Which combat aircraft never saw action?
Discussion
Following on from the Draken and Viggen displaying in the Channel Islands, it got me thinking what other front-line combat aircraft types never saw proper action. Any suggestions? I guess we need some rules:
1) Only combat aircraft, i.e. fighters, bombers or ground-attack. So no transport, reconnaissance, trainers, tankers, etc.
2) Must have been fully operational and in regular front-line service with a recognised Air Force / Navy / Army / Marines.
3) My definition of "action" is combat (air-to-air or air-to-surface engagement) with a recognised and armed enemy.
4) Only basic aircraft types allowed, so no sub-dividing into different versions, no matter how different they may be from the original model.
1) Only combat aircraft, i.e. fighters, bombers or ground-attack. So no transport, reconnaissance, trainers, tankers, etc.
2) Must have been fully operational and in regular front-line service with a recognised Air Force / Navy / Army / Marines.
3) My definition of "action" is combat (air-to-air or air-to-surface engagement) with a recognised and armed enemy.
4) Only basic aircraft types allowed, so no sub-dividing into different versions, no matter how different they may be from the original model.
What do you mean by engagement - fire a shot in anger or simply intercepting a threat? Did the Swedish fighters intercept nosy Russian aircraft and does this not count as fulfilling their role?
The raptors yet to shoot at anything isn't it? Although its role and export ban restrict it.
The raptors yet to shoot at anything isn't it? Although its role and export ban restrict it.
Teddy Lop said:
What do you mean by engagement - fire a shot in anger or simply intercepting a threat? Did the Swedish fighters intercept nosy Russian aircraft and does this not count as fulfilling their role?
The raptors yet to shoot at anything isn't it? Although its role and export ban restrict it.
Yes, fire a shot in anger.The raptors yet to shoot at anything isn't it? Although its role and export ban restrict it.
magpie215 said:
Raf EE Lightnings
There's a good story about a pilotless harrier being shot down by a Lightning...https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/...
Probably absolutely tonnes of them. Especially post-war types.
Without doing any research I don't believe any of the US strategic bombers between the B29 and the B52 were used.
So that's the B36, B47, B58.
What about that really good looking 60's US plane I can't remember the name of that was a bit rubbish?
Without doing any research I don't believe any of the US strategic bombers between the B29 and the B52 were used.
So that's the B36, B47, B58.
What about that really good looking 60's US plane I can't remember the name of that was a bit rubbish?
Johnnytheboy said:
Probably absolutely tonnes of them. Especially post-war types.
Without doing any research I don't believe any of the US strategic bombers between the B29 and the B52 were used.
So that's the B36, B47, B58.
What about that really good looking 60's US plane I can't remember the name of that was a bit rubbish?
At least one B47 got back to Mildenhall after a trip round the Baltic with battle damage from Soviet fighters. Not sure if they returned fire though.Without doing any research I don't believe any of the US strategic bombers between the B29 and the B52 were used.
So that's the B36, B47, B58.
What about that really good looking 60's US plane I can't remember the name of that was a bit rubbish?
Europa1 said:
Johnnytheboy said:
What about that really good looking 60's US plane I can't remember the name of that was a bit rubbish?
You may have to give one or two other details.Early 60s large supersonic fighter/bomber, turned out to be rubbish, but found a second career as a reconnaissance plane in Vietnam.
Really pretty - used to be one on the USS Intrepid museum in New York.
I have a book on the damn thing at home but it's gone out of my head....
Johnnytheboy said:
I've just been trying to work it out using Wikipedia and now it's really bugging me.
Early 60s large supersonic fighter/bomber, turned out to be rubbish, but found a second career as a reconnaissance plane in Vietnam.
Really pretty - used to be one on the USS Intrepid museum in New York.
I have a book on the damn thing at home but it's gone out of my head....
F-105 Thunderchief?Early 60s large supersonic fighter/bomber, turned out to be rubbish, but found a second career as a reconnaissance plane in Vietnam.
Really pretty - used to be one on the USS Intrepid museum in New York.
I have a book on the damn thing at home but it's gone out of my head....
F-101 Voodoo?
Johnnytheboy said:
I've just been trying to work it out using Wikipedia and now it's really bugging me.
Early 60s large supersonic fighter/bomber, turned out to be rubbish, but found a second career as a reconnaissance plane in Vietnam.
Really pretty - used to be one on the USS Intrepid museum in New York.
I have a book on the damn thing at home but it's gone out of my head....
Vigilante?Early 60s large supersonic fighter/bomber, turned out to be rubbish, but found a second career as a reconnaissance plane in Vietnam.
Really pretty - used to be one on the USS Intrepid museum in New York.
I have a book on the damn thing at home but it's gone out of my head....
Come to think of it it's a bit harsh to exclude reconnaissance from the definition of combat. If it's a reconnaissance aircraft doing it's stuff and gets shot at, that is near enough combat.
Johnnytheboy said:
What about that really good looking 60's US plane I can't remember the name of that was a bit rubbish?
Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter? http://www.airpowerworld.info/jet-fighter-planes/n...Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 18th September 12:53
MKnight702 said:
Something French?
they're quite good at flogging their kit to a variety of countries that'll use it in anger though. Suprised sweden hasn't wanted to bloody the aircraft just to prove battlefield effectiveness though, what the old adage about only finding out the flaws when you go to use it.
FourWheelDrift said:
Simpo Two said:
Avro Lincoln?
Argentina used theirs during the 1955 Revolución Libertadora. The Peron stuff.Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff