What are your five favourite aircraft in history?

[shawn a]

Welcome Johnnie.
Why the Tupolev?
How about 4 more?

[Ramon]

Hello all,

Here my shortlist of a very long list 

1) F-14 Tomcat
2) A-10 Thunderbolt
3) P-38 Lightning
4) F4U Corsair
5) F-105 Thunderchief

Ramon

[Bonehead]

In no particular order:

B-1B (naturally!)
F-4 (any variant, any country)
MiG 21
F/A-18
FW 190

[Webmaster]

It's not the same as my top 5, but definately great planes you listed, in my opinion as well. There's some variants of the F-4 I don't like though, the QF-4 ones

[Eldorado82]

seem like the good old Skyhawk (A-4) disappeared to the Great void of history hm..... still flies here in Israel

[Webmaster]

Well, attack planes always get less love than fighters. But A-4 is wonderful, looks (mostly) good, said to fly well, was cheap, carried a big load for such a small aircraft. Rightfully called a hot-rod. But, I don't like the look of the early versions, and I don't like what Israel did (see picture). That's just ugly. It isn't really big, fast, fascinating or powerful. That's why it's not in my top 5, but if I would have an aircraft museum, I'd definately get one and give it a good spot...

[Armée de l'Air]

For me it goes something like this:

1. Dassault Rafale
2. Dassault Mirage 2000
3. General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
4.Grumman F-14 Tomcat
5.McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

[Wolfhound]

F-15E/K/SG
F/A-18F Super Hornet
AV-8B
Rafale
F-111D/F

[Webmaster]

Welcome Wolfhound,

Why the F-111D/F specifically?

[F-111 C/C]

Yeah. I can understand the 'F' model but the 'FB/G' has superior avionics and more thrust than the 'D' and the 'C' model had the same engines as the 'D' yet was Pave Tack equipped whereas the 'D' was not. Just kind of strange you would single out just the the 'F' and the 'D'. (Sorry, I get a little 'touchy' on the subject )

[Webmaster]

I suppose you're even more touchy lately, with the RAAF having retired them recently. Moreover the G models are getting cut up.

[F-111 C/C]

Yep, sad time for me. Unfortunately they're obligated to cut up the 'G' models in accordance with agreements made during the 'Cold War' (SALT and all that stuff) due to their Nuclear capabilities so we won't see any on a pole over there. It still boggles my mind to do that to perfectly flying aircraft, especially the 'G' as they had relatively low airframe hours for a 40 year old jet.