Fully loaded speed tests of Harrier vs F14, Mirage and Viggen

[Mr_Sukebe]

For anyone interested, last night we ran a brief test of the speed of aircraft when loaded (i.e. taking into account the implications of drag).

The background to this was some thinking about other potential RedFor aircraft.
As such, we ran a quick test of the following aircraft, fully bombed up and the results were not quite what you might expect:

F14: Mach. 0.9
Mirage: Mach. 0.87
Harrier: Mach: 0.85
Viggen: Mach. 0.75

The caveats being that the above speeds were with NO afterburners (clearly so in the Harrier case). The logic being that on a long sortie, you’re likely to be conserving fuel and as such not on burner unless really needed.

Whilst the expected view was that the Viggen would stroll away from the Harrier, in reality, it’s massively affected by drag.
Additionally, there’s not much in it between a Harrier and the supersonic aircraft, unless you fancy eating your way through your fuel load very quickly.

Another way to consider this is whether you want to reach the target point quickly, or exit fast. Fully loaded, the Harrier is very comparable on the way in. During it’s exit, the others would leave it for dead.

[john (scooby)]

The little plane that could!
The f14 is a beast though lol it will sit at 0.9 on the deck with sidewinders,tanks and 18 mk82s without reheat! Mach 1.1 with reheat

[Father Cool]

Why we don't run SEAD in the XIth god only knows.

We need Jester Lantirn for sure.

[john (scooby)]

Why we don't run SEAD in the XIth god only knows.

We need Jester Lantirn for sure.

I intend to train a2g in the future, atm we have more pressing things to sort out though, seads tricky yhough because we dont have much stanfoff a2g eaponry

[Father Cool]

Yes agreed.