Interesting question!
But where does one start?
As a kid I was a massive fan of the F-15 Eagle and F-14 Tomcat
But as I got older and understood the realities of the cost of weapons platforms (both R&D, purchase and running costs), Man hours of maintenance between flight hours (I know there’s a better/correct term for this :rolleyes:) ), as well as the realities of combat and attraction, I become a fan of the high/low mix first recognised and adapted by the USAF (well forced upon them by Congress!)
It is with this that I began to appreciate smaller and lighter fighter designs like the F-5E Tiger II and F-8 Crusader, which as a kid, I had overlooked as limited (in armament), too light and in the case of the Crusader ugly!
But it was only when I took the realistic history and facts of the combat history and capability of the smaller and cheaper design that I became a fan of the lightweight fighter principle. Hence my long term liking and sadness that the Northrop F-20 Tigershark never went into service 🙁
I was a fan of the original F/A-18 Hornet concept – although I would have preferred to have seen the F-18L come to fruition – minus its heavy, un-needed and unwanted carrier-compatibility design features, which would have made for a lighter, cheaper and far better air-to-air combat capability!!
I am a huge fan of the Fairchild A-10, as a true and specifically designed and built CAS aircraft – Its purpose designed survivability, its warload, its hitting power and its long loitering time!!
I can not but be impressed with the Sukhoi Flanker series. It was and has been able to match (and in some aspects surpass Western designs) for a cheaper price!
I am impressed with the Ilyushin IL-78 Candid transport design, which I would have loved and supported to be ‘westernised’ with the fall of the Soviet Union!!
Then there is the B-1A/B – unfortunately its true capability was never meet due to political crap and overshadowing by the ATB/B-2 😡
Regards
Pioneer
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