All those Planes!

A-10 Thunderbolt II: The A-10 was the Air Force's answer to the onslaught of expected Russian tanks pouring over the Eastern Block in what was thought to be the beginnings of WWIII. Fortunately, this scenario never came to pass, but during the Gulf War, the A-10 proved why it was the best Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft ever built. Before the war, the USAF had planned to retire the Warthog, after the war, those plans were scrapped. Even the Army requested that A-10's be transferred into their service.

F-16C Viper: This aircraft began as the partner to the McDonnell Douglas F-15. It was supposed to be a lightweight, daylight strike-fighter. In it's earliest phase, the F-16 could not engage with radar missiles or carry anything more than "dumb" bombs. Revisions to the F-16's code and airframe (called "blocks") have brought the F-16 from an aircraft that plays second fiddle to one that dominates the skies and is the most sought after export in the world. Lockheed-Martin has produced over 5,000 F-16's.

F-105 on takeoff

F-105 on taxi

F-117: The Nighthawk is legendary. It is the first true "stealth" aircraft. It is first generation "stealth" aircraft and while carrying the name "stealth fighter" the plane is only used as a medium bomber against high value assets. It does carry self-protection weapons and while agile it should only be used in the bombing high value targets and used independent of any other aircraft. The plane is quite advanced and has undergone numerous revisions since it's introduction into the Air Force in 1983.

F-15E Strike Eagle: This plane is the new "strike" workhorse of the USAF. The "Eagle" is the most advanced multi-role aircraft the USAF has in its inventory. The airframe was derived from that of the F-15C. It carries a crew of two and employs a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) to focus the Weapons Systems Officer's (WSO) attention to the target. The SAR takes high-resolution pictures from miles away so the WSO can successfully engage the target with one pass. Carrying over 24,000 pounds of ordinance makes the Strike Eagle a very tough opponent. This plane prompted the retirement of the F-111.

F-117 on low pass

F-117 Taxi

F-22 Raptor: The newest Air Superiority plane is now in production and expected to enter official Air Force Service in 2002. This is a second generation "stealth" aircraft. It can super cruise to over Mach 1.5 and can carry all its ordinance internally. It will have a limited ground attack using GPS guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM). The Raptor is going to be the most advanced and dangerous plane in the sky once it begins its USAF career.

Friendly and Enemy AI

AI in USAF is good and bad. What does that mean? Well, friendly AI has some quirks. Ordering them to engage at Beyond Visual Range (BVR) was a waste of time. Your planes fly with you in formation virtually the whole time and refuse to enter a BVR fight. Once the enemy closes to within twelve miles or so, they will engage but each move you make, your wingman will follow. The enemy AI is quite good. Notching the AI up to maximum makes life tough. Enemy Su-27's and MiG-29's seem to look for your plane specifically. They will engage you relentlessly until either you are down or they are destroyed. Wingmen don't seem to drop bombs often either.