Coolest fighter aircraft

[GreedySmurf]

@Hippy_Hollow

I believe the RAAF is still flying 'Varks. Most of the USAF inventory is in the boneyard.

For the moment the RAAF is. They are due to be phased out over the next 2 years IIRC. Which is a shame because they are a nice looking aircraft.

The RAAF will be buying some Super Hornets as a temporary measure to replace them (and to also replace our existing Hornets) until we get our hands on the F-35. (Presuming that project ever produces a production run of aircraft)

[Johnny_L.A]

@GreedySmurf

And by the way it’s not stretching the category, The Mossie was very much used in a fighter role.

It used as a fighter sometimes, but it was designed as a light bomber and used as such.

Not taking anything away from its coolness, but I consider it a bomber. (And it was my choice in the ‘coolest bomber’ thread. )

[Gorsnak]

@Johnny_L.A

It used as a fighter sometimes, but it was designed as a light bomber and used as such.

Not taking anything away from its coolness, but I consider it a bomber. (And it was my choice in the ‘coolest bomber’ thread. )

It would certainly win in the “Coolest Plane With a 57mm Cannon” category.

[Johnny_L.A]

@Gorsnak

It would certainly win in the “Coolest Plane With a 57mm Cannon” category.

It’s definitely in the running for the ‘Coolest Plane Evar’ category.

[wevets]

Hey - did the A-12 variant (I think that’s right) of the SR-71 ever fly? Would that count?

Apologies if I got the designation wrong.

[Johnny_L.A]

The A-12 was a reconnaissance aircraft; but it did lead to the YF-12 interceptor prototype. Thirteen A-12s were built, and 3 YF-12s were built. Then there was the SR-71 Blackbird (32 built), a reconnaissance aircraft.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Elendil_s_Heir

You can see several FB-111s make low-level passes in the Michael Caine/Pierce Brosnan Cold War thriller The Fourth Protocol. Wiki says that the Brits and the Australians are the only folks still flying them, and the Brits will retire 'em next year.

Where do you see that? I don’t recall any RAF F-111 squadrons- the RAF created the Jaguar programme instead of buying the F-111 because it was delayed for so long.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

Where do you see that? I don’t recall any RAF F-111 squadrons- the RAF created the Jaguar programme instead of buying the F-111 because it was delayed for so long.

You know, it looks like I misread Wiki. USAF F-111 squadrons were based in the UK. Sorry.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

Tsk.

The Jaguar, for the record, will never win a coolest anything award. Effective, but ooogly. Same goes for the Tornado.

The (Eurofighter) Typhoon, on the other hand, is adorable.

[Hippy_Hollow]

@Elendil_s_Heir

You know, it looks like I misread Wiki. USAF F-111 squadrons were based in the UK. Sorry.

That’s right: F-111Fs with the 48th TFW at Lakenheath, Suffolk; F-111Es with the 20th TFW at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. The 42nd ECS had EF-111As at Heyford as well.

[Mogle]

@Really_Not_All_That_Bright

The (Eurofighter) Typhoon, on the other hand, is adorable.

I don’t know, there’s something about the air intakes that makes me want to compare it to a vacuum cleaner.

[Really_Not_All_That_Bright]

@Mogle

I don’t know, there’s something about the air intakes that makes me want to compare it to a vacuum cleaner.

Heh. I like that intake- it’s my favorite feature of the F-16. That’s why I like the Typhoon- it’s an amalgamation of lots of cool things from other jets.

Leading canards from the Saab Viggen. The chin intake from the F-16. The basic shape from the Delta Dart or Mirage 2000.