First American "Ace" since Vietnam??

BZ Marine ... that jet has to be almost as old as I am...I remember seeing a flight demo during the St Louis bicentennial celebration (1976). I'm sure it was an A model, but the B was flying in the early 80's.

Hard call on the "Ace" thing..were the drones capable of evasion or fighting back, or was this simply a static target ? Not taking away from the pilot, he was sent out to do a job and did it well, but its a different game when someone can shoot back. If we have make an Ace for shooting down a drone, are our drone operators (I can't call them pilots until their shiny pink butt is at risk) aces if they get 5 air to air kills ? (I don't think our drones have air to air capability yet, but that is simply a matter of time).
 
The wingman and longshot programs involve drones with dogfight capability, but they aren't operational yet.

At this point, I would frankly be surprised if we didn't already have a drone that was capable of air-to-air offense (Think kamikaze, like the Anduril Roadrunner), but we're still talking about a group 4 or 5 UAS, which is subsonic and operating at about 18,000 feet.

Agree on drone-operators. You aren't a pilot until you make it fly but you can die.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
BZ Marine ... that jet has to be almost as old as I am...I remember seeing a flight demo during the St Louis bicentennial celebration (1976). I'm sure it was an A model, but the B was flying in the early 80's.

Hard call on the "Ace" thing..were the drones capable of evasion or fighting back, or was this simply a static target ? Not taking away from the pilot, he was sent out to do a job and did it well, but its a different game when someone can shoot back. If we have make an Ace for shooting down a drone, are our drone operators (I can't call them pilots until their shiny pink butt is at risk) aces if they get 5 air to air kills ? (I don't think our drones have air to air capability yet, but that is simply a matter of time).
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Thanks BGO. Just one comment Capt now Major Ehrhart USNA 2014 5th company risks his butt each time he lands or takes off from that carrier deck in the dark and weather in the ready aircraft intercepting drones in Red Sea. Have you seen camera video of what that deck looks like in middle of ocean in weather and pitch black. Just saying this is an everyday risky job which takes special skills to do. I’m biased he is my son ! By the way he agrees with you on ACE thing and knows much of this is just media sensationalism. He is a truly humble kid but truly badass marine carrier aviator
 
www.airforcetimes.com

What counts as an aerial victory? Drones change the face of aerial combat

The proliferation of drones is changing the role and meaning of air combat in the skies and calling into question the U.S. military’s policy on awarding aerial combat victories.
www.airforcetimes.com www.airforcetimes.com


"The Air Force may award an aerial victory credit to an Air Force pilot or crew that destroys an in-flight enemy aerial vehicle, manned or not, armed or not," an Air Force spokesperson said.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
BZ Marine ... that jet has to be almost as old as I am...I remember seeing a flight demo during the St Louis bicentennial celebration (1976). I'm sure it was an A model, but the B was flying in the early 80's.
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Gonna have to "out old guy you", complete with a bad memory.

I can't remember if I saw a Harrier demo at my brother's pilot training graduation in 1969 at Williams AFB or when we visited him at Mather
AFB in 1971. I checked with my brother, many years my elder, to check. His answer, "hell if I know".

I do remember Chappy James at the reception, because his son was in my brother's class.

Sorry to sidetrack.
 
Av8b dad said:
Thanks BGO. Just one comment Capt now Major Ehrhart USNA 2014 5th company risks his butt each time he lands or takes off from that carrier deck in the dark and weather in the ready aircraft intercepting drones in Red Sea. Have you seen camera video of what that deck looks like in middle of ocean in weather and pitch black. Just saying this is an everyday risky job which takes special skills to do. I’m biased he is my son ! By the way he agrees with you on ACE thing and knows much of this is just media sensationalism. He is a truly humble kid but truly badass marine carrier aviator
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Best forum introduction in the history of the internet.

Welcome Aboard, sir!
 
Skipper07 said:
The Air Force may award an aerial victory credit to an Air Force pilot or crew that destroys an in-flight enemy aerial vehicle, manned or not, armed or not,"
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That's the Air Force, an honorable alternative to serving in the military .....:)

For AV8 Dad,., I've been at sea in heavy weather at night; and seen many video of flight ops. I would never question the skill, training or cajones of any of our Naval /Marine Corps aviators (or Air Force for that matter). Your son and his squadron mates deserve all respect and thanks.

That said, I would be interested to know what those who have "been there, done that" think about claiming the title of "Ace." ? I'm not trying to start an argument or debate, its an interesting dilemna of honoring history v. recognizing progress.
 
Old Navy BGO said:
That's the Air Force, an honorable alternative to serving in the military .....:)

For AV8 Dad,., I've been at sea in heavy weather at night; and seen many video of flight ops. I would never question the skill, training or cajones of any of our Naval /Marine Corps aviators (or Air Force for that matter). Your son and his squadron mates deserve all respect and thanks.

That said, I would be interested to know what those who have "been there, done that" think about claiming the title of "Ace." ? I'm not trying to start an argument or debate, its an interesting dilemna of honoring history v. recognizing progress.
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No offense taken. You earned right I just wanted to participate. As I said he has no pretense about ACE and thinks it’s not accurate. He never claimed it for sure. Just media BS. The same article even made up a fictitious CO named Major Thompson and attributed quotes to him. He said they got all that ACE foolishness from his description of the job to intercept and how they reconfigure aircraft for such a defense. Media so seldom gets it right.
 
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