In article ,
Andrew Chaplin writes:
Greg Hennessy wrote:

On Wed, 27 Aug 2003 10:30:51 GMT, Andrew Chaplin
wrote:
And the English Electric Lightnings?

Excellent for intercepting something bombing the airfield perimeter.

Ah, but Peter Stickney's description was "Supersonic Heavy
Interceptors" -- no mention of range. ;^) But your point is taken.

True, I should have been more explicit. A Heavy Interceptor is
something lang-ranged and reliable enough that nobody would be nervous
about sending them up over the Tundra, or the Artic Ocean. Candiadtes
in that category would be the Tu-128, MiG-25, F-101, F-106, F-4, the
CF-105, the YF-12, and the didn't get built F-108. I;m actually a bit
leery about the YF-12. Blackbirds don't take well to sitting on an
alert pad, waiting to scramble. It takes a lot of time & effort to
prep one for a flight.

--
Pete Stickney
A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many
bad measures. -- Daniel Webster