regularly and by a surprising margin.
Only when dictated to fly high altitude, subsonic turning
engagements did the 104 fall short of its opponents. View Quote The final report (at the time) was classified SECRET NOFORN, if
sombody wants to do the FOIA request, the report was titled "TAC
Mission FF-857, Air Combat Tactics Evaluation F-100, F-104, F-105 and
F-4C versus MiG-15/17 type aircraft (F-86H)." It was published May
1965 by the USAF Fighter Weapons School.
An interesting paragraph in the FWN article says..."In testing and
analyzing air combat tactics against aircraft of unlike performance,
the Featherduster [ed--one word] tests, like most of our recent air
combat tactics analyses and future aircraft development evaluations,
have capitalized on the energy maneuverability theory deveoped by
Major John Boyd and Mr Tom Christie and Staff, of Systems Command APGC
PGTOS, Eglin AFB, Florida."
What smacks me in the forehead is simply remembering this article was
from March 1966, then you read Michel's "Clashes" and ask, "why in the
world didn't the FWS get behind this issue?" or informally, "what the
fuck were they thinking they accomplished by ignoring ACM/ACT?"
Thank goodness the USN had the Ault Report...and made they changes
required. BTW Ivan I highly encorage you to get a copy of Robert
Wilcox' superb "Scream of Eagles." View Quote
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