Drums

So I read a news report today that indicated that Japan was going to transferr 20 F-15 Eagles from Tokyo to Okinawa in 2009 to replace the aging F-4's stationed there (Which are almost at the end of their 20 year service life anyway) because China continues to threaten Japanese Airspace in the south.

This report hits me in three ways...

first of all... this is frightning... With F-15's stationed in Okinawa (Mind you there is a major American Air base there, with all mannor of nastiness, including 50 American F-15's), this means Japan is prepared to go head-to-head with China if something happens... to which I have a mixed reaction; on the one hand, good on ya for taking your own matters into your own hands... on the other hand... China... I think China would give the US a headache... the Japanese Self-Defense Force would be a speed bump... slowing the Chinese down just long enough for the US to get their birds in the air... Of course... I shouldn't count out Japanese F-15's... they are probably at least as good as the US 15's stationed in Okinawa... Either way, this is ugly...

Then I took issue with the planes they are replacing... F-4s? F-4... Phantoms? Airplanes designed to prove that given enough engine even a brick can fly? Airplanes designed in 1961?!? These planes were the heart of Viet Nam... What in Buddha's name is Japan even doing with F-4's? This is a first world country... heck, even Afghanistan is flying 1980's era aircraft...

Then... at the end of their 20-year service life... what?!? That means somebody (I'd like to think Grumman has better things to do than this) in America is still making these monstrosities... Or at least was in 1989... what in the world? We have retired two generations of aircraft since the F-4 flew in combat...

Don't get me wrong, F-4's were a work horse of Nam... but I mean, really... It's like using WWII era B-17's to defend West Virginia... It's really kinda odd...

Okay, politics and aircraft tirade over :D

--Me.