INGO TOP-TENS(best FIGHTER aircraft of all time)

[Kutnupe14]

I think danielson's head is going to explode if any more airplanes that start with an "A" are named.

+100000000000000000

Ok, just for referencve guys, the letter at the front of an aircraft designation mean...

A Attack
B Bomber
C Cargo
D Drone
E Electronic
F Figher
G Glider
H Search and Rescue (SAR)
I [not used]
J Test - Temporary
K Tanker
L Polar
M Multi-Mission
N Test - Permanent
O Observation
P Patrol
Q Drone and Target
R Reconnaissance
S Anti-Submarine
T Trainer
U Utility
V VIP
W Weather
X Experimental
Y Prototype
Z Lighter-Than-Air

 

[jbombelli]

So the P-51 apparently doesn't count.

 

[halfmileharry]

So the P-51 apparently doesn't count.

P=Pursuit

 

[jbombelli]

P=Pursuit

According to the list above P="Patrol", not "Fighter."

F= "Fighter."

 

[churchmouse]

According to the list above P="Patrol", not "Fighter."

F= "Fighter."

"F" P-51 then

 

[jbombelli]

"F" P-51 then

That's what I'm saying! Apparently, despite everything I've ever heard, the P-51 is not a fighter plane. Neither is the P-35, the P-36, the P-38, the P-40, the P-47... none of them.

I mean, if we have to be technically correct and all...

 

[Kutnupe14]

That's what I'm saying! Apparently, despite everything I've ever heard, the P-51 is not a fighter plane. Neither is the P-35, the P-36, the P-38, the P-40, the P-47... none of them.

I mean, if we have to be technically correct and all...

The P, then, meant pursuit due to the speeds of those particular aircraft. They were still fighters. The "P" designation was dropped I believe in the 50's and were absorbed into the "fighter" category. For all modern aircraft, the "P" denotes patrol, as in the P-3 Orion. So if one considers modern military aircraft, it's not a fighter, unless it has the "F" designation.... thought there maybe exceptions for multi-role machines.
The A-10, is a modern "attack" aircraft. It's not a fighter, hence it's "designation." You won't hear of many A-10's dogfighting other aircraft. In fact, the ONLY A-10, air-t0-air kill, that I know of, was a helicopter.
Hopefully that clears up the confusion, of posting a list and not explaining it.

 

[jbombelli]

The P, then, meant pursuit due to the speeds of those particular aircraft. They were still fighters. The "P" designation was dropped I believe in the 50's and were absorbed into the "fighter" category. For all modern aircraft, the "P" denotes patrol, as in the P-3 Orion. So if one considers modern military aircraft, it's not a fighter, unless it has the "F" designation.... thought there maybe exceptions for multi-role machines.
The A-10, is a modern "attack" aircraft. It's not a fighter, hence it's "designation." You won't hear of many A-10's dogfighting other aircraft. In fact, the ONLY A-10, air-t0-air kill, that I know of, was a helicopter.
Hopefully that clears up the confusion, of posting a list and not explaining it.

Got it. I'm just not as familiar with the history of military aviation as I could be.

My vote still goes to the P-61. It's my favorite plane of all time. A close second is the F4U Corsair (it's just a great looking plane).

 

[HoughMade]

Well, I didn't vote for one, cause I can't narrow it down.
But I do know the power of the F-14. When I was in the Navy at Norfolk, they had put new engines on one and were breaking them in.
Plane was literally strapped to the ground. Screens in front of the engines to prevent FOD.
And the plane was spooled up.
Made my teeth vibrate.
The 'Cat' is a BIG fighter. Can't really dogfight with it's littler brothers very well. But it's job is to intercept attacks from the carrier out as far as possible. And it does it well. And the engines, I think Pratt & Whitney, but I could be wrong, lift that heavy motha straight up (ballistic).


As for fly by videos.

Speaking of Tomcats, that video left out a very important flyby

[video=youtube;vdHBsWXaHN8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdHBsWXaHN8[/video]

 

[HoughMade]

Just for a bit more reference:

United States military aircraft designation systems - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1962_United_States_Tri-Service_aircraft_designation_system

The current aircraft designation system has been in place since 1962.

 

[churchmouse]

I am un-familiar with the P-61

 

[churchmouse]

Just looked it up.
P-36 on Steroids with Radial engines. Not an Air to Air fighter.

 

[HoughMade]

Designed for taking down bombers at night...that's air to air, but not a dogfighter.

 

[jbombelli]

[video=youtube;vDUHjD0MLqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDUHjD0MLqY[/video]

 

[actaeon277]

Well, it was a night fighter, and radar was very big back then.

 

[LockStocksAndBarrel]

AE 6 Prowler is attack and electronic jamming then?

 

[churchmouse]

Designed for taking down bombers at night...that's air to air, but not a dogfighter.

So it is along the same lines as The British Mosquito then.

 

[Birds Away]

AE 6 Prowler is attack and electronic jamming then?

Actually it's an EA-6B which is for electronic/attack. They can carry HARM missiles.

 

[churchmouse]

[video=youtube;vDUHjD0MLqY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDUHjD0MLqY[/video]

Great night video. You can see the rounds converge point.

Butt ugly plane though.

 

[Birds Away]

So it is along the same lines as The British Mosquito then.

I always thought the Mosquito was for close support and recon. They were the wooden wonders weren't they?