What are the best aircraft for knife-fighting?

Question

Knife-fighting meaning a slow close quarters dogfight.

Answer 1

The F-16 was pretty much designed with that type of dogfight in mind. Any plane with good agility is capable with the right pilot at the controls. I've never flown the F-22, but from all I've read, it should be able to compete well. F-15 has proved itself to be a decent knife-fighter. Lots of factors involved, but the pilot makes a huge difference. A MiG-21 jumped me in my F-111A close to Hanoi one day and I managed to outmaneuver him and run him off. I should not have been able to do that easily, considering the planes we were flying, so the pilots made all the difference that day.

Answer 2

Good turn and roll rates, good power availability and control. Well, ruling out missile shoots (that should spoil the fun out of even a theoretical knife-fight) I'd agree with the colonel's answer above that it is more of pilots skills and instincts. But an aircraft with good maneuverability and ruggedness would be an extra and going in combat you stack everything in your favor. So assuming equal pilot skills, I'd go for the new MiG-35. I'd seen it recently and that is real maneuverable.

I can imagine your exasperation when you see 747 as an answer!

Answer 3

Hey,dude never bring an aircraft to a knife fight. The only thing you can say about a knife is that it is stealthy. and if thrown accurately they can be lethal. But they do not fly on their own.

Answer 4

NONE.
With Modern Aircraft and Weapons if you get in a Knife fight, you messed up big time.
But no other choice? F-16

Answer 5

Boeing 747

Answer 6

Slow close quarters? How about an A10? Slow, manueverable, and God help the other guy if you get him in your sites..........

Answer 7

How do you fight with a knife from an airplane? I don't quite understand the question.