F16 fighter jets

[Dork Lard]

Devils advocate ,
the f16 has been in active service for 45 years with 4600 built so how many pilots is there capable of flying them 15/20,000 so there well could be guys willing to take $$$$$ for flying them back into combat

I have no doubt there exists a list of 1000's of qualified F16 pilots who no longer have any links to the military. I also have no doubt that most of 'em will now be enjoying lucrative careers captaining American Airlines Boeing 737's out of SFO & LGA whilst moaning about their kids college fund to the co-pilot who used to puke in the backseat of Marine F14's.

They are not drinking cocktails in a seedy bar somewhere in South America waiting for the guy in a white cotton suit from the CIA to turn up with a blank chequebook !

You don't know what you don't know, but I'd imagine a retired F16 pilot knows full well the level of support these aircraft require when flying combat missions, not just a few spannermonkeys with a fuel bowser but including AWACS, FAC's, AAR & not to forget the all important SAR capability. None of which are or ever will be supplied to Ukraine unless Uncle Sam escalates this futile skirmish.

You don't know what you don't know & you quite clearly don't know nada !

 

[gas112]

I have no doubt there exists a list of 1000's of qualified F16 pilots who no longer have any links to the military. I also have no doubt that most of 'em will now be enjoying lucrative careers captaining American Airlines Boeing 737's out of SFO & LGA whilst moaning about their kids college fund to the co-pilot who used to puke in the backseat of Marine F14's.

They are not drinking cocktails in a seedy bar somewhere in South America waiting for the guy in a white cotton suit from the CIA to turn up with a blank chequebook !

You don't know what you don't know, but I'd imagine a retired F16 pilot knows full well the level of support these aircraft require when flying combat missions, not just a few spannermonkeys with a fuel bowser but including AWACS, FAC's, AAR & not to forget the all important SAR capability. None of which are or ever will be supplied to Ukraine unless Uncle Sam escalates this futile skirmish.

You don't know what you don't know & you quite clearly don't know nada !

and what makes 50 year old guys still being mercenaries fighting in shyte conditions the world over despite being wealthy from previous tours and very good pensions .
The Buzz of combat
Pilots wont be any different

 

[Dork Lard]

and what makes 50 year old guys still being mercenaries fighting in shyte conditions the world over despite being wealthy from previous tours and very good pensions .

I bet they all know what colour the boathouse is at Hereford.

 

[gas112]

I bet they all know what colour the boathouse is at Hereford.

I would imagine quite a few do but know a few old mercs who have never been special forces .
Conversation involving family member
Did you shave your head because of the heat in Iraq
Nope my mate got blown up beside me and i could get his brains out of my hair
And he is still doing it

 

[DiyNutJob]

50 year old guys

When national interest is at stake, younger guys will be released from the active military.

 

[Dork Lard]

When national interest is at stake, younger guys will be released from the active military.

From what active military? And why would they need to???

In your opinion Ukraine is winning easily & it will all be over in a few days . . . . . .

 

[Mottie]

I’m just surprised Dork hasn’t hinted at being a qualified F16 pilot and has flown a few missions that you WOULD have heard about.

 

[Roy Bloom]

I have no doubt there exists a list of 1000's of qualified F16 pilots who no longer have any links to the military. ...

Available with a FOI request?
Or a data breach?

 

[DiyNutJob]

From what active military? And why would they need to???

In your opinion Ukraine is winning easily & it will all be over in a few days . . . . . .

From any of the nato militaries if the retirees are not keen, or too old and unfit. Younger guys are braver and stupider. Give the polish half a chance, their number 1 pilots in the universe will be in there. The moneys is brilliant and they will show their american partners how skilled they are. They will be rolled over like they always did in past wars.

In my opinion, the russian cat is playing with the ukrainian mouse. Ukraine will never win, but it doesn't matter because russia is not trying to defeat it. Russia wants nato pilots as well as other personnel there to effect a nato infrastructure rollback from eastern europe. Russia has paid sufficiently high price to not accept anything less. Syria will need to be settled as part of the package.

 

[IT Minion]

You're not going to get volunteer F16 pilots swanning in and lifting off to bomb the Ruskies next month.

You need to be trained on the exact model of F16 (of which there are many), you need a fully capable ground crew and one plane and pilot is useless. The planes, amunition and spares won't even be ready, they'll probably refurb them before they're sent into war.

It's just not going to happen.

 

[DiyNutJob]

You're not going to get volunteer F16 pilots swanning in and lifting off to bomb the Ruskies next month.

Why next month? Mother russia is not going anywhere and will always be there. She demonstrated over and over she keeps what she's got and gets what she wants. This time might be different. If you don't try, you will never know. Her shapely assets are worth it.

 

[Dork Lard]

P'raps they'll get the faeries to fly 'em, or anyone who seen TopGun at least 4 times . . . . .

 

[DiyNutJob]

P'raps they'll get the faeries to fly 'em, or anyone who seen TopGun at least 4 times . . . . .

You seem to think fighting for national survival is voluntary. If you have the skillz, the press gangs will be coming to you. But, don't panic, the polish will be the first wave, romanians next, europeans next. UK pilots can stay well back. But, if things get rough, a man has got to do what a man's got to do.

 

[Dork Lard]

You seem to think fighting for national survival is voluntary.

You however seem to think that flying a fast jet in combat conditions is nowt' more than popping down the shops in a 4dr hatchback.

You don't know what you don't know. Gifting F16's to Ukraine is utter nonsense without the whole complete package and you have no idea what that package consists of.

 

[gas112]

How naive some of you are try googling private defence contractors and mercenary f16 pilots / fighter pilots .
See how many links come up and the ground crew maintenance teams etc all already there .
War is very profitable business from the grunt on the ground to the specialist in the air