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Originally Posted by G-Capo F-14 is an interceptor.In With in Visual range combat even the old Su-22 would of cut it to pieces. |
Tell that to the two Libyans that got blown out of the sky in August 1981.
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The first Gulf of Sidra incident, August 19, 1981, was an incident in which two Libyan Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter fighter jets engaged two US F-14 Tomcats off of the Libyan coast.
On the morning of the 19th, two VF-41 Black Aces F-14As, Fast Eagle 102...and Fast Eagle 107..., were flying combat air patrol to cover aircraft engaged in a missile exercise. An E-2A Hawkeye gained radar contact with two Fitters which had left Okba Ben Nafi Air Base near Tripoli. The Fitters were heading towards the Tomcats and the lead Fitter fired an AA-2 Atoll short range heat seeking missile at the Tomcats. The Tomcats evaded and were cleared to return fire.
(Fast Eagle 107) engaged the lead Fitter and shot it down with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. (Fast Eagle 102) engaged the wingman and shot it down with another Sidewinder. The official United States Navy report states that both Libyan pilots ejected and were safely recovered.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of...incident_(1981)
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I had a book somewhere that showed the flight paths of all the planes involved, and it seemed quite clear they were well inside visual range (<1 mile). Can't seem to find anything on the Internet. (And in an interesting piece of trivia, my Navy ROTC commander was XO of VF-41 at the time -- his name was painted on Fast Eagle 102 when the skipper flew it that day.)
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" -- Isaiah 6:8