What Is Your All Time Favorite Fighter Airplane?

[Vulcan Bob]

For a piston engine the P-38-LO would be the one for me. After a rocky start in the European theater the bugs and quirks was ironed out and for the Army Air Corps it worked out quite well in the Pacific theater. The two highest scoring U.S. Aces, Richard Bong and Thomas McGuire both flew the P-38. It just looks fast and mean. For jet powered and this is for just how cool it looks is the F-100 Super Sabre.

 

[Kanewpadle]

The F-15 because I used to work on them and got a ride in one years ago.

Ahead of it's time and still going strong. And it can fly with one wing missing!

 

[the ringo kid]

Too many to list and I cant post photos today but, another is the twin engined Mustang and the Lightning. The photo I want to post--will surprise you all--well, maybe?

 

[shouldazagged]

Three-way tie: F6F, P-47 and F-16.

Very honorable mention, F4U, P-51, F-86, and F-18 Super Hornet.

I'm a huge admirer of the A-10, but don't consider it a fighter. Just the finest fixed-wing close air support and armor-killing aircraft ever designed.

 

[walkinghorse]

Lot of good choices named in this thread over a lot of time periods.
Every choice named is good for the reasons named for that choice and the particular time period. Some reasons include kill ratios.
One factor that has not been mentioned is the rules of engagement the particular plane and pilots had to fly under.
WW I pilots first flew under 'gentleman' rules like in the days of chivalry.
WW II pilots flew under looser ROE, kill the enemy, but they also were restricted at times. Protect the skies over Britain during the Battle of Britain period. US pilots first had to protect the bombers and could not go after German or Italian fighters unless they were coming after bombers. This was later loosened, and the US fighters could go after Axis planes anywhere, anytime.
In the Pacific it was different, Navy, Marine and Army planes were first protecting ground troops, ships, especially carriers, then as the Pacific Theater proceeded, an all out offensive, though they again protected the bombers over Japan, as the US offensive got closer to the main home islands, the air war moved up for US planes. Not forgetting the kamikaize attacks against ships where the enemymairplane had to be totally destoyed , and the enemy pilots would/could not bail out.
Korea had restrictions, mainly US planes could not cross the Yalu River into China, possibly could not go into a zone near the Yalu River border. Don't know about restrictions on attacking airfields or planes on the ground in Korea though
Vietnam had a lot of restrictions. Can't attack enemy fighters on the ground was one. I believe their were certain borders fighters could not cross at various times. Again can't cross the Chinese border. Also I believe at times there had to be a visual confirmation of the plane before a US pilot could fire.
Lots of restrictions affecting air warfare as time moves closer to present. This has to affect choices based upon kill ratios and success in air to air combat. Not always the airplanes capabilities, or the pilot skills, though that certainly is the major factor.

 

[31FordA]

All time favorite I would have to go with the Vought F4U Corsair. It stayed in service longer than it's contemporaries, and it looked great. I will admit I may be biased from watching too many episodes of "Blacksheep Squadron" as a kid. I know I am biased towards radial engines, my first plane ride was in a Stearman with a 300hp Lycoming.

The P-51 Mustang is my runner up. I was actually fortunate enough to get a ride in a P-51 back in '97, one of the best experiences in my life.

As far a modern aircraft I'll stick with the A-10. It's survived everything the bad guys and the Air Force could throw at it so far. The A-10 is rare example of a military project that delivered all it was supposed to and more.

 

[Texas Star]

Did Vought make any noteworthy airplanes other than the F4U Corsair?

Don't know about WWII, but they made the A-7 Corsair II. It was a jet used by both the USAF and the Navy.
I forgot if it was a true fighter or classed as an attack plane.

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I don't know anything about fighter planes, but to my eyes the best-looking fighter ever made was the F5.

Best-looking car ever was the Jag XKE.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Mine has to be the F4 Phantom. Saw my first in 1964 at NAS Memphis from a visiting AF squadron, Voodoo. Saw plenty off carrier decks during Viet Nam. Awesome bird.

 

[31FordA]

Did Vought make any noteworthy airplanes other than the F4U Corsair?

Yes, the F-8 Crusader. It had the best victory ratio of the Vietnam War. 3 F-8's lost for 19 Mig's shot down. A rate of 6 to 1 for the Crusader, when the overall rate for the US was only about 3 to 1. The F-8 remained in service as a fighter until the last Essex class carrier, the Oriskany, was withdrawn from service in '75. The last Crusaders in service were the photo recon RF-8's that stayed in service with the reserves until '86.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

...more of an interceptor than a fighter...F-104 Starfighter...held records for speed (Mach 2+) and rate of climb for many years...

 

[walkin jack]

From back then....The P-51 mustang. The profile of this plane is as much an American icon for fighter planes as the 1911 is for hand guns. With no label or caption the both speak volumes about this country and the courage and determination of the American fighting man.

For jets I would choose the F-16. Not an easy choice here but to me that plane seems to stand out in terms of class, effectiveness and just being the most awesome war plane ever.

 

[rdcl]

I can't say I have a favorite. I like them all!

All military aircraft are interesting in their own way since so many are designed for different missions & purpose.

I'll look at an A-10 Warthog with the same fascination & awe that I will in looking at an F14 Tomcat.....and so on & so on...

Even the failures are fascinating, such as the F7U Cutlass. (as long as you're not the pilot!)


Russ

 

[Homie]

CONVAIR DELTA DART- kept the US safe for 30 years!

 

[Cpo1944]

For me it has got to be the Grumman Bearcat. Perfect proportions ,size , & beauty!

 

[ParadiseRoad]

I really don't have one favorite fighter plane but the F4F Wildcat went toe to toe with the Mitsubishi A6M and some of the best pilots in the world. The Wildcat was by no means the best but it was what we had. The Wildcat has been accused of being inferior to the Zero but that is just not true. The Wildcat was made tough, but not too pretty. Like me.

Funny story about the Wildcat. When it first came out the navy pilots were ecstatic. This little plane was like hot rod. Then the Navy said "We're going to put a 200 chunk of armor plating behind the pilots seat." The pilots protested saying it was like having an extra pilot. Then the Navy said "We're going to add a resealing fuel tank." and the navy pilots protested again. "You are adding more weight and cutting down on our range!" Then the Navy said "We are going to add folding wings so we can fit a few more on a carrier" and the pilots lamented "MORE WEIGHT!! Thanks for nothing!" Then lastly the Navy said "4 50 caliber machine guns is not enough, we are going to add one on each wing, giving you 6 .50s but we are going to cut the number of rounds per gun from 350rds to 247 rounds." The pilots protested "Four 50's are plenty for shooting down Jap planes, We don't want the extra weight and less trigger time." So by the time the Navy got through with the F4F it was 30mph slower and it's climb rate was halved.

...Joe Foss became an ace in the Wildcat...my Dad and Joe were fraternity brothers...Sigma Alpha Epsilon...at the University of South Dakota...

Joe Foss - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Rustyt1953]

My #2 choice:

 

[Jessie]

My #2 choice:

I've got a lot of time in that one due to the squadron commander, my wife.

 

[soFlaNative]

Whichever one is throwing 'em up or bringing 'em down
on any given day in support of our troops.

 

[the ringo kid]

...more of an interceptor than a fighter...F-104 Starfighter...held records for speed (Mach 2+) and rate of climb for many years...

Though im NO expert by any means of the imagination on stuff to do with jets etc--but-one thing I DO know--is lots of pilots died flying that particular bird. I think and the deaths go into the dozens--THAT alone negates any positives for this bird.