Top Ten fighters of all time...post your own list.

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 03 Dec 2008, 05:03

The Military Channel ran an episode of Greatest Ever, Here's their list:

10. F-117 Nighthawk (NOT EVEN A FRIGGEN FIGHTER! WTF!?) Leave it To TOm Clancy to set the record straight.
9. Fokker Dr.I "The Mother of All Fokkers"
8. Mitsubishi A6M Zero Armor=Zero Protection
7. Harrier: 24-0 A2A in the Falklands!
6. F-86 Sabre
5. Me-109
4. FA-18 Hornet
3. MiG-21 Fishbed: "The Kalashnikov of the Soviet Aviation industry"
2: Supermarine Spitfire
1. P-51 Mustang:

Here's MY LIST:
10: Su-27 Flanker family
9: F-4 Phantom II
8. F-15 Eagle
7: FA-18 Hornet
6. Harrier family
5. P-40 Warhawk
4. P-51 Mustang.
3. MiG-21 Fishbed
2. F-86/MiG-15: Best dogfightng combo--the Sabre couldn't have made it without the Russian jet.
1. F-16 Fighting Falcom/Viper

I know I'm not qualified to for technical breakdown. I am also more familiar with the Cold War-era, nonetheless, I thought it'd be fun to see what we all thought was our own personal top ten. Yes I know the unanimous #1 is the Viper. Rank on whatever you want, combat record, length of service, asthetics.

huggy · by **huggy** » 03 Dec 2008, 06:05

Define "fighter". You say the F-117 isn't a fighter. Is an F-111? An A-10?
What are the criteria?

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 03 Dec 2008, 13:30

Only aircraft that have an Air-to-Air capability built in as a primary function and not just for self-defense. This eliminates alll the other mudhens. The F-15E is excluded as long as it is bundled with the other Eagles. Sorry for being vague.

As for the -111, only the Spark 'Vark--since it has a "proven air to air capability" and that it can outmaneuver any drunk Iraqi pilot :wink:

go for it!

parrothead · by **parrothead** » 03 Dec 2008, 14:00

10. F-117 Nighthawk (NOT EVEN A FRIGGEN FIGHTER! WTF!?) Leave it To TOm Clancy to set the record straight.
9. Fokker Dr.I "The Mother of All Fokkers"
8. Mitsubishi A6M Zero Armor=Zero Protection
7. Harrier: 24-0 A2A in the Falklands!
6. F-86 Sabre
5. Me-109
4. FA-18 Hornet
3. MiG-21 Fishbed: "The Kalashnikov of the Soviet Aviation industry"
2: Supermarine Spitfire
1. P-51 Mustang

I'm freaking amazed that they could legitimately leave out the F-4, F-16, and F-15. The F-16 has an impressive record. The F-4 was the leading distributor of MiG parts over Vietnam and the F-15 has a huge record of aerial victories.

Tim · by **Tim** » 03 Dec 2008, 16:54

Thats a tall order for this crowd. someone is bound to forget something and p1$$ someone off, but what the hey...

10) Mig-15
9) F-86 (my pops will kill me for scoring this so low)

Su-27
7) Mig-21/F-4u Corsair (I'll let the jury decide this one)
6) P-40/Mitsu. A6M
5) P-38/Me-109
4) Spitfire
3) P-51/F-4 Phantom (another jury decision)
2) F-15
1) And of course, F-16
:2c:

Yea, you could call me bias. But I'm basing this decision on acft. design, reliabilty, and over all look of the airframe. Of course, no two lists are gonna be the same. and I know I listed more than ten but what are they gonna do, Ban me from the forum :ban:

(Just kidding guys)
I know after I submit this list I'm gonna remember one and smack myself in the forehead.

Guysmiley · by **Guysmiley** » 03 Dec 2008, 22:06

I can't watch that program, the curly redheaded d-bag makes me want to punch my TV.

TC · by TC » 04 Dec 2008, 01:14

Who was the ignoramus who came up with that original list? Sheesh! :shock:

Ok, I'll jump in on this one. It's hard for me to rate a good Top 10, because I'm never sure if I've chosen the right 10, or even placed them in the proper order. However, I will pick my top 10, based on performance in combat, and overall performance when compared to other aircraft from their respective eras.

10. Spad S.XIII (more practical than the Fokker, and a better overall fighter than the Sopwith Camel)
9. F6F Hellcat (the best carrier-based pure fighter of WWII)
8. Supermarine Spitfire (hero of the Battle of Britain)
7. P-47D Thunderbolt (the best mult-role fighter of WWII)
6. F4U Corsair (another great multi-role bird for the Pacific and Korea)
5. F-16 Viper (Ushered in the era of the greatest multi-role fighters ever produced)
4. F-4 Phantom II (the original Jack of all Trades. Once we learned to exploit its strengths, it fought well in Vietnam)
3. F-86 Sabre (Dominated the air war in Korea)
2. P-51D Mustang (the best of The Warbirds)
1. F-15 Eagle (Over 100 kills with no losses. The most impressive AA combat record ever recorded, and likely never again to be matched.)

johnwill · by **johnwill** » 04 Dec 2008, 03:04

The Spitfire may have all the "hero of the Battle of Britain" glamour, but the Hawker Hurricane shot down four times as many airplanes as did the Spit. Not as fast as the -109, but more maneuverable, it was able to hold its own and was sure death to hundreds of bombers.

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 04 Dec 2008, 03:10

I can't watch that program, the curly redheaded d-bag makes me want to punch my TV.

Yeah, he's weird to the maz--watching the "Top 10 Bombers" right now--i'd rather have someone like me on there--y'know someone that knows next to nothing compared to one of the giants of this here site?

TC · by TC » 04 Dec 2008, 03:14

Ah...Apples v. Oranges...One of history's greatest debates, to which there is no correct answer...unless, like me, you're from Florida, and then you d@mn well better say oranges! :wink:

I had briefly considered the 'Cane, but I wasn't as familiar with its overall record, versatility, etc. I'm also a big fan of a bubble canopy for a dogfight.

However, this is why everyone makes their own list.

EBJet · by **EBJet** » 04 Dec 2008, 04:21

Good list TC, although I'd shuffle it a bit and put the Hellcat in the top 5...

I'd also give the P-38 an Honorable Mention..

Damn, why does it have to be only 10?!?!

ptplauthor · by **ptplauthor** » 04 Dec 2008, 04:29

Damn, why does it have to be only 10?!?!

because that's the name of the show, and it makes it tougher to choose. You can break it down into favorites from pre- and post-1945

or, if you'd prefer, i could be stubborn and say "Its my thread, do as I say" but I don't think I'd last a day without being banned, and anyway its not my style.

TC · by TC » 04 Dec 2008, 04:40

In the spirit of David Letterman, one could break it down by era and go Top 10 Best of:

WWII: Strictly "The Warbirds"

Korea/Cold War: "i.e., F-80, Sabre...The Century Series"

Vietnam: "Rhino, MiG-21, etc."

Post 'Nam/Desert Storm to Present Day: "The Teen Series, Raptor, etc."

That basically gives you 40 some-odd planes to play around with. While the lists would get watered down a bit, it would make for some interesting top tens.

asiatrails · by **asiatrails** » 05 Dec 2008, 05:19

Here are mine with justifications:
All these aircraft have been tested in combat

WW1

Nieuport 9/10 Has to be the first as it was the mount of Adolph Pegoud the first ace - ever , and the first aircraft of George Guynemer

Spad XIII flown by France's best ace, Rene Fock and his US counterpart Eddie Rickenbacker

Sopwith Triplane - also the first combat aircraft with a variable incidence tailplane aircraft was copied and improved by Fokker as the Fokker Triplane

Sopwith Camel - more than 1200 kills

Fokker DVII - best all round aircraft of WW1 - achieved 575 kills in August 1918

Fokker Triplane

Bristol Scout

WW2

Hawker Hurricane

Messerschmitt Bf 109

Mikoyan-Gurevich (MIG)-3 Faster and more maneuverable than the Bf-109F-3 and the favorite aircraft of Alexander Pokryshkin the second highest scoring Russian Ace

Supermarine Spitfire

Focke-Wulf FW 190

North American P-51 Mustang

Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Grumman F6F Hellcat

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Chance Vought F4U Corsair

Jets

F-86 Sabre

MIG-15

MIG-21

Hawker Hunter

Folland Gnat

F-4 Phantom

F-14 Tomcat

Hawker Harrier

F-15 Eagle

F-16 Falcon

Thumper3181 · by **Thumper3181** » 24 Dec 2008, 06:03

Mirage 2000
F6F
Spitfire
F-100
MiG-21
F-16
ME-262
P-51
F-15
F-4