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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:30:44 PM EST
[#1]
Quote HistoryQuoted: That's my viewpoint, though I chose F22. Regardless, it seems we choose Bugattis and Porsches and most of these others are going with Packards and BelAirs and shit. I don't get it. Those Packards and Bel Airs were flown against first-class pilots flying excellent aircraft and made our lives possible. I showed a retired AF O-5 some pages from my Dad’s flight diary; he was quiet for a moment , then stated that today’s airmen owed everything to those WWII aviators and crew. I picked the Jug, because Dad felt good when P-47s and their aggressive pilots were near. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:31:35 PM EST
[#2]
Young me: P-38 in the PTO... lots of flight hours, sweet beaches, and knocking down meatballs. ETO would be fine too... kill me some Nazis, bang Brit girls in between.
Old me: F-22 because I'd rather not die from a lucky flack round or a 1940s reliability issue. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:36:55 PM EST
[#3]
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:38:32 PM EST
[#4]
F-22
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:45:21 PM EST
[#5]
 Ima need some guns tho', Skipper. If that is "the NASA Weather plane", then the F-104 will do the trick: 
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:46:37 PM EST
[#6]
F-15 seems to be the safest choice. That whole undefeated thing.
But I’m going with an F6F in 1944. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:48:53 PM EST
[#7]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Dude. There's only one right seat in the F-4G, and that's the front seat. The other seat is the wrong seat. Shot valid at timeout. Mark white. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:52:02 PM EST
[#8]
Mach is a fucking show off. So is ScottS. And Bull too even though he doesn't post anymore. I think his wife passing really got to him. Sparkvark and Rodent too.
For me it would be a TA-152 H-1.  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 9:54:56 PM EST
[#9]
WWII, Arado AR-234 or the P-61 Black Widow
Vietnam--F-8 Crusader |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:01:14 PM EST
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I didn't know that. So many smart people on this forum with a vast amount diverse knowledge. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: The crew capsules were built by McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis. I didn't know that. So many smart people on this forum with a vast amount diverse knowledge. There was a degree of sense in that choice in the wake of Mercury and Gemini. Building 102 still has a giant sphere that could be pressurized, depressurized below atmospheric pressure, and filled with water for testing capsules. Unused since the 60's as far as I know. I attended F-111 avionics tech school at Lowry AFB. Hoped for an assignment to Mountain Home, and prayed that I didn't go to Thailand. I landed at Langley shortly before the first F-15. The Space Shuttle OMS was built in the same building as the crew capsules. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:02:45 PM EST
[#11]
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:06:45 PM EST
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted: When I got out of the Army in 89', I started going to college. Wasn't really sure what I wanted to do just yet. One day while walking to class I wound up in the building that had the Aviation classes. I see this poster on the wall advertising for Navy pilot jobs. Now up until this point everything I'd ever heard indicated you needed perfect vision to fly in the military. That Navy poster said they'd take you with vision as bad as 20/50. Mine was around 20/25 at the time. I became an Aviation major at that point. Started flying as well. Spent the next 2 years getting 300 hours or so and a Commercial pilot's certificate, and another two years getting a degree. Talked to the Navy multiple times, but it never happened. Drawdowns in the 90s limited pilot slots and the only thing they were offering (at least me) was the guy in the back job. I only wanted to fly. And I really only wanted to fly the F-14. Distant second choice F-18. I wanted to go back into the Air Force to fly, but I was six months too old at the time I graduated. Never occurred to me to seek a waiver. Anyway, I wanted to fly transports. I had the idea that flying loads of reservists to Italy over a long weekend was about ideal for a young hot blooded guy hunting for talented lasses. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:13:38 PM EST
[#13]
FW190 in all versions - been a fan since the early versions of Air Warrior. P47 is second place.
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:13:42 PM EST
[#14]
EA-18 G Growler or a Super Hornet E or F
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:17:45 PM EST
[#15]
Why you hate my baby? (NASA "weather plane")
 F-15 seems like it would be the low risk high fun fighter option. Really I wouldn't mind piloting a flying boat around the Pacific theater. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:18:44 PM EST
[#16]
TOMCAT!
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:19:30 PM EST
[#17]
F4 Phantom
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:23:33 PM EST
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: WWI, Fokker D.VII Wow. Only us 2 |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:24:33 PM EST
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Those Packards and Bel Airs were flown against first-class pilots flying excellent aircraft and made our lives possible. I showed a retired AF O-5 some pages from my Dad’s flight diary; he was quiet for a moment , then stated that today’s airmen owed everything to those WWII aviators and crew. I picked the Jug, because Dad felt good when P-47s and their aggressive pilots were near. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: That's my viewpoint, though I chose F22. Regardless, it seems we choose Bugattis and Porsches and most of these others are going with Packards and BelAirs and shit. I don't get it. Those Packards and Bel Airs were flown against first-class pilots flying excellent aircraft and made our lives possible. I showed a retired AF O-5 some pages from my Dad’s flight diary; he was quiet for a moment , then stated that today’s airmen owed everything to those WWII aviators and crew. I picked the Jug, because Dad felt good when P-47s and their aggressive pilots were near. Yeah. I can understand the allure flying a piece of history (especially in a pre-woke era) but if I’m going to fly it in combat it isn’t going to be a museum piece. Also, I like living in a modern world with modern conveniences (for the most part). |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:25:01 PM EST
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Mach is a fucking show off. So is ScottS. And Bull too even though he doesn't post anymore. I think his wife passing really got to him. Sparkvark and Rodent too. For me it would be a TA-152 H-1. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/102975/download__1__jpeg-3080084.JPG Bull got permabanned like a bunch of other good dudes. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:32:32 PM EST
[#21]
Spitfire Mk V
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:33:04 PM EST
[#22]
FPNI
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:35:26 PM EST
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Bull got permabanned like a bunch of other good dudes. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: Mach is a fucking show off. So is ScottS. And Bull too even though he doesn't post anymore. I think his wife passing really got to him. Sparkvark and Rodent too. For me it would be a TA-152 H-1. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/102975/download__1__jpeg-3080084.JPG Bull got permabanned like a bunch of other good dudes. Dang, I didn't know that about Bull. He's a good man. I think I have a shirt from 5th grade that says FUTURE EAGLE DRIVER. That didn't work out, but I do know how to road march and pull fire watch, so I go that going for me. Oh, I can guard an empty motorpool too. You can never be to safe with an empty motorpool. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:45:49 PM EST
[#24]
You guys picking F22s and F35s... why? When part of the question is what scenario you would have flown in. The Raptor is on the way out with a bunch of bear intercepts and exactly 1 balloon kill. F35 has had very little combat history, if any at all. So you'd basically be just doing lots of training.
And the guys picking F86s and Corsairs (and God-forbid 190s)... you guys are just nuts. Sure they are all gorgeous, but death traps in combat compared to modern birds. Once you stop gawking at her beautiful lines, you've gotta get in and fly her into combat and that's when you find out what she's really like. Plenty of damn good pilots got killed in those birds despite their skill. Seems like the sweet spot for adventure/survivability is the Gulf War, or Vietnam if you want to be a little riskier. That's why I picked Viper. I guess I can respect the guys who picked the allied ww2 birds so they could fight on the good side in the most important war in modern history. But damn... ballsy choices. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:51:34 PM EST
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: F-14 Tomcat. Anything else is phaggotry. Nobody on this site has ever posted anything more accurate. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:55:28 PM EST
[#26]
Quoted: any era any ONE plane (fighter/interceptor/combat, not the NASA weather jet, ok?) your choice is? I SAID "ONE" All I wanted to do was fly. I wasn't picky. I like the idea of very high speed, aggressive chess, but if ass and trash was all I was good for, OK. At least I'm up there and not down here. 20/200 vision shitcanned that idea. Screw it, fleet defender. F-14 was the hotness during my HS years. Flare to land, squat to pee. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:57:20 PM EST
[#27]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You guys picking F22s and F35s... why? When part of the question is what scenario you would have flown in. The Raptor is on the way out with a bunch of bear intercepts and exactly 1 balloon kill. F35 has had very little combat history, if any at all. So you'd basically be just doing lots of training. Because they can look down shoot down anything out there. How fucking cool and how much shit do they know is out there? |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 10:58:43 PM EST
[#28]
Quote HistoryGabby got after it, that's for damned sure. Calder's, "Thunderbolt!," was a staple as a young man. I need to go find Hartmann's autobiography. Or Rudel's |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:02:18 PM EST
[#29]
Tomcat.
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:05:34 PM EST
[#30]
Quote HistoryQuoted: WWII in a P-47 D. This and a P-38 second choice. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:08:12 PM EST
[#31]
F-15 if I wanted to almost guarantee I'd come back alive every time.
I've always had a soft spot for the P-40, but that would be more risky. I like the F4F Wildcat but you'd have to be good to come out on top. Best of all situations would be the Hellcat. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:08:20 PM EST
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Whatever has the comfiest seats. I was thing best heater but were on the same page. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:10:20 PM EST
[#33]
I’ll be THAT guy… Rafale! Sexiest plane on the planet!
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:12:54 PM EST
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Because they can look down shoot down anything out there. Can, but hasn't yet. I understand OPs question as being limited to actual operational history, but if we are talking present going into the future, then yeah..I'd pick the 35A or 35C for sure. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:13:02 PM EST
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You guys picking F22s and F35s... why? When part of the question is what scenario you would have flown in. The Raptor is on the way out with a bunch of bear intercepts and exactly 1 balloon kill. F35 has had very little combat history, if any at all. So you'd basically be just doing lots of training. And the guys picking F86s and Corsairs (and God-forbid 190s)... you guys are just nuts. Sure they are all gorgeous, but death traps in combat compared to modern birds. Once you stop gawking at her beautiful lines, you've gotta get in and fly her into combat and that's when you find out what she's really like. Plenty of damn good pilots got killed in those birds despite their skill. Seems like the sweet spot for adventure/survivability is the Gulf War, or Vietnam if you want to be a little riskier. That's why I picked Viper. I guess I can respect the guys who picked the allied ww2 birds so they could fight on the good side in the most important war in modern history. But damn... ballsy choices. I picked the F-22 on the grounds of it's flight control systems and engines. As for a scenario, I would probably select doing demo flights at air shows if I could. But I would also accept boring patrol flights and scaring away the occasional Tu-95. On the other side of the coin I have seen simulations where they go up against say, the entire North Korean air force. A Raptor isn't invincible. But it's probably as close as you can get with current tech. A few years ago my subconscious spun me a story about times in previous lives where I had bumped into the aforementioned guy who scared some Italian F-104 pilots. In the last part of the story he was a mechanic and I was a gunner in a Bristol Fighter at the end of WW1. Probably just the product of an overactive imagination. But I could feel layers and layers of fear in that story. Didn't help that it ended with me getting shot and bleeding out before we could get back to base. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:13:20 PM EST
[#36]
Quote HistoryQuoted: F-14 Tomcat. Anything else is phaggotry. Yep. F-14B for me. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:25:39 PM EST
[#37]
Not fighters but:
Sandy Low Lead (A-1E) Slick (UH-1H) Covey (OV-10A) Misty FAC (F-100F) Wild Weasel (F-105F/G, F-4G) "Pappy Gunn" Mitchell of the 5th Air Force (B-25) |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:28:21 PM EST
[#38]
Thread needs more of the greatest fighter ever
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:32:40 PM EST
[#39]
Quote HistoryQuoted: You guys picking F22s and F35s... why? When part of the question is what scenario you would have flown in. The Raptor is on the way out with a bunch of bear intercepts and exactly 1 balloon kill. F35 has had very little combat history, if any at all. So you'd basically be just doing lots of training. And the guys picking F86s and Corsairs (and God-forbid 190s)... you guys are just nuts. Sure they are all gorgeous, but death traps in combat compared to modern birds. Once you stop gawking at her beautiful lines, you've gotta get in and fly her into combat and that's when you find out what she's really like. Plenty of damn good pilots got killed in those birds despite their skill. Seems like the sweet spot for adventure/survivability is the Gulf War, or Vietnam if you want to be a little riskier. That's why I picked Viper. I guess I can respect the guys who picked the allied ww2 birds so they could fight on the good side in the most important war in modern history. But damn... ballsy choices. I’d argue that most modern fighters haven’t seen much action either. It’s pretty much Vietnam era planes and earlier. I can’t even guess which US aircraft has seen the most combat in recent times. Maybe the F15 being the most proven? |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:35:07 PM EST
[#40]
If the Aurora is real...it.
Otherwise Raptor |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:36:04 PM EST
[#41]
Quote HistoryQuoted: I’d argue that most modern fighters haven’t seen much action either. It’s pretty much Vietnam era planes and earlier. I can’t even guess which US aircraft has seen the most combat in recent times. Maybe the F15 being the most proven? Gulf War 1 and 2. How many million pounds of bombs dropped by Vipers, Hornets, 111s, A10s, Jaguars, Tornados, on and on.. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:36:25 PM EST
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Not fighters but: Sandy Low Lead (A-1E) Slick (UH-1H) Covey (OV-10A) Misty FAC (F-100F) Wild Weasel (F-105F/G, F-4G) "Pappy Gunn" Mitchell of the 5th Air Force (B-25) We can add OH-58s: "OMG, we're being rescued by rednecks." One of the most funny reddit threads I've ever seen. I Follow Roads, indeed. And will shoot Talib moto guys with my M-4 out the window. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:40:56 PM EST
[#43]
Quote HistoryQuoted: We can add OH-58s: "OMG, we're being rescued by rednecks." One of the most funny reddit threads I've ever seen. I Follow Roads, indeed. And will shoot Talib moto guys with my M-4 out the window. Helicopter pilots are a different breed entirely. The smaller the chopper, the crazier the pilots. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:41:20 PM EST
[#44]
Spitfire during Battle of Britian
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:46:07 PM EST
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted: F-86E Sabre, Korean War. That's one of the coolest looking jets, ever. I read Sabre Jet Ace in Jr. High, been a fan ever since. |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:51:25 PM EST
[#46]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Helicopter pilots are a different breed entirely. The smaller the chopper, the crazier the pilots. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: We can add OH-58s: "OMG, we're being rescued by rednecks." One of the most funny reddit threads I've ever seen. I Follow Roads, indeed. And will shoot Talib moto guys with my M-4 out the window. Helicopter pilots are a different breed entirely. The smaller the chopper, the crazier the pilots. He flew Sprites. Made it sound like it was just a job. Dude is a stud.  |
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Posted: 1/2/2024 11:56:21 PM EST
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Should not have taken 43 posts. Quote HistoryQuoted: Quoted: A10 Should not have taken 43 posts. The thread says “If you coulda been a fighter pilot” A-10 is not a fighter plane. Now, if OP had said “Ground attack pilot” 
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Posted: 1/3/2024 12:01:59 AM EST
[#48]
2024 Scott_S says F-22, but nostalgic Scott_S says Supermarine Spitfire. Or maybe P-38.
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Posted: 1/3/2024 12:10:15 AM EST
[#49]
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Posted: 1/3/2024 12:41:05 AM EST
[#50]
F-14 Tomcat (later model with un-fucked engines)
A-7 Corsair II would also be acceptable |
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