what is the best figther jet of all time?

Answer 1

I guess it depends on what you mean. The most devastating fighter of all time would have to be the F14 Tomcat!
Factors:
Speed Mach 2.44
Armament 4 Aim 54's + 4 Aim 9's
20MM Gatling
Extremely powerful APG-71 with 400 mile range and datalink to other F14's
Proven air superiority record!
But Stealthy its not!

The F16 is the most maneuverable and the best dog-fighter but only can carry 6 AIM 9's (and no big missiles like the F14).
A little slower but in the "fur ball" it will out turn just about anything.

F-22 and F-35 Jury's are still out with me. We will see how they do..

Answer 2

There are really only two exceptional fighters since WW 2 - the F-4 Phantom and the F-16 Falcon. Over 5000 F-4's were produced and used by allies around the world. It was less maneuverable than Russian counterparts due to a high wing loading, and the AIM 7 Sparrow was never an effective nor reliable weapon. But it had a lot of brute power for it's time, a big weapons payload, and was tough.

The F-16 was the first US fighter designed to be dominant over it's Soviet adversaries - not more sophisticated and more bells and whistles, though it did was by far, but far better maneuverability, visibility, lethality. For the first time, an American pilot could go to combat and not have to rely on superior skill, training and tactics to offset an inferior aircraft. The other advantage of being small and relatively cheap (less than half the cost of an F-15) was that it was affordable enough that the 8 to 1 disadvantage we faced in numbers could be reduced to something more survivable. It has over 70 combat kills and no losses to enemy aircraft. It is in use by more countries now than the venerable F-4. With the AMRAAM, it is far more lethal than an F-15. Just ask who regularly wins any F-16 vs. F-15 mock engagement, or F-16 vs F-18, F-14, Mirage 2000, Euro fighter, or anything else.

The jury is still out on the F-22 and the F-35 - too new to be declared great.

My pick, the F-16.

Answer 3

Sir:

That depends upon how you wish to make
the measurement...

For Example:

Most Enemy Fighters Shot Down
Most Enemy Aircraft Shot Down.
Most Mission hours flown.
Most Enemy Fire Absorbed while still flying.
Most Combat Miles Flown.
The Jet Piloted by most Aces.

There are so many ways to make this choice
that I can't really make a definitive statement
for you.

In general I would like to think that the F-4
Phantom and its varients was a tough old
war horse. In the hands of a skilled pilot
it could be devastating. The key words I
just used were "skilled pilot." I think that
phrase needs to be applied to any aircraft
that is being raised to the level of "best."

Answer 4

No correct answer here, its all about preferences but here's generally a list of why they are considered great by their fans:

F-4E Phantom II: the workhorse of the USAF and the MiG-killer of the Vietnam war era, producing some of the best Aces in the Air Force

F-14A Tomcat: largely brought to fame by the move Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as a cocky US Navy pilot. Its real fame however rises with the clash between the Iranian Air Force during the 70s and 80s period.

F-15C Eagle: arguable one of the best interceptors of the time. It was also frequently used as a comparison to the MiGs of that time like the MiG-29 Fulcrum.

F-15E Strike Eagle: rose to fame with its first operational large scale deployment in Operation Desert Shield and subsequently in Operation Desert Storm, where there were employed in the role of SCUD killers along side the F-16C Fighting Falcons acting as Hunter-Killer Scouts.

F-16C Fighting Falcon: one of the modern era jet, and the first to incorporate Fly-By-Wire controls instead of the traditional mechanical actuators used in F-15A Eagles. It was also one of the most constructed and exported military planes, with 10 different countries operating it, thus making it one of the most recognized military jet.

F/A-18A Hornet: lost in a competition with the F-16A Fighting Falcon, it ultimately found favors with the US Navy as its multi-role aircraft. Acting alongside the F-14A Tomcat, it provides fleet air defense capability and also a strike (naval and ground) role for both the Navy and the US Marine Corps aviation.

AV-8B Harrier II: a CAS (Close Air Support) platform for the USMC, it provides the striking power for a MAGTF (Marine Air Ground Task Force). It's capable of VTOL (Vertical Take-Off and Landing) and has a rough field operating capability, enabling it to be moved into unprepared or semi-prepared landing strips.

A-10A Warthog: the principle CAS aircraft of the USAF, what it lacks for speed, it makes up for in raw power and survivability. While not the most elegant looking of the whole lot, its argubably the most fearsome among them all. The plane is essentially built around the GAU-8 "Avenger" 30mm gattling cannon, armed with HEAT (High Explosive Anti Tank) and AP (Armor Piercing) for a total of 1,380 rounds. It's literally a flying tank. The A-10 is also the only plane capable of losing one of its two engines, plus an entire section on one of its wing and still remain flyable.

F-22A Raptor: in terms of air combat, the Raptor has no equal. Although untested in actual combat, simulations against USAF Aggressor units have proved that it is capable of fighting heavily outnumbered and dominate (it won all 16 engagement exercises with 2 Raptors against 4 F-15C Eagles and 4 F-16C Fighting Falcons without being detected by the opposing E-3C AWACS).

Answer 5

The best in the world is the new american Raptor fighter. The F-15 and 16 is also one of the best along with the B-2's

Answer 6

I would have to agree with Zahbuder and others when they say the F-4 Phantom . I believe the D version was it's best.
Just ask Robin Olds and Chappy James. Two of the best F-4 pilots ever to fly the sky.
it was there experience and knowledge that made this plane what it was.

Answer 7

The F-15E Strike Eagle

Answer 8

Definately the F4 Phantom. It could carry a payload bigger than itself, and proved itself in air to air combat in Vietnam many times. It was a great all round aircraft. Nothing before or since has measured up to its capabilities

Answer 9

This question really needs a qualifier, fastest, highest flying, heaviest payload, etc., etc. But, purely from an emotional point of view, there is only one fighter aircraft - the Supermarine Spitfire.

Answer 10

I believe the F15e is widely considered the best fighter jet so far.