"The Last Ace"

[Guest John Cocktosten]

Interesting article for the layman...

The Last Ace

Gotta love Rico's MiG-29 HUD frame

[brickhistory]

Good article, good author. Bowden gets it right in my opinion - "Killing Pable," "Black Hawk Down," et al.

Awesome photo. Should be a briefing room standard viz-aid.

[Steve Davies]

I really liked Bowden's book, Killing Pablo.

Rodriguez's assertion that the AIM-7 photo came from the MiG-29 he downed is mistaken – it is actually from a US drone. In addition, he might not know that the MiG-29 VTRS doesn’t record through the combining glass; it records down into the actual combining lens: MiG-29 VTRS doesn’t show what was out of the window, only the raster and stroke symbology that was in the HUD.

Edited February 13, 2009 by Steve Davies

[Spoo]

Rodriguez's assertion that the AIM-7 photo came from the MiG-29 he downed is mistaken – it is actually from a US drone. In addition, he might not know that the MiG-29 VTRS doesn’t record through the combining glass; it records down into the actual combining lens: MiG-29 VTRS doesn’t show what was out of the window, only the raster and stroke symbology that was in the HUD.

Thanks Buzz Killington.

[Murph]

Yeah, he's the same guy who argues AC-130s weren't needed nor would they have made a difference during "blackhawk down". Give me a break, Bowden wins the "Epic Fail" award for that little nugget of wisdom.

[brickhistory]

Yeah, he's the same guy who argues AC-130s weren't needed nor would they have made a difference during "blackhawk down". Give me a break, Bowden wins the "Epic Fail" award for that little nugget of wisdom.

Been a long time since I read the book. Did Bowden say that or quote someone else saying it?

Not arguing, seeking clarification.

[Spoo]

Been a long time since I read the book. Did Bowden say that or quote someone else saying it?

Not arguing, seeking clarification.

I believe Bowden was speaking to the critics of Les Aspin (SECDEF at the time), who pulled the AC's out a couple weeks before the whole thing went down. Bowden was trying to say that it wouldn't have mattered much in the end. For the record, I totally disagree. But what do I know - I only flew them, Bowden is the CAS expert.

[Steve Davies]

Thanks Buzz Killington.

You're welcome, Peter Griffin.

[brickhistory]

I believe Bowden was speaking to the critics of Les Aspin (SECDEF at the time), who pulled the AC's out a couple weeks before the whole thing went down. Bowden was trying to say that it wouldn't have mattered much in the end. For the record, I totally disagree. But what do I know - I only flew them, Bowden is the CAS expert.

Thanks.

[Guest SATCOM]

Yeah, he's the same guy who argues AC-130s weren't needed nor would they have made a difference during "blackhawk down". Give me a break, Bowden wins the "Epic Fail" award for that little nugget of wisdom.

Having actually "used" AC-130's in an urban environment, I can vouch for their efficacy. Les Aspin was a tool, plain and simple.