im curious on just what u guys think is the baddest fighter ever. in active service or in retirement. my opinion the grumman f-14a-b-d tomcat without a doubt.
I would never have guessed that from your nickname! [:-^]
I’d have to agree, I’m more of a prop guy, but for a lawn dart it was awesome!
I’m from the darkside, and an ROTC kid to boot, but I still wear my two tomcat pins on my jacket
one is an outline, and other is a bad a** cat with the dual tails and a pistol belt. Both holdovers from my days of watching the blue angels with my dad, and watching topgun. I love telling people why the cat is armed to the teeth…
Make it the F-15. Hard to beat that kill ratio, over 100-0!
I will say
Navy: F-14 Tomcat
Airforce: A toss up between the F-16 and the F-15! It is hard to argue with 100-0
well, how modern? hard to beat the F4’s record.
Of coarse you know what I’m going to say.The Raptor.[:D]I saw on the history channel that it took on 4 F-16’s and then 5 F-15’s and it won!
From what I have heard the F-22 is hands down the most leathel fighter produced to date. F-15 pilots are waiting in line to get behind the stick of that thing. It’s purpose built to be a first look, first strike, first kill air superiority aircraft. Like raptordrive stated in simulated combat it has taken down up to 6 of the best f-15 pilots they could throw at it. time will tell if it can live up to the hype.
Well, all these modern types are OK, but for me it’s the F-106.
I’ll go with the F-106. Several years ago I had the opportunity to take a flight in one for a newspaper story I was working on. Pulling 9 Gs straight up from the runway was fantastic. We also broke the sound barrier at 100 feet over the ocean. I flew in other fighters (all part of my news reporter’s job.) Nothing ever topped the F-106.
I think I don’t like you…[:D] can I get a job like yours? No… wait, I like being retired!
personal favs are the F-16 and F-14 …as far as jets go
but the P-51D still has my #1 spot
As much as I like and have been around the F-4, 15, and especially the 106, it comes down to this: The F-4 has been around for some time, has been shot down in combat and doesn’t have that kind of ratio. The F-106 can out dogfight the F-4, has a considerable punch (considering the AIM-2 Genie) but its only kills have been drones. With the exception of two live aircraft. Both being accidents, and one of those being the aircraft that launched the rocket. he F-15 is 100+ combat kills with no losses.
SU-30MKI.
'nuff said.
Nope…Strike Eagle all the way!!
Jerry
Depends on exactly what you meanby ‘baddest’, but the F16 takes the bell for me… highly capable in different roles, and just flat out is the coolest looking fighter since the P51D… must be the under-fuselage scoop thing.
Tough Pick… but I think Crusader was pretty bad **s fighter too. F14, F15, F16 and F18… all these fighters are just way too awesome.
That’s tough. The Falcon was / is a great bird, as long as it stays up there. I never much liked the thread of mile cordons and chem defense suits if it nosed in though. The Raptor I don’t know anywhere near as much about but the sound is, thats the current jet to beat. I’m a little surprised nobody has at least given a nod to the flanker. Thats a versatile aircraft as well, and one that has also been pitted against F16s and smoked them easily. But thats kind of an unfair tradeoff. It was practicing close in fighting. Realistically, the flanker probably would never have gotten close.
For sheer beauty though, not much more beautiful than a jug. I dont know what it is about them, but I just love that look.
Gotta add the Thud to this list. Fast, sleek, rugged, took a big bombload into the teeth of the enemy under poor rules of engagement that gave many advantages to the enemy, day after day… definitely BadA$$
I have to go with the F-14, and the MiG 29 VFT.