Talk:AIM-9 Sidewinder

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 Definition The first operational heat-seeking air-to-air missile, this weapon, with five generations of improvements, has been in service for over fifty years. [d] [e]
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China Lake

Will add sources to back up China Lake information later. Mary Ash 15:54, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

See Air-to-air missile. Also, try:
Personal opinion -- unless I'm fairly expert in the subject, I generally try to source at the same time I add content. Howard C. Berkowitz 16:03, 14 August 2010 (UTC)
I am an expert when it comes to the history as I've read the books, personally interviewed the engineers who developed the Sidewinder, and wrote about the program professionally.Mary Ash 17:24, 14 August 2010 (UTC)
While I can't say that there's a single definition of expertise, I think back to my early science training, and one of the very first things was: review the existing literature. Did you check what was already here on the Sidewinder, especially in the air-to-air missile article? The evolution of the Sidewinder is fascinating, and has a great deal to do with the evolution of infrared light seekers. The ability of IR guided missiles to have all-aspect engagement geometries was utterly decisive in the Falklands War.
Each of my published books deals with disciplines that I've practiced for years. Now, I am doing a series of paid articles for Marine Electronics Journal. For some of the topics, indeed, I'm a qualified practitioner. For others, however, while I've read thoroughly and have used the equipment, I consider myself knowledgeable but not expert. In various historical subjects, I am very, very familiar with the material -- but I usually source along with the writing.
You put three references in a row following the China Lake material; the obituary of Dr. LaBerge is indeed relevant to him as the key developer -- yet his name doesn't appear in the article. The NAVAIR link takes me to a 226-page document with no information as to what is relevant to the article here. In general, we avoid putting several citations in a row, and prefer to have text telling why each is relevant.
An expert on the Sidewinder should be able to describe the tactical doctrines of the various generations. We certainly could improve the article with such -- there is, indeed, a starting point in several other articles. Howard C. Berkowitz 17:46, 14 August 2010 (UTC)
Obit to establish location. If you read the NAVAIR PDF file there is a history of the T&E and use of the the first Sidewinder. All three references establish location, history and use. They also allow the reader to develop a greater understanding of the subject. And I did add that I would document what I wrote which I did. I know the Sidewinder well from the historical perspective as I interviewed many of the early pioneers associated with China Lake and the Sidewinder. Mary Ash 17:52, 14 August 2010 (UTC)

(unident) Expanded the article and did some minor corrections.

Minor edits to recast sentence concerning LaBerge and McClean.Mary Ash 02:00, 15 August 2010 (UTC)