If the USAF would not have chosen a version of the Navy's F4 Phantom as its primary fighter through 1960s to mid-1970s, what would it have chosen?

[Thumpalumpacus]

The 727 is my all-time favorite passenger jet. Go Boeing!

It was the first plane I ever flew on, Oct 1974. Braniff, El Paso to D/FW. Dad had fun telling me to watch the wings flap, which they sorta did, scaring my little eight-year-old brain.

I'd prefer a 747 any day of the week. The wings don't flap, amongst other creature comforts.

 

[SaparotRob]

From a strictly aesthetic point of view, the 727 has that "moderne" look. As a passenger in the real world, I love the "Queen of the Skies".

Can I get a "Go Boeing!" Brutha?

 

[rob23]

From a strictly aesthetic point of view, the 727 has that "moderne" look. As a passenger in the real world, I love the "Queen of the Skies".

Can I get a "Go Boeing!" Brutha?

Go Boing!

 

[SaparotRob]

Go Boing!

"Boing"?

 

[rob23]

"Boing"?

My dad worked on the 727 assembly line and being from Texas we all called Boeing 'Boing'.

 

[SaparotRob]

The things one learns here.

 

[rob23]

The things one learns here.

It takes a village.....

 

[GreenKnight121]

The US didn't "hate" the F-5, the F-5 was designed as a low-cost export day fighter and the USAF at the time didn't see an immediate need for it.

Also... the F-5A & F-5B (as introduced in 1962) were NOT air-air fighters per-se... they were strike fighters, with only rudimentary air-air capability (ranging gunsight only, no true air-air radar).

It was only with the introduction of the F-5E/F (with its Emerson Electric AN/APQ-153 multi-mode pulse-doppler radar) in 1972 that it became a really capable air-air fighter.