Best Fighter Aircraft ever built. Top 5

[caporider]

Isn't the F-22 getting the Scorpion helmet?

AF tested it, but system integration issues prevented its adoption. F-22s remain HMD-less for now.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

Well, the F-14 did go back in time and splash a couple Japanese Zeroes.

And almost crashed . DCS has given me new respect for the F14. Kind of reminds me of the P38 with its Fowler flaps and the ability to put flaps down and turn like crazy. With the good engines, take off from a carrier with out afterburner, pretty slick.

Honestly it's a little embarrassing that the F-22 still does not have an integrated HMD -- if for no other reason than to allow cueing of high-off-boresight missiles like the AIM-9X.

How was Carlos Hathcock in a knife fight? Who cares, the BGs were dead a long ways away . I get what you mean on the head set. Isn’t there just not enough room for it under the canopy?

[Slater]

Looking at USAF FY22 budget documentation (available online), some F-22 modifications include:

In FY22, RAMP kit procurement and installation will continue on projects such as: Power and reliability increase for the Main Power Generator; Core Processing Software (CORE32) which replaces 1st generation fiber optic segments per Common Integrated Processor (CIP) backplane, improving backplane fiber reliability and interoperability; Low Observable (LO) Mighty Tough Boot, which replaces less durable boot material and leads to an estimated 3% increase in aircraft reliability; replacement of Communication Navigation Identification (CNI) Air-to-Air Interrogation (AAI) Cables, eliminating all direct maintenance on cable assembly; Very High Frequency (VHF) Antenna which includes an updated antenna design allowing for the retrofit of a updated antenna core, modified spar design, and leading edge. All
RAMP retrofit kits have component level improvement metrics and contribute to the overall reliability, availability, maintainability and safety of the F-22.

[Tony617]

Tough one to list a top 5 and I'm going to limit it to the jet age, but...

1) No doubt, hands down, number one can't be anything other than the F-15. Still in production almost 50 years after its first flight and still reigning champ in the skies with an 104-0 kill ratio. Plus, it's been adapted from "Not a pound for air to ground" into one of the premier interdiction aircraft of our time. I don't think there will ever be a more successful fighter out there that's been adapted to so many roles. Plus, who needs more than one wing to fly?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxJcEz3h4tU

2) MiG-21 (and foreign produced variants like the J-7/F-7) Giving the Soviets some love here, they came up with a simple fighter that worked extremely well. It was dangerous in a close in dogfight as our pilots learned over Vietnam and was simple enough for even Third World Air Forces to operate with ease. It's pretty much the AK-47 of the jet world as it was heavily exported, easily produced and (from reports) fairly easy to fly. There are various upgrades that actually can make it relevant in today's air battles as well.

3) F-16 (and variants). Again, it has adapted into roles unthought of from its time on the drawing board. From its inception as a simple daytime fighter to where its at today with its CAS, SEAD and interdiction role, its still viable even in the days of stealth and high tech. Still in production along with the F-15, the designers continue adding widgets and new items that keep it in the front of the pack when it comes to fighters.

4) (tie) Mirage III (and derivatives including the Mirage 5, Cheetah, Nesher) and the F-5 Tiger series. Two more fighters that started off life as simple and cheap to operate aircraft. Both of these ended up with impressive records as fighters and as ground attack aircraft. Both enjoyed long production runs (and in the case of the Mirage) had variants that continue to fly today with upgrades. Both of the fighters were pretty much the West's answer to the MiG-21 and served/are serving well around the world.

5) F-86 Saber. I went back and forth with this, but when it comes down to sheer adaptability and longevity, the F-86 has served extremely well and I include the variants of the F-86D, the Candair versions and the FJ-2/3 and FJ-4 in this list. It was one of those designs that they kept tinkering with to keep it relevant. From the skies over Korea to Pakistani pilots that used them very effectively against India, it certainly left a legacy behind.

You realize too that Russian Mig15 and the American F86 Sabre were based partially on Focke-Wulf Ta 183 design.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Ta_183

[Grand58742]

You realize too that Russian Mig15 and the American F86 Sabre were based partially on Focke-Wulf Ta 183 design.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Ta_183

What's the Ta 183's combat record?

[Honu]

You realize too that Russian Mig15 and the American F86 Sabre were based partially on Focke-Wulf Ta 183 design.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Ta_183

a huge issue it was never more than a model ! so NO and sure swept wings but they were in models and theory years before that is the only thing it has swept wings ?

tube designs were in so NO
wings on bottom vs middle ? so a NO
tail again NO

TA183 was asked for because of Allied aviation developments
mig 15 did have center based wings so maybe that had some influence but the F-86 a NO


operation paperclip of course post WWII
did help the F-86 but that was about swept wings from a 1940 paper on wind tunnel testing they used on the xp86 (time frame for the 183 does not match 1940 as it did not start until 1942) so sure the Germans and swept wings did have a influence in a sense and the XP86 / F-86 but not from the 183 and the design of the 86 was already in process at that point
when you look at why the 183 look at the fj-1 Fury throw swept wings you have the 183 IMHO

[Honu]

What's the Ta 183's combat record?

hahahahaha designer telling hitler careful that is the only model and its made of paper

[crusader377]

What's the Ta 183's combat record?

Yep, one of I think is one of the most frustrating things about the history of WW2 is the myth that they Germans were more technologically advanced than the Allies. It is simply not true. Yes the Germans were more willing to use front line troops as beta testers for new weapons but as a whole the Germans did not have more advanced equipment.

For example, yes the Germans introduced the first successful assault rifle the STG44. However, it wasn't widely fielded and even in 1945, 2/3 of German infantry were using the Kar 98. In contrast, all U.S. infantry fully transitioned to the M1 Garand by 1943.

Yes the Germans built tanks that could overmatch the Allies like Panther and Tiger when they were working. However 70% of German Army in 1945 was still used horse drawn logistics while the U.S. and British were fully motorized even in the beginning of the war and even the Soviets were mostly motorized by 1945. Furthermore, if the war would of lasted to 1946, The U.S. with Pershing, the British with Centurion, and likely the Russians with the T-54 would have had tanks that would have overmatched Tiger and Panther. Furthermore these vehicles were actually reliable unlike Tiger and Panther.

[Lefty223]

Not a fighter per se, but it did have a role in some night-time operations, also a superb multi-role ground/sea attack, bomber, camera/reconnaissance platform … that awesome “plywood plane”, the DeHavilland ‘Mosquito’. Flew so fast it didn’t need armament for protection.

LOVE the model w/six 50-cal machine guns in the nose, for the attack role!

[09fatbob]

A 10
F 15
P 38
P 47
F 35