Favorite Military Aircraft

[viking63]

I have been watching Air Warriors on the Smithsonian channel recently. Got me thinking about my favorite military aircraft. Was wondering what other aviation enthusiasts might have to say on the topic. Mine is the A10 Thunderbolt. AKA the warthog or hog. Not sleek, not sexy but what a bad a$$ airplane. Built by Fairchild Republic in early 70's it was designed to provide close combat ground support and tank killing capabilities. A 30mm, 60 rounds a second cannon, capable of carrying16,000 pounds of mixed ordinance, straight wing, high engine design What's not to love. Pic below says it all



I was able to see one up close and personal with my son at an air exposition at the Des Moines airport. Was an air national guard anniversary. I am thinking around 1991. Was a ground display but also performed aerial maneuvers. Quite impressive.

 

[wxman1]

You can’t make me choose! Just a few more weeks until Oshkosh!

 

[Drew0311]

As a Marine infantry guy. No finer sound than the wart hog coming to help out. The sound it made was the best sounding thing ever

 

[AgronAlum]

All of them, especially the ones that go buuuurt buuuurt. They’re all marvels of their era.

 

[cyclone13]

F-15 Eagle for me. It’s interesting to see that while the frame is the same, the capabilities are so different especially with the Strike Eagle.

A-6 Intruder was another favorite.

 

[sunset]

F-15. Never beaten.

P-51 and F-22 are pretty close 2nd/3rd.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

The A10 is the clear answer. I long for the day when A10s clear Russian infantry out of Ukraine.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Most of my favs are WWII fighters, cause I'm way old. Not sure I could choice just one. Love me some P-40 Warhawk, B-24 Mitchell, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Grumman TBF Avenger, and Grumman F4F Wildcat. P-51 is to easy to like so I spread my love around, same for the F4U Corsair and Brit stuff like the Spitfire. For jets, I am still old school, Messerschmitt Me 262 and North American F-86 Sabre. Made a model of the Me 262 as little Boxster and had my dad tell about seeing them fly over. Little Boxster also used to draw pictures of MiG-15's and Sabres dogfighting.

 

[cyclone13]

Anyone goes to airshow regularly? I used to when my son was little. The last one I went was 2016 - Sioux Falls Air Show.

Thinking of going to Duluth Air Show again this year. They always have A-10, F-16 and F-18 IIRC. They will have B-52 fly by. I have seen F-22 Raptor but haven’t seen F-35 Lightning yet.

Sioux Falls Air Show always have B-1 Lancer from Ellsworth AFB. Last time they had B-52 fly by.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

Chinook … only because they lowered the back and let me see Hungarian boobies as we flew above the beaches as an 18 year old.

 

[Hoggins]

Universal healthcare.

 

[Cy4Lifer]

The B-17 bomber of WW II.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

I have been watching Air Warriors on the Smithsonian channel recently. Got me thinking about my favorite military aircraft. Was wondering what other aviation enthusiasts might have to say on the topic. Mine is the A10 Thunderbolt. AKA the warthog or hog. Not sleek, not sexy but what a bad a$$ airplane. Built by Fairchild Republic in early 70's it was designed to provide close combat ground support and tank killing capabilities. A 30mm, 60 rounds a second cannon, capable of carrying16,000 pounds of mixed ordinance, straight wing, high engine design What's not to love. Pic below says it all

View attachment 100211

I was able to see one up close and personal with my son at an air exposition at the Des Moines airport. Was an air national guard anniversary. I am thinking around 1991. Was a ground display but also performed aerial maneuvers. Quite impressive.

Why you have to give me PTSD of basic training at Fort Leonard Wood? The A10s are pretty cool though.

 

[NWICY]

I always thought the p38 lightning looked cool, but as far as WW2 toughness gotta go with the P51 Mustang.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Photo I took at Flying Cloud airshow in Minnesota last summer. Gotta love some WWII Navy blue.

 

[NWICY]

The B-17 bomber of WW II.

Watched 12 o'clock high growing up hard not to be a B17 fan after watching that.

 

[CYCLNST8]

Watched 12 o'clock high growing up hard not to be a B17 fan after watching that.

And Memphis Belle.

 

[CYCLNST8]

 

[BoxsterCy]

The B-17 bomber of WW II.

Watched 12 o'clock high growing up hard not to be a B17 fan after watching that.

Also at airshow here last summer, B-17G "Yankee Lady, P-51C "Lope's Hope the 3rd" and P-51D "Sierra Sue II".

I'm not good enough panning to shoot slow shutter and blur the props, need to work on that but it's not easy...at least for me.

 

[CYCLNST8]

How bout the legendary “Red Baron?”