Fighter aircraft are, by stereotype, fast, maneuverable, and nimble jets capable of amazing feats of dogfighting, turning, and speed.

What many people fail to realize, however, is that most fighters are only stereotypical “yank and bank” dogfighters when they are stripped down to their bare essentials and flown at low altitude.  When loaded with sensor pods, electronics equipment, weapons, and external fuel tanks, virtually every fighter becomes a “truck” or “bus” rather than a sports car.  When flown at higher altitudes, the thinner generally air reduces the thrust available from the engine, making the increased weight even more pronounced.  They have a limited ability to turn or accelerate, and may have maximum speed limitations.  At a minimum, this is true of the F-16, F-15E, F/A-18, and (to a lesser extent) the F-22.  (See aircraft descriptions.)  It’s kind of like buying a Mustang, and then using it to tow a trailer.

As a result, when fighter pilots are driven to high altitudes in heavyweight configurations, they sometimes perjoratively talk about being “pigs in space.”  Despite the apparent Muppets reference, it’s simply a way to describe being underpowered and overweight–which is not a place any fighter pilot likes to be.

See other fighter pilot terms and lingo.