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best fighter plane

Originally posted by: ElFenix
is the f22 in military service yet?

There are at least two fully functional evaluation units. So technically that would be it. Next best would probably be F-14 or F-15 as best overall, and next most advanced would probably be either the Su-27 or -35, depending on whether or not they've got the -35 in production yet.
 
I believe that the F-15 currently holds the record for the most successful fighter in the world.

Edit: Maybe I was wrong. Apparently aviation experts believe the F-16 is the most successful fighter aircraft ever built.

Air Force Col. John R. Boyd often was critical of military leaders, but his biggest coup was the development of the F-16 considered the best fighter aircraft ever. He and his followers helped dream up the project.

Above quote taken from this site
 
Didn't the F-16 have a perfect record during the gulf war? I'd say thats a pretty nice record unless they all got shot down wherever they were deployed next.

I love the 16 though. I remember reading about a rivalry between 15 and 16 pilots.
 
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: Rallispec
i'm a huge fan of the f/a-18 hornet

C'mon, Tomcat > Hornet, no matter how you cut it.


Maverick: She's lost that loving feeling.
Goose: No, no she hasn't.
Maverick: Oh, yes she has.
Goose: I hate it when she does that.
 
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Didn't the F-16 have a perfect record during the gulf war? I'd say thats a pretty nice record unless they all got shot down wherever they were deployed next.

I love the 16 though. I remember reading about a rivalry between 15 and 16 pilots.

Well, it would depend on how you define the engagement. The -15 has better radar, and the capability to carry more MRMs. Being larger, heavier, and having two engines makes it less vulnerable to fatal damage. OTOH, the -16 is lighter and more agile.

Basically, if you start the fight at ~50NM, the -16 doesn't stand a chance given they both have their full A2A loadouts. If you bring it in to ~20NM and make it guns only, the -16 has a decent chance of downing the -15, probably down to pilot skill there.

The same basic argument applies to the F/A-18 and F-14, with the exception that the -14s optimal engagement range is around 120NM thanks to it's Phoenix missiles.
 
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Didn't the F-16 have a perfect record during the gulf war?

Most (All?) post-Vietnam American aircraft have perfect or near-perfect records. Better training, better equipment, better maintenance.
 
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Didn't the F-16 have a perfect record during the gulf war? I'd say thats a pretty nice record unless they all got shot down wherever they were deployed next.

I love the 16 though. I remember reading about a rivalry between 15 and 16 pilots.

Well, it would depend on how you define the engagement. The -15 has better radar, and the capability to carry more MRMs. Being larger, heavier, and having two engines makes it less vulnerable to fatal damage. OTOH, the -16 is lighter and more agile.

Basically, if you start the fight at ~50NM, the -16 doesn't stand a chance given they both have their full A2A loadouts. If you bring it in to ~20NM and make it guns only, the -16 has a decent chance of downing the -15, probably down to pilot skill there.

The same basic argument applies to the F/A-18 and F-14, with the exception that the -14s optimal engagement range is around 120NM thanks to it's Phoenix missiles.

the f-14 could take out 6 f-16's without blinking

<---------F-14 fanboy
 
Originally posted by: Feldenak
I believe that the F-15 currently holds the record for the most successful fighter in the world.

Edit: Maybe I was wrong. Apparently aviation experts believe the F-16 is the most successful fighter aircraft ever built.

Air Force Col. John R. Boyd often was critical of military leaders, but his biggest coup was the development of the F-16 considered the best fighter aircraft ever. He and his followers helped dream up the project.

Above quote taken from this site

it is the most commercially successful fighter ever built, without a doubt
 
Originally posted by: Rallispec
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: Rallispec
i still say the F-18 rocks all.

coolest fighter plane of all time though--- the p-51 mustang. 🙂

P-38. Guess I'm just a dually fan. 🙂

Teh Zero ownz!

messerschmitt me-262 r0x0rs.

Would have been a lot better if Hitler hadnt insisted on making it a fighter/bomber
 
Me-163 Komet

Seriously though, if the Su-35 is out, I'd be tempted to say it. The F-14 has really long range capabilities, so I'd take it vs an F-16. In Falcon 4 I like the Su-27. It's the closest I'll ever get to being able to fly them all personally, so take it for what it's worth.

 
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