The Most 'Missed' Plane

[ATI_7500]

And I don't even consider the IRIAF F-14As as F-14s. More like F-14Russian TomJihadCat.

They're still american aircraft built in America 'though...but serving with the IRIAF.

[Ivan]

And I don't even consider the IRIAF F-14As as F-14s. More like F-14Russian TomJihadCat.

They're still american aircraft built in America 'though...but serving with the IRIAF.

Grumman F-14 = US Navy
HESA F-14A = IRIAF... They might have rebuilt the main structural parts of some, as they are upgrading the whole fleet with glass cockpits and possibly AL-37 engines (of Su-27 fame)

[lilley]

The MiG-25(mach 2. is actually slower than the SR-71 (Mach 3.2+)

If your going for all out speed at mach 9.8 its the x-43 which is unmanned, the fastest manned aircraft is the x-15 at mach 6.72

Id say concorde, just hope another flies in the future!

James
8-)

[Isak922]

Oops  :P

Mistake on my part... I meant the SR-71 was the fastest manned conventional aircraft. The X-15 can go faster, yes, but it cannot take off on it's own. The X-43 is obviously unmanned, being about the size of a very small car  ;D

[expat]

Not been mentioned yet, but for me the English Electric Frightening Lightening. A real crow stopper at any air display. The first time I saw it, I was about 6. I nearly soiled myself

Matt

[spitfire boy]

[quote]No ones mentioned the SR-71 yet? Fastest aircraft in the world (Except, of course, the X-15 and Orbiters)? I know I miss the SR-71 greatly, and am saddened by the fact that it probably won't ever fly again

[dcunning30]

SR-71 has been on the edge of retirement since the MiG-25 arrived on the scene.

I don't think the Mig-25 had anything to do with it.

[PsychoDiablo]

No ones mentioned the SR-71 yet? Fastest aircraft in the world (Except, of course, the X-15 and Orbiters)? I know I miss the SR-71 greatly, and am saddened by the fact that it probably won't ever fly again  :'(

US congress is rumoured to be discussing the possibility of placing a single SR-71 back into service. I'm not sure if this is true...

i don't really see the point, with all the satellites and what not, all maned recon planes have become obsolete. Now if it were remote controlled...

[ATI_7500]

Ever since Viktor Belenko defected, the west learned the Mig-25 was more hype than substance.

I wouldn't say that.

It may have been worthless for intercepting bombers but perfectly suited for the recon role - as demonstrated (I think) 1973 over Israel when IAF Phantoms and Daggers deperately tried to intercept egyptian Foxbats (piloted by russian pilots) on their way to Egypt.

[dcunning30]

Ever since Viktor Belenko defected, the west learned the Mig-25 was more hype than substance.

I wouldn't say that.

It may have been worthless for intercepting bombers but perfectly suited for the recon role - as demonstrated (I think) 1973 over Israel when IAF Phantoms and Daggers deperately tried to intercept egyptian Foxbats (piloted by russian pilots) on their way to Egypt.

According to Mig Pilot, those Mig-25s burned their engines out when they made those high-speed dashes.

[Ivan]

Ever since Viktor Belenko defected, the west learned the Mig-25 was more hype than substance.

I wouldn't say that.

It may have been worthless for intercepting bombers but perfectly suited for the recon role - as demonstrated (I think) 1973 over Israel when IAF Phantoms and Daggers deperately tried to intercept egyptian Foxbats (piloted by russian pilots) on their way to Egypt.

According to Mig Pilot, those Mig-25s burned their engines out when they made those high-speed dashes.

[F3Hadlow]

Now this is a classic example of a topic going off the rails!

[elite marksman]

Project Aurora comes close...
Why keep a Mach-3 plane (SR-71) when you can have a Mach-5 one that flies even higher.
SR-71 has been on the edge of retirement since the MiG-25 arrived on the scene.

Ivan, the Aurora does not exist... well... at least not in the way you think. Chances are that at least 50% of anyone who has attended a major airshow in the United States in the past 2 years has seen the Aurora. The Aurora is, in fact, the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber. From Ben R. Rich's book Skunk Works,
    "The funding for the [Stealth Bomber] competition came out of the Air Force budget. A young colonel working in the Air Force 'black program' office at the Pentagon, named Buz Carpenter, arbitrarily assigned the funding the code name Aurora. Somehow this name leaked out during congressional appropriations hearings, the media picked up the Aurora item in the budget, and the rumor surfaced that it was a top secret project assigned to the Skunk Works -- to build America's first hypersonic airplane. That story persists to this day even though Aurora was the code name for the B-2 competition funding. Although I expect few in the media to believe me, there is no code name for the hypersonic plane, because it simply does not exist. "

Ben Rich is the former CEO of Lockheed-Martin's Skunk Works. (309-310)


In regards to the plane that I will miss... It would have to be the graceful F-14 Tomcat. I dreamt of flying this beautiful aircraft since I was 5, and now not only am I relegated to back-seater because of my vision, I will never have the chance to see this piece of engineering in the air.

[Tom.]

No ones mentioned the SR-71 yet? Fastest aircraft in the world (Except, of course, the X-15 and Orbiters)? I know I miss the SR-71 greatly, and am saddened by the fact that it probably won't ever fly again  :'(

US congress is rumoured to be discussing the possibility of placing a single SR-71 back into service. I'm not sure if this is true...

i don't really see the point, with all the satellites and what not, all maned recon planes have become obsolete. Now if it were remote controlled...

It would probably become a very expensive lawn dart :P

[expat]

No ones mentioned the SR-71 yet? Fastest aircraft in the world (Except, of course, the X-15 and Orbiters)? I know I miss the SR-71 greatly, and am saddened by the fact that it probably won't ever fly again  :'(

US congress is rumoured to be discussing the possibility of placing a single SR-71 back into service. I'm not sure if this is true...

i don't really see the point, with all the satellites and what not, all maned recon planes have become obsolete. N

Satellites are great, but contrary to popular belief, they are not a quick as the ones in "24". The they take time to position and also still have problems seeing through clouds. An aircraft moves where the pilot wants it to go instantly and a panning TV camera will never replace the speed and clarity of the human eye.

Matt