Perfection
The Great Head.
What's the one the Red Baron flew?
Top 10 Fighter Planes of All Time
- Thread starter El Justo
- Start date
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
He flew several planes, the most famous was the Fokker Dr. 1 triplane. Howver this was despite his successes a mediocore plane. That is correct that this plane is not in the list.
Adler
Adler
PrinceOfLeigh
Wigan, England
Not sure that it fits the Criteria but the Spitfire has an almost mythical aura in Britian for it's defence of the realm in WWII. It's also an awesome bit of kit for it's day which was simple and easily put together.
El Justo
Deity
PrinceofLeigh,
i've often heard and read that the Spitfire is considered by many as the most beautiful plane of all time (in appearance that is).
i've often heard and read that the Spitfire is considered by many as the most beautiful plane of all time (in appearance that is).
PrinceOfLeigh
Wigan, England
True, it also adheres to the adage, "if it looks right, it flies right". Not that I would know personally of course, it's merely what the Old Boys say when they describe it. The Cannon at the Church a friend of mine had his son Christened in flew one.El Justo said:
In modern times however I think the Raptor looks the slickest.
El Justo
Deity
nice matePrinceOfLeigh said:
and i agree, the raptor is rather sexy looking for a plane 
joycem10
Deity
The SU-27 Flanker deserves a spot on that list.
History_Buff
Deity
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2001
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- 6,529
As does the F-16. It's probably a much better fighter than either the F-15, or F-22 (since it looks like a swing wing).
And I imagine B-17's and A-10's are on the bomber list then?
And I imagine B-17's and A-10's are on the bomber list then?
Thorgalaeg
Deity
Mig-21 is a must in that list. It is one of the most important post ww2 planes. In number built, wars fought and service lenght. It is as a flying Ak-47.
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
Hmm, the MiG 21 was and still is widely used. However she is in no way a real super plane. She never was that. And also her engines, although designed for that, could only go Mach 2.0 by being irreparably damaged. In Vietnam she was indeed a threat but only also because the early F 4 did not have a gun.
The F 16 is a widely used light fighter but the abilities IMO do not justify it on the top.
Adler
The F 16 is a widely used light fighter but the abilities IMO do not justify it on the top.
Adler
FriendlyFire
Codex WMDicanious
Adler17 said:
The designers had to sacrifice a hell of lot to increase the range required as it design was primary a naval plane requiring long distance. To archieve this along with its extremely agility they had to remove a huge amount of stuff. From heavier amour, to self sealing tanks, stronger frame leading to the zeros extreme lightness and excellent performace. They also managed a extremely capable fighter using only a 1000HP engine.
One of the greatest expolits can be seen as zero making 1000km fligh from rabual to henderson air field, dog fighting for some 20mins then making the 1000km flight back. A massive feat.
I wouldnt have choosen the zero the late model Raiden was more capable and advanced fight, It had good amour all round, higher top speed, well designed that was unfortunity plagued with problems from "rushing" and then "shoe hoeing" the 2000Hp engine inside it. The Radien had only 1/3 of the range of the zero and was significantly heavier.
Greatest expolits where archieved when the japanese put the limited numbers into special squadrens. One fighter took on an 12 US Hellcats in which it shot down four and the rest broke off. The Radien fighter amazing landed despite being absolutely riddled.
Thorgalaeg
Deity
There are so many planes in that list i would not consider a "super plane"... And first time i heard that engine story btw, what engine are you referring to? Mig-21 are so widely used and there are so many Mig-21 variants with different engines it is a nonsense to say simplt his engine was this or that way.Adler17 said:
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
Well IIRC the first variants built in the 60s. However it is my personal opinion that the MiG 21 was in no way innovative nor an über- plane. It wasn't ever the top of the planes. However, as said, this is my opinion.
Adler
Adler
Thorgalaeg
Deity
I think that the military plane (not only fighter) built in largest numbers after ww2 and used in most countries and wars in the world deserves it. BTW, dating his initial design and first flight as back as the first 50s, it is rather notorious that even today it is one of the main fighters in many air forces, India or China among them. And far of the end of his career it is receiving continuous upgrades to extend his lifetime well into the first quarter of the 21th century. I can hardly think of any other plane so important and succesful. (well C-47, C-130 or maybe B-52 come to mind, but they are not fighters of course )
)
El Justo
Deity
iirc, the fishbed wasn't the most highly produced post ww2 plane...it ranks second behind the hercules transport plane.
i have a few knocks on the mig21 and they are from what i've gathered from researching the vietnam war.
north vietnamese pilots actually preferred the MiG 17 Fresco to the Fishbed. this was b/c the MiG 21 was not as manueverable as the MiG 17.
w/ regard to non-Soviet use:
it was produced by liscence in several countries although it was often outclassed by the more modernized western aircraft. Israeli F-15s made mince meat out of the Fishbeds.
the pluses for the Fishbed imo are:
it was one of the first Soviet air craft to combine the interceptor role w/ that of a fighter plane. it was fast and light weight (much like its contemporaries of the era like the Starfighter and the Mirage III). however, this doesn't say a whole lot since the Starfighter and Mirage were just okay imo.
the bottom line for me:
the Fishbed does not make my own personal list. a nice air craft and all. but not a 'Top Ten' one i'm afraid.
i have a few knocks on the mig21 and they are from what i've gathered from researching the vietnam war.
north vietnamese pilots actually preferred the MiG 17 Fresco to the Fishbed. this was b/c the MiG 21 was not as manueverable as the MiG 17.
w/ regard to non-Soviet use:
it was produced by liscence in several countries although it was often outclassed by the more modernized western aircraft. Israeli F-15s made mince meat out of the Fishbeds.
the pluses for the Fishbed imo are:
it was one of the first Soviet air craft to combine the interceptor role w/ that of a fighter plane. it was fast and light weight (much like its contemporaries of the era like the Starfighter and the Mirage III). however, this doesn't say a whole lot since the Starfighter and Mirage were just okay imo.
the bottom line for me:
the Fishbed does not make my own personal list. a nice air craft and all. but not a 'Top Ten' one i'm afraid.
Thorgalaeg
Deity
It seems all your knots are from the article in Wikipedia. It is wrong in some points: AFAIK about 2000 Hercules have been built against about 10000 Mig-21 not counting later Indian built and Chinesse versions. About the Mig-17 maybe the Vietnamese pilots prefered it, but for USA planes the dangerous one was the Mig-21 (and without an internal gun just as the F-4 
)
OTOH I find much less reasons to add the Sabre, F-4 or Sea Harrier. Of course you can make your list as you wish.
It is wrong in some points: AFAIK about 2000 Hercules have been built against about 10000 Mig-21 not counting later Indian built and Chinesse versions. About the Mig-17 maybe the Vietnamese pilots prefered it, but for USA planes the dangerous one was the Mig-21 (and without an internal gun just as the F-4 )OTOH I find much less reasons to add the Sabre, F-4 or Sea Harrier. Of course you can make your list as you wish.
El Justo
Deity
an adendum to the MiG21:
according to some of my dusty sources, it was the only fighter aircraft to have ever shot down a b.u.f.f.'er in anger.
according to some of my dusty sources, it was the only fighter aircraft to have ever shot down a b.u.f.f.'er in anger.
Adler17
Prussian Feldmarschall
Friendly Fire:
I am not an expert in Japanese planes and so we can exchange Zero with Radien quickly.
Adler
I am not an expert in Japanese planes and so we can exchange Zero with Radien quickly.
Adler
Me 262 might have good innovation and fear factor, but lacked the rest completely, same thing for the F/A-22 Raptor
The Yakovlev Yak-3 was regarded as a very good plane, though it came late in the war when the tide was already turned against ze germans.
The Yakovlev Yak-3 was regarded as a very good plane, though it came late in the war when the tide was already turned against ze germans.
