The plane that caught my eye before this was the United States Air Force's F-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter. It's another awesome plane. The F-15SGs remind me a bit of the US Navy's F-14 Tomcat Fighter. The Tomcats are synonymous with the Navy. Every time I hear anything new about the Tomcat, I naturally associate it with a one-up for the Navy. I've researched so much about planes that I can rattle off stats and even my cousin-in-law who's a commercial pilot is sometimes not as adept as answering questions. But then again, my 'expertise' is in the planes in the Air Force. I prefer my planes fast.
Was having a discussion (can't say chat since we discuss a LOT of technical stuff) and I found out two new things that I should have already known: the pullback for a commercial plane is much slower than that of a fighter plane (I will not go into details) and that ST Aerospace does produce planes right here in Singapore (they're the makers of the Super Skyhawks that the Black Knights use). Most of the plane models I know off come out of the States (predominantly), Israel's got a couple, France has quite a few and Canada.. well Canada has one listed somewhere if I'm not wrong. Never seen Australia make any ways in this department though.
And of course there are the Chinooks and Apaches (that'll be the helicopters for those not inclined in this area of travel) which seem to constantly improve onboard nav sysytems. The AH-64D seems to be a particular favourite, possibly out of necessity, not sure. It's so cool that these awesome creations don't appear to be dying out so soon. Wit the introduction and higher usage of the UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle), I'm worried the need for pilots may run low. It's good that there has been an expressed interest in keeping UAVs as an option instead of a answer. I saw this show once about the pilot for a UAV having delusional moments while flying the vehicle (his wife wanted him to stress less and spiked his drink with anti-anxiety meds- I'm not taking them for this very reason) and he crashed the unit and killed his mate in the progress. But twas actually found out much later that it was that the unit got electronically highjacked. Pffftt.
Anyway, my childhood dreams of being a fighter pilot got dashed when my dad said there weren't any female fighter pilots (there are now) and that the training required a bond and that you wouldn't be sent into combat. Fiesty that I was then, I refused to believe there was nothing a male could do that a female couldn't so I tried talking (I was 6 or 7 then) to my dad's mates (some of them were actual pilots) and I reckon my dad told them not to encourage me cos they told me the training was hard and laborious and no use since you didn't get to practice flying as much as the men cos you wouldn't be sent into battle. Ever determined, I'm gonna get my pilot's license when I can (looks like it'll be after the diving license) and fly the open skies, WHEEEE!
This is the moment where Barney's flying in an airplane, looking out the window, watching the clouds go by song kicks in. Heheh.