01 May 2016, 19:37
Salute!
Great question and the "fighter mafia" rep that briefed us one day at Hill had a simple estimate that seems to work. It was Riccione and he was selling the F-20 and more of Boyd's theories to we new Viper folks.
The rule of thumb was the square root of the sum of the squares. Side view and plane view areas were squared and added. Some of us postulated we needed to add in frontal area, but at least he presented a starting point.
You get some decent numbers to start with, and they will not surprise you.
As many that have flown in Red Flag or the real world long ago when we still had furballs, first planes you see are F-14's, then F-15's, then F-4's then Hornets/Vipers then finally F-5's.
Gums sends...
Gums
Viper pilot '79
"God in your guts, good men at your back, wings that stay on - and Tally Ho!"