First Jet-to-Jet Air Battle

On this very day, 51 years ago, the first all-jet dogfight took place between USAF F-80C’s and Communist MiG-15’s. The end score: one MiG-15 downed. This historic encounter ushered in the era of jet-powered dogfighting. Dogfights would now take place at speeds approaching Mach 1 and at altitudes of well over 40,000 feet. From the initial clashes between USAF F-80, F-84, and F-86 aircraft well as USN F9F fighters and Communist MiG-15’s, the jet era rapidly expanded to include fighters with speeds of over Mach 2 and later of over Mach 3. Long-range radar and guided missiles soon joined the aresenal of the fighter interceptor. The first aircraft with self-contained search and destroy capability was the F-4 Phantom. The F-101, F-102, and F-106 interceptors carried nuclear-tipped rockets and missiles. The MiG-23/27 series was one of the first multi-role fighter types ever designed. The MiG-25 was the first and thus far the only operational fighter to hit Mach 3. (The YF-12 doesn’t count because it didn’t go into service.) The U.S. “teen” fighters ushered in even greater capbilities. The Russian 80’s fighters such as the MiG-29, MiG-31, and Su-27 gave new meaning to the word lethal. The French Mirage III evolved in the multi-role Mirage F-1 and later the highly capable Mirage 2000. The Swedish produced a very famous series of fighters made by Saab. The J-35 Draken, J-37 Viggen, and now the JAS-39 Gripen are all well-known names. With the skies soon to be filled with fourth generation powerhouses such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Rafale, and the F-22, what will the future hold? Jet A/A combat has come such a long way since that fateful day on November 8, 1950. This thread is just to reflect at the amazing aircraft and events that have come along since then. What an incredible 51 years it has been. There is no telling what the next half-century will hold.