What is your all time favorite military fighter jet?

[Absalom]

Another vote for the F4 Phantom.

I know the Iranians aren't exactly on our "friend list" these days, but I was pretty impressed a little while ago when I saw during their air strikes against ISIS that they had managed to keep some of the Phantoms we sold the Shah before the revolution not only flying, but actually operational for over 35 years without manufacturer support and original spare parts. Those F4s are tough old birds.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Another vote for the F4 Phantom.

I know the Iranians aren't exactly on our "friend list" these days, but I was pretty impressed a little while ago when I saw during their air strikes against ISIS that they had managed to keep some of the Phantoms we sold the Shah before the revolution not only flying, but actually operational for over 35 years without manufacturer support and original spare parts. Those F4s are tough old birds.

It's certainly not a front-line fighter anymore, but it will still haul bombs and put them on target. And the lack of modern computerization probably allows the Iranians to keep their fleet flying.

For my fellow Phantom Phans on here, I strongly recommend the book "Once a Fighter Pilot..." by Jerry Cook. It's one of the best military aviation works I've ever read.

General Cook flew a brand-new Phantom to Vietnam in 1965 and flew 200+ missions, most of them close air support. His book is all about flying and fighting, and doesn't get sidetracked with fighter jock stories about drinking and carousing. Most of the chapters are short and it's easy to understand for a non-pilot (like me). It's a great read!

Once A Fighter Pilot: Jerry Cook: 0639785336921: Amazon.com: Books

 

[CCantu357]

While before my time, I still have to agree with many here about the F-4 Phantom II being my favorite fighter jet of all time. Sure the F-14,15s, and 18s are better performers, but the F-4 just has a look to her. Like a big old Pontiac muscle car. I love reading how some allied air forces still use the F-4 for various duties. Truly a timeless design.

 

[williamlayton]

The WWII Corsair (the old bent winged bird)---screw the jets---they don't have those 5 gallon sized pistons that sound SOOOOOOO good.

Blessings

 

[Bob R]

The USAF still has F4s, the are used as drones for air to air combat training. They have also taken a few of them and painted them in SEA era colors and take them around to airshows to participate in heritage flights. They brought one of them up the Fairchild AFB in 2010.

A nice read about the drone program:

The Final Mission: The USAF's QF-4 Target Drones | Photography | Fence Check

They also brought up this guy to wow the (small) crowd with:

And the Heritage Flight for that airshow.

bob

 

[don5]

The USAF still has F4s, the are used as drones for air to air combat training. They have also taken a few of them and painted them in SEA era colors and take them around to airshows to participate in heritage flights. They brought one of them up the Fairchild AFB in 2010.

A nice read about the drone program:

The Final Mission: The USAF's QF-4 Target Drones | Photography | Fence Check

They also brought up this guy to wow the (small) crowd with:

And the Heritage Flight for that airshow.

bob

Thanks for the pics bob. These planes are, in my humble opinion, THE BEST planes that the US has ever put in the air. All three are my favorites from each era. Sorry guys it just doesn't get any better than this as far as I am concerned. Each plane has that certain look that says " pet me and I will take your arm off ". Just simply bad***. Just sayin..

 

[jculloden]

I loved seeing F4s overhead in the morning

 

[BigBoy99]

My two favorite aircraft are the Me-262 and the Sr-71.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...-Me_262_flight_show_at_ILA_2006_(cropped).jpg

 

[luigi1031]

ive always loved the F-14 Tomcat & F-18 Super hornet, newer and cool factor F-35 Lightning II

 

[billlenk]

F-86
God Bless TEXAS

 

[mbliss57]

F22 Raptor: Mainly because I was on the prototype team for the engine builds back in the late 1990s when I worked for Pratt & Whitney. And because it is way cool.
MY 2nd is the F15 then the F14 Tomcat...heck I like them all.

 

[THE PILGRIM]

F-86. Here's the one that's in the hanger over at Pima.
It polished and looks like new money!

 

[cballman]

Ok guys I will have to side with williamlayton. The F4U Corsair is the most awesome aircraft to have flown. But since you wanted jets. I will have to say the SR-71 Blackbird is tops on that list.

 

[sheepdawg]

I like the lines of the ME 262.

 

[jackvs1]

I went to college in upstate (really upstate) NY; Plattsburgh State and they has the Air Force base there in 1980. They used to fly the FB-111 Aardvark, a real neat fighter bomber, They also flew the KC 135 tanker refueling jets. I was always at awe watching them fly, so close and so real. This was very often, like several times a day.

 

[David LaPell]

I have always loved the look of the ME-262 for some reason, right after that the rarely seen F-89D Scorpion with the wingtip pods with the Mighty Mouse rockets.

 

[David LaPell]

I went to college in upstate (really upstate); Plattsburgh State and they has the Air Force base there in 1980. They used to fly the FB-111 Aardvark, a real neat fighter bomber, They also flew the KC 135 tanker refueling jets. I was always at awe watching them fly, so close and so real. This was very often, like several times a day.

I used to live north of Plattsburgh as a kid and often remember coming out of the old Pyramid Mall and seeing a B-52 or something else flying overhead on take off. Sure was something for a 7-8 year old kid to see.

 

[Donn]

F-100 Super Saber. Not the prettiest bird in the inventory, but it's versatility kept it in service a long time.

 

[NZshooter]

Not a fighter jet but I always liked the B-58 Hustler

 

[Straightshooter2]

Far and away it would be the McDonnel-Douglas F-4 Phantom II. This is the only aircraft I have ever seen that, even tied down to the deck, looks like it is saying "I will kill you." Second place would be the Convair F-106 Delta Dart. That's what the Air Guard at the Jacksonville Airport flew. Always loved watching them kick in the afterburner for takeoff, especially when they flew at night.

CW