Informative: Military Channel

On Military Channel

Wings over Vietnam : "MIG Killers"

A comparison of the Soviet MiG fighter and the American F-4 Phantom.

Actually it's more than just that.

If you're an aviation buff at all this is a must-see. Full of both dogfight and strategy in the airwar over North Vietnam.
.. US kill ratio was only 2-1 in the mid-late sixties, a very poor showing, and would have been worse if NVN werent 'communist' in ops tactics.

Why the F-4 was actually at a disadvantage against Mig17's and way deficient against Mig21's. How that was overcome.. (which resulted in 'Top Gun' and designing guns back into basic airframes).

Incidently why by 1968 there was no longer a mission for F-105's in SE Asia... a recent major political topic all in itself ....but only explained incidently (they were sitting ducks for both fighters and SAM's, unless escorted)

This is really good stuff.. and changed the way we built fighters and trained pilots.

 

Yeah, the Military Channel is pretty fun to watch. Especially when they show docs on the Soviet-Afghan Wars. Futureweapons is an awesome show too.