best fighter of the 50s

cheddar cheese · 10-27-2005, 03:03 PM

Well the first plane to be recognised to go through it - I think there are a few claims it happened late in WW2 in dives.

FLYBOYJ · 10-27-2005, 04:29 PM

I just saw a documentary where a -262 pilot said he did it....

Glider · 10-28-2005, 04:39 AM

Well I will go for the Hunter. Speed, Flexibility, Weapons, Responsiveness, ease of Handling, Range.

FLYBOYJ · 10-28-2005, 10:47 AM

I think the Hunter was a good aircraft and a clsoe second to the Sabre. One thing I know about the Hunter, it wasn't as maintainer friendly as the Sabre...

I know they fought each other when India and Pakistan went at it - I don't have stats, but I know there were kills on both sides....

Glider · 10-28-2005, 10:54 AM

You will forgive me if I consider the F86 a close second to the Hunter.

Your right about the Sabre being harder to maintain but it one important aspect it did have an advantage and that was in turn around time in a surge situation.

I will dig into my India / Pakistan records and see what I can find.

Glider · 10-28-2005, 10:55 AM

Typo Hunter being harder to maintain. However it wasn't a total disaster in that area

FLYBOYJ · 10-28-2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glider

Typo Hunter being harder to maintain. However it wasn't a total disaster in that area

No - lots of screw panels in lieu of cam-locks or Dzus panels...

FLYBOYJ · 10-28-2005, 02:21 PM

Got info on Sabre vs. Hunter during India/ Pakistan conflicts...

According to the site ACIG, theses are the numbers...

PAF Sabres

12 confirmed kills
15 claimed/ unconfirmed

IAF Hunters

15 confirmed
5 claimed/ unconfirmed

evangilder · 10-29-2005, 08:12 AM

Interesting.

Glider · 10-29-2005, 10:01 AM

FJ comparing the figs I have the F86 claimed the following aircraft.
5 x SU7
6 x Hunter
1 x Mil 8
1 x Gnat
1 x Krishak (army AOP plane)
1 x Mig 21

I am afraid that my sources on the IAF are more vauge. They talk about X planes brought down by IAF fighters but don't tell you by what.

Gnats seem to have done very well claiming at least one Mirage and a number of other planes when outnumbered.

Glider · 10-29-2005, 10:03 AM

FJ Can I ask for the name of this ACIG site as it sounds interesting. All I get in an Insurance Company

FLYBOYJ · 10-29-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glider

FJ Can I ask for the name of this ACIG site as it sounds interesting. All I get in an Insurance Company

here ya go;

http://www.acig.org/

Glider · 10-29-2005, 02:37 PM

Thanks

Supraman · 11-06-2005, 11:23 PM

The unfortunate thing about my pick is that 6 were made 5 destroyed. The Avro Arrow was the best plane in the 50's hands down nobody can deny that fact. It was so good that Eisenhower was scared poopless of it and cohorced our PM to erase it from Canada's air force.

FLYBOYJ · 11-07-2005, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supraman

The unfortunate thing about my pick is that 6 were made 5 destroyed. The Avro Arrow was the best plane in the 50's hands down nobody can deny that fact. It was so good that Eisenhower was scared poopless of it and cohorced our PM to erase it from Canada's air force.

The Arrow was indeed a great aircraft that didn't reach it's potential, but it had many teething problems, cost over runs and was quickly outclassed. Based on evidence in other threads it would of not been a good dog fighter and something like an F-5 would of had it for lunch. Don't give me that crap about Eisenhower influencing it's demise, that decision was made by the Diefenbaker Government and only those responsible for its demise are responsible for the mass exodus of skilled aerospace workers to the US in the 1960s. You need to get educated because you're holding on to a myth! Blame USA, a Canadian SOP!