Message posted by Magoo on February 10, 2000 at 18:57:37 EST:

The MiG-25R was (and still is) a very good tactical recce aircraft, but it can only do it's thing at high altitude in order to achieve the dash speeds it is capable of. The Lighter weight, sharper nose and lower frontal cross section of the 'R' probably helps to achieve these speeds, but the engines still have a very limited shelf life! In comparison, the US RF-4C was much more flexible, in that its sensors could be used at low or high altitude, and it could carry AIM-9s and fight its way out of trouble if required. The -25 can only turn tail and run!

I think you'll find the MiG-31 will only do 2.8 in a very limited burst, and couldn't go near that with those huge missiles under the wings. It is a lot bigger than a -25, and is still made from steel (the thing weighs 90,000lbs loaded!), rather than titanium or composites. The advantage it does have over the -25 is the awesome 'Flash Dance' radar that allows it to fight autonomously and at BVR ranges, rather than needing to be vectored controlled by GCI operators.

Magoo

In Reply to: Re: Our Migs (Magoo) posted by Richard Cliff on February 10, 2000 at 15:42:06 EST:

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