I believe knowing someone who has experience in an aircraft can equate to something. It is certainly not the same as having that experience yourself, but that is how people learn. You talk to someone that is more knowledgeable than you in an area and over time, you get some insight. That combined with the fact that there is a ton of information available about the F-15 allows me to have an opinion that the F-15 kicks butt. Many pilots are interested and learn about aircraft that they have not flown. Everyone on here has been talking about the F-35, F-22, and T-50, but most probably have not flown them.

Why hasn’t anyone jumped down LivingInMem’s post about being in favor of an upgraded F-15? It may because I am stating it more, but that is because this is a big interest to me. I don’t really think that my opinion of having only a few raptors and spending the money on more cost effective (and less advanced) aircraft is that controversial. I may just be a military enthusiast for now, but there are a good amount of people in the military who share similar viewpoints.

All aircraft have limitations (even the F-22 and F-35 probably), and the challenge is to develop strategies that hide weaknesses and accentuate positives. So even if the F-15 is holding its own due to superior tactics, a new version could be designed with its current weaknesses in mind. I guess that I am not arguing for a new F-15, but a new 4th generation or 4.5 generation fighter. Really, you believe that money is better spent on a large fleet of 5th generation fighters, and I believe that a larger fleet of 4th generation with a tactical fleet of 5th generation is better. It is an age old balancing act of numbers verse performance.