Top 10 Fighter Planes

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Top 10 Fighter Planes

1. F-22 Raptor

This is probably the best fighter plane ever made. It is a fifth generation fighter aircraft that utilizes fourth generation Stealth Technology. It was designed as an air superiority fighter for use against Soviet Air Force but is also equipped with ground attack, electronic warfare and signals intelligence roles as well. Raptor combines stealth, speed, agility, precision and situational awareness with air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities, makes it the best overall fighter in the world.

2. P51 Mustang

It was a long-range single seat fighter aircraft that came up to operation in the year 1941 during World War II serving as a bomber escort in raids over Germany. It was a fast, well made and highly durable aircraft and also very economical to produce. American Mustangs destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in Europe to make them the highest scoring US fighter in the theater.

3. The Supermarine Spitfire

This is the most famous fighter design in the history of military aviation. It was a single seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries during the second world war. There are many variants of the Spitfire with a total production of more than 20,000 aircrafts. It was meant to last the whole length of the war and it did so. It engaged anything from fighters to bombers and even interception of German V-1 flying bombs.

4. Mig 21

It is a supersonic fighter jet built by Soviet Union. The MiG-21F, a continuation of Soviet jet fighters MiG-15, 17 and 19, is a short-range day fighter-interceptor and the first major production version of the popular MiG-21 series. It is one of around 15 versions of this aircraft that have served in the air arms of more than 50 nations around the world.

5. The Focke-Wulf Fw 190

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger, was a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s. It became the best fighter plane of Germany during World War II. Over 20,000 were manufactured, including around 6,000 fighter-bomber models. Many experts put this plane’s capabilities at par with the American P-51 Mustang.

6. F 18 Super Hornet

It is a Supersonic carrier-capable fighter aircraft. There is a single-seat variant as well as a tandem-seat variant which is  larger and more advanced derivatives of the F/A-18C and D Hornet. The Super Hornet has an internal 20 mm gun and can carry air-to-air missiles and air-to-surface weapons. Additional fuel can be carried with up to five external fuel tanks and the aircraft can be configured as an airborne tanker by adding an external air refueling system. It is used by the US Navy since 1992.

7. Messerschmitt Bf 109

Originally conceived as an interceptor, it was later developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter bomber, day-, night- all-weather fighter, bomber destroyer, ground-attack aircraft, and as reconnaissance aircraft. Features as an all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, and retractable landing gear, made this one of the first true modern fighters of the era. A total of 33,984 units were produced up to April 1945 accounting for 47% of all German aircraft production, as well as 57% of all German fighter types produced.

8. F 86 Sabre

The North American Aviation F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. The Sabre is best known for its Korean War role where it was pitted against the Soviet MiG-15 and obtained UN air superiority in the 40’s. Its success led to an extended production run of over 7,800 aircraft between 1949 and 1956, in the United States, Japan and Italy. It was by far the most-produced Western jet fighter, with total production of all variants at 9,860 units.

9.  F-4 Phantom II

Generally regarded as one of the best military aircraft designs ever, the F-4 Phantom II is - at the very least - the pinnacle of Cold War fighter design on any level. The mammoth aircraft proved effective in the Vietnam Conflict as interceptor, strike fighter and reconnaissance platform. The system was also the first aircraft in the history of the United States military to fly with the USAF, USN and USMC at the same time.

10. Sea Harrier II

This is a British designed military jet aircraft capable of Vertical/Short takeoff and landing via its thrust vectoring. There are many variations of this unique design. It is a capable fighter armed with canons and several varieties of air-to-air missiles. While the Harrier is one of the most flexible aircraft ever made, the level of understanding and skills needed to pilot it is considerable