ParadiseRoad
Member
...more of an interceptor than a fighter...F-104 Starfighter...held records for speed (Mach 2+) and rate of climb for many years...
What Is Your All Time Favorite Fighter Airplane?
- Thread starter Gulfecho
- Start date
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.
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
Member
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
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
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Cpo1944
Member
ParadiseRoad
Member
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
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My #2 choice:
I've got a lot of time in that one due to the squadron commander, my wife.My #2 choice:
Whichever one is throwing 'em up or bringing 'em down
on any given day in support of our troops.
on any given day in support of our troops.
the ringo kid
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...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.
P-51 Mustang
I would have to say the P-51 Mustang. I guess you could say that I am prejudiced because my three sons bought me an hour flying time in Stallion 51 Corp.'s TF-51 in Kissimmee Fl. The TF- 51 is the P-51 D modified to have two fully functional controlled cockpits.
I got to be the "sole manipulator of the controls" (as the FAA puts it) for most of the flight with aerobatics and 2 landings (with the instructor talking me thru) and I have it all on video.
I have a little over 5K hours flying time in many different aircrafts (mostly Bonanzas) but this was the only time in fighter planes. It was by far the best gift that I have ever been given.
I have been to Oshkosh many times and have always gravitated to the War Bird section and talked to the pilot flying the P-51's in. They always said how Great the P-51's flew & landed. Now, thanks to the generosity of our three sons, I can truthfully say "Yes, I know".
I would have to say the P-51 Mustang. I guess you could say that I am prejudiced because my three sons bought me an hour flying time in Stallion 51 Corp.'s TF-51 in Kissimmee Fl. The TF- 51 is the P-51 D modified to have two fully functional controlled cockpits.
I got to be the "sole manipulator of the controls" (as the FAA puts it) for most of the flight with aerobatics and 2 landings (with the instructor talking me thru) and I have it all on video.
I have a little over 5K hours flying time in many different aircrafts (mostly Bonanzas) but this was the only time in fighter planes. It was by far the best gift that I have ever been given.
I have been to Oshkosh many times and have always gravitated to the War Bird section and talked to the pilot flying the P-51's in. They always said how Great the P-51's flew & landed. Now, thanks to the generosity of our three sons, I can truthfully say "Yes, I know".
the ringo kid
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DAGNABBIT RUSTY--you stole what I wanted to post tomorrow when I got to a machine that would post. NOW ill have to find something else.
I have always had a fondness for the P-38 Lightning and the Spitfire. Sorry for orientation of the picture.
My dad worked on these at his base in Washington State as they were running patrols during the cold war.
Added designation: F89 Scorpion
Added designation: F84 Thunderjet
My dad worked on these at his base in Washington State as they were running patrols during the cold war.
Added designation: F89 Scorpion
Added designation: F84 Thunderjet
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the ringo kid
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Nobody's mentioned the Dauntless Divebomber. May not have been the type of bird you guys thing was a good bird but--it sure had nice looks.
Texas Star
US Veteran
Probably because it wasn't a fighter.
steveno
Member
the Europeans had trouble with the F-104 because they tried to turn it into something that it wasn't designed for by hanging bombs and other things under the wings. it was kind of a joke in Europe to always look over your shoulder because there was always one crashing somewhere. kind of like a very expensive yard dart.
I always kind of liked the F-15
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeZu4gRfYgA[/ame]
and the F-4E
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fqBXqb6LP8[/ame]
I always kind of liked the F-15
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeZu4gRfYgA[/ame]
and the F-4E
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fqBXqb6LP8[/ame]
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Texas Star
US Veteran
I talked to an F-15 pilot who used to fly Phantoms. Said it was a slow turner, a dangerous thing when fighting the agile MiG-21 No gun on the early ones, either.
But one Navy crew of an F-4 knocked off several MiGs in one day, inc. one believed to have been flown by the infamous Col. Tomb, an especially dangerous North Viet pilot. They almost failed to get him because they were too close to fire a missle and had no guns. In a video I saw about this last week. I think it said they sort of eyeballed how to aim the Sidewinder, as the firing system wouldn't track that close in.
I suspect the Mirage IIIC was a better fighter in that role. It killed some MiG's for the Israelis and South Africa adoped it, too. And of course, France, where it was made.
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For the WW2 era its a tossup between the F4U and the P38.
Modern planes, its the A10 all the way.
Modern planes, its the A10 all the way.
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
I have to say the F4 was the most warlike-looking fighter I ever saw. Looked like a huge shark.
Our USAF National Guard here flew the recon version, the RF4F, before going to the C-130
ParadiseRoad
Member
...she was tough to fly...very little wing area...pilots had to do everything with a good air speed reserve...including landing...if the flaps failed...full load landing speed was 240 knots...about 276 miles per hour...pilots were instructed to eject rather than risk it...
Tradewind36
US Veteran
Gotta be the F-4 Phantom for me, all time favorite. I joined the Navy to fly one and never got to, All my Navy jet time was TA-4. The Corsair is my next favorite.
When I ever see a Phantom I still get the lump in my throat.
When I ever see a Phantom I still get the lump in my throat.
Since you said Fighter Airplane and not jet, I doubt there is anything more deadly than a good old AC-130
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouJ_WyS9v8[/ame]
BTW, my name is Jim.
BTW, my name is Jim.
OP
Gulfecho
Member
Since you said Fighter Airplane and not jet, I doubt there is anything more deadly than a good old AC-130
The Specter delivers!
REM 3200
US Veteran
REM 3200
US Veteran
REM 3200
US Veteran
REM 3200
US Veteran
I freely admit that for the last 50 years, each new fighter gets better and deadlier, but in my heart, there will never be one that can hold a candle to the P-51. Perhaps the most iconic airplane ever made.
Hawker800
Member
As a former B-52 pilot during Linebacker II, we were always glad to see the F-4's.
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