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DC-3/ C-47
Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?
The B29 ended the war, OK that may be said to be down to a bomb others could carry, but as a prop driven aircraft its performance was formidable.
Possibly in terms of effect the DC3 /C 47 had no peer in air transport/parachute deployment.
Not on the list but I go for the old mosquito, it made the theory of fast bomber work, and combined fantastic accuracy when needed with exceptional payload in other circumstances (yes I know not in the same plane) It was all that is required of a night fighter, photo recon, maritime/ long range strike aircraft. No way could it out perform a single engined fighter but it could evade by speed and high speed control even the Me262. Biggest plus it was made of wood just to cheer up Mr Goering and his supply ministry. Last point it looked great and gave rise to the Hornet one of the top performing and beautiful twin prop fighters ever.
DC-3/ C-47
Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?
I tried to be polite, a fighter only ever enables someone else to do something, or stops them.
Oh sorry guys. I knew I was missing something. I meant the best prop fighter. Again, sorry. I don't think there's much dispute over the best bombers of transport aircraft.
Sorry again.
There is a lot of dispute about bombers and many threads to prove it.
Fighter, being British I use British parameters..... The spitfire....there at the start and there at the finish, at times out performed by others but was at the end, the same as the start, a point defence interceptor to be feared, at wars end Tempest squadrons switched to Spitfires.
A grudging nod to the Bf109 which had a similar record on the other side.
Not that I hold much in the way of aircraft credentials but:
The Do 335 Pfeil - Too late and too few to make any difference but 765 km/Hr(474mph) at 11,400m(37,400ft) armed with a 30mm MK103 cannon and two (2) 20mm autocannons
Only one Do 335 survives today. It was captured by Allied forces at the plant on 22 April 1945. The aircraft was test flown from a grass runway at Oberwiesenfeld, near Munich, to Cherbourg, France while escorted by two P-51s. The Do 335 was easily able to out distance the escorting Mustangs and arrived at Cherbourg 45 minutes before the P-51s.
Space, I know you're new and I'm not trying to give you a hard time but have you browsed this site and read some of the threads that have polls such as this?
DC-3/ C-47
Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?
This, I gotta go with the goonie bird. Gor Christ's sakes it is still commercially used today.
Best piston engined aircraft ever built.
Now if we want to discuss fighters (which we have done a dozen times on the forum), how can you argue against the P-51D. Sure I think it was overrated simply because people always overlook other aircraft (Spit, 109, 190, LA...) and just get all smitten over the 51. Fact remains though it was not best at everything, it was damn good at everything and was the fighter that was able to take the fight to the heart of Germany.
So while I love my favorite 109 (and even the Spitfire) more than the 51, I got to say the 51 was the historical winner in this topic of "fighters".
Yeah that'd probably be it. I guess it's hard to define a real "best"
Say, best dogfighter? Spit XIV, in my opinion.
Best bomber killer? 190D, maybe K4
Best high altitude fighter? 152...
Best multirole? Probably the Tempest...
And it goes on
I still love me my Spitfire XIV though. Can't wait for it in DCS.
Well what are your perimeters? Every acft has its advantages and weaknesses. What altitude for instance!
When it comes to these "top" fighters, I think you are neglecting to take the biggest factor into account. Pilot skill.
Of course pilot skill is a factor but the idea is to compare the pure performance of the planes.
And yeah, each aircraft does better at different altitudes, but I'm considering the ones that perform well at most altitudes.
Anyways this thread is pretty pointless. Feel free to lock it.