Jump to content

Hornet or Tomcat ?


Shack

Hornet or Tomcat ?  

179 members have voted

  1. 1. Hornet or Tomcat ?

    • Hornet - better turn radius. I'll be turning circles inside an F-14
    • Tomcat - Raw Power and two heads vs 1 will win the day


Recommended Posts

Would you rather be in Tomcat or Hornet in a close-in BFM fight ?


Edited by Shack

Intel i9 7980XE @4.4Hz

64GB DDR4 RAM at 2666MHz

GTX 1080Ti with 11GB GDDR5X

Reverb Pro HMD

HOTAS: TM Warthog throttle / TM F18 Grip

Dual H640P Huion tablets used with VRK (Virtual Kneeboard ) software

Gametrix JetSeat with SimShaker

DOF Reality P6, 6 axis Motion Platform

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Tomcat... when the Hornet driver looses sight on me, I can feel the need and just get away with him running out of fuel and falling behind, just in case. Getting back home in one piece is more important than shooting things down.

dcsdashie-hb-ed.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Hornet is seriously intimidating in a knife fight.

| Windows 10 | I7 4790K @ 4.4ghz | Asus PG348Q | Asus Strix 1080TI | 16GB Corsair Vengeance 2400 DDR3 | Asrock Fatal1ty Z97 | Samsung EVO 850 500GB (x2) | SanDisk 240GB Extreme Pro | Coolermaster Vanguard S 650Watt 80+ | Fractal Design R4 | VirPil T-50 | MFG Crosswind Graphite | KW-908 JetSeat Sim Edition | TrackIR 5 |

 

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From the book "Hornets over Kuwait":

 

"Today, with the benefit of hindsight, and the clear knowledge that the F/A-18 is far superior to the F-14 in almost every respect,"

 

And:

 

"Here you go: an honest comparison of how the aircraft performs relative to some of the other stuff that’s out there. The F-15 carries the same air-to-air weapons as the F/A-18, but has a better radar and associated systems that allow it to be more discriminatory about who and how it’s targeting at long range. Within visual range, similarly configured, the Hornet is more maneuverable and a better dogfighter. From a visual neutral start, similarly configured, I have never lost a “knife” fight with an Eagle. Also, the F-15 is not configured for air-to-ground operations. I can shoot down MIGs before and after I support my marine brethren on the ground. The F-15E is designed for the air-to-ground strike role, and it does outperform the Hornet in this role. However, the F-15E is very expensive and there are relatively few of them. At beyond visual range the F/A-18 is comparably equipped to the F-16, which is now (post Gulf War) capable of launching a radar missile. Within visual range I consider a well-flown Falcon (or Viper, as it is also called) to be a more formidable foe than the F-15. The Hornet’s slow-speed capabilities are still superior. Again, from a visual neutral start, similarly configured, I have never lost a knife fight with an F-16. Like the F-15, and just about everything else, the F-16 is faster than the F/A-18 and can run it down in a pinch. I’ve gotten engaged visually with a Mirage 2000 just once. I was carrying two external tanks, he was carrying none, and I beat him. The AV-8B Harrier doesn’t stand a chance against the F/A-18, or any of the other fourth generation fighters. The Air Defense Variant (ADV) of the Tornado is no match for the Hornet. The F-14 and F-4, likewise, are older and much less capable than the F/A-18. It is my opinion also that the Hornet can handle any Russian fighter currently fielded in any arena. I don’t mean to imply that Hornets don’t get beaten in dogfights by other aircraft. They do. The performance figures of most fourth generation fighters are very close. My personal contention is than an F/A-18, with an experienced pilot, in the visual arena against any similarly configured aircraft, is very difficult if not impossible to beat, depending on the other aircraft type and pilot. If you break out performance charts and start crunching numbers, you’ll find that several fourth-generation fighters have a certain envelope or regime within which they are superior to another given fighter. But, in a slow-speed fight (where most fights end up), the Hornet is tops."

--Maulkin

 

 

Windows 10 64-bit - AMD Ryzen 9 5900X @ 3.7 GHz - 32 GB DDR4 3600MHz RAM - EVGA FTW3 RTX 3080 - Asus Crosshair VIII Hero motherboard - Samsung EVO Pro 1 TB SSD - TrackIR 4 Pro - Thrustmaster Warthog - Saitek rudder pedals - Lilliput UM-80/C with TM Cougars

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One thing to consider is that the Legacy Hornet and the Tomcat aren't exactly comparable based on their intended functionality. The Hornet was meant to replace the Intruder as a better-armed, self-protect, multi-role attacker, the Super Hornet was meant to replace the Tomcat as a fleet-defense, multi-role, air superiority fighter. Most Tomcat VFs either transitioned directly to the Rhino, or were disestablished.

REAPER 51 | Tholozor
VFA-136 (c.2007): https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3305981/
Arleigh Burke Destroyer Pack (2020): https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/files/3313752/

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You do realise how big the F14 is right? :D

 

Well, if I'm the Hornet driver, the Tomcat couldn't be big enough and I'd still loose sight rdlaugh.png

 

I've literally been flying in formation with a bunch of Su-24s that I simply couldn't find visually...

 

I guess we'll be able to judge once we have both rainbowdashwink.png

 

I just prefer to sit in the faster one and let others clear my six while I'm running home from an explosive parcel delivery mission dealwithit.png

 

BTW, with the AIM-54s I'd have something with an effective range exceeding five miles rdlaugh.png

 

OTOH those 120s and 9X would be pretty deadly as well.

dcsdashie-hb-ed.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i got both. But if i hadn't bought hornet now, i would wait for f-16 and get f-14 also.

most likely my hornet will be retired when f-16 is released

FC3 | UH-1 | Mi-8 | A-10C II | F/A-18 | Ka-50 III | F-14 | F-16 | AH-64 Mi-24 | F-5 | F-15E| F-4| Tornado

Persian Gulf | Nevada | Syria | NS-430 | Supercarrier // Wishlist: CH-53 | UH-60

 

Youtube

MS FFB2 - TM Warthog - CH Pro Pedals - Trackir 5

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's strange, I have a non-sensacle dislike of the Hornet from childhood because it replaced the F-14. I knew it didn't make sense, but it was formed early and has stuck with me for years.

 

I got the F-18 in DCS because it was the most modern jet I could do everything I wanted to do with.

 

And now I love it, and would pick it over the F-14 anyday.

(Still may buy the F-14, but new HOTAS comes first)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Any time baby....

 

I also have the irrational hate for the "bug" how did it dare replace the Cat!

 

Ugly, and the looser of the YF -16 vs YF 17 competittion.. I believe the Navy took it on because it was the only other twin engine figther being developed (Navy requirement) and to keep "the insdustry" (mainly Boeing) alive...

 

Yes the Super Hornet is a different Beast , buts just imagen what could have happens if all that money and energy had been directed to an F 14 E o F....

 

Besides if it ain´t Grumman, it don´t belong on a boat...


Edited by Baco
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If talking about DCS AI I fought against both in the Eagle and the Bug is certainly better than Cat but inferior to 29 and F-5.

🖥️ Win10 i7-10700KF 32GB RTX3060   🥽 Rift S   🕹️ T16000M HOTAS   ✈️ FC3, F-14A/B, F-15E   ⚙️ CA   🚢 SC   🌐 NTTR, PG, Syria

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Yes the Super Hornet is a different Beast , buts just imagen what could have happens if all that money and energy had been directed to an F 14 E o F....

 

 

Yeah, the airframe is clearly superior to anything else on the boat to ever enter service since. Including the SuperBug. Some like to bring up the operating costs and downtime, the truth is that by the time the F14D was being retired these were about the same as for the Superbug.

 

An F14E, using the same airframe, modified to reduce operating and maintaincane costs even further, with modern avionics, new engines and AESA radar, AIM9X, AMRAAM capabilites would make both the Bug and Superbug look pretty second rate.

Current specs: Windows 10 Home 64bit, i5-9600K @ 3.7 Ghz, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB Samsung EVO 860 M.2 SSD, GAINWARD RTX2060 6GB, Oculus Rift S, MS FFB2 Sidewinder + Warthog Throttle Quadrant, Saitek Pro rudder pedals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Yeah, the airframe is clearly superior to anything else on the boat to ever enter service since.

 

 

What is superior on that airframe?

-

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

System: Windows 10 Pro | i9 9900K | 32GB RAM (3200 MHz) | RTX-2080s | SSD

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware: TM Warthog | MFG Rudder Pedals | 4x TM Cougar MFD | Saitek Switch Panel | Trackir5 | VR: Rift S / Monitor: 31,5" WQHD, G-Sync

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What is superior on that airframe?

 

Better fuel efficiency, better range, much faster top speed, longer loiter time, better turn rate at all flight regimes except at extremely slow speed, most importantly more weapons ordnance can be carried into battle compared to the Hornet, though it is comparable to the super hornet.

 

/sniped.

Current specs: Windows 10 Home 64bit, i5-9600K @ 3.7 Ghz, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 1TB Samsung EVO 860 M.2 SSD, GAINWARD RTX2060 6GB, Oculus Rift S, MS FFB2 Sidewinder + Warthog Throttle Quadrant, Saitek Pro rudder pedals.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

“I’ll hit the brake and he will fly right by”

 

Cooler Master HAF XB EVO , ASUS P8Z77-V, i7-3770K @ 4.6GHz, Noctua AC, 32GB Corsair Vengeance Pro, EVGA 1080TI 11GB, 2 Samsung 840 Pro 540GB SSDs Raid 0, 1TB HDD, EVGA SuperNOVA 1300W PS, G930 Wireless SS Headset, TrackIR5/Wireless Proclip, TM Warthog, Saitek Pro Combat Pedals, 75" Samsung 4K QLED, HP Reverb G2, Win 10

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Too simplistic of a question to answer really as there's normally so many variables, but it'll be down to whichever is the better pilot and can fly their aircraft to its best.

If both pilots are equally good, it'll be down to who makes the first mistake.

 

 

Personally, I'd rather be in a Tomcat, but I'm under no illusions that I'd be winning :D


Edited by Buzzles
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...