My Favorite Airplanes

B-29 SUPERFORTRESS• The plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Japan• Type: 10-/11 seat long-range strategic bomber• Power plant: four 1641 kW(2200-hp) Wright R-

3350 Cyclone 18 turbocharged radial piston engines

• Maximum speed: 576 km/h (358 mph)• Range and service ceiling: 6598 km(4100 miles)

9170 m (30,085 ft)• Armament: two 12.7-mm (.50-cal.) machined guns

in each of four remotely controlled turrets and three 12.7-mm guns and one 20-mm cannon in the tail; bombload 9072 kg (20,00 lb.)

• It was massive, fast for its size, and the plane with the biggest bombload during its wartime

F-106 DELTA DART• A fondly remembered plane that never fired a shot• Type: single-seat interceptor• Power plant: one Pratt & Whitney j75-p-17 turbojet rated

at 76.5 kN(17,212 lb thrust) dry thrust and 108.99 kN(24,523 lb thrust) with afterburning

• Maximum speed: Mach 2.25(2.25 times the speed of sound) or 2400 km/h (1491 mph) at 12,190 m (40,000 ft)

• Range and service ceiling: 1850 km(1150 miles) 17680 m (58,600 ft)

• Armament: one M61A-1 20-mm cannon, four AIM-4E and/or AIM-4G Falcon air-to-air missiles, plus two AIR-2B Genie nuclear rockets

• Quick but not as quick as others because it would burn up• They were not made for range but performance but still

had bigger range than the Lightning14 and Su-15 Flagon• Lacks a massive climb rate because of large weapon load• Used to take out Russian bombers

A-10 THUNDERBOLT II• Tank Buster• Type: single-seat anti-tank and FAC aircraft• Power plant: two 40.3-kN(9068-lb-thrust) General Electric

TF34-GE-100 turbofan engines• Maximum speed and climb rate: 682 km/h (424 mph) at sea

level; 1,828 m/min (5,997 fpm) at sea level• Combat radius and service ceiling: 885 km (550 miles) 10,575

m (34,695 ft)• Armament: one General Electric FAU-8/A 30-mm cannon, plus

up to 7258 kg (16.000 lb) of weapons; forward air control load consists of up to 12 LAU-68 seven-tube rocket pods, two AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and an ECM pod

• A massive weapon load compared to similar craft• It is considered way to slow though• Requires a long runway to get airborne because of high

carrying load• Can launch a missile at a tank and turn away because of great

technology

F-14A TOMCAT• One of the world’s “top guns”• Type: two-seat long-range shipboard fleet defense interceptor,

tactical reconnaissance aircraft, and fighter-bomber• Power plant: two 92.97-kN (20,918-lb-thrust) Pratt & Whitney

TF-30 turbofans with afterburning• Maximum speed: 2,485 km/h (1544 mph)• Combat radius and service ceiling: 525 km (326 miles) on

internal fuel; 1,210 km (752 miles) with two 409-litre (90 gallon) tanks; 15,515 m (50,900 ft)

• Armament; one 20-mm Vulcan cannon, six AIM-54 Phoenix missiles or six AIM-7 Sparrow plus four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles

• Has a wingspan of 64 ft 1 in that can swing down into 38 ft 3 in• Has a longer reach than its counterparts• Can engage six enemies at the same time with Phoenix missiles• Maximum missile range in any of its missiles is 93 miles

SR-71A BLACKBIRD• A mach 3 plane that requires the same tests as

astronauts• Type: strategic reconnaissance aircraft• Power plant: two 144.57-kN(32,528-lb-thrust) Pratt

and Whitney J58-1 afterburning turbo-ramjets• Maximum speed: in excess of 3,700 km/h (2,300 mph)

in level flight at 24,000m (78,740 ft) or in excess of 2,125 km/h (1,320 mph) at 9,145 m (30,000 ft)

• Range and endurance: 4,000 km (2,485 miles) unrefueled at 24,000m (78,740 ft) and 3,190 km/h (1,982 mph) 1 hour 30 min at 3,220 km/h (2,000 mph) at 24,000m (78,740 ft) without refueling

• Service ceiling: 25,900 m (84,974 ft)• Accommodation: pilot and reconnaissance systems

officer• Service ceiling greatly outranks that of similar planes• Extreme secrecy may have led to smaller than real

numbers

F-117 NIGHTHAWK• Laser bomb equipped stealth bomber• Type: single-seat strike fighter• Power plant: two 48.04-kN(10,809-lb-thrust) non-afterburning

General Electric F404-GE F1d2 turbofans• Maximum speed: Mach 1 (estimated) or 1,100 km/h (684 mph)• Combat radius: 1,200 km (746 miles) unrefueled, with a 2,250-

kg (4,960-lb) weapon load• Armament: range of tactical fighter ordnance up to 2,268 kg

(5,000 lb) carried internally; principal weapons were GBU-10/GBU-12 Paveway II or GBU-27 Paveway III laser-guided bombs

• Slower than similar bombers because of shape meant for stealth

• Small weapon load compared to others but probably one of the most accurate

• Did not take off with a full fuel tank but filled up once in the air

F-16C FIGHTING FALCON• The most widely used plane in the West• Type: single-seat multi-role fighter• Power plant: one 122.77-kN(27,263-lb-thrust) General Electric

F110-GE-100 or Pratt & Whitney f100-P-220 afterburning turbofan

• Maximum speed and climb rate: 2,124 km/h (1,320 mph) clean at 12,190 m (40,000 ft) 15,240 m/min (50,000 fpm)

• Combat radius: 547 km (340 miles) on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 454-kg (1,000-lb) bombs

• Armament: one internal six-barrel 20-mm cannon and up to 9,276 kg (20,450 lb) of ordnance

• Slightly slower than similar craft but with added fuel and armament

• Small climb rate compared to competitors but has just as much maneuverability

• Giant weapons load compared to other craft• There are four different variants

F-22 RAPTOR• The world’s most expensive fighter• Type: advanced-technology fighter• Power plant: two 155.69-kN (35,030-lb-thrust) Pratt & Whitney

F119-PW-100 turbofans with afterburners• Maximum speed; over 2,000 km/h (1,243 mph)• Range: more than 5,700 km (3,542 miles) with maximum fuel• Service ceiling; over 15,000 m (49,200 ft)• Armament: one Martin Marietta M61A1 Vulcan 20-mm cannon

with 500 rounds, four AIM-120A AMRAAM missiles in belly weapons bay; four AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles in side bays

• Not as fast as other fighters but has a faster and better economic cruise speed

• Massive range compared to other craft• More advanced in some weapons areas but lacking in others• Can lock on, fire missile, turn around, and not worry about

return fire due to stealth engine setup and extreme range and radar

F-15C EAGLE• A nearly impossible to beat giant dogfighter (Gulf War: 32 kills

with no losses)• Type: single-seat air-superiority fighter• Power plant: two 105.92-kN (23,760-lb-thrust) Pratt & Whitney

F100-PW-220 afterburning turbofans• Maximum speed; Mach 2.5 or 2,655 km/h (1,650 mph)• Range; more than 5,750 km (3,656 miles) with external

conformal fuel tanks• Service ceiling; 18,300 m (60,000 ft)• Armament: one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon; up to four AIM-9

Sidewinder missiles; up to four AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles; provision for up to 4,852 kg (10,700 lb) of bombs and missiles

• Blazing fast to everything including its one rival• Massive climb rate but is second to the Flanker, which came

out ten years later than the Eagle• Its weapons do not have the same range of some due to

design for medium to short engagements

F/A-18 HORNET• The cockpit is said to be a cross of Star Wars and a video

game• Type: carrier-based naval strike fighter• Power plant: two 71.2-kN (16,020-lb-thrust) afterburning

General Electric F404-GE-400 turbofans• Maximum speed: Mach 1.8 or 1,915 km/h (1,190 mph) at

12,190 m (40,000 ft)• Combat radius: 1,060 km (659 miles)• Climb rate and service ceiling: 305 m/sec (1,000 fps) 15,240 m

(50,000 ft)• Armament: one Martin Marietta M61A1 Vulcan 20-mm cannon;

two AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles; 7,000 kg of ordnance• It is stuck at mach 1.8 because of simple intake design• Small range but with aerial refueling it can get back kicking

butt in no time• Surprisingly high weapons load because or extreme

maneuverability• Work together with HARM missiles; one Hornet lobs a missile

at tanks and before enemy radar can detect the missile another Hornet launches a missile to distract the enemy

AV-8B HARRIER II• Vertical take-off and landing• Type: single-seat attack aircraft• Power plant: one 105.87-kN (23,820-lb-thrust) Rolls-

Royce F402-RR-408 (Pegasus 11-61) turbofan• Maximum speed: 1,065 km/h (662 mph) at sea level• Combat radius: 1,100 km (684 miles) hi-lo-hi• Service ceiling: 15, 240 m (50,000 ft)• Armament: one 25-mm GAU-12/A Equalizer five-barrel

cannon with 300 rounds; two AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles: provision for up to 6.000 kg (13,228 lb) of bombs, rockets, or missiles

• Even though it cannot reach super sonic speeds, the Harrier II is still adequate in battle especially with its excellent subsonic acceleration

• Great range compared to similar craft• Large weapons load but nothing to the Hornet

F/A-18E/F SUPER HORNET• Is the Navy’s hope for the future• Type: tactical fighter and strike aircraft• Power plant: two afterburning 97.34-kN (21,901-lb-thrust)

General Electric F414-Ge-400 turbofan engines• Maximum speed: 1,910 km/h (1,187 mph) at 6,096 m (20,000

ft)• Range and combat radius: 2,036 km (1,265 miles) 912 km (567

miles)• Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 ft)• Armament: one 20-mm M61A1 cannon and typically 8,165 kg

(18,000 lb) of other weapons including AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-154 JSOW, BlU-109 JDAM, AGM-65E Maverick, AGM-84H SLAM-ER, and AGM-84D Harpoon or various free-fall bombs

• Great weapons load and variety of weapons• Slower than other similar aircraft but great maneuverability

makes up for it

F/RF-5E TIGER II/F-20 TIGERSHARK

• The U. S. government wanted a relatively cheap plane and got it with the F-20

• Type: light tactical fighter• Power plant: two 22.2-kN (4,000-lb-thrust) General

Electric J85-GE-21B afterburning turbojets• Maximum speed: 1,700 km/h (1,054 mph) at 10,975 m

(36,000 ft)• Ferry range: 3,720 km (2,300 miles) with empty tanks

dropped; 3,175 km (1,970 with tanks retained• Service ceiling: 15,590 m (51,000 ft)• Armament: two M39A2 20-mm cannon in the nose, two

AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles on wing-tip launchers plus up to 3,715 kg (6.985 lb) of ordnance on fuselage and wing pylons

• Has excellent speed that is bested by few• Unlike the MiG-21, the F-5E/F-20 cannot reach Mach 2

but can carry more weapons• Just like the speed factor, its climb rate is bested by few

B-2 SPIRIT• No fuselage creating huge range• Type: two-seat long-range strategic bomber• Power plant: four 84.52-kN (19,017-lb-thrust) General

Electric F118-GE-100 turbofan engines• Maximum speed: approx. 960 km/h (597 mph) above 12,200

m (40,000 ft)• Range: 12,225 km (7,596 miles)• Service ceiling: over 16,920 m (53,440 ft) • Armament: normal strategic load of eight B61 or B83 nuclear

bombs, or 16 stand-off nuclear missiles on rotary launcher in bomb-bay; conventional load of 82 227-kg (500-lb) bombs or up to 22,600 kg (50,000 lb) of other conventional weapons

• Has massive range that trumps nearly all planes without refueling

• Best load proportionate to its size and range• Does not have the massive speed of competing bombers

because of stealth• Is called the most impressive of America’s warplanes

FAVORITE HELICOPTERS

1. AH-64 Apache2. AH-1 HueyCobra

(Twin)3. AH-1 HueyCobra

(Single)

TOP 3 FAVORITE

1. F-15C Eagle (my first model)

2. F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

3. B-2 Spirit