Since WWII, what aircraft could claim to be the world’s best air superiority fighters? Give no consideration for cost effectiveness, just what aircraft prevails against its opposition. Here is my opinion:

Meteor 1945 – 1947
MiG-15 1948
F-86 1949 – 1952
MiG-17 1953 – 1954
MiG-19S 1955 – 1956
F-8A 1957 – 1958
MiG-21F 1959 – 1960
F-4B 1961 – 1966
F-4E 1967 – 1973
F-14A 1974
F-15A 1975 – 1978
F-15C 1979 – 1986
Su-27 1987 – 1991
F-15C 1992 – 2006 (armed with AIM-120)
F-22A 2007 – today

Perhaps the Draken held the title in 1958. The F-104 was a great fighter, but when it came out, its cannon didn’t work yet.
What is your opinion?

I’ll agree with some people here that you simply missed out some great planes for a period you marked with F-15C (1992-2006). In time when Su-30MKI(and its variants), Rafale and Gripen all existed.
And what about F-15E? (or you simply meant F-15E and you made a mistake and wrote F-15C for that period of time(1992-2006) cuz you already put a C model from 79-86):confused:

There was an article(written by an Italian expert) couple of months ago in the “AirForces monthly” about introducing new generation multirole aircrafts into airforces around globe.
General conclusion of that article was that every serious airforce should not be limited with only one type of multirole aircraft(as most of them are currently planning to do).
Flanker is a great aircraft for sure, but don’t reject those modernized Fulcrums so easy.;)

Anybody knows if this may influence current status of the Czech, Hungarian and South African Gripens?

What is the future of air forces for the new state Serbia after the split?and what about the new aircrafts purchases?I know there is only five MiG-29s(all them are grounded)in this country.
best regards

What exactly would you like to know about Serbian Air Force?
I mean, what did you know from before about hardware it was using and order of battle?
I’m asking you this because a lot of things changed.
I’ll try to be short.
According to the info from the Ministry of Defence remaining Fulcrums are to be overhauled and slightly modernized in Russia by RSK-MiG(nobody can specify the level of modernization, but it is believed that it will include only minor changes).
With the funds approved by the parliament 2 Hinds that were once belonging to the famous JSO(Jedinica za Specijalne Operacije – Special Operations Unit), will be also overhauled and modernized.
Beside MiG-29s and MI-24s, one An-26 will be modernized as well as a small number of MI-8/17.
Currently Serbian Air Force has four operational air bases, but this number will be reduced to half by 2010. Before this date no purchases of new aircrafts will be made. By then, as soon as they return from upgrade, MiG-29s will takeover QRA from Fishebds that are performing this duty from April 2004 (when Fulcrums were grounded due to age and technical problems).
If there is anything else you wanna know just aks.