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).

“Dressing” the propellers is a time honoured tradition, in the RAF at least – especially when on public view. Makes everything look military, organised and neat. As to there being any engineering reason for it, I cannot comment.

😀 😀 😀 😀

And at the risk of coming across as a “Trekkie”…

“Trekker” …… Please…..

A thingummybob, y’know part of a whatsit.

Whatever happened to….

Captain Lockheed and the Starfighers?

Funny you should mention “please”, as an ex-RAF Telepop we were required to remove all instances of the word please and replace it with words like request. It isn’t a matter of being rude, simply that serving officers (used to?) learn to avoid sentences using please and thanks for fear of some LAC altering their messages prior to transmission!

Whether that is still the case, I don’t know. I expect, with the advent of email, the rules have lapsed.

Then there’s the one about the American wondering why I didn’t salute him while indoors and not wearing a beret. Had a good chuckle at that one. I think someone in Ops (Lossie – is it still a little shack on the edge of the camp) enlightened him.