Folks,
I kinda liked nwilliams idea for the five best aircraft, so I propose a new addition to this forum - your favorite fighter and why. I thought about making it favorite aircraft, but I have TOO many favorites, as I’m sure all of you do also!! So, maybe narrowing it down to one type will make it a bit easier. I look forward to reading all the wrong answers… I mean, the great feedback[:D]!!!
My choice for favorite fighter is the Chance-Vought F4U Corsair (all variants). I like it because it’s BIG, carried an enormous amount of bullets, was extremely rugged, and it had GREAT looks (for a plane, that is). The fact that it was used by the USMC might have influenced my decision just slightly… Another factor was the wide range of engines used on this thing. The Goodyear (F2G) birds used one of the most powerful piston engines ever used on a single-engined aircraft. If I could get one of those in my Dakota… ooohhooohhhhoooohhh!!! But, more than anything else, I just liked the mean look it has.
I think my favorite fighter would have to be the He-219. I mean, c’mon, the thing was knocking down Mosquitoes left and right, and it just looks cool! One can only imagine the effect they would’ve had on the night bombing campaign if they’d been mass produced…
Prost!
Zach
Ju-87 Stuka. It’s just ugly, but VERY scary looking. I fell in love with it the first time I seen it in a World At War program. Some people build a lot of 109s,some others a lot of Mustangs. For me, I’ve built close to 25 Stukas. From the Revell 1/144 to the MPC 1/24 kit. My favorite has to be my first, 1/72 MPC kit with Rudel’s markings.
Commonwealth Boomerang
I love this aircraft, used as a fighter and a figher bomber. It basically failed as a fighter against the zero, but excelled as an army co-op fighter. The Boomerang would lay down smoke screens and then begin circling the area, guiding in Artillery.
It had a maximum range of 1600 miles (full fuel capacity), 4 x .303 machine guns with 1000 rounds each, along with 2 20mm hispano canons, max speed of 303 mph at 15, 500 ft, with a service cieling of 34 000 ft. its engine was one 1,200 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S3C4-G Twin Wasp radial engine.
I also suppose that the fact this aircraft was australian made MAY of effected my reaons, but never the less, i think its a great looking aircraft.
Cya
The a/c that has to be on the top of my list is the F-4 Phantom. Why you ask?? She is a gorgeous bird and a loud one at that. Man I could go on and on but you guys should know the facts behind her so I wont go into detail
Basically I grew up watching these fine birds fly out of the Niagara Falls AFRB and I guess it also has to do with my dad flying them when he was stationed at Pax River Naval Air Test Station along w/ the F-8.
Till this day I believe she’s the gaurdian of freedom…!!
There are too many fighters that I love but this one stands out the most. Flaps up ,Mike
I have a number of favorite fighters, but would have to narrow it down to the Navy’s F-4s, -Bs, -Js, -Ns, and -Ss or F-16s. Between these two I guess I would have to pick the F-16 just for the reason I have built so many of them - 13 at last count and three more on the shelf. It just has that “look” which makes a classic fighter, plus I don’t believe as many Air National Guard units have flown the same type as the F-16.
Dick McC
For me it’s the MiG-21. I’ve always been a big fan of ‘evil empire’ aircraft and the Fishbed is their most sucessful fighter. It was the MiG-21’s ability to dogfight that lead the U.S. to develop the F-15 and F-16 beginning in the late 60’s.
Regards,
Pat
well,my favorite would have to be a toss up between the RAF Phantom FGR2 & the Tornado GR4/A
maybe i’m a little biased as i’ve worked on both types.
my favorite non- british would have to be the A6 Intruder & FA18 F Super Hornet.
merv
The F-86. Why, it was the last built true dog fighter aircraft built. It proved its self in Korea and was flown by numerious air forces around the world. It was still operational in the '80’s in some countries. Not only that, it looked good on the ground as well as in the air.
In my case it is the “fork tailed devil” P-38, it was built in many variations, and very sleek in design.
I´ve no doubt: the Me-262. The technology applied, the advanced design, the heavy punch of four 30mm guns and every thing else. Could you imagine a head on attack against a B-17 formation?
Republic P-47N Thunderbolt. If for no other reason, because my Dad flew one from Ie Shima.
It was the biggest, heaviest, most heavily-armed single seat, single-engined fighter of the war. Dad regularly flew long range missions into Japan, Korea and China from Ie Shima (off Okinawa). The max warload was two 1,000lb bombs, one 500lb bomb and ten 5" rockets in addition to the eight .50 cals wtih 450 rpg.
Here’s the Academy Jug in Dad’s markings (333rd FS, 318th FG):
http://members.fortunecity.com/jpayne/models/ICKY010.jpg
And I thought my questions ( see Which is the best ) were difficult to answer. I have been thinking about this one for a couple of hours. And the question I ask myself is “If I were to get into a dog fight, a real one, not one where the planes never see eachother, but one with guns not missles?” what plane would I want to be in. I’d have to say the F-8 Crusader, and I have to disagree with berny13 the F-8 is commonly refered to as “The Last Gunfighter.” The men who flew it, loved it. Enough maneouverability to fight, tons of power to escape or power into trick moves. And they look awesome, very sexy and sleek but also intimidating. The F-8 and the F-14 are definately my favorites. Hey, I live in San Diego, it’s a Navy town; I’m biased.
nwilliams
The reason the F-8 was called “The last of the gunfighters” was because all aircraft that came after it was designed without guns. It took Viet Nam for the “Powers to be” to realize that a gun was needed. Starting with the F-14 all aircraft were designed with a gum. I disagree with your disagree.
Although I don’t model them, I like 1950’s-era US fighter jets, the ones with the natural metal finish and the frequently colorful markings. They are more beautiful than the typical heavily camouflaged plane, even though those brightly colored planes almost shout, “Here I am, Mr. Enemy! Shoot me down!” You can still see them at airplane museums around the country; Castle Air Force Base Museum in Atwater, California has some nice ones!
I’ve always liked the look of Hawker fighters. They all seem to strike the perfect balance between effectiveness and aesthetic design.
My vote goes to the Hawker Hunter. Sure she didn’t crack the sound barrier, but she was effective, popular with her pilots, widely used by several nations and no matter how loaded up with weapons she got, her elegant lines were apparent.
Not many fighters can balance effectiveness with aesthetic elegance in such a way, thats why I also like the Mirage, F-5 and MiG-21. Clean, elegant, simple and effective.
The Hunter is trully a classic worthy of any praise given to her.
With out a doubt my favorite fighter is the F-15C. With a thrust to weight ratio better than 1:1 it can accelerate in the vertical. Low wing loading means it is very maneuverable. The APG-63 radar coupled with a well intergrated avionics package allows one pilot to handle the workload. Project Streak Eagle back in the seventies set many time to climb records. They even toyed with the idea of putting anti-satellite missiles on it for Space command. Now thats a fighter.
Darren
Hey, Bernndye,
I never knew the Stuka was a fighter!! No wonder Germany lost - they were using thier planes for the wrong missions!!! 8-)) (just joshin’ ya!!)
Hmmmm… so many to choose from…
Well, I’m a major proponent of CAS, so I guess it’d have to excel both as a fighter and a ground attack aircraft. Sure, you can pop off missiles and guns at another airplane all day, but if you can’t help out the guys on the ground, what good are you? SO, I’d have to say its a tie between the P-47 and the F-15E. Both were designed to carry LOTS of ordnance, put it on target and then fight their way back out. Gotta love that! Of course, If we’re including rotary wing, i’d have to say the AH-1G. But then again, I’m biased.
Rolling in hot!
Jon