</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from TheCaptain on 8:55 am on Dec. 2, 2001
Arguments for putting an F-15E into OpFlash:
1) It's a dual seat fighter: A gunner and a pilot can balance workload. It's a b*tch to try to fly a high-speed fighter AND track targets. Ideal for multiplayer.
2) It's incredibly versatile: It can carry an air-ground load, A-A only, and can carry any AG ordinance the military can design. A possible loadout is 4 Sidewinders, (AMRAAMS would be pointless), 6 Mavericks, 12 CBU-20's or Mk-82's, and 1 Mk84 or 2000lb LGB, not to mention 450 cannon reounds. It would be a perfect addition the the OpFlash inventory.
3) The F-15E is well suited to poor-weather, low-visibility, low-altitude fighting. Unlike some of the aircraft people want in OFP, such as F-22's and MiG-29's and such hogwash, the F-15E was designed from the inside out to take out ground targets dwon in the mud, which is where teh affectionate nickname came from. Eagles soar up high in the clouds, but this hen waddles in the mud and does their dirty work. Of course the original F-15 slogan was "not a pound for air to ground", but the E was revamped from the ground up for such fun.
4) F-15E's are well suited for taking out 'soft' air targets, like tank columns, AA defenses, SCUDs, helicopters, artillery, etc. It would fit nicely into the OFP battle universe, with a little balancing.
Now, arguments against:
1) It's a fighter! High altitude + high speed do not mix in the OFP engine!
True, the F-15 can go mach 2.5 at high altitude... but who says it'd have to be programmed to go that fast and that high? If it were given slightly better params than the SU-25, it'd be no big deal. Say 800kph + 800km ceiling.
2) It would unbalance the game! You'd need SAMs/AA defenses and choppers would be very vulnerable!
Sure, the F-15 is powerful, but OFP is also a semi-realistic simulator. Those Su-25's need some chasing down! Plus, it would be a great counterpart to the A-10 and it's tank busting style. For example, WIld-Weasel missions could be flown to clear the way for the A-10s
3) Fighter/Bombers are supposed to engage targets at very long distances! AND it would fly over the island in .0002 seconds! It would STILL unbalance the game and be worthless!
If you cut down the distance for engaging/radar and it's weapon systems power, you'd have a balanced fighter, just as long as you added a few AA missiles to the Su-25.
All in all, I feel that a well-balanced F-15E would be a grand user-made addition to Operation Flashpoint (once the SDK comes out) and it's battlefield simulation, though possibly not perfectly suited for widespread 'official' use.
(Edited by TheCaptain at 7:33 pm on Dec. 3, 2001)
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