Top Five Historic Jet Fighters

In no particular order…

F-105D Thunderchief
F-4E Phantom II
Hawker Hunter
MIG 15
A-10 Thunderbolt II

Mostly from the USA I know but if I were allowed another five.

Sea Vixen
EE Lightning
Sea Hawk
Vampire
Venom

I think the Meteor has to take it because, unless I’m mistaken, it is the only Jet fighter design which has been actively employed since WWII and will continue to be so for a little while yet.

I’d like to put the Canberra in second, but can’t because – although I understand it is as maneouverable as a fighter – it is primarily a light bomber.

So second place for me gets to be the Lightning (EE/BAC) because – well just because – okay?! It made the most impression on me as a youngster.

From here on things get difficult – I guess I have to give the ME262 third place, because it was the first in service – and it probably would have stayed in service, and been substantially improved but for the circumstances of the time.

Fourth for me it must be the Hunter. It is by far the most graceful, and is large enough to have presence.

Fifth is the Phantom – a stirling workhorse if ever there was one.

I must point out that they are all aircraft I have seen at RAF Stations & at airshows, except the ME262, of course – which is the only one I have included because of its credentials. Aircraft listed may or may not be better in a different order in real terms – I’m not a pilot so I don’t know about any of that – just what sort of an impression they’ve had on me over th years.

Of coure, I also want to add the: –

Sabre
Vampire & Venom
Sea Hawk
Sea Vixen

but only because I’ve seen them at airshows, they haven’t made an impression on me in terms of their history or abilities, but I enjoy their presence!

If I had to have another couple, which have made left a mark on me, firstly would be the A10 Warthog, followed by the A6 Intruder ( 😉 )

The Starfighter & Buccaneer should go in there somewhere, but I don’t like the look of them, so that’s just tough. The TSR2 & F111 weren’t so much fighters as sort of midway between a big fighter and a small bomber. Both, I guess, could carry more in terms of firepower than a Lancaster (perhaps the experts could measure that for me).

Some dubious fighters mentioned by various posters above…

F111
TSR2
Buccaneer
Canberra

I suppose they may have had other, limited, capabilities but as far as I know, they’re all basically bombers.

1. Hunter
2. Sea Hawk
3. Canberra
4. F-104
5. Venom (the RAF short nosed version, not the posh Swiss variant)

Historic significance?
Meteor/Me-262
F-86/MiG-15
F-4 Phantom (first multirole)
MiG-21 (supersonic for the masses)
MiG-25 (starting a berserk Überfighter-armsrace which lead to the F-15, then to the Su-27 series, now to the F-22).

Because me like?
Hunter
Buccaneer
MiG-23
MiG-25
AJ-37 and other Viggens in splinter camo
F-4 Phantom
Vautour.

1) Hunter (single seat)
2) Sea Hawk
3) Vampire
4) Canberra
5) F-86

Neal

YAK 38

YAK 28P

TU- 28

Saab J-21 A/R

N. American F86 Sabre

😉 Naka

Historically, the F-16 has to rank quite high. First fly-by-wire jet, and it < snip > historic about the 21 other than it was built in large numbers? same can be said for the Phantom, although an argument could be made for its multi-role capabilities.

Yebbut this thread is for our favourite historic jets 🙂 My list of historically important jets would be different (well mostly).

I just happen to like jets that rearrange internal organs on reheat.

JC

Historically, the F-16 has to rank quite high. First fly-by-wire jet, and it represented a “sea change” in the way fighters were designed, ie lightweight and ultra-maneuverable. Also inexpensive, really started the whole lightweight fighter concept in the modern era. Not to mention an enviable combat record…Trying to figure out why the Mig 21 is on so many lists? I understand the Mig-15 but what was so revolutionary or historic about the 21 other than it was built in large numbers? same can be said for the Phantom, although an argument could be made for its multi-role capabilities.

1. F-86
2. F-4
3. Mirage 111
4. Mig-17
5. F-111

Hmmmm.. My favorites are (in no particular order):

EE Lightning
F4 Phantom
F104 Starfighter
Hunter
MiG 21

Oh look – I like really noisy jets 😀

JC

My list – no real order
Gloster Javelin
Gloster Meteor
BAC TSR2
Blackburn Buccaneer

and to make it up to five…
McDD F-4 Phantom
OAW

F-4 Phantom
F-86 Sabre
Me 262
Gloster Meteor

Just my top 4.

Mark

Me-262 (These things still look amazingly lethal even today!)
F-86
F-4
Mig15
F-8

In retrospect I realize I missed the point entirely….for some reason I assumed we were each giving our opinion of what we thought were the “most historic” i.e. influential, ground-breaking, timeless etc. It didn’t occur to me that we were simply discussing favorites – WHOOPS!

Mine are..(in no particular order)

F9F- Panther
F86 – Sabre
Me262 (for Phil !!)
F-105 Thunderchief (I love the “Thud”)
Gloster Meteor (WW2 Variant)

TNZ.

1) Hawker Hunter
2) MiG 21
3) Me262
4) Gloster Meteor
5) F4 Phantom

Here are my top five:

1.Meteor

2.F-86

3.F-104

4.Mirage III

5.F-4 all marks. 😎

I shan’t join in here, having limited knowledge of paraffin burners, but I’m glad to see a good fight put up for Hatfield’s finest. (Chester, Christchurch, whatever).

P.S.
Vampire and Meteor should get points for longevity presumably. Discounting M-B’s use of Meteors as they’re ideal for their particular requirements, approaching 30 years for a first-generation jet is pretty impressive.

Glyn – it’s all relative! Some would argue that the Me262 whilst certainly good looking had very little impact on WW11 apart from ‘shock and awe’ to quote
a recent phrase ! Likewise I have spoken to Phantom pilot’s who have been less than complimentary about it!

Whilst this is certainly a U.K lead forum – I think it’s worth pointing out that
we are gracious enough to even entertain postings which don’t have
either of the two prerequisite aircraft in them namely ‘Sea Hawk’ and ‘Hunter’
so maybe you shouldn’t judge us too harshly !