...let's not forget the transport aircraft...hands down best in that category is the C-130...indeed, imho--perhaps the best overall aircraft in our history...

...on topic, gotta love the Skyraider...and numeral uno the Hog...and, a very close second--the F-15...

...on a related topic, despite spirited discussions that may ensue otherwise between everyone in this virtual hangar--I've always considered it a privilege to discuss various military topics of the day with all of our high speed resident military aviators--past and present...you guys are the best

Fighter has to be the Spitfire.

Bomber is between B2 and the BUFF

F104/F105
Lead over Hanoi "two, where are ya?"
Two "ah don't know, but ah'm going somewhere at a thousand knots..."

Great historical choices. Given differences between their performance at the time and the state of the art....they were literally the "Chariots of the damned". (The Stirling in particular. A result of the Air Ministry restricting the wingspan to 99 feet.) )

I love the "mid-wing" B25.

Easy enough, B-17

Fighters, not so easy P-51, Bent wing, Jug and Bear Cat and the P-38, Yea, I know you ask for one

There are NO rules in this thread, other than the ones listed in the TOS, that the Jeffs put together. You can list a Quintillion or more planes if you want, and you have the time.

Fighter: I dont think I can call it my favorite but he Grumman F3F has always interested me. Open cockpit biplane with retracts, whats not to like?

Bomber: The B-36 has got to be on the list. "Two turning, two burning, two smoking, two choking, and two more unaccounted for"

I'm currently obsessed with the Martin Mauler. Fighter? Bomber?
Saw an example at the Naval Air Museum in Pensacola.
An interesting design that uses a single R-4360 corncob engine.

Excellent monograph and other than an article in Wings/Airpower magazine about 20 years ago, probably the best reference extant on the aircraft. New from $13.00 plus shipping.

https://www.amazon.com/Martin-AM-1-Maul ... g=btalk-20

Spitfire and B-25

No contest ......... the Spitfire .

In my opinion, the Spitfire is the best looking fighter of the bunch. Tiny, lethal, powerful and efficient. Not a straight line anywhere, just like a beautiful woman. No big protrusions sticking out underneath, not good on airplanes or women.

Early Spits were about the same size and weight as a B58 Baron but with 400 more horsepower and a cleaner airframe. COOL!

I believe the Mustang was a dud until the Brits put a Spitfire engine in it's snout.

As I understand it, North American outfitted the P-51 with an Allison engine, initially. The Allison engine was good for low-level flight, but did not meet the mission of bomber escort deep into enemy territory. So, Rolls-Royce dropped a Merlin engine in the P-51, and created a lethal, high-altitude, long-range bomber escort, and thus saving many bombers and bomber crews lives.

As I understand it, North American outfitted the P-51 with an Allison engine, initially. The Allison engine was good for low-level flight, but did not meet the mission of bomber escort deep into enemy territory. So, Rolls-Royce dropped a Merlin engine in the P-51, and created a lethal, high-altitude, long-range bomber escort, and thus saving many bombers and bomber crews lives.