What in your opinion is the greatest military aircraft ever made and why?

Answer 1

Definately the SR 71 Black Bird.

Why? Its the fastest plane ever built to date, it has never been to its top speed, and was able to outrun any SAM shot at it. It s was not a great fighter having no guns or missles. Its ability to fly so high requiring space suite gear, and could fly so fast no other plane even today could catch it. with todays Satellites systems made the SR 71 obsolete for the cost to operate was great.

It was last used in the 1991 Gulf War and to me is the greatest military aircraft ever built, NOT ONE has ever been shot down or lost to an accident. It has a 100% survivial rate.

Answer 2

i have a problem with this question. you have to do it by war era's. because obviously as time goes on, technology advances, and planes become better. you have to at least split it into two era's. my titles on these era's currently are the modern era, and the world war era. only because the last world war was nearly 65-70 years ago, and a third one has not yet occured. when that happens, it should be split between the three world wars.

I think that the greatest World War era fighter was the P-51, which is also the greatest plane of the era. Although I believe the B-25 was the greatest bomber of that era.

Although the B-25 was the greatest bomber of the world war era, i feel the b-52 is overall the greatest bomber. however in the next generation it looks like the b-2 will be the next b-52.

I think the best fighter in the modern era, although just retired less than a year ago, was the F-14 Tomcat. Although being replaced and possibly surpassed by the F-18 as the best in the modern era. The F-18 and F-18 Super Hornet won't hold that very long, because the F-22 and JSF-35 will be taking over as the two most dominent fighters in the military.

i'm excluding stealth because that is almost in an entire classification all together. it's the entire next generation of bombers at least. great topic though

Answer 3

Tough question - lots of good airplanes...

WWII - I'd say the P-51 Mustang. Fast, durable, manueverable, good range and was largely responsible for bomber escorts which broke the back of the Nazi's and ending the war.

Korea - by far it was the F-86 Sabre. Excellent dogfighter with one of the highest kill to loss ratios of any aircraft in history.

Vietnam - The F4 Phantom. It was so good, that although it was originally designed for the Navy, it was later adopted by the Marines and Air Force as well, replacing aircraft such as the Thunderchief and Sandy. It could perform many roles, from dogfighting, interception, escort, reconaisance, ground attack, and electronic counter-measures. Still in use today around the world with various countries.

Present day - The A-10 Thunderbolt II, also known as the Warthog. Yes, it's slow, ugly and not very technically advanced. However the Warthog is the most durable attack plane ever developed. It's specifically designed to go head to head with tanks and survive. It can still fly with one tail, one elevator, one engine & half a wing blown off. It can land safely with it's landing gear retracted, two of it's three hydraulic systems gone and with multiple hits to it's self-sealing fuel tanks. The pilot is protected in a titanium bathtub of armor and it carries 15,000 pounds of underwing ordinance and has one of the most lethal guns ever mounted on an aircraft - the 30mm Avenger rotary cannon which fires depleted Uranium shells at 3900 rounds per minute. It's the toughest military aircraft ever built to date.

In the future, I believe the F-22 Raptor will prove itself to be the next truly great aircraft with stealth, excellent handling characteristics like the F-15 and the ability to supercruise - flying faster than Mach 1 without afterburners.

To choose only one from all these is tough, but I'd give a slight edge to the Phantom.

Answer 4

Tricky question as each era has it's champion... And then on what grounds? The mustang was widely reputed to be the best fighter in WW2 but it didn't have a prayer against any of the German jets so propaganda plays a big part too.

Stealth technology is no doubt a popular answer but it never takes long before somebody attains the ability to overcome it and our current stealth fighters/bombers are already quite vulnerable depending on who they are used against. Speed does not count either especially when the missile that shoots you down is four times faster than you.

In a dogfight maneuvrability has always been the crucial factor and even though its been around for a long time the harrier is still the undisputed king in this area. It can even outmaneuver the AA missiles intended to take it down and can do "anything" a helicopter can and do it backwards! It can also land on a tennis court or anything else of that size. It's not the prettiest or coolest looking piece of hardware in the sky but for all practical purposes I think we have our winner.

Answer 5

Apache or BlackHawk

Apache because two major models of AH-64 Apache are in service in the US Army; AH-64A (USAR and ARNG) and AH-64D (Active). An AH-64B variant was designed for naval operation (Marine Corps), but never manufactured. When development of the D model started, the corresponding radarless version initially had the designation AH-64C. However, since the only difference between the C model and the radar-equipped D model was the radar, which could be moved from one aircraft to another, a decision was made to not distinguish between the two versions, irrespective of the presence or absence of the radar. A number of other models have been derived from both AH-64A and AH-64D for export. The British-built Westland WAH-64 (assembled from kits purchased from Boeing) is based on the AH-64D with several different systems, including newer engines. Built to endure front-line environments, it can operate during the day or night and in adverse weather using the integrated helmet and display sight system. The Apache is also equipped with some of the latest avionics and electronics, such as the Target Acquisition and Designation System, Pilot Night Vision System (TADS/PNVS), Black Hole passive infrared countermeasures, nap-of-the-earth (sic) navigation, and GPS.

The Black Hawk because it has the 2 762s on the sides and its performance.

If I had to choose, it'd be the Apache.

Answer 6

I would have to say the North American P-51D Mustang, for these reasons;

of all the WW 2 aircraft the P-51D was the sleekest, fastest and most beautiful aircraft in the world. It could catch anything except the ME-262, which was the first German jet. It could also give support to our bomber force all the way to Berlin and back. If you ever get the chance to see one fly, you would agree. They are really something to behold.

It is also the most popular aircraft in the unlimited division at the National Air Races in Reno Nevada.

Answer 7

Hurricane.

The numbers deployed helped the RAF stop the Luftwaffa in 1940. UK wins air superiority - Germany does not invade. US eventually enters the war and their industrial might overcomes Nazi germany.

No further discussion required. Without this aircraft the Stealth would not have been built

Answer 8

I will do some research for you on that! I actually now the Chairman and CEO of a company that does Aerospace, Propulsion, Armament, Marine, Research And Development and other Advanced Developments. In the mean time you can send me an email if you want P.S. I am unable to send you an email because you are not allowing other Yahoo Answers participants to send emails.

Answer 9

The C-5A Galaxy.
The biggest transport in the sky. It has a war time and peacetime mission. It is just amazing what it can carry and I could never understand how it gets off the ground...like a flying brontosaurus. It's alway the grande final of all airshows. On the ground it makes all others look like toys. In the air it looks like a flying shark.

Answer 10

Coolest - F18, Slickest - Stealth Bomber, Greatest - C-5 transport.