What Is Your All Time Favorite Fighter Airplane?

[V-35]

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".

 

[the ringo kid]

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

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.

 

[bigride]

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

 

[the ringo kid]

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]

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.

Probably because it wasn't a fighter.

 

[steveno]

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]

 

[Texas Star]

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.

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.

 

[madmikeb]

For the WW2 era its a tossup between the F4U and the P38.

Modern planes, its the A10 all the way.

 

[shouldazagged]

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.

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]

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.

...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]

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.

 

[wood714]

Since you said Fighter Airplane and not jet, I doubt there is anything more deadly than a good old AC-130

 

[Old TexMex]

[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouJ_WyS9v8[/ame]


BTW, my name is Jim.

 

[Gulfecho]

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]

WW2 favorites:

 

[REM 3200]

Cold War favorite:

 

[REM 3200]

Just anything that flies and is fun:

 

[REM 3200]

Things that I have the most flight hours in:

 

[Tom S.]

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]

As a former B-52 pilot during Linebacker II, we were always glad to see the F-4's.


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