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The Best Century Series Fighter

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  • The Best Century Series Fighter

    The name stems from a series of early US supersonic jet fighters built for the United States Air Force during the 1950s and early 1960s whose designation number lay in the 100 and above range. The designation system was of the then-new USAF, but the number series stretched back to the 1920s as it was used for the former P- series (pursuit aircraft). In 1962 the fighter number sequence was reset under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system. - Wikipedia

    These aircraft are considered the Century Series:

    * North American F-100 Super Sabre
    * McDonnell Douglas F-101 Voodoo
    * Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
    * Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
    * Republic F-105 Thunderchief
    * Convair F-106 Delta Dart

    Which one would you rate as the best?

    30
    North American F-100 Super Sabre
    20.00%
    6
    McDonnell Douglas F-101 Voodoo
    13.33%
    4
    Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
    3.33%
    1
    Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
    23.33%
    7
    Republic F-105 Thunderchief
    23.33%
    7
    Convair F-106 Delta Dart
    16.67%
    5
    My Flickr Pictures! Click Me!

  • #2
    You forgot the F-111 in your list.

    I might also add that the F-4 was originally designated as the F-110.

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    • #3
      Thanks Halcyon...I found the article on Wiki and thought it was pretty cool. I don't know much about that time and the fighters involved. The article had the list of the six.
      My Flickr Pictures! Click Me!

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      • #4
        Which was "BEST"? Best for what? They were all (except the 102 and 106) built for different jobs.

        The "Lead Sled" (F-100) was a daylight fighter. The first supersonic in level flight USA fighter (MACH 1.2).
        The F-101 was originally a Bomber escort that didn't escort, later it was an all weather fighter and other rolls. (MACH 1.4, MACH 1.75 for the later models)
        The F-102 was an interceptor that wouldn't intercept. Basically subsonic with later models reaching MACH 1.22.
        The F-104 was a successful MACH 2 interceptor.
        The F-105 was the largest single engine fighter/bomber. It's most unusual feature was an internal bomb bay that was never used for bombs.
        The F-106 was the F-102 modified so it worked as an all weather interceptor.

        My personal favorite is the F-105. It was the best fighter/bomber but then again it was the only one designed to be one from the start.
        Don
        Standard practice for managers around the world:
        Ready - Fire - Aim! DAMN! Missed again!

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        • #5
          I think the F 104 was better known as a tactical fighter as the F104F/CF104in NATO service-its service and success as an interceptor with the USAF and a few minor secondary users was quite limited, as was the aircrafts' capabilities as such.

          The F 102 must have been easy to fly after all President Bush is reported to have flown one defending the Texas suburbs from Commie aggression while real fighter pilots were getting shot down in Nam.

          The Voodoo filled the most roles, tactical fighter, all weather interceptor and reconnaissance.

          The F 4 nee F 110 was likely the best of the lot as it as a Navy aircraft won a flyoff against most of the latest earlier Century series fighters by a wide margin, followed by large USAF orders.

          The F 111 was controversial and likely should have been called a bomber from the get go; there were FB models that served with SAC.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by a78jumper View Post
            The F 111 was controversial and likely should have been called a bomber from the get go; there were FB models that served with SAC.
            I grew up watching the FB-111's at Pease AFB, they are what got me so excited about military aviation.

            My father in law worked on the Thud's in Vietnam, Takhli (sp?)

            I also loved the look of the F-106 which used to fly out of Cape Cod MA and the 102nd FW before moving over to the Eagle.

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            • #7
              I'll go with the sabre

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              • #8
                I'll have to go with the Thud on this one. It did sterling work in Vietnam.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Well - the F-4 was only named F-110 in a bid to sell the fighter, which was originally designed for the U.S. Navy, to the U.S. Air Force. So the F-4 wouldn't be part of the Century-Series.
                  Last edited by Peter Kesternich; 2009-11-28, 19:18.

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                  • #10
                    Best looking of the Century Series

                    If pure esthetics, combined with performance, were involved, then I have two favorites..... the F-100 Super Sabre and the "missle with a man in it" -- the F-104 Starfighter. But then again, most were pleasing to the eye. Sure would have liked to flown one! Why, oh why, didn't I join the Air Force when I had the opportunity? Does my Civil Air Patrol stint count? LOL

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                    • #11
                      The F-100 (WWII german derivative! Controversial) and the F-104 are classic and beautiful aircraft, good choice.

                      Can someone tellme when exactly (and why) the US changed its persuit or P designation for the fighter F designation? I see it as US arrogance losing out this time. (What!?) The US like to have different words for all sorts of things and see this designation as just one example. But the pilots and the USAF as a whole saw the F or fighter designation much...Cooler. Its far better to tell a girl in a pub you are a fighter pilot than a persuit pilot..."a what?"
                      Maybe i'm way off...i just don't know when or why they decided to join the rest of the world.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by Luka View Post
                        The F-100 (WWII german derivative! Controversial) and the F-104 are classic and beautiful aircraft, good choice.

                        Can someone tellme when exactly (and why) the US changed its persuit or P designation for the fighter F designation? I see it as US arrogance losing out this time. (What!?) The US like to have different words for all sorts of things and see this designation as just one example. But the pilots and the USAF as a whole saw the F or fighter designation much...Cooler. Its far better to tell a girl in a pub you are a fighter pilot than a persuit pilot..."a what?"
                        Maybe i'm way off...i just don't know when or why they decided to join the rest of the world.
                        Yes, you're way off. The change from P to F occurred around the time US Air Force became a separate service, which was around 1947 or 1948.

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                        • #13
                          You forgot Havacılık the F-111 in your list.


                          McDonnell Douglas F-101 Voodoo

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                          • #14
                            Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
                            çatı
                            çatı kaplama

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                            • #15
                              I really don't like any one of those planes personally! I think they wore just plane with out any thing special but I chose the Republic F-105 Thunderchief as the top one for me. The Republic F-105 Thunderchief was a work horse in Vietnam era war and maybe that is why I voted for F-105. But personally they don't impress me to much. My favorite war planes are from WW2 era and the 4th and 5th generation fighters!

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