What is (in your opinion) the BEST fighter plane that has EVER served in the Navy / Marine Corps?

I'm going to pose a different criteria. If you got one flight in any aircraft that was in the navy's arsenal and any point in time, what would it be? First, I'd be sad the Navy never had P-51s, but then I'd we remember we had F4u's instead and go with that.

I honestly would probably give a left nut to fly any jet that has ever been in our inventory. Even the T-2....they were still flying them at VT-86 when I was in API, and I always wanted to get a ride but never had the time (and I'm sure they would have told me to go pound sand anyway)

I don't know...but I bet it's in this thread...
http://www.airwarriors.com/communit...at-is-your-favorite-navy-usmc-aircraft.14699/

or maybe this one...
http://www.airwarriors.com/communit...raft-asthetics-nominate-your-favorites.20246/

Military Channel’s “Top Ten Greatest Fighters”:
10: Lockheed Martin F-117 “Nighthawk”
9: Fokker DR1 “Triplane”
8: Mitsubishi A6M “Zeke”
7: Hawker- Siddeley “Harrier”
6: North American F-86 “Saber”
5: Messerschmitt Bf-109
4: McDonnell-Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18 “Hornet”
3: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
2: Supermarine “Spitfire”
1: North American P-51 “Mustang”

The Nighthawk isn't even a 'fighter'...despite USAF designation as F, they seem to be allergic to the letter A! It probably should be a B-117?
BzB

Wow - I suspect their criteria was worked out over Mad Dog 20/20 and grape juice. If you're looking at innovative techniologies, length of service, effectiveness, range of roles it performed there are far better choices.

10: Lockheed Martin F-117 “Nighthawk” F-15 Eagle
9: Fokker DR1 “Triplane” if it must be a WW-I German a/c the Fokker DR VII would be a better choice.
8: Mitsubishi A6M “Zeke” - From 37-42 maybe but it was owned by the Hellcat in all respects
7: Hawker- Siddeley “Harrier” F-4 Phantom
6: North American F-86 “Sabre” - Maybe but you could just as easily put the Mig-15 here.
5: Messerschmitt Bf-109
4: McDonnell-Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18 “Hornet”
3: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21
2: Supermarine “Spitfire”
1: North American P-51 “Mustang

Yeah...they actually admit to agreeing with both of you...and explained their choices as best they could. You have to watch the show if you want any more detail than that. Peace...Out!

Why was the F-117 ever given the 'F' designation?

I vote for the F/A-18E with bigger engines...even though it's just a pipe dream

Nothing new...F-105 Thunderchief....F-117 Vark...Long line of the AF screwing with the "system". Best theory I've ever heard presented goes something like this: Since the glory road in the Air Force is fighters, period. The F-117 designation was given so that they could not only attract their "best and brightest" but ensure that they could say "fighter" with a straight face when it came to the crew's career progression.

Sounds just stupid enough to make sense.

As to the up engined Rhino...I wouldn't say it's a pipe dream just yet. Word is Australia is getting serious. Anyone?

Big engines, straight pylons...that thing would be a beast.

And let's not forget conformal fuel tanks...

http://military.discovery.com/technology/vehicles/fighters/fighters-intro.html
10. F-22
9. Sea Harrier
8. Sopwith Camel
7. ME-262
6. Spitfire
4. (Tie) F-86 & MiG-15
3. F-4 Phantom
2. F-15 Eagle
1. P-51

The site says it used a 5 point grading matrix to determine rankings. From the show I remember Length of Service, Fear Factor, Number of Air Victories and Costs all be factors. Can't remember number 5.

Slightly unrelated, but can any of the former F-14 drivers speak to how the Tomcat was in the ACM arena, particularly slow speed/high alpha?

I'm sure many can.

So...'t'would seem that the "Top 10" comparisons were done in two different shows? I think I agree with your version better, to be honest.

Can't say I agree with this decision since the F-86 racked up nearly a 10:1 kill ratio...

If I had to pick one...using the "fighter" moniker...it would be the Corsair....btw...not claiming it was necessarily best, just the one that "talks" to me most.

Powerpoint.....killed more cumulative brain cells than any plane...

That number's been revised down, more recent estimates using post Cold War study ballparks more like 2:1 in the Sabre's favor.

Does it ever tell you to harm yourself or another? Do you talk back?

Only at night.

Big Red...Yes, it was revised down, and I probably shouldn't have thrown out 10:1...I've never heard a whisper of a number as low as 2:1...5 or 6 to 1? Yes...I'd be curious to see your sources.

None of which really matters in my original point. It still killed the other aircraft it "tied" with at least twice per loss...Not sure how that's a tie.

The 'rater' most probably assumed that the F-86 driver fought his Sabre with more skill than his MIG-15 NK/PRC/USSR(?) opponent, which was the tiebreaker.
BzB

Yup, and I'm just going off memory here, but I'm recalling it was both Boyd and Yeager who claimed the MiG actually was superior in many raw performance aspects, while the Sabre was more pilot-friendly (a usable lead computing gunsight, bubble canopy) making it more lethal.Neither contested the numbers, just effectively attributed the ratio to higher proficiency on our side.

Wiki's article is actually decently written with citations. Apparently a 2008 RAND study even claims as low as 1.2:1 ratio.

The ROCAF vs PLAAF fight is interesting as well in that the Taiwanese wiped the floor with the Red Chinese using their Sidewinders.

No personal experience, but I have heard from several folks who did fly it that it didn't have much game in BFM, at least by cat 4 standards. Whatever though, it's still one of the baddest jets to ever fly off a carrier....it's not like the Hornet/SH is a BFM machine against a properly flown Viper/Eagle/Raptor/etc. Maybe with pylons slicked off and EPE motors, but we sacrifice a lot in order to not break in half landing on the boat.

I have a special affection for the Navy version of the F-86, the FJ-4 Fury. I was lucky enough to bag 100+ hrs over a 6 mo. period as a nugget. Just after reporting to my 1st Squadron VF-94 (no FRS yet), it was redesignated VA-94 & slated to receive 12 new A4D-2s from the factory 6 months later. For 'something to do' & flight time, we received 12 -4 Furies, Totally clean, no tanks, racks or rails...totally slick! All we could do was fly fam, ACM, A/A intercepts, night fam & instruments. Fun times. We even got a 2-week deploymebt from Alameda to Fallon to play, gamble & fly ACM. (see photos).

The Fury -4 had J-65 (7,700# push) v F-86 J-47 (5,200#), improved design wing, & flight controls. What a pleasure to fly. It was nimble, sleek & handled like a dream. When we finally got the A4D-2s, all duded out with tanks & racks, as we started famming, we were at first disappointed as they were 'sluggish' (w/ the same J-65 as the Fury -4) We grew to appreciate then love the Scooter as we delved headlong into the Attack mission.

BzB