[Plutarch]

Not to forget the Convair F-102 "Delta Dagger". Wasn't that imporant a jet, save for being the fighter flown by GWB during his stint with the Texas ANG. Note that GWB has a history of looking good in a flight suit.

[Teacher317]

SR-71 Blackbird. Speed, altitude, speed, recon, speed, radical design advances, speed, stealth, speed...

[Nexus]

I was watching a SAC documentary on the History Channel yesterday, and a mention was made of 15 B52's being shot down in an offensive during 1972(73?) This number was half of the entire number of B52's shot down during the entire war. My question is, how were they generally shot down? Don't they fly at enormous altitude, out of the reach of AAA fire (esp. considering the low tech of the NV)?

[green team 1999]

one everybody forget about is the F-5/T-38 (top gun)

F-5 Freedom Fighter / Tiger

The development of the Northrop F-5 began in 1954 when a Northrop team toured Europe and Asia to examine the defense needs of NATO and SEATO countries.
A 1955 company design study for a lightweight supersonic fighter that would be relatively inexpensive, easy to maintain, and capable of operating out of short runways.

The Air Force did not initially look favorably upon the proposal, since it did not need for a lightweight fighter.

However, it did need a new trainer to replace the Lockheed T-33, and in June of 1956 the Air Force announced that it was going to acquire the trainer version, the T-38 Talon.

On April 25, 1962, the Department of Defense announced that it had chosen the aircraft for its Military Assistance Program (MAP).
America's NATO and SEATO allies would now be able to acquire a supersonic warplane of world-class quality at a reasonable cost.
On August 9, 1962 the aircraft was given the official designation of F-5A Freedom Fighter. Optimized for the air-to-ground role, the F-5A had only a very limited air-to-air capability, and was not equipped with a fire-control radar.

The F-5B was the two-seat version of the F-5A. It was generally similar to the single-seat F-5A but had two seats in tandem for dual fighter/trainer duties.

Although all F-5A production was intended for MAP, in October 1965, the USAF "borrowed" 12 combat-ready F-5As from MAP supplies and sent them to Vietnem with the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Wing for operational service trials. This program was given the code name of *Skoshi Tiger" ("little" Tiger). and it was during this tour of duty that the F-5 picked up its Tiger nickname.

On November 20, 1970, the Northrop entry was declared the winner of the IFA (International Fighter Aircraft) to be the F-5A/B's successor.
The emphasis was be on the air-superiority role for nations faced with threats from opponents operating late-generation MiG-21s.
An order was placed for five development and 325 production aircraft. In January of 1971, it was reclassified as F-5E. The aircraft came to be known as *Tiger II*

The US Navy Fighter Weapons School (the so-called "Top Gun" school) at NAS Miramar acquired a total of ten F-5Es and three F-5Fs for dissimilar air combat training.
Because of the F-5's characteristics, which were similar to the MiG-21, was used as 'agressor' aircraft, equipping the FWS and VF-126 at NAS Miramar, plus VF-43 at NAS Oceana.
All three units later disposed of their Tiger IIs in favor of the General Dynamics F-16N.
These Tiger IIs were passed on to VF-95 at NAS Key West and VFA-127 at NAS Fallon. During FY 1996, VFC-13 moved from NAS Miramar, CA, to NAS Fallon, NV, and transitioned from 12 F/A-18 to 25 F-5 aircraft.
VFC-13's flight hour program will increase to offset the scheduled decommissioning of the two remaining Active Component adversary squadrons, VF-45 and VFA-127.

This transition to the F-5 adversary aircraft will provide Active and Reserve Navy pilots with air-to-air combat training at significant savings to the taxpayer. Recent estimates show that the F-5 can be operated at one third of what it costs to operate an F/A-18.

[thedilg]

Newbie,

In the single dacade of the 50's the AF developed and bought many jet fighters. F=Fighters however there are several classes of F fighters, F can mean air superiority dogfighter, F can mean tactical strike fighter, F can also men Air Defense all weather interceptor. A=Attack fighter.

In one decade we designed, developed flight tested and then bought 15 separate fighters: F-80, F-84, F-86, F-89, F-94, F-100, F-101, F-5, F-102, F-104, F-105, F-106, F-111, A-4, A-7. We dominated the world. No one could even come close.

There are a few more fighters that were developed and tested but did not become operational. All the above planes were procured by the several hundreds to well over 5000s each.

Mr MacNamara joined the DOD after his Edsel triumph. Because of his massive fighter experience he directed that we would develop a multi role, multi service, multi national fighter. He dropped the fly off and replaced it with the paper competition process. After 15 years from 61 to the mid seventies we procured a grand total of 400 of these maneuvering pigs.

In 1975 the AF procured the F-15 which they lusted after. The F-16 and the A-10 also entered the AF over their strong objections. In spite of the AF doing all in their power to scuttle the two planes they received a 3 plane bonanza in a single year, 1975. Both the A-10 and the F-16 were throwback to the hardware competitive fly off.

Over the next 15 years they developed a single plane, the stealth F-117. The AF must have been less than impressed because after spending billions on the program they cancelled the program after 50 aircraft.

In 1980 the AF started the F-22 program with an incredible $67 billion budget. They have spent over $40 billion. They expect to receive their first operational fighter in DEC 2005.

Somewhere in the 80s the AF started their $200 billion F-35 program. They hope to achieve their first operational F-35 in 2012. There is talk of a trillion dollar program.

To put this in perspecrive the 12 carriers presently in sevice represent about a $50 billion investment.

Godspeed, The Dilg

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

The Lockheed P-80. I believe it was the first production Jet. It came on line just before WWII ended.Though I do not think it saw combat.

[Consort]

The B-2 bomber descended from the YB-49 flying wing bomber.

[newbie 10-21-00]

Thanks to all. We are well on our way and I smell an "A" on the project.