What is your favorite military aircraft and why?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 04:55:26 -0400

I have been partial to the F4J and the P38 for as long as I can remember. My Father flew the F4 as a RIO in the Navy.

The F4 is just a mean looking aircraft any way it is looked at. In an ever evolving world of fighter aircraft, the F4 is still flying. It is loud, smokey, and reminds me of my Dad everytime I see one.

The P38 is a fascination of mine and in my belief, the best US aircraft in WWII. Our most successful aces, Bong and McGuire, both flew the 38. When employed by a skillful pilot, the 38 was an absolute beast in the air. This, coupled with the 4 .50s and one 20mm made struck fear into the enemy. The brilliance of Kelly Johnson and the counter rotating props just add to everything. She is grace, beauty, and death rolled up into one very attractive airframe.

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Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 5:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 05:00:31 -0400

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 1:52 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:52:49 -0400

UH-60 Blackhawk.

Response by MAJ William Strite made Apr 23 at 2015 2:09 PM

MAJ William Strite — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:09:05 -0400

A-10 Warthog for modern plane and P-51 D Mustang for WWII. Warthog because it is nothing fancy can take a beating and was great to watch in Iraq 1. The mustang had slick look to it and it was a very good air to air combat plane.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 23 at 2015 2:41 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:41:39 -0400

P-51 as it changed the air war in Europe. They went on the offensive over Germany and killed all the fighter pilots, thus giving us air superiority.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Apr 23 at 2015 2:44 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 14:44:07 -0400

F-14 Tomcat

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 4:10 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:10:49 -0400

I am fascinated with the P-47 Thunderbolt. Long range, multipurpose, heavily armored, and heavily armed. 8x .50 caliber machine guns, rockets, and bombs. She could fight in the air with just about anything, and bust tanks in the same day. She excelled the best in an air to ground capacity and close air support roles. I personally believe that she's the great grandmother of the A-10.

Thunderbolt------------>Skyraider------------>Skyhawk----------->Warthog.

Response by TSgt Nathan Harbour made Apr 23 at 2015 5:36 PM

TSgt Nathan Harbour — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 17:36:12 -0400

Believe it or not, my favorite military is the KC-135. When I first enlisted I was assigned as a crew chief on them. Although I left that career field for Security Forces, it has always been my favorite airframe, I even thought about returning to that job.

The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratofreighter. The KC-135 was initially tasked to refuel strategic bombers, but was used extensively in the Vietnam War and later conflicts such as Operation Desert Storm to extend the range and endurance of US tactical fighters and bombers.

The KC-135 entered service with the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1957; it is one of six military fixed-wing aircraft with over 50 years of continuous service with its original operator. The KC-135 is supplemented by the larger KC-10. Studies have concluded that many of the aircraft could be flown until 2040.

I have worked on a piece a military aviation history and to me that's something to be proud of.

Response by A1C Charles D Wilson made Apr 23 at 2015 10:06 PM

A1C Charles D Wilson — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 22:06:46 -0400

Ohhhh boy you would ask lol. I love all aircraft even the Russian birds.
F-15, F-16, A-10, F-4, F-105, F-100, B-58, etc. Eagle to me just an art of an aircraft. She is a sight to see up close and I have been in the fuselage tank a few times :). C-5 is majestic and looks as if dancing with angels under her wings. I could go on all the way back to the old Curtis biplanes. I enjoy them all.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 9:10 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 24 Apr 2015 09:10:29 -0400

I don't know much about military aircraft but what I do know is I love that brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrt sound of an A-10 warthog firing it's gun.

Response by SSgt Matthew Lopez made Apr 28 at 2015 5:32 PM

SSgt Matthew Lopez — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 17:32:15 -0400

For a pursuit aircraft P-38 for me, iconic, fast and deadly. If I had to go for a bomber it would be the B-17 Flying fortress.

Response by TSgt Gwen Walcott made May 11 at 2015 9:59 PM

TSgt Gwen Walcott — Mon, 11 May 2015 21:59:12 -0400

B-58. Correct mix of form and function with general deadly appearance
B-17 a favorite from toddlerhood - also B-36 and B-25

Fighters include P-38 and F-51 -- also F-5

C-5 for cargo

T-38 for trainer

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 12:56 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 May 2015 12:56:23 -0400

AH-64 Apache helicopters!

Response by SGT James Allen made Jun 4 at 2015 1:04 PM

SGT James Allen — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 13:04:31 -0400

The Spitfire carrying kegs of beer gets my vote.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2015 5:02 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 05:02:32 -0400

Well, I may be biased...but...

Response by CPT Bruce Rodgers made Jun 11 at 2015 5:40 AM

CPT Bruce Rodgers — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 05:40:45 -0400

A10

Response by Maj Mike Sciales made Jun 18 at 2015 7:50 PM

Maj Mike Sciales — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 19:50:17 -0400

I was a gate guard at MacDill in 1972 when it was a RTU for Phantom guys with 80% going direct to Vietnam. They flew day and night and that year even the Thunderbirds flew Phantoms. They'd fire up at the far end of the runway just blowing that black smoke and just come screaming down towards you and then pull back and away and you'd watch those afterburners go off and the planes would just sort of vanish into the trail. There were so many great aircraft: RB-66 Canbara, F-105s, F-104 Starfighters (beautiful but fatal), F-111s and SR-71s. Sometimes when I'm boarding a flight somewhere I'll get a whiff of jet engine exhaust and I'm right back there.