the P-61 black widow would have to be my faverouite aircraft, the early spitfires come a close second.
modern aircraft, kinda like the su-37
modern aircraft, kinda like the su-37
Favorite military aircraft?
- Thread starter Robert Maxwell
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Spitfire, the P-51 Mustang and the Caspian Sea Monster
Older aircraft - tie -
F6F - This adaptation of the F4F4's airframe became the backbone of the US Navy when it came out. Superior to the Zero in almost every way and took a lot of punishment
Douglas SBD-3 - Known for being "Slow But Deadly", these aircaraft made it home so severely damaged at times that people would wonder how it flew at all.
Modern - F14 Tomcat - My Dad was involved in the development team working on the computers for these when they came out. Awesome aircraft.
F6F - This adaptation of the F4F4's airframe became the backbone of the US Navy when it came out. Superior to the Zero in almost every way and took a lot of punishment
Douglas SBD-3 - Known for being "Slow But Deadly", these aircaraft made it home so severely damaged at times that people would wonder how it flew at all.
Modern - F14 Tomcat - My Dad was involved in the development team working on the computers for these when they came out. Awesome aircraft.
Here and enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfwJJD5jGXk
It's true, the Navy tested the C-130 as a potential Carrier Onboard Delivery aircraft, however, the aircraft was rather cumbersome on deck and ate a ton of deck space. Grumman's C-2 Greyhound subsequently was ordered as the Navy's COD aircraft, and later as the E-2 Hawkeye would become a carrier-based AWACS aircraft.
I'm not too much into the specs, although I know there are better aircraft than the ones on my list (in order of personal preference):
1. F-18 Hornet
2. F-14 Tomcat
3. F-4 Phantom
4. F-22 Raptor
5. F-15 Eagle
I grew up near the old McDonnell-Douglas Headquarters (now a Boeing facility) in Saint Louis, so I frequently saw F-15s taking off from Lambert Airport or simply flying overhead at random. I still see them flying around today, but with an occasional F-18 now and then...
1. F-18 Hornet
2. F-14 Tomcat
3. F-4 Phantom
4. F-22 Raptor
5. F-15 Eagle
I grew up near the old McDonnell-Douglas Headquarters (now a Boeing facility) in Saint Louis, so I frequently saw F-15s taking off from Lambert Airport or simply flying overhead at random. I still see them flying around today, but with an occasional F-18 now and then...
Horton 229 -- these were actually flying in early 1945. Some airframes were captured by the US after the war ended. Photos exist but none do the craft justice.
http://www.luft46.com/ggart/ggho9-5.jpg
Here is a short video (7 seconds) of the US Army test flying a 229 after the war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBnBSJ9bz3A
http://www.luft46.com/ggart/ggho9-5.jpg
Here is a short video (7 seconds) of the US Army test flying a 229 after the war.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBnBSJ9bz3A
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The A-10 is definetly on the list. I love the exposure they've been getting in films lately.
But I have to include the Saab 37 Viggen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_37_Viggen
Used to have a wing of those based in the state, they used to do flybys at exercises over the town I grew up in. Always knew when they flew over even when inside because it sounds like a jet driven freight train going by
Never did warm up to the replacment Saab JAS 39 Gripen. Too quiet.
Also on my list. We used to have one of those up on a stand right new to the highway exit into town. For some reason they took it down which sucked because I used to go there and just look at it. Fantastic aircraft.
But I have to include the Saab 37 Viggen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_37_Viggen
Used to have a wing of those based in the state, they used to do flybys at exercises over the town I grew up in. Always knew when they flew over even when inside because it sounds like a jet driven freight train going by
Never did warm up to the replacment Saab JAS 39 Gripen. Too quiet.NatGeo channel had a recent program on the Ho.229 look at whether it's sleath design would of actually worked (in terms of being undetectable on radar.
Using radar facilities at Northrop they determined yes the aircraft would of had some stealth characterisics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horten_Ho_229
As to favourite military aircraft not sure which it would be but I guess I'd say the Avro Lancaster. Had two great uncles who piloted and a grandfather who was a wireless-operator/air gunner (WAG).
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the AC-130
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC-130
I have witnesses these things in action *shudders*
i'm also partial to the Cobra and the F-14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC-130
I have witnesses these things in action *shudders*
i'm also partial to the Cobra and the F-14
Dassualt Rafale Marine
Saab JAS-35C Gripen
Sukhoi Su-37 Terminator
Boeing EA-18G Growler
Saab JAS-35C Gripen
Sukhoi Su-37 Terminator
Boeing EA-18G Growler
That's an impressive demonstration. We see the C-130 maneuvering overhead every year as part of the Independence Day celebration.
Another one we used to see around here a lot (when Norton AFB was still operational) was the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter.
A couple of others I omitted from my previous list:
Boeing B-47 Stratojet
Lockheed P-2 Neptune (The P-2 was originally intended as a maritime-patrol and ASW craft, but we see quite a bit of them around here during fire season, converted for firefighting purposes.)
I might well throw in also a pair of jet trainers, just for the heck of it:
Northrop T-38 Talon and its predecessor, the
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (I think Michael Dorn owns one of these.)
The 35 is the Draken.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_35_Draken
The 39 is the Gripen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Gripen
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_35_Draken
The 39 is the Gripen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_Gripen
A reminder to everybody to please not Hotlink images. It steals bandwidth from other sites and it's against the Rules. It could get you a Warning.
Also, please remember to not stretch the Thread too much. Thank you.
Also, please remember to not stretch the Thread too much. Thank you.
I know it's not strictly military (arguably paramilitary, I suppose) but if you want to talk waterbombers, my personal favourite is the Bombardier CL-415:
Not the prettiest birds around, I suppose, but still a hell of a sturdy plane, and very well-designed for it's role. They can carry over 6,000 l of water to drop on a fire, land in just six feet of water, and need less than a kilometre of lake to take off in with a full load. They're the ultimate machine for fighting wilderness fires.
EDIT: One more thing... here's a great video of a couple 415s in action, dropping on a fire in Northern Ontario. It's pretty damned impressive to watch, IMO. There's a lot that goes into a successful drop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMDc5YxqlHY
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