best fighter plane

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Zim Hosein

Zim Hosein

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Nov 27, 1999
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Including all countries, or just US fighter jets JYDog?
 
T

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
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Originally posted by: ElFenix
is the f22 in military service yet?
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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.
 
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Feldenak

Lifer
Jan 31, 2003
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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.
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Above quote taken from this site
 
Zim Hosein

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Nov 27, 1999
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Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: Zim Hosein
Including all countries, or just US fighter jets JYDog?
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Duh, all the best fighters are US planes, so your question is moot. :)
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I wasn't asking you :p
 
K

Kelvrick

Lifer
Feb 14, 2001
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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.
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
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Originally posted by: TerryMathews
Originally posted by: Rallispec
i'm a huge fan of the f/a-18 hornet
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C'mon, Tomcat > Hornet, no matter how you cut it.
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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.
 
T

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
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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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
T

TerryMathews

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,464
2
0
Originally posted by: Kelvrick
Didn't the F-16 have a perfect record during the gulf war?
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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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

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

<---------F-14 fanboy
 
Rallispec

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81
i still say the F-18 rocks all.

coolest fighter plane of all time though--- the p-51 mustang. :)
 
ElFenix

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,407
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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.
Click to expand...

Above quote taken from this site
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it is the most commercially successful fighter ever built, without a doubt
 
M

Mookow

Lifer
Apr 24, 2001
10,162
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0
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. :)
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P-38. Guess I'm just a dually fan. :)
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Teh Zero ownz!
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messerschmitt me-262 r0x0rs.
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Would have been a lot better if Hitler hadnt insisted on making it a fighter/bomber
 
Chaotic42

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
35,216
2,359
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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.

 
M

Moemar

Member
Aug 19, 2001
177
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0
Depends on what you're looking for.

Speed? F-14
Maneuverability? Su-27
Stealth? F-117

...etc.
 
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