Which is Better? Flying the F-16 or the F/A-18?

It's been a long time since I flew either the F-16 (1000 hrs) or F/A-18 (400 hrs), but after four years in each jet, I discuss what I liked and disliked about both of them, and finally answer the question - which did I like more? Want to become a fighter pilot? Start here: milrecruiter.com/afrc-uft/
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Views presented are my own and do not represent the views of DoD or its Components.

[@352hartmn]

I had an opportunity to have dinner with Robert L. Shaw back in the 90's. (authored a book on Fighter Tactics) He flew Tomcats then after he left the Navy he went USAF in the reserves flying F15 IIRC. I asked him what it was like flying for the different branches. (Paraphrasing here) "the Air Force gave us a list of things "we could do" and we were not supposed to deviate from that. The Navy gave us a short list of things "we couldn't do", and everything else was fair game." Did you find a cultural difference in the flying between the branches?

[@couespursuit7350]

My Navy flying was 81-87 and that is exactly the way we saw it.

[@spiff1003]

If I don't remember wrong, Mover said so in an earlier video that the Air Force was a lot more planned and rigid unless you went "cross country" flying, while the navy was a more free.

[@Pilot545]

Definitely a culture difference. Shaw was pretty much right. BUT…that doesn’t mean flying Navy is more “fun.” In my opinion, it actually made them more dangerous. Almost without fail, every time I flew with Navy guys, they would be violating training rules. Mostly it was being out of their block. I always anticipated it so I was never caught off guard.

[@vicariousjohnson9823]

@@Pilot545 “it made them more dangerous.” GTFO.

[@Pilot545]

@@vicariousjohnson9823 Tons of personal experience, brother. Don’t know you so I’m not judging on what you do or don’t know.

[@hawkuser604]

I remember in Iraq years ago flying some F-16 pilots around and they watched up suit up to fly them in our UH-60s We wore body armor with front and back plates a survival vest with our M9 pistol ,4 magazines , survival radio, etc Plus loading the M240 in the window. They asked me how much does all the shit weigh? (45 lbs or more). Then the flight helmet with NVG's and a weight bag. The they asked what all the plates on the floor were for.. ballistic plating.. they found a whole new respect for Army aviators after that! Then we dipped down to less than 50 feet and flew as fast as we could. Respect earned.

[@DonMeaker]

Respect is earned.

[@iatcaracal]

The VA in 5 years: "your spinal conditions have no correlation to your service"

[@pablopeter3564]

Thanks for your service soldier. Greetings from Mexico City.

[@karloyu3484]

❤👍💙

[@Brian-iu7rd]

Flying NOE is a gas, until it isn't! 😁

[@joncox9719]

I'm 6'2", years ago flew airshows in a 450 Stearman. Had an F-15 Pilot wanting to go up in the Stearman so bad, so after the show, we went up and had a blast, he did quite well once he remembered there were rudder pedals in the plane, Ha! "He was a natural actually" afterwards, he let me sit in the cockpit of his C model F-15 and I could not believe how tight the cockpit was. He said afterwards we could go over to the F-16 and give that one a try to see how tight it was, Holy Cow! I was 6'2" 175 pounds at the time, 32' waist, and the F-16 was clostraphobic! I don't see how guy's over 6' could sit for hours on end in the F-16. But I was extremely lucky to be allowed to even sit in the cockpit! This was in the early 90's and it was one of the Belle Chase Cajun Militia Squadron's F-15's and it surprised me that he had a rifle scope mounted on top of his instrument panel glare shield next to his HUD for drug plane intercepts, he could visually ID the aircraft through the rifle scope. I was a cheap fix and did the job! F-15 Sniper! Ha!

[@therocinante3443]

You know what they say, you don't sit in an F-16, you strap it on!

[@nutsackmania]

Great story man thanks!

[@michaelnewell9662]

now the even the F-15C's can use a targeting pod.

[@mjpt57]

With taller pilots how do they manage with the prospect of an ejection and your legs/knees taking the instrument panel out with you?

[@Aokitadamitsu]

oh yeah, you like strap the F16 on..

[@andrewtaylor940]

The Navy "wear your helmet to the jet" makes sense when you realize that the Carrier Flight Deck is a "Protective Headgear" area. Too much shit going on within a much more confined space than an Air Force Air Base. So they want everyone used to "wear the Helmet". You are much less likely to encounter the wirling blades of death of a Helo Tail Roter or a C-2's props walking out to you F-16's parking stand. Plus on the Carrier Deck anything can become an unexpected projectile should the ship catch a rough patch of sea or a nasty cross wind. The Cockpit Ladder is a lot more threatening and dangerous when it is actually airborne and flying at your face.It's one of those "good habits avoid messy cleanups" rules.

[@rocketassistedgoat1079]

Great answer. thanks for writing it.

[@Daveincc]

Or someone turn the wrong way and send you bouncing down the deck like a piece of paper. My uncle lost a crewman on his fueling crew when an aviator turned wrong.

[@device1974]

We had a man overboard on the Lincoln on the way back from the second gulf war. They turned an E-2C on the fight deck with the props spun up and there was a guy they didn't see on a stepladder doing some kind of maintenance on another plane. The word was that his ladder got blown away and he was actually holding onto the plane for a second until he couldn't and ended up over the side. The sars guys got him back and he was pretty shaken up but ok. I'm sure a few people lost some chunks of ass cheek over that one.

[@pb68slab18]

If a whirling prop or rotor hits your head, ain't no helmet gonna help! The helmets we wore as ''deck-apes" were in case ya bumped yer noggin while working under wings and walked into a wing or the many things sticking out. They also included eye & hearing protectors. The helmets the F-18 pilots wear are some super-expensive contraptions and 'tuned' to the wearer.

[@getit9066]

I flew off the Independence during Desert Storm/Southern Watch time frame. One week, some O4 genius decided that aircrew should be forced to sign up for something he named "Flight Deck Safety Watch." This entailed pilots and nfo's walking around the flight deck each launch&recovery cycle - day and night - with a freaking clipboard, annotating any safety issues they witnessed. Mind you, a carrier flight deck is easily one of the most dangerous places on earth, manned with personnel who are highly trained to be managing the insanity flowing around them. And now thanks to this dipshit O4, also with aircrew whose only flight deck experience was preflighting their aircraft. On my assigned day, I stepped into a Hornet's exhaust as it powered up in a turn, and went tumbling down the deck like a rag doll. Then that night, I briskly walked headfirst into a Hornet's horizontal stab, nearly invisible in the dark, and got knocked on my ass. I then crawled up to PriFly, where the Air Boss resides, and hid in a corner, filling out that stupid clipboard, in which the only safety issues documented were my own. The program dissolved soon thereafter. Air Force flight lines are pretty. Navy carrier flight decks are death traps.

[@adityaakaul]

Interesting how many of the differences can be traced back to "We need to get this thing to take off and land on a ship in the middle of the ocean."

[@OldNavyGuy]

This. ⚓️ We wear our helmets to the jet for hearing protection on the flight deck. Much, much more is because we fly off the boat.

[@steveperreira5850]

Most of them.

[@xy-pk8gb]

Great video. I flew the F-16, mostly Block 30s, for about 10 years in the AF. It was so much fun we all thought we should be paying them instead of them paying us. One of many things I thought was different about the F-16 than any other airplane I flew was the sensation you get when you first start flying it is that you are sitting on top of the jet instead of down in it. It was a problem in the weather because you felt like you were sticking up into the clouds and looking down into the cockpit for the instruments. It was easy to get disoriented in the weather in the F-16 and that actually led to several accidents.

[@fon-tijn]

i fly simulators(BMS, DCS) i fly the F16AM block 20 RNLAF in BMS and the block 50 in DCS they are very similar and different. the autopilot is a great example (STRG SEL VS HDG SEL)

[@captaincurd2681]

When I first watched the Red Flag documentary, the first thing I notice about the F-16 was that it bounced on the runway during landing.

[@xy-pk8gb]

@@captaincurd2681 Yep, they tend to tippy toe down the runway until they slow down. That is because they are well within the flying speed when they land. Can't slow down anymore or you will drag the speed brakes.

[@goldcfi7103]

My father, a six victory P-38 ace would say that the P-47 was his favorite fighter. He spent 27 years in, retiring as a B-52 check airman. He did fly the T-38 in the mid-sixties for currency. He said that was his favorite jet!

[@Wood-In-My-Eye]

I use to know many years ago. A flying tiger. I mowed his lawn. Amazing man!! I was in awe every time he was around me. This was years ago I was 10 he was in his 60’s maybe. It was a different world. They flew with experience, knowledge and courage. No electronics back then! Not like now. Not that current pilots don’t have those. It was just different. Different time. Hope that makes sense.

[@rhekman]

21:23 So.... F16 - Formula 1 F18 - NASCAR "Always turning left, like God intended"

[@deathsicon]

so that makes the sr71 NHRA then right? straight line wide open throttle

[@VyarkX]

@@deathsiconthe blackbird is actually pretty bad at accelerating though

[@MScotty90]

@@VyarkX more of a Bonneville salt flats type top speed run, then.

[@aprilgeneric8027]

that's an absolutely great analogy.

[@dave4882]

@@deathsicon Speed Check.

[@Dk-ex4uf]

Wait.... So you're telling me there isn't a cappuccino machine in the jet?! I knew I shouldn't have believed the recruiter...

[@shorttimer874]

When I was with an armored battalion in Germany in the seventies, I remember how envious I was when I found out the Brits had hot water in their tanks for making tea...

[@legendary_soup4454]

Only on the patrol aircraft like the p3 or p8, Kc 135 they even make cookies.

[@SonOfTheChinChin]

the brits have armored mobile protected fire power teapot

[@Dk-ex4uf]

@@legendary_soup4454 Holy smokes, I did not know any of that! Lucky dogs 🤣

[@riphopfer5816]

I could swear I remember hearing that the B-52 had bunks and something of a kitchenette…however, that was a long time ago-like 30+ years-so possibly I daydreamed it.

[@spitfyre530]

Your go until told no catchphrase has gotten me further than I ever should have in this process. Passed all the tests and got caught at Meps with some slight hearing issue. Got fully denied from navy and Air Force. Admiral decided he needed more applicants so he fired the navy SG and waived me in. Recruiter told me I could do anything but aviation, so I emailed the admiral directly. Admiral referred me to a new recruiter and I’m now putting in my pilots package next week.

[@risingsun9595]

You're a goddamn champion, son

[@kevino.7348]

Nice!

[@lepermessiyah5823]

Its honestly the best advice Ive heard when going for the dream role. Completely mitigates self elimination.

[@Xopher30]

Persistence and seeking a way until you win is both officer and pilot-worthy material. You're a fine American - do us proud.

[@xwhogafx815]

Never give up!

[@Vandal-ml3mb]

It's always interesting to see the other perspective. And certainly good to hear from someone who has flown both. As a Marine Hornet pilot (almost 2000 hours). I can say the opposite of what mover said, and that is every time i was scheduled to do a 1V1 dissimilar with the USAF (whether F-16 or F-15) it was never close (well almost never). We referred to it as "clubbing baby seals". He is correct, if a hornet pilot makes a mistake the jet won't get him out of it. but it's is certainly easy to force one circle flow and get a quick kill using the hornet. And most Air Force guys didn't seem to know how to counter our some of our favorite one circle maneuvers. referencing the "well almost never", i did go up against an F-15C from the FANG that kicked my butt all over the sky. no kills, but i was defensive almost all day. turns out he was a prior USN hornet guy that joined the guard. in conclusion... I always wanted to get a ride in a Viper 😀 thanks for the video!!!

[@Skymedc]

I can't speak for which jet is better, but I work at a Naval Air Station where F18 pilots are taught to fly the F16. It's always fun to watch them get out of the cockpit after their first flight. They're grinning from ear to ear. They love that little hot rod.

[@Qasibr]

@@Skymedc The -16 also flies much cleaner without it's conformal fuel tanks, or any of those things.

[@shaunroberts9361]

😅I live in Auburn CA and we had one of the best pilots passed away on the 17th of May Brig Gen Bud Anderson. This pilot was increditeable. He was a Tripple ACE pilot in World War ll. P51 OLD CROW He flew over a 130 different aircraft over 7500 hours. He was 102 years old. Thank you Mover. This was a great edit for sure.

[@danielnordeen8410]

Sorry to hear about Bud He was a true treasure

[@forfun6273]

That’s a shame. It sucks we’re losing the people who experienced ww2. We have a lot of young people today who try to Monday morning quarterback ww2. They take for granted the human cost of that war and take our freedoms for granted. Not trying to trash young people. We all should probably better acknowledge the sacrifices the greatest generation made for this country. True heroes.

[@shakeandbake7324]

WOW HE WAS A LEGEND PILOT!!!

[@badcornflakes6374]

There's gold in them there hills! Rip Bud. A legend. 🕊🦅

[@29thizzle]

What up, brother? Mouth here from NAS JRB New Orleans Air Guard. I didnt know you flew the Hornet as well. Man, youre the Swiss Army knife of pilots becuase you flew the Hogs as well! Lol! After 29 years, its time for me to hang it up, brother. I loved my time and now, just awaiting medical retirement, brother. This E1 made it to O5 and Im more than grateful. Always good seeing your videos! As always, thank you for your service! 🫡

[@JohnChuprun]

My grandpa was an aeronautical engineer (director) at Wright Patt and was responsible for the development of the F16. Really amazing.

[@tu6202]

I have a friend who flew for the Air Force, started in F4s, was one of the few who flew the F117s, ended his career in A10s, several others in between and when I asked him what his favorite was, without hesitation he said the F4. It was his first jet, his first love.

[@cryptojihadi265]

I think the F4 is THE most bad ass looking jet ever designed.

[@johnharris7353]

Yeah my dad loved the F4. He was a test pilot at McDonnell during the sixties, navy fighter during WWII. An ace flying Grumman F6F from carriers of course.

[@tu6202]

@@johnharris7353 Id like to thank him for his service.

[@montebrodie4086]

The F-4 had so much damn power, one of the only jets of its day that could pull full vertical on take-off and hold it to altitude.

[@Hagop64]

From what I've heard the F117 has the aerodynamics and handling of a brick it's not a big surprise that wasn't his favorite.

[@clydesuckfinger8068]

I spent 22 years as a C-130 crew chief in the Ca Air Guard, and we had a good relationship with our aircrews. The young pilots, while being trained by the older experienced guys would remind them that the crew chief owned the airplane, we were nice enough to let the pilots use it. As crew chief, we always did everything possible to make the crew’s life easy. Seatbelts ready over the headrests, windows cleaned, if hot heat shields left in until the last minute. If cold try and heat the inside if possible.

[@etorres4u]

What happens when a pilots head gets too big and gets does not show the crew chief his due respect?

[@clydesuckfinger8068]

@@etorres4u Ground the airplane for something, not that I would ever do that.

[@warrenholmes3311]

If you ONLY KNEW how many questions this video answered and just military/aviation life. Thank you so much, Mover!

[@beckydoesit9331]

I used to fly Vipers. I have a crazy story of how I first started. I had never flown before and I was a passenger flying commercial out of Newark to JFK and sitting coach when the flight attendant accidentally spilt a drink on me. She said to make up for it she could either bump me to first class or let me fly the plane around for a few minutes. I chose the latter and did so good that we arrived at our destination two hours early. The Air Force and Navy both fought over me an I chose the Air Force because I thought the Navy was just a bunch of guys with boats; Didn't know they also did jets, but when I got home I found a Viper sitting in my driveway. I skimmed through the instruction manual and took it up and shot down a bunch of Migs on my first day. I'm kind of a badass. My call sign was Legend, but I always told people to call me Homegirl because I'm humble even though I have over 250 kills. Read more

[@maleprincess62]

​@beckydoesit9331 why are you spamming this dumb shit

[@sebastianshaw210]

​@@beckydoesit9331those mushrooms must be strong

[@tommynikon2283]

FANTASTIC! The 16 was my dad’s dream fighter to fly….IF he had the chance; he was an old USAF stick…28, 33, F80, 84, 86, 100, A1E. He’s still around at 94- and watches your stuff weekly. THX Mover.

[@gordydexter2615]

Great video Mover!!! I am in agreement with you having flown many fighters. 2000 hours in the F4E, 3200 hours in the Viper (all blocks). A as handful of hours in the F-5 & F-18. Thousands of hours airline time W/AA. Flew for over 30+ years; paid for the high G’s in the Viper with multiple spine surgeries as I got older. All good!!! Thanks for sharing‼️👍👊💪🇺🇸

[@CWLemoine]

That’s an awesome career!

[@scottwithington9933]

My dad (passed away a year ago) was an engineer for General Electric Aerospace Engineering Systems Division. He was the senior engineer for development of the first heads up display for the Navy. The project came up because of occasional accidents due to pilots taking their eys off the window, landing on a carrier. I think of him every time I see a video showing one.

[@JockJetJim]

Hi Mover - Career Hornet guy. I appreciated this video. Brought back alot of memories. Can't argue with your assessment of the strengths and weaknesses. I always felt a little underthrusted with the early lot Hornets which is probably what you were flying in VFA-204 (I flew in VFA-201 out of Ft Worth for a while and we had lot 8's). The EPE engines introduced in the Lot15's helped out alot. But my memories of fighting big mouth Vipers were not that great - they seemed to press energy fights more often, better in the vertical....my only hope was to wear it down to a position fight - but even then they could crawl up into an altitude sanctuary. One thing that I really agree with is your "first love". For me that was and always will be the A-4. I flew a thousand hours in 30 months - much of it teaching guns only ACM to training command students. I got almost too comfortable in that,(you may know what I mean) - fortunatley I survived that tour - but yeah - it was a wonderful airplane and I was never more at home in that!

[@RedFail1-1]

It's going to depend on so many variables. Like what missions you performed in each, how often you got to fly, the people you flew with, how often they let you dogfight and how often you won lol. The main deciding factor is always going to be which one was flown first. It's almost always why when you ask early Tomcat pilots what their favorite jet to fly is they say the A-4 lol

[@PeteVA-212]

Mover enjoyed your video. Great comparison of the two GREAT fighters of today. But LOL. All you young guys quibble over the weapons systems controls today. Try flying while switching weapons stations and the master arm switch between your legs on the instrument panel in a bombing run. All toggle or rotary switches. I Remember...If you did not trim an A-4, it would bite you! And the auto-pilot, such as it was, did not usually work. Well, I still love the Scooter and it got me on/off the boat safely for over 200 traps and over 1200 hours of flight time. A-4s Forever!

[@CWLemoine]

Valid!

[@Nghilifa]

And no HUD! Just Mark 1 Mod 0 dive bombing, WW2 style with a reflector gunsight that wasn't any more advanced than the ones found in Wildcats, Hellcats & Corsairs (I think the reticle was identical)! Amazing stuff really. Skyhawks forever indeed!

[@PeteVA-212]

@@Nghilifa You could also use a grease pencil in a pinch...

[@robertm8401]

Col.Morten Hanche of the RNoAF says exactly that about the F35: Hornet AOA/nose authority plus Viper thrust. The demo pilots like to show that off too and do the Raptor's tactical pitch, losing almost all energy on an instantaneous turn but instead of going nose down to recover, they just power upwards.

[@skyhorseprice6591]

I have seen the F-35 demo team do just that; power into the 'Dojo Drift,' which is a wicked instantaneous turn, and then go blasting off into the vertical rather than drop the nose. The acceleration is stupendous.

[@swayzefan3600]

its funny how all the anti f-35 propaganda had me thinking it handled like a pig- like a leerjet. it was easily the most impressive display i've ever seen - i rate the performance above the f-22 since it doesn't use thrust vectoring which almost looks like cheating :D. you'll still see people- mostly russians- claiming the f-35 can't manuever.

[@jonjdoe]

@@swayzefan3600 Keep telling them that.

[@FireAngelOfLondon]

@@swayzefan3600 A lot of the early estimates of what an F-35 could do were from the early flying days when the fly-by-wire system was restricting the plane deliberately. This was because the test team had not cleared the full flight envelope, so the system restricted everyone but test pilots to the parts of the flight envelope that the test pilots had proven to be safe. Once testing progressed software updates removed the restrictions and the F-35 was then able to publicly show what it can do.

[@kilianortmann9979]

@@swayzefan3600 And the F-35 is not even that slow. If you plug in the numbers for an F-16 with ECM pod, T pod, some missiles, empty pylons, not even talking drop tanks, she's gonna max out at about Mach 1.6-1.7. With the F-35 someone basically took a look at what an F-16 had hanging under the wings on a typical mission and said, let's just put all that inside the airframe.

[@65Max]

Not the same story but learned in Cessna 152, owned a 1973 Skyhawk (C172) for 7 years, got my instruments ticket in it; very stable and easy to fly. Then owned a 1956 Beech Bonanza (V-tail) for 12 years. Both the Skyhawk and Bone are great civilian planes but the older Beech was my favorite. Also very stable even in weather but more like a sports car than a station wagon and was actually more fuel efficient. Bonanza's fuel of 90 gallons (with tip tanks) provided great options for our long, cross-country traveling. Selling it was a BIG MISTAKE!

[@mortarman81MM]

I KNEW I recognized that last Viper approach shot: Burlington IAP and the VTANG "Green Mountain Boys"; 158th FW. Nice clip!

[@Flyfishtherockies]

Grew up spending lots of time there, always admired the VTANG and loved watching their F-16 ops there

[@Pilot545]

As a Viper pilot, it was easy to have an air of cockiness. 🤙🏼

[@CWLemoine]

"It's hard to be humble at 9Gs," - Sign in the 706FS Squadron Bar

[@pb68slab18]

I've heard Navy fighter pilots refer to the F-16 as ''the lawn dart''. Why is that?

[@roywilkowski2326]

@@pb68slab18 Single engine, no glide when it stops running. Helos can autorotate farther than aF16 can glide.

[@pb68slab18]

@@roywilkowski2326 OK, thought it might be something more derogatory. I was a Navy P-3 aircrewman for 5yrs. Wouldn't do it in a P-8! As we used to say, Number of engines, divided by 2, less than 2, ya don't go over water!

[@xy-pk8gb]

@@pb68slab18 "Lawn dart" was a popular nickname for the early F-16s because there were lots of accidents early on, most of which were engine failures. It was used by a lot of Air Force pilots too, not just Navy fight pilots. You don't hear it that much anymore.

[@59thfsaviation79]

F-16 Crew Chief here. You're welcome! We always do straps and the Cru/60 hose. As a young crew chief, I took this role very seriously! And always first name, because like you said, why not? Call sign or first name always.

[@risingsun9595]

I feel like you guys definitely have the right to do it. Your jet, my life in your hands.

[@briangulley6027]

Long time CC here, I would only use their first name or call sign if they told me to, some insisted on rank or sir. LtC and above was always sir even if they told me to use first name or call sign. Guess I was old school like that. Most pilots were cool others "knew" the world revolved around them, total a-holes.

[@beckydoesit9331]

I used to fly Vipers. I have a crazy story of how I first started. I had never flown before and I was a passenger flying commercial out of Newark to JFK and sitting coach when the flight attendant accidentally spilt a drink on me. She said to make up for it she could either bump me to first class or let me fly the plane around for a few minutes. I chose the latter and did so good that we arrived at our destination two hours early. The Air Force and Navy both fought over me an I chose the Air Force because I thought the Navy was just a bunch of guys with boats; Didn't know they also did jets, but when I got home I found a Viper sitting in my driveway. I skimmed through the instruction manual and took it up and shot down a bunch of Migs on my first day. I'm kind of a badass. My call sign was Legend, but I always told people to call me Homegirl because I'm humble even though I have over 250 kills. Read more

[@briangulley6027]

@@beckydoesit9331 Not too sure but something this isn't a true story, are you related to Joe Biden by any chance? This kinda thing happened to him a few times.

[@yukionna1649]

Maintenance on Super Hornets with the RAAF for 8 years. I'd take the helmet bag and stow them, more for FOD control than anything, but never once even considered helping the crew into the seat. They're a grown adult, I'm sure that they can put on their own seat belt. We did however sometimes convince the new guys that they needed to destatic the crews helmets before they climbed out, seeing the look on their faces when they randomly got booped by the wand was always hilarious

[@jeffreybruce400]

Very few people can speak from the experience that you have in both. So cool, thank you Sir!

[@johndeanjdsvihovic8490]

My Guard Viper Squadron had 4 ex Navy guys that all flew the Legacy Hornet. When they all retired they were asked which they like better. They all said the Viper... I had over 2,500 hours in the Viper and got a ride in a CF-18 with an instructor in the front. He let me fly almost the whole mission. It was impressive, and the slow speed, high AOA handling was eye opening. One thing Mover didn't mention was the difference in Rudder use. In flight the viper rarely used it, while the Hornet depended on it...

[@CWLemoine]

I used the rudder a lot in slow speed in the Viper too... you could do a much better tuck under jink with it, but you're right. Slow speed in general was eye opening in the Hornet. The video was already too long at 30 minutes! haha

[@johndeanjdsvihovic8490]

@@CWLemoine Starting out in Small Tail Blk 10s if you did that (tuck under jink) you departed... When we got the big tail Blk 15s it was much better but just hard to break old habits... The A-Model had such a light nose that we never did that anyway... Never flew the C-model, but many of my buddies that did said it was a lead nose compared to the A...

[@JimNortonsAlcoholism]

​@@johndeanjdsvihovic8490Imagine the first time pilots got to fly the A model. It must have felt like a spaceship in comparison to their old aircraft.

[@rocketmann8333]

@@CWLemoine I never noticed! I was on a fantastic Journey! Thank you :)

[@johndeanjdsvihovic8490]

@@JimNortonsAlcoholism I was straight out of the T-37, T-38/AT-38 and was in awe of it... The guys who converted from the F-4 especially the younger guys loved it... The older guys hated change and wanted to keep flying the Phantom... I personally think they were scared by the quick "G" onset, plus didn't want to learn a new system when they were comfortable with the old one... Over time that all went away...

[@normanbyrne9868]

My son would say that the F15E was better than both of these planes. Though, he would be a little biased because he is now an avionics technician for the USAF and now working on the F15E's. Great video, Mover. Long time fan here from a proud USAF papa!

[@patrickgriffitt6551]

Kudos to your son. I was an avionics tech on F-4s,F-15s, and F-16s during my time in(1970-1991). Dont know if it is still in use but 45272.

[@chris99997]

I flew all three in my career (F-16, F-15, F-18). I tell people the F-16 is the most fun to fly, but the F-15E is the jet I'd prefer to take into combat.

[@rocketmann8333]

LOL... I was mesmerized at how much knowledge of the aircraft and flight characteristic differences you went over, while I sat and fantasized about the days I wanted to be a fighter pilot in my youth. I know a bit more about flight since then, now 62 years old working on my bucket list dream to become a pilot before I die.. I'm a handful of hours away from my private pilots' license. My Instructor, a retired Air Force B52/B1 bomber pilot said I was a natural and let me solo after 6 hours of flight training. I LOVE FLYING!!! But sir, wow just wow on the mental sharpness you have and the amount of knowledge you learned to do what you have done is most impressive! BRAVO to you and all our winged heros!!! I wished I had been able to have that opportunity... Just incredible to listen to you and read between the huge gaps in the story line.. Fantastic journey you took me on today sir! Thank you for the ride alongs...

[@MajorCaliber]

That completely frameless canopy on the F-16 has got to add to the thrill, not to mention to the visibility of all things forward. 🤠😎

[@KD-_-]

Its actually weird to me that frameless canopies didn't completely take over after the F-16.

[@Bellboy40]

Great video Mover! I really enjoyed your impressions of flying both machines. It was really interesting to me hearing you describe what you liked about each one and the differences between them. I couldn't believe it ended so quickly. I wished it had been an hour long.

[@dustinwalden7091]

I’m partial to the F16. My grandpa retired from the Ft. Worth plant in 1999 after 33 years as an electrical engineer on the flight control system.

[@SevenCostanza]

So what U mean is the f16 looks cooler.

[@dustinwalden7091]

@@SevenCostanza sounds cooler too lol. My grandparents had a house in Ft. Worth built in the 50’s or 60’s that had this big stone fireplace and you could hear the F16s echoing down the chimney.

[@ahmedqais9534]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@falcon911gamer8]

Retired USAF POL guy here. Last base was Homestead ARB. Loved seeing the big FM tail in your video. Keep up the good work!!

[@wtcirrus]

Interesting observation starting at 21:20 Never been in military aviation myself, but back in the day I terrorized the skies in both light planes and gliders. Whether a left or right turn is easier to initiate is more or less dependent on the hand you’re flying with. In a plane where you’re in the left seat with the left hand on the yoke, a right roll is easier to initiate than a left. The opposite is true when you’re flying with a stick in your right hand. Either way, it’s still flying and it’s freaking awesome, regardless which hand you’re flying with. I get a kick out of your videos; hell, you might even inspire me to start flying again.

[@askaro1]

me too 😋

[@JF-lt5zc]

If you fly with your left hand, its like someone else is doing it.

[@Turboy65]

The F-16 makes it harder for you to get into serious trouble. It'll keep you from stalling in MOST flying conditions. Its AOA limiter will keep you from stalling, MOST of the time. Deep stalls are possible if you assault two control limiters at the same time. The Hornet doesn't have that AOA limiter and it will let you stall the jet and fall out of the sky in conditions where an F-16 would just limit you and keep on flying. This has resulted in some fatalities including during Blue Angels aerial demonstrations in at least once incident I can remember from a few years ago.

[@RedFail1-1]

He kinda mentioned all that.

[@BDMcGrew]

I did really enjoy that one. Thank you. I really gravitate towards your technical videos. I know I’ve wanted to see that one for a long time. Had no idea others have been asking for it. I’ve flown both jets in DCS myself, but I’m not good with the fighters at all. I tend to still fall back to explain and fly the commercial stuff. but still, aviation is love and videos like this just capture so well. Thank you.

[@ES-art]

Since a kid I have always loved the Viper. And from a young age I wanted to be a fighter pilot but didnt have the eyesight. But, way back in the day when a TV station would go off the air, it would play the national anthem and show the Viper in flight. I thought it was the coolest. I ended up going Army Infantry (retired), but now I can fly the Viper from my office, (thanks DCS). Sorry Gonky, 🩶🐍. You guys are the best, have a great week!

[@johnharris7353]

Hey army infantry is hot shit!

[@walterheinen5298]

Funny, I would watch the national anthem played to a T-38, when programming ended, I’m old. Different generation, same thrill. Eye sight knocked me out too brother. Stay zero!!

[@El_Peto]

But were you a mortarman?

[@matthiasvirtual8504]

Fantastic video - thank you Mover. It's amazing how similar your experiences are compared to what we mere mortals can simulate in VR DCS. The Viper is a sport 'go get' type of platform, high power, high Gs, easy cockpit systems, mostly look outside and use HOTAS. Hornet shines in more complex missions where there is more tactics, navigation, preplanning, Data Link, more heads down bomb truck. I started simming as a kid on C64, then on PC era of Fleet Defender, TFX, EF2000. The fact we got to the times of DCS where real life pilots share this passion with us is simply amazing.

[@Zer0C00lness]

Great video Mover. Always enjoy the fighter talk.

[@BrianMcnamee-wq9jc]

Thank you for your incredible dedication to fly a fighter and serve your country.

[@nyandyn]

FiAF Hornets are considered RNAV-capable. Drop a steerpoint on the threshold, target it and put the velocity vector on the diamond for a so-called "Hornet approach." Earlier they used TILS which is basically the same 15 GHz ICLS system but land based. It was carry-over from the Draken days - for the same reason those Hornets have metric backup gauges.

[@AirMorgan.]

I'm a civilian pilot (airline guy, never military) who loves to fly DCS. In fact, Mover is the reason I looked into DCS in the first place. When I started out in DCS I was drawn to the Viper. I always thought I'd go Hornet when I started DCS but at the moment of truth (buying that first module) I went with the Viper. The thrust to weight, bubble canopy, and side stick (like my Airbus) make for a glorious ride. I've since purchased the Hornet but I just don't enjoy it as much. It does have a better HUD presentation and the alert noises (getting spiked by radar, missile launch, etc...) are better (in my opinion) than the Viper's "annoying" sounds. But at least the Viper doesn't tell me to "ROLL RIGHT! ROLL RIGHT!" every three seconds when I'm doing low levels. The Viper is just more fun for me. And the HOTAS functionality of the Viper is incredible. One final thought (regarding landings) -- I land the Viper better than the Hornet. Sure, you can land harder in the Hornet but there is something about the Hornet's HUD symbology (specifically the E bracket and FPV) that drives me nuts during landing. It seems backwards. The Viper's Flight Path Vector and bracket respond to throttle inputs like I think they should. I know this is just a pilot "skill issue" (i.e. lack of studying the Hornet) but from a professional pilot perspective I believe the Viper is far more intuitive than the Hornet.

[@wscrivner]

The USAF museum in Dayton, Ohio has an F-16 cockpit that you can climb into. My son and I went a couple months ago and tried it on for size. First, I was surprised that I never knew it has a reclined seat which is super cool. I totally get how you feel like part of the plane while flying. The other thing is I thought I was going to be stuck in the cockpit because I couldn't get the leverage to pull myself out! 😆

[@kevino.7348]

That museum is awesome!

[@wscrivner]

@@kevino.7348 Yes, and it's huge! We got there when it opened in the morning and spent the entire day there.

[@harrypersaud9422]

Excellent video sir!! Love how you kept the inner service rivalry simple and very professional and honest Love your video. You are a tru professional sir

[@Bluenoser71170]

Love watching your content...much appreciated as always.

[@stefanagardi]

Have been learning the F/A-18 in DCS for some time now, and now the F-16. Great comparison, this helps me a lot

[@jnlketcham]

Well done, answered a lot of questions.

[@hotbug597]

I only had limited time and thought I'd just watch the first few minutes, but you captured my attention with the detailed comparisons. Very, very interesting.

[@user-wz2ex7ux9h]

Absolutely loved this video. Well done, Mover! Thank you, man.

[@Willdass]

This was amazing! Really hope you get back into the Viper! And I've learned a lot from your DCS Viper videos ( especially the early ones), so thanks!

[@JF-lt5zc]

Mover was discharged on medical, if I remember correctly. Only way he'd see time in either is if we had one of those Independence Day call ups to fight the aliens. Of course, most of those guys died, so...

[@maddthomas]

I would love to see the differences between the USAF and USN in pilot injuries in ejections, or how those 2 different seats handle keeping your legs from flailing

[@VirusVanquisher]

Very cool personal comparison, fascinating! Thank you for your service.

[@bobgreene2892]

Well organized and precise comparison-- exactly what i needed for a better sense of flying each aircraft.

[@mihkeltoomet213]

Viper was and still is my first love, never has anything better changed it since then. When I was a very young boy, I started my first virtual and military aviation interest with it. I tried to gather all the data, books, videos etc to fully learn it. Unfortunately I couldn't be a fighter pilot. My heart belongs to the Viper. Always. It has soul to me.

[@El_Peto]

The f22 is certainly superior and the sr71 20x more cool But the f16 is pretty okay too

[@anthonyhart5581]

Great shots and info Mover..❤

[@MarioMVN]

Fantastic video. Love the breakdown and the footage. 👍

[@HMAWorldwide1]

Love the stories, Mover! So much fun to listen to.

[@andrewferguson3535]

Awesome info thanks Mover 👏

[@roberttauzer7042]

"Let me know what you think" - Me, a non-pilot "Yes"

[@ovlov245]

Well , that was just the best mate! Thank you ! We will never get that opportunity so if you can give us the visceral feel with your description well i am certainly gratefull. Well done Man! You have had the best fun!

[@TruthAlways59]

Excellent comparison, thank you for sharing!

[@katelittlewolfwelshrosesan3630]

Good morning Mover, this is so educational and even better visceral ! Thank you. In my next life I must become a fighter pilot said almost everyone who will watch this video

[@KyleCowden]

The new "The Blue Angels" documentary In IMAX was a treat. I've seen several films and have talked with a few Blue Angel pilots. Thought I had a good grasp of the mission. I was wrong.

[@chrisharris6834]

Being disoriented in an F-16 is how my friends Father passed…

[@mdu2112]

Great content and amazing footage! Thanks.

[@rustedduster]

I’ve worked at Homestead Miami Speedway for the past 12 years, so I always get a kick out of seeing the racetrack in the background in your footage from your “Mako” days.

[@MrOverDroid]

Its really cool to see that i share most of my point of view between the Hornet and the Viper with a real pilot. I've only had the opportunity to fly in DCS, but the experience I've had in this game is very similar to everything you've said about both jets (excluding the pre flight checks and the survival gear).

[@teddyroosevelt8870]

Thanks for the review, Mover. I ordered myself a Viper!

[@teddyroosevelt8870]

SUBSCRIBED!

[@matthewrobertson6923]

Great video. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[@joemd7775]

I think it depends on what Block F-16 is being referenced. A bigmouth Block 30 (my brother's unit flew Block 30's for over 12yrs before 2005 brac) is a tougher fight than a 'small motor' Block 25 or 32. On the legacy Hornet side of the equation, I've heard the better performing Hornets were the early light A models and then the big motor 402 C models.

[@CWLemoine]

I flew the Block 30 Big Mouth and the F/A-18A

[@ScottHirons]

I'd love to see a video of the transition from Air Force to Navy. You've talk about several aspects of it in various videos, but don't think you have ever done one direct. I'd like to hear how you transitions just from the perspective of the branch of service - customs, lingo, uniforms, etc. What wings did you wear when transitioned to the Navy (naval aviator or AF wings), etc. Then the flying aspects as well. How did you transition jets; how were you received in the Navy unit; flying differences, etc. and it'd be interesting to hear Gonky's journey as well . . .from Navy to Air Force.

[@jonmoceri]

Just search for: "How Did I Fly Fighters In Both The Air Force and Navy?"

[@dmutant2635]

Great episode. The "which is better" question always needs to be answered.

[@jvee2901]

I'm an AF guy. Or Airman. Was an SP and worked around the F16 at Kunsan. I'm a wolfpack guy for life.

[@MrAtleem2002]

Ret. Load Toad F-16: Loved loved loading weapons but is made for folks with tiny hands to do maintenance 😅

[@dmack1827]

19 types and 42 years later, I have never seen a pilot turn right during upper air maneuvers. It is always left.

[@Captainkebbles1392]

....WAIT A SEC HE RIGHT

Thanks for the insights! Awesome video

[@julietlima5564]

I really enjoyed this episode! All these small minutia between the two were very entertaining and interesting to know! 👍

[@williamsteele]

Viper rider all the way... I loved the feeling of sitting on top of the world with it. I also really love the cozy cockpit and to this day I look for planes that are as cozy and comfortable. (In fact, I hate it when a plane doesn't let me lean on the side for support... it just feels unnatural.)

[@CalvinMaclure]

THE question for the ages for us Canadians!

[@N.California]

"You'll never forget your first love" so true.

[@ChadCesaro]

Thanks for the comparison, Patch.

[@tomwilson1006]

Mover WILL get to fly the mighty Viper again someday….

[@dagabbagool2600]

That's a place I haven't heard mentioned in awhile. Balad Air Base aka Camp Anaconda aka mortarville. I used to weekly commute there from Camp Taji to get equipment repaired in 04-05. Always was a treat as the Chair Force had so many more amenities than us grunts.

[@crazypetec-130fe7]

Yeah, Mortaritaville was like a second home to me off and on from '03 to '08. It did have some decent amenities toward the end, but I'm still happy to never go back.

[@brandonchappell1535]

Im just sitting here thinking, Oh man, what a life youve led !! Pretty crazy to even get to fly both. great vid as always

[@robhaythorne4464]

Love your vlogs. Wish you posted more often.

[@DevilDolphin734]

Hey Mover, if I ever hit the jackpot, I'll get a Viper just for you and Hornet just for Gonkey...

[@BlyGuy]

Can civvies get their hands on Hornets like they can a Viper?

[@FuzedBox]

Uncle Sam will never let civvies have their retired jets. Your only option is finding one of the comblock jets that found their way over here. Last I checked, the are five MiG-29s and one SU-27 in private hands (there was another, but it disappeared). I heard that the Air Force just purchased a couple dozen more SU-27s for adversarial training, but those will probably never see civillian hands.

[@BlyGuy]

@@FuzedBox what about that f16 for sale in Florida for something like $8 mil?

[@Milkywayboy]

@@BlyGuy you can buy f16s, I believe they came from Iran?? but you can get them

[@DevilDolphin734]

@@BlyGuy the plot thickens, I'm a USN vet. Canada and Switzerland have hornets they might be willing to part with.

[@j4s0n39]

My dad worked at Luke AFB while I was in grade school, so I got to see Vipers whenever I wanted, so that's my favorite. I've only flown piston singles though, outside of video games. I think somebody did invent a jet with the thrust of the 16 and the AoA of the 18: the F-22.

[@timbauer399]

Awesome video! Ex-sailor, now I'm an engineer at Edwards, so I've seen both fly. Greatly enjoyed your sharing your experiences. Thank you. 🙂

[@indyawichofficial1346]

Thank you for the fantastic content shared !!!

[@raylauderback5126]

Thanks for sharing, Sir! Always felt that the Viper possesses all the classic "fighter virtues."

[@jonniez62]

First love, B-52D and the F-4. Really got to know the Viper when I was in the Type IV PMEL at Edwards and I found my mistress.

[@rocketassistedgoat1079]

Next video, what would win in a dogfight; B-52 or F-4?

[@perspicator5779]

Loved the comparison! Like the opinion on variables, pilot, config., etc....

[@glennhalila8279]

My Dad and my Uncle Ely both retired from General Electric Aircraft Engines Division. My father was the Compressor Specialist and my Uncle Ely the Turbine Specialist. They had fifty plus Patents on Various Jet Engine Parts. My Dad, who's going to be ninety in September told me that my Uncle Ely was writing inventions for Jet Engines on a napkin before he passed away in 2020. My Dad has conversed with many Pilots in NATO Countries. My Dad worked for General Electric from 1965 until 1998 and then as a consultant from 1998 -2018. I forwarded him this Video, which I'm one hundred percent sure that he's going to share this with his group of Expert Engineers who he still stays in contact with!

[@paulbrooks4395]

The more I fly both in DCS the more I appreciate not having to press as many buttons in the Viper. Just quicker to get stuff done. On the other hand, I like Navy landings more (at a runway).

[@stacyw8269]

I just watched performances from both the Viper and Super Hornet this past Saturday at the Hillsboro Air Show in Oregon. From a performance standpoint, the Viper ran circles around the Hornet...not even a contest in power and agility. It was impressive. Not sure about the avionics, but I'd guess the Viper is a much superior platform.

[@christopherchartier3017]

The super hornet nowadays id say generally supports a better avionics suite than the viper but that’s really hard to say, honestly. Mostly a hunch

[@BlyGuy]

Different platforms for different jobs. While the Viper today is still a great all around jet, it was created to be the best dog fighter/rate fighter the world had ever seen. The Hornet was created to be a "cheap" jack of all trades. Both jets do their jobs well and I don't think you can say the Viper is a much superior platform to the Rhino.

[@hoghogwild]

SuperHornets are a different animal.

[@bigkahuna214]

I retired from runway 75 - USS Harry S Truman (cvn-75). I remember making the remark that I thought these were all weather aircraft. The response I got from the commander I worked for was that although the planes may be all weather, pilots or aviators as they like to be called, may not necessarily be all weather. Incidentally, Navy pilots like to be called aviators because aviators can land on an aircraft carrier and pilots can’t. Nice job on the video, I really enjoyed it.

[@AmericanAbsolute]

Thank you sir for your time I enjoyed the entire half hour

[@blairsimpkins3505]

When I was doing my multi-engine flight training one evening in Colorado in the pitch black when the lights on the ground and stars looked the same I said to my instructor, "I'm having vertigo". He said ok, we are on the instruments and RTB. Here is quick way to die. Go out at night, do some steep 2G turns then try to fly level on the needles. I appreciate Mover saying that even the most shit hot jet pilots are subjected to basic physiology.