Just saw this on rec.aviation.military

"The New Air Superiority Benchmark

Thursday the 19th of February 2004 will mark the day when the
undisputed king of air superiority had to surrender its thirty-year
crown to a newcomer. It happened over the skies of Windermere, in the
scenic English Lake District. Two Eurofighter Typhoon twin-seaters
were on the first RAF formation training flight from Warton Aerodrome
when they were bounced from the eight o'clock by a couple of F-15Es
belonging to the USAFE's 48th TFW, probably the most formidable and
experienced combat unit in the European theatre. The Typhoon crew did
not seem to be intimidated and with two rapid counters ended up on the
F-15 tail, comfortably gunning the trailing one, who was in full
afterburner, wings rocking and wondering what had happened.

It is fair to expect that the most surprised by this first encounter
result would be the F15 crew, used to dominate the skies since the
mid-seventies and with an exchange ratio record of 101 wins to zero
losses, and a bunch of die-hard Eurofighter critics without much
knowledge of the new fighter air combat capabilities. It is
understandable if the RAF rookies would also show their surprise at
the outcome, as one does not expect to win an air engagement on the
first training sortie with a brand new machine against one of the best
combat units in the world, riding what up to now has been the best
fighter in history.

But that is history now!

Those definitely not surprised by what the events over the Lake
District skies signify are the top echelon in the Air Combat Command,
the Chief of Staff and the RAND Corp. analysts and boffins. They have
been saying for years that the F-15 is no match to the new generation
of European fighters and even to the Su-35 Flanker. They know what
they say: their operational analyses studies and other simulated
evaluations-as indeed have ours, both at the industry and government
level-have shown that the F-15 is unable to gain air superiority
against Eurofighter Typhoon. Now they have the first real indication
that their worries were not unjustified and that the F/A-22 was the
right choice, if they want to maintain the air superiority also in the
future."

There's a lot more to it than this oversimplified interpretation, and it is naive to reach any conclusions based on this one encounter.

"I'd rather face an average pilot in a great airplane than a great pilot in an average airplane" - Brigadier General Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager, USAF

Cheers!

Rick...

Apparently they were Rookie pilots Raven, and normally I'd say that makes them Average, but they were RAF and the RAF doesnt do "average". :p

Cheers

I know where this is going...IBTL!

Heeheehee. Makes good reading though, but the Sea Harrier guys may claim they were there first...

Also note: It sounds like a close in dogfight scenario. The F15 from the outset was designed with BVR in mind, speed and agility there if the enemy gets too close. However, I have no doubt the Eurofighter could get on an F15s tail with ease, assuming the Typhoon had a remotely competant pilot. (Would they risk such an aircraft with the guy who couldn't fly a model let alone a plane? )

The real showdown will be F22 vs Eurofighter.

Actually, I was implying that they might be great pilots!

Cheers!

Rick...

Hmm, lets see. What were the loads for each acft? Clean?? Tanks? Just know that the F-15E does have CFTs and the weight is higher.

As was said, this is a lame report jumping to conclusions over one engagement. It's not being said what the set-ups were or restrictions placed upon who, etc...

Yea, IBTL. :rolleyes:

Storm

I reckon this will be locked by 1500 GMT!!! Place your bets! (This is part of my clever lock-prevention policy) Keep it level-headed and rational discussion only, guys!

Time and progress being what they are, the F-15 will have to lower its colours one day and it may not be to another US-built aircraft.

You're on!