Best Jet Fighter 1947 -1957

[FLYBOYJ]

I'm not that into this type of stuff but I'd just like to point out, the Avro Arrow, even if she wasn't in service she deserves to be on that list! Come on your Canadian you should make a small exception for such a awesome aircraft please!

If it was never in service, how can it be the best?

Seriously...

Yep!!!!

Not to go off topic here but "if" the Arrow entered service it "would have" been a tremendous high altitude interceptor and may have had the capability to perform a strike role with modification. As a dogfighter it would have been a pig especially in close quarters.

No nationalistic bias, no conspiracy theories, just the plain truth...

Back to work!

 

[fastmongrel]

I went for the F 86 because all round it was the best of its generation. If I could have had a 2nd vote it would be the Mig17 because it fixed a lot of the problems of the Mig 15 and gave the US a nasty shock in the early years of Vietnam and was still a useful fighter for 3rd world countries well into the 80s .

 

[The Basket]

Astonished anyone could vote F-100 best fighter....really?

Would go for the MiG-17 myself. Was the F-8 Crusader operational in the 50s? If it was then it wins.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Astonished anyone could vote F-100 best fighter....really?

Why? It served well even though it did have a high attricion rate. Could carry lots of bombs and was easy to maintain (I actually worked around one for a short spell). The C models had no flaps and landed fast.

 

[The Basket]

The Crusader can be included...huzzah. F-100? It said best jet fighter...and the Hun would be up against it versus a MiG.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

The Crusader can be included...huzzah. F-100? It said best jet fighter...and the Hun would be up against it versus a MiG.

I think a Hun shot down a MiG-17 early Vietnam. I'll have to check sources. Include the F-8 and it takes it.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

From Wiki...

"On 4 April 1965, as escorts protecting F-105s attacking the Thanh Hoa Bridge, F-100 Super Sabres fought the USAF's first air-to-air jet combat duel in the Vietnam War, in which an F-100 piloted by Capt Donald W. Kilgus shot down a North Vietnamese Air Force MiG-17, using cannon fire, while another fired Sidewinder missiles. The surviving North Vietnamese pilot confirmed three of the MiG-17s had been shot down. *Although recorded by the US Air Force as a probable kill, this represented the first aerial victory by the US Air Force in Vietnam."

*Toperczer, Dr. Istvan, Air War Over North Viet Nam; The Vietnamese People's Air Force 1949-1977, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1998

 

[drgondog]

F-8 first flew in 55 and deployed with the fleet operationally in 57. It certainly gets my vote with the MiG-19 probably second.

 

[Ratsel]

F-104 Starfighter.

 

[woljags]

sorry flyboyj i read the poll header not the topic header call it a senior moment

 

[pbfoot]

Ok so I missed 2 just change the poll to mid 57 and all is good.
If I wanted to really finesse this poll we could bet into the various marks and variations . I heard that the F100's didn't really out perform the Sabre as a dogfighter and it was somewhat of a wash. Mind you the F86 guys used to wait until they were light on fuel to tackle the F100

 

[pbfoot]

F-104 Starfighter.

when did it go in service

 

[Ratsel]

Feb/58, first flown in 1951. So it meets the criteria.

 

[tyrodtom]

F-104 first flew in 1954, it wasn't even a proposal till 52. I understand it has to go into service 1957 or earlier.

 

[Ratsel]

I'm trying to make a fair poll in relation to era and type of aircraft and decided 47-57 ( in service)with no all weather interceptors as that was a different breed, I hope I didn`t miss anything

You are correct. It dosn't meet the criteria. But for any a/c in service or not, I still choose the F-104 Starfighter.

Kindest Regards.

 

[Glider]

Now I would have to go with the MiG-19. The PAF made good use out of them and loved the Martin Baker seats with Sidewinders.

I have this picture in my mind of a pilot flying through the air on his MB seat with a couple of Sidwinders attached.

And I agree with this choice a Mig 19 with these enhancements are a better match than any of the others on the list.

 

[Lucky13]

Looking at these, I think that SAAB 29 Tunnan, would fit in as well....

 

[razor1uk]

Supermarine Swift or Attacker to be added anyone? 'fleet' based fighter(s).

As Fighters they were multiple (generaly quad+) hmg/cannon armed as primary with unguided rockets, bombs naval munitions etc as secondary weapons afaiu; but naval 'fleet' fighters are normally multi-role, doulbling as interceptors/bombers/recon too but without either as large a fuel load /or general class leading/top10 max acceleration of true interceptors..

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Looking at these, I think that SAAB 29 Tunnan, would fit in as well....

Great aircraft - used in the Congo Uprising, I did a modle of one years ago in UN markings.

 

[pbfoot]

Supermarine Attacker to be added anyone? 'fleet' based fighter

anyone for Cougar, Panther,J29, Attacker,Demon,Ouragan.Skyknight,Phantom,Mig9,Fury,Cutlass,Yak23 , now lets move to interceptors