The most beautiful jet fighter ever made

[Sooner Boomer]

If the intakes are glowing like that, they got the engine in backwards...

 

[Screaminhelo]

If the intakes are glowing like that, they got the engine in backwards...

Haven't you ever heard of reverse thrust

 

[Winston]

Why the B-1 Bomber Is Such a Badass Plane
2 Jul 2019

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a28225107/b-1-bomber-badass-plane/

 

[OverTheTop]

Still my favourite aircraft .

 

[dander]

Just segzy

 

[adrian]

The Lightning was indeed a nice fighter, but for beauty, the Hunter was the one to watch. Especially when it's painted like this:


The owner named it Miss Demeanour because "it's not a crime to paint it like that, just a misdemeanour".

 

[Scott Hala]

Why the B-1 Bomber Is Such a Badass Plane
2 Jul 2019

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a28225107/b-1-bomber-badass-plane/

My Dad was on the design teams for both the FB-111 and the B-1.

 

[Event Horizon]

The World's first operational jet fighter to be flown in combat.
This one has my vote for most beautiful jet fighter made

 

[Viperfixr]

If the intakes are glowing like that, they got the engine in backwards...

Haven't you ever heard of reverse thrust

This jet is my day job, and has been for many years. Area where the two intakes meet and the single engine begins is massive. Like you could bring your McDonalds lunch bag and eat it comfortably room wise. The motor is absolutely gargantuan diameter wise as compared to other fighters, just a mammoth engine, which helps create all that space. Trick to getting there is this sideways, Superman dive you have to do to get down the intake. About gave myself a concussion the first time I tried.

So, sorry, no reverse thrust. No speedbrakes per se either. Norway reports that the drag chute option on their jets works very well for short and/or icy runways, however!

 

[Tech 68]

Convair F-106A Delta Dart.

Still holds world single-engine jet speed record.

Designed and built in San Diego, California.

View attachment 322996

My old squadron... Guess what I'm partial to?

 

[Scott Hala]

My old squadron... Guess what I'm partial to?

When my Dad was stationed at Minot way, way back in '74-'78, we had a squadron of those on base. They had two Canadian Lynx as mascots. They were the sweetest of cats.

 

[KILTED COWBOY]

I like the Grumman F11
Lockheed XF104 Starfighter
Lockheed XP90
Just about anything Lockheed put out in the 50's
And of course The Blackbird.
1950's era jets are just so sexy

 

[Tech 68]

When my Dad was stationed at Minot way, way back in '74-'78, we had a squadron of those on base. They had two Canadian Lynx as mascots. They were the sweetest of cats.

Scott,
You might enjoy this link. At the bottom, in the narrative about the 5th FIS, is some information about the squadron mascots.
https://www.f-106deltadart.com/5fis.htm

 

[gna]

My old squadron... Guess what I'm partial to?

I like the 6

 

[Ez2cDave]

SUKHOI SU-27 . . .

 

[K'Tesh]

I still think the Sukhoi SU-27KUB (aka SU-33UB) is pretty damned sexy...

 

[Scott Hala]

Scott,
You might enjoy this link. At the bottom, in the narrative about the 5th FIS, is some information about the squadron mascots.
https://www.f-106deltadart.com/5fis.htm

That brings back some memories. I mentioned the 106's to my Dad at dinner last evening and he recounted how when he became the XO for the 906th ARS, it was tradition for new CO's and XO's of the Bomb Wing to go visit the Lynx's. He says he has a picture of the event somewhere. We're going to look for it this weekend between rocket launches and car shows.

 

[jetlag]

I thought the F-104 Starfighter held the speed record...

 

[Winston]

Just segzyView attachment 392895

Missing sarcasm tag?

 

[Tim51]

Missing sarcasm tag?

No sarcasm tag needed. If you've seen one of these go through its paces you'll know true beauty is always about more than just looks...

 

[Winston]

No sarcasm tag needed. If you've seen one of these go through its paces you'll know true beauty is always about more than just looks...

OK, I can see that. Lots of people think the A-10 is ugly, but I think it's beautiful.

 

[Scott Hala]

A-10's are the second bestest. Right after the KC-135A.

 

[K'Tesh]

I understand that currently the US Army, and any of its allies on the ground find the A-10 the most beautiful sight. However, during Vietnam, that would have go to that time period's ground pounders choice: the Douglas A-1 Skyraider (AKA The Sandy)(though it's not a jet).

For a Jet, the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk would fit the bill.

 

[dinoburb]

A-6E aircraft are simply put ‘da bomb’

A-6 aircrew are the smartest aircrew ever. Remember back to early flight training when the mantra was, “get in the pointy end of the aircraft.” A-6 aircrew are smarter than that.



Note the business end is the blunt end!

Retired A-6 driver

 

[dander]

Missing sarcasm tag?

.

No, no sarcasm. I always liked the 1950's and 60's aircraft. Always intrigued by the Lightning.

I see a few bombers listed in here, and for me, the B-47 is the jet bomber.

 

[BABAR]

Okay, not a fighter, but pretty cool for a Mach 2 bomber that came out in 1956.
Has a special place in my heart as my dad was a Navbombardier on this aircraft during the test program

 

[KILTED COWBOY]

Great photo of a B2 coming in for a landing at 60 feet above photographers head.
https://www.foxnews.com/world/b2-stealth-bomber-spotted-fairford

 

[Winston]

.

No, no sarcasm. I always liked the 1950's and 60's aircraft. Always intrigued by the Lightning.

I see a few bombers listed in here, and for me, the B-47 is the jet bomber.

To repeat my reply to Tim51 who I thought was the OP: OK, I can see that. Lots of people think the A-10 is ugly, but I think it's beautiful.

 

[Winston]

Milporn wallpaper:

 

[bibbster]

The A10 holds a special place in my heart. A friend was shot down in Desert Storm and captured. I always liked the A10 but never really appreciated it until I got to see it up close at an airshow in Tampa, FL. https://www.moody.af.mil/News/Featu...remember-our-fallen-share-stories-of-missing/

My other favorite is the F/A 18 Super Hornet. Seeing one of those do a slow display fly by into a full on verticle climb and go out of sight in a matter of seconds is sheer pleasure for the soul.