Tupolov Tu-160 “Blackjack”- gigantic yet perhaps the most graceful soviet combat plane of that era. It is certainly a more handsome plane than its little brother the boxy but rather more practical Tu-22M “Backfire”. It was designed in the 70’es but only barely became operational before the cold war ended.
The Blackbird is gorgeous, but I think the nod has to go to the Harrier. VTOL, saw active service, land and sea, etc. And the only plane that can nod.
Three favorites:
A-10 due to playing A-10 flight sim games.
B-1B due to living near McConnell AFB in Wichita
Avro Vulcan due to now living near the Farnborough Airshow.
My least favorite. I worked on those POS for 8 years. The US Navy said ‘hell no’ to their version and used the lessons learned to get the F-14. The US Air Force was then stuck with all the compromises made to the basic design to try to get the F-111 to also be a carrier aircraft. “McNamara’s folly” indeed!
The British Aero Vulcan was impressive to see.
One of the prettiest cold war bombers, the Tupolev Tu-95"Bear" featured swept back wings and 4 turboprop engines, with speeds not far off that of a B-52.
Another Blackbird fan. Then the wartie
F-4 Phantom II.
I don’t really know how to describe it, but it just looks like a predator in a way that few others do. About the only others that I can think of might be the F/A-18E Super Hornets and the A-10 Warthog.
Plus, in my mind, it’s THE quintessential Cold War fighter, having been used by the US, the UK and various NATO allies since 1960.
Thanks!
And Kelly Johnson was a genius!
Yet another vote for the SR-71, for all the reasons already given.
No love for the poor Valkyrie? That one spooks me.
Valkyrie is a good choice. Looked sci-fi even. Space Bomber, 1999!
And the Bear is likely one of the most recognizable military aircraft I know of. Large, 4 engine, swept wing, PROPS!
I think the XB-70 is super-cool, but I’d assumed that the planes had to have actually been in service.
Another SR-71. Hottest confirmed plane ever built, bar none.
Thanks for the responses everyone, a lot of great and interesting choices, wow but there are so many classic and unique aircraft of the era.
Another vote for the Sr-71 Blackbird, even if you rolled it out today as a brand new aircraft it would still look futuristic, I can’t imagine how it seemed to people who first saw it back in the 1960’s.
For ‘the enemy’ I have a soft-spot for the Mig-29 Fulcrum, I remember being fascinated by the first images I saw of it.
And just to be different, the Mi-24 Hind, it just looks genuinely intimidating and is another successful long-lasting design.
The Viggen because I like being different. Really what’s not to love - versatile, capable and cheap. The Swedes did combat aircraft right.
All good choices, and if we include the XB-70 then the Avro Arrow should be in that mix as well. Had it not been axed it might have changed how some airplanes were built today.
No one has mentioned the Frogfoot either. Does everything an A-10 does but nearly supersonic to boot. Or the Hind D. That is one mean looking helo, and it can carry troops.
cough 
Favorite Cold War bird? This one is easy!
Looks fast standing still - check
Mach-2 cruise - check
Nuclear weapons - check
Sexy voice warnings from an actress/singer - check
Supersonic Ejection Pods - check
Unbroken World Speed record - check (longest supersonic flight, Tokyo to London, 8 hours, 35 minutes, avg speed 938 mpg).
Since you mentioned the 'Vark, I’ll bring up the EF-111 “Raven” variant. (the “Spark-vark”). Massively bad-ass looking, but completely unarmed. But still probably a better EW platform than any before or since. (EF-18 might come close, now.)
Since the F-16 is the plane I’d most like to fly, I’m voting for that one.