# Coolest fighter aircraft **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 30, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189 "2009-05-30T18:55:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cerberus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cerberus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cerberus)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/41 "2009-05-31T06:53:09Z")
[http://www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/images/historic\_gallery/wallpaper/arrow.jpg](http://www.forceaerienne.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/images/historic_gallery/wallpaper/arrow.jpg) CF-105 Avro Arrow ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/42 "2009-05-31T07:00:19Z")
oops , double post ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/43 "2009-05-31T07:19:53Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > And the coolest fighter of all time (drum roll please) > [This one](http://www.airplane-pictures.net/image13358.html). Pure sex with wings and a propeller. [Cadillac of the skies!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ouJ_WyS9v8&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/44 "2009-05-31T08:27:39Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I think the Mustang holds it’s own. [Side by side picture.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim-spicer/2568822838/) Both of them are gorgeous. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/45 "2009-05-31T14:04:52Z")
> [@Rick](#): > > Pure sex with wings and a propeller. That sounds dangerous! And painful! :eek: > [@Declan](#): > > Right off the bat , I must say that shot of the tomcat with the vf-84 has got to be one of the sweetest aviation photographs, I used to have the patch with the tomcat(cat) wearing a six shooter, saying anytime baby. Don’t get me started on patches! I have a box approximately 18" square and 5" deep _stuffed_ with patches. Most of them are Navy, and many or most of those are from F-14 squadrons. There’s the ‘Anytime, Baby’, a squadron-specific variants or two, an F-18 ‘Now, baby!’… Plus Shuttle flights from when I worked at Edwards and a few years after, sets of Apollo, Gemini, and Mercury patches, some USAF patches, General aviation patches… It all started when my mother’s friend’s husband, who was an Ordnance officer on _Enterprise_ gave me a set of CVAN-65, VF-1, VF-2, and VA-196 patches when I was 12. > [@Declan](#): > > Now on to business You know, I almost posted the P-40. I couldn’t put my finger on what makes it cool, though. The AVG paint scheme? That though it was obsolete it was used to good effect by pilots who knew how to use it? That my mom knew someone who had one? The F-105 was pretty wicked too. When I was a kid I liked the unusual shape of its inlets. I also liked the B-58, and it inspired a question in GQ. (Not really airplane-related; just about voice alerts.) ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/46 "2009-05-31T14:54:16Z")
45 posts, and still no mention of the X-Wing? Internet geeks, hang your heads in shame. Another vote for the Spitfire. ---
**Author:** ![hotea1313](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/898d66/32.png) [@hotea1313](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hotea1313)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/47 "2009-05-31T15:00:15Z")
i kinda like the sr-71 blakcbird it may not be a fighter but it can go faster than any of them > **[Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71_Blackbird)** > > The Lockheed SR-71 "Blackbird" is a long-range, high-altitude, Mach 3+ strategic reconnaissance aircraft developed and manufactured by the American aerospace company Lockheed Corporation.\[N 1\] The SR-71 has several nicknames, including "Blackbird" and "Habu". > The SR-71 was developed as a black project from the Lockheed A-12 reconnaissance aircraft during the 1960s by Lockheed's Skunk Works division. American aerospace engineer Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was responsible for many of the aircraft'... ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/48 "2009-05-31T15:43:25Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > the[YF-12A](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:YF-12A_NMUSAF.jpg) I too vote for the YF-12A. Where were they supposed to intercept Russian bombers with nuclear missiles? I’ve always thought the Canadians might be kind of upset over that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/49 "2009-05-31T16:04:52Z")
I love this thread. I LOVE me some jet-fighters, but am so pitifully ignorant to them. KEEP EM COMING! (with pics!) Speaking of which, my two were mentioned, but not linked. [A-10 Warthog](http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/4765/a10warthog2pu9.jpg) [Harrier](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Yuma2005/Flying/HarrierNearGround.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircraft/AirShows/Yuma2005/Flying/index.html&usg=__m4PGDJ7lzrAitJC7Vvj1xTAktpY=&h=705&w=864&sz=54&hl=en&start=5&tbnid=NOc30q16gSwuYM:&tbnh=118&tbnw=145&prev=/images%3Fq%3DHarrier%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den) Middle of the page. ---
**Author:** ![DarkPrince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@DarkPrince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarkPrince)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/50 "2009-05-31T16:33:01Z")
It’s ugliness combined with the awesome hum from its huge cannon makes the A-10 the manliest aircraft that ever flew. Simply looking at a picture of one will grow chest hairs and lower your voice by four octaves. Runner up: P-38 Lightning. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/51 "2009-05-31T16:41:15Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I love this thread. > > I LOVE me some jet-fighters, but am so pitifully ignorant to them. > > KEEP EM COMING! (with pics!) Glad to oblige… Though this list is only a small sample. [Messerschmitt ME-262](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_262) [Gloster Meteor](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Meteor) [de Havilland Vampire](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Vampire) [Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P-80_Shooting_Star) [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 ‘Fagot’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15) [Mikoyan-Gurevich Mig-17 ‘Fresco’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17) [Republic F-84 Thunderjet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-84_Thunderjet) [Republic F-84F Thunderstreak](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-84F_Thunderstreak) [North American F-86 Sabre](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-86_Sabre) [Northrop F-89 Scorpion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-89_Scorpion) [North American FJ-1 Fury](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FJ-1_Fury) and [North American FJ-2/3/4 Fury](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FJ_Fury) [McDonnell FH2 Banshee](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F2H_Banshee) [McDonnell F3H Demon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F3H_Demon) [Douglas F3D (later, F-10) Skyknight](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F3D_Skyknight) [Douglas F4D Skyray](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F4D_Skyray) [Vought F7U Cutlass](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F7U_Cutlass) [Grumman F9F Panther](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F9F_Panther) [Dassault Mirage III](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_III) [Saab 35 Draken](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_35_Draken) [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-19 ‘Farmer’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-19) [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 ‘Fishbed’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-21) [English Electric Lightning](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Electric_Lightning) [Gloster Javelin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gloster_Javelin) [Hawker Hunter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Hunter) [Chance-Vought F-8 Crusader](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-8_Crusader) [Grumman F-9 Cougar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-9_Cougar) [Grumman F-11 Tiger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-11_Tiger) [North American F-100 Super Sabre](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-100_Super_Sabre) [McDonnell F-101 Voodoo](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-101_Voodoo) [Convair F-102 Delta Dagger](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-102_Delta_Dagger) [Lockheed F-104 Starfighter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-104_Starfighter) [Republic F-105 Thunderchief](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-105_Thunderchief) [Convair F-106 Delta Dart](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-106_Delta_Dart) [Dassault Mirage F1](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dassault_Mirage_F1) [IAI Kfir](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAI_Kfir) [Saab 37 Viggen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saab_37_Viggen) [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 ‘Flogger’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-23) [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-25) [Sukhoi Su-17 ‘Fitter’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-17) [McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-4_Phantom_II) [Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5) [Mikoyan MiG-29 ‘Fulcrum’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan_MiG-29) [Sukhoi Su-27 ‘Flanker’](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sukhoi_Su-27) [Panavia Tornado](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panavia_Tornado) [Grumman F-14 Tomcat](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-14_Tomcat) [McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-15_Eagle) [General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-16_Fighting_Falcon) [McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F/A-18_Hornet) As I said, this list is far from complete; but it will give you an idea of general designs over the last 60 years. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/52 "2009-05-31T16:55:52Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-25](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-25) Fixed link. :o ---
**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/53 "2009-05-31T18:25:19Z")
My vote, The Albatross from WW1. [![](http://www.overthefront.com/images/issues/vol04_4.jpg) ](http://www.overthefront.com/images/issues/vol04_4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/54 "2009-05-31T18:45:12Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I like the F-16, except for it being single-engine. Dual role fighter, good at fairly precise bombing, agile dogfighter. Not a big fan of the side-stick controller. The seat is tilted back sightly, so it’s a little easier to handle rapid onset high G, and the canopy rail is conveniently placed for bracing a camera in the back seat on “family models”. The F-16’s chin intake is one of the coolest-looking features on any fighter ever. > [@Oakminster](#): > > Dunno if it’s as ugly as the A-10. The “Warthog” is all function, no frills. Rumor is they designed the gun first, then built the plane around it. Opens up tanks like a can opener, though. The Warthog isn’t really ugly, though. Like a pickup truck with big knobbly tyres and a bull bar (brush guard), it’s purposeful. It’s certainly not pretty. > [@Magiver](#): > > The F-104 is a supersonic interceptor so if you’re including that in the fighter catetory then you have to include the[YF-12A](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:YF-12A_NMUSAF.jpg)(OK it got canceled, but how cool a plane is that). I’ve spent many a day looking at it at the AF Museum nearby. For some odd reason they like to stick the SR-71 drone (D-21) next to it. If we’re including planes that never actually entered service, the [Sukhoi Su-47](http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/s37/) is by far the coolest fighter concept ever. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/55 "2009-05-31T18:58:15Z")
Is ‘Berkut’ the official Russian ‘popular name’ for the Su-47? Because NATO code names for fighters start with ‘F’. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/56 "2009-05-31T18:58:24Z")
Johnny I think most of us got our aviation bug from the old WW2 movies, predominantly because it was the first conflict that has lots of combat and test footage from probably about 1935 onwards. In the opening stages of the war, the p-40’s combat record was not one that I would call distinguished, with probably the exception of the AVG in china. Both the philipines and Hawaii were disasters, actually hawaii was a disaster, the philipines was criminal, wake and midway were mostly naval affairs and the canal was fought with wildcats and aircobras. In Europe, they did not seem to get much press in the battle of France, and I think I only seen one movie regarding north Africa, some nutzo tank general chasing the p-40 all over the desert. A bit windy way of saying that we never really got to see the warhawk in it’s element, and other newer and more sexy airplanes had started to appear, and it sort becomes a contest of who you want to drool over the old pin up, or megan fox. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/57 "2009-05-31T19:09:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I too vote for the YF-12A. > Where were they supposed to intercept Russian bombers with nuclear missiles? I’ve always thought the Canadians might be kind of upset over that. 🙂 We had our own nuclear missiles on board the F-101 voodoo for the same norad mission,plus the bomarc surface to air missile. If it was a choice of losing Toronto or Montreal or any of the other big cities or some tundra village, then it was obvious what choice we would have made. Then came ICBM’s and the deck got reshuffled again. Declan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/58 "2009-05-31T19:38:04Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Is ‘Berkut’ the official Russian ‘popular name’ for the Su-47? Because NATO code names for fighters start with ‘F’. Berkut is the Russian name. Its NATO reporting name is/was “Firkin”. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/59 "2009-05-31T19:47:50Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > If it was a choice of losing Toronto or Montreal or any of the other big cities or some tundra village, I see in the WIKI articles that a group of guys stood under the only test launch without injury. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189/60 "2009-05-31T20:57:06Z")
Looking over the list I posted at the top of this page, I think the [Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter/Tiger II](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_F-5) has a pretty high Coefficient of Coolness (‘Coolness Factor’). It’s certainly a pretty aircraft. It’s also small, which I like. And I like that it’s a simple, relatively inexpensive aircraft. I also like the [F-20 Tigershark](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-20_Tigershark) derivative, though it never saw production. I used to drive by where they were parked when I was taking the flightline route to the LTV hangar. The coolest thing about the F-5 is that it comes from the same design as the T-38 Talon (which I’m not linking, since it’s not a fighter). If I had an extra two megabucks that needed spending, I’d seriously consider getting a T-38. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coolest-fighter-aircraft/498189.md?page=4)