What's the best LOOKING fighter plane ever?

Golan III · Post by **Golan III** » 2005-12-31 02:17am

...I present, the YF-12A...

Here is Wikipedia's history of the aircraft

Golan III · Post by **Golan III** » 2005-12-31 02:28am

EDIT - I meant to note that the YF-12 was a completely different aircraft than the D-21/M-21 combo (D-21 drone, M-21 mothership). The M-21 was more related to the A-12, but was a two-seat model (A-12s, the CIA version that was a precursor to the SR-71, was a single-seater). The YF-12 was a fully integrated interceptor, with radar and fire-control system.

My father was a fighter pilot, who became a test pilot and now has almost 6,000 hours in over 100 different airplanes. His favorite, to this day, is the F-106 Delta Dart...and not only was it a real looker, but it could outrun and out-turn nearly anything else in its day (including the F-4). It was king until the F-16 and F-15 came along. I think it's interesting that the -106 has remained my dad's favorite, since he went on to a long career with nearly all variants of the F-16...

kheegster · Post by **kheegster** » 2006-01-02 11:11am

Golan III wrote:EDIT - I meant to note that the YF-12 was a completely different aircraft than the D-21/M-21 combo (D-21 drone, M-21 mothership). The M-21 was more related to the A-12, but was a two-seat model (A-12s, the CIA version that was a precursor to the SR-71, was a single-seater). The YF-12 was a fully integrated interceptor, with radar and fire-control system.

My father was a fighter pilot, who became a test pilot and now has almost 6,000 hours in over 100 different airplanes. His favorite, to this day, is the F-106 Delta Dart...and not only was it a real looker, but it could outrun and out-turn nearly anything else in its day (including the F-4). It was king until the F-16 and F-15 came along. I think it's interesting that the -106 has remained my dad's favorite, since he went on to a long career with nearly all variants of the F-16...

Mmmm....a fighter with nuke-tipped AAMs. What's not to like?

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2006-01-04 01:59am

brianeyci wrote:
Well now that we've set the precedent for joke posts in this thread, I can't help myself:
This party's over muthafukas.

OK, since we're moving into the realm of fictional planes, how about:

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2006-01-04 03:18am

If we are doing sci-fi then I never stopped loving the Swordfish:

Big Phil · Post by **Big Phil** » 2006-01-07 01:08am

That NOS Guy wrote:I've always had a soft spot for Grumman birds. They're just so workmanlike yet graceful.

They're Grumman Cats you hoser!

And for the record, the Grumman Bearcat is the greatest piston engined fighter (both in appearance and ability) ever. The Tomcat is the best looking modern plane. [/img]

Darth RyanKCR · Post by **Darth RyanKCR** » 2006-01-09 12:28am

It's a toss up for me. I like the F-18 Hornet:

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/f ... ungary.jpg

The F-15:

http://public.andrews.amc.af.mil/jsoh/i ... _large.jpg

And the F4U Corsair:

http://www.1000pictures.com/aircraft/ww ... orsair.jpg

Vicious · Post by **Vicious** » 2006-01-09 09:19am

Gotta break this down:

For modern-day jet fighters, nothing compares to the sleek, utterly deadly look of the F-16 Fighting Falcon:

It kicks ass, and it wants to make sure you know it!

For vintage prop-driven fighters, hands down the P-51 Mustang:

Not only is it absurdly sexy, it was also a true badass of the sky.

A toss-up occurs when it comes to jet bombers. On the one hand, you have that look of certain death in the B-2 Spirit:

It just screams, "You are going to die by my hand. It is not a matter of if, but when."

On the other, there is the undeniable beauty and unmatched ability to level countries of the B-1B Lancer:

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2006-01-09 02:01pm

I'm amused to no end by the number of trainers, ground attack, and bombers in what is supposed to be a fighters thread.

Vicious · Post by **Vicious** » 2006-01-09 02:19pm

Frank Hipper wrote:I'm amused to no end by the number of trainers, ground attack, and bombers in what is supposed to be a fighters thread.

At this point it's evolved into a "sexiest man-made thing in the air" contest. But this is SD.net, where threads don't remain on-topic for more than two pages.

Darth Servo · Post by **Darth Servo** » 2006-01-09 05:11pm

Vicious wrote:
Frank Hipper wrote:I'm amused to no end by the number of trainers, ground attack, and bombers in what is supposed to be a fighters thread.
At this point it's evolved into a "sexiest man-made thing in the air" contest. But this is SD.net, where threads don't remain on-topic for more than two pages.

I wouldn't go that far. The non-fighter aircraft are still military planes. I have yet to see someone post a pic of a 747 for example.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2006-01-09 06:26pm

That's because the 747 is about as sexy as a whale that's beached and died...

Post by **weemadando** » 2006-01-09 06:31pm

The B-1 and B-2 can go hang.

This, is a beautiful aircraft:

Red Star · Post by **Red Star** » 2006-01-09 06:41pm

The Avro Arrow will always be close to my heart.

Does the F-106 look simmilar to the Arrow or is that just me?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2006-01-09 06:58pm

now, now...

I have a special place in my heart for two of the ugliest military aircraft ever designed....

but I haven't shown pictures of those yet either....

(funny one of them even has "Ugly" in it's official nickname....

Danny Bhoy · Post by **Danny Bhoy** » 2006-01-10 01:20pm

The Yosemite Bear wrote:now, now...

I have a special place in my heart for two of the ugliest military aircraft ever designed....

but I haven't shown pictures of those yet either....

(funny one of them even has "Ugly" in it's official nickname....

BUFF or SLUFF?

Neither of which I consider ugly. In fact I think the later BUFFs with their EO TV blisters look rather nice. And the SLUFF looks cute in a fat adorable sort of way.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2006-01-10 05:05pm

BUFF of course.

Sephirius · Post by **Sephirius** » 2006-01-10 06:41pm

WWII- either the Typhoon or the Sea Fury( a little post wwii, but w/e)

Cold War: F-14 Tomcat

Modern: Su-37 Terminator

Fictional: Yukikaze 'MAVE' or Super Slyph

Post by **Beowulf** » 2006-01-10 08:07pm

The Starfighter. Nothing quite compares to the clean lines of it.

Brother-Captain Gaius · Post by **Brother-Captain Gaius** » 2006-01-10 08:40pm

I think most of my favorites have been pictured already:

MiG-29 takes the top spot for me, followed by:
F-15
F-14
F/A-18
A-10

And for some old-school action, can't beat the Mustang, and the ME-109 isn't bad.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2006-01-10 11:57pm

Meh if you're gonna post something fictional at least do something like the Mave.

I have to agree with all the ruskie lovin' though, they make some damn awesome looking planes.

A-Wing_Slash · Post by **A-Wing_Slash** » 2006-01-11 07:19pm

The F-86 Sabre

Mr. Coffee · Post by **Mr. Coffee** » 2006-01-12 09:44pm

I have to go with the F-15 and the F-16.

The F-15, reason being, as Mike said in the OP, it's the sleek lines and muscularity of it. It's a very masculine aircraft. It's looks remind me of a well toned athelete. It's angles suggest speed and agility, and the rounded humps of it's engines show power and strength.

The F-16 to me is more feminine. Sleek lines and graceful curves. Powerful, yet agile.

The two are to me the best looking couple of Fighter Aircraft.

(No pics needed, they've been shown already)

ntstlkr · Post by **ntstlkr** » 2006-01-12 10:03pm

Cheers All,

Always thought the Stilletto looked cool for some reason

But I'd have to go with the Tomcats for contemporary ac.

WWII Gen would have to be the P-61 Black Widow, extremely large for a "fighter", black, and very heavily armed, it just looks intimidating.

ntstlkr · Post by **ntstlkr** » 2006-01-12 10:17pm

Cheers All,

Always thought the Stilletto looked cool for some reason

But I'd have to go with the Tomcats for contemporary ac.

WWII Gen would have to be the P-61 Black Widow, extremely large for a "fighter", black, and very heavily armed, it just looks intimidating.

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What's the best LOOKING fighter plane ever?

For the Blackbird fanboys out there...

Re: What's the best LOOKING fighter plane ever?