What is the best fighter plane?
Discussion
Define the "best" metric.
In terms of proven air-to-air engagements by airframes still in service, I would guess the F-15.
The RAF haven't shot anything manned down since 1982, and that was an RAF Jaguar by an RAF Phantom. Prior to that, allegedly there was an Indonesian C-130 slotted by a Javelin back in the sixties, but everybody denies everything.
That doesn't mean to say that the current crop aren't very, very good at the job with some superb kit, but until the day - hopefully never - push comes to shove, you're just playing Top Trumps with that sort of question.
Stuck In A Lift said:
Currently in service?
Is it the Eurofighter?
Any help in settling a work debate that has raged all week would be great, thanks.
The F-4, Mirage III and Mig 21 would be at the top of the the list of air-to-air kills of aircraft still in service I think, but I doubt any of them would stand a chance against an F-22.Is it the Eurofighter?
Any help in settling a work debate that has raged all week would be great, thanks.
dr_gn said:
Stuck In A Lift said:
Currently in service?
Is it the Eurofighter?
Any help in settling a work debate that has raged all week would be great, thanks.
The F-4, Mirage III and Mig 21 would be at the top of the the list of air-to-air kills of aircraft still in service I think, but I doubt any of them would stand a chance against an F-22.Is it the Eurofighter?
Any help in settling a work debate that has raged all week would be great, thanks.
Even if they aren't, all you have to do to defeat an F-22 is to wait for the horrible corrosion problems to ground it, hopefully before the air-conditioning poisons the pilot. Generally takes about 15 minutes.
eharding said:
dr_gn said:
Stuck In A Lift said:
Currently in service?
Is it the Eurofighter?
Any help in settling a work debate that has raged all week would be great, thanks.
The F-4, Mirage III and Mig 21 would be at the top of the the list of air-to-air kills of aircraft still in service I think, but I doubt any of them would stand a chance against an F-22.Is it the Eurofighter?
Any help in settling a work debate that has raged all week would be great, thanks.
Even if they aren't, all you have to do to defeat an F-22 is to wait for the horrible corrosion problems to ground it, hopefully before the air-conditioning poisons the pilot. Generally takes about 15 minutes.
As you suddenly start to suffocate and in your attempt to breath, the inadvertent breaching of a descent rate of 60k/min post loss of [surprise] SA is something you'll only do once.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/03/20/f-22-fighter-...
"The lawsuit also says the mechanism for activating the emergency backup oxygen system is underneath and behind the pilot and impossible to reach while flying at supersonic speeds."
RIP Capt Haney.
The best fighter aircraft is the the one with the best pilot.
The pilot will know their aircraft inside out, the capabilities of their weapons systems and how best to deploy them.
They will also try to know as much as posible about any opponents' aircraft and weapons systems, it's strengths and weaknesses and they will always use tactics to try and drive the fight to the enemies weakness.
F-86 vs Mig 15
The F-86 pilots were advised to maintain as higher Mach number as possible at the higher altitudes as they had an all flying tale and power boosted controls. The Mig was lighter so could climb and accelerate faster but these advantages were of no use if you're already flat out.
F-4 Phantom II vs Mig 19 & Mig 21
Initally the F-4 pilots tried to 'Turn and Burn' at low level with the Migs and got spanked hard. The USN 'aquired' some Migs, tested them and realised that the F-4's superior thrust meant they could fight in the vertical plane which the lightweight Migs couldn't.
By the end of the Vietnam war the North Vietnamise Air Force would turn and run if they thought they were going to encounter USN Phantoms.
The most important part of any fighter is the squidgy organic bit up front.
The pilot will know their aircraft inside out, the capabilities of their weapons systems and how best to deploy them.
They will also try to know as much as posible about any opponents' aircraft and weapons systems, it's strengths and weaknesses and they will always use tactics to try and drive the fight to the enemies weakness.
F-86 vs Mig 15
The F-86 pilots were advised to maintain as higher Mach number as possible at the higher altitudes as they had an all flying tale and power boosted controls. The Mig was lighter so could climb and accelerate faster but these advantages were of no use if you're already flat out.
F-4 Phantom II vs Mig 19 & Mig 21
Initally the F-4 pilots tried to 'Turn and Burn' at low level with the Migs and got spanked hard. The USN 'aquired' some Migs, tested them and realised that the F-4's superior thrust meant they could fight in the vertical plane which the lightweight Migs couldn't.
By the end of the Vietnam war the North Vietnamise Air Force would turn and run if they thought they were going to encounter USN Phantoms.
The most important part of any fighter is the squidgy organic bit up front.
Dr Jekyll said:
dr_gn said:
The F-4, Mirage III and Mig 21 would be at the top of the the list of air-to-air kills of aircraft still in service I think, but I doubt any of them would stand a chance against an F-22.
Wonder how they would do against a Lightning?In any case the winner is the Spitfire. Just because.
mrloudly said:
According to the Indians it's the Rafale ;-) Still believe they're only as good as what hangs off of them ;-)
I think the Indians in part bought off price and what they would be allowed to build of their own, it wouldn't surprise me if the Rafales end up on the Indian carriers at some point.onyx39 said:
Lightning
Which Lightning? P38
EE F6
F35
The P38 was great for its time (fast and heavily armed with a good survival rate).
The EE fortunately never got tested as it was designed to stop Soviet nuclear bombers from obliterating the UK, its one of my favourite looking aircraft of all time though and on paper was more than capable of bringing the bombers down, I think the only kill an EE is credited with is a Harrier that failed to crash after the pilot decided to leave in a hurry.
The F35 could be one of the best aircraft ever built if the software and weapons kit all work, only time will tell though.
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