Fighter Airplanes 1

The F86 Saber was first tested in 1947 and came into service in 1948 . The first version had a top speed of about 670 miles per hour ,a record for that time . Power increases were regular with the F86 and in 1953 it upped the top speed record to over 715 miles per hour . The F86 was often matched up in dog fights , against the Mig 15 in Korea were it is said that the F86 downed over 11 Migs for every 1 , F15 that went down . The F86 Saber was possibly the most popular Fighter Interceptor airplane ever and it remained in service in some places as late as 1993 . As well as being used by all the allied countries the F86 was also a very popular Air Show attraction and likely still is today .

The P38 Lightning began test flights in 1939 and went into production in 1941 . It was used mainly as a long-range bomber escort fighter , but also served at times for dive bombing , ground support and low level bombing . The top speed is about 390 miles per hour and its maximum operating height is about 40,000 feet . It is equipped with 4 , 50 calibre machine guns and one 2 mm cannon and can also carry 10 missiles or 4,000 pounds of bombs . With external fuel tanks (drop-tanks) its range is over 1200 miles . Over 9,900 P38 Lightning’s were built . Through the Pacific Theatre of WW2 The P38 is credited with shooting down more enemy aircraft than any other allied airplane . In 1943 a P38 is credited with shooting down the general who planed the Pearl Harbour Attack . In Europe it was called “the devil with the cleft tail” . The top two US aces flew P38 Lightning’s . the top ace shot down 40 enemy aircraft , all while flying a P38. The second ace, downed 38 enemy aircraft , while flying a P38 .

The P51 Mustang was the most dominating fighter plane of WW2 and possibly of all time . The P51 was first test flown in 1940 and came into production in 1942 . By the time of its retirement in 1984 over 15,870 were built . The P51 was used mainly as a fighter escort for Allied bombers in the European Theatre of WW2 . The P51-D had top speed was over 435 miles per hour at 25.000 feet and had an operating capability to about 42,000 feet . The P51-H had a top speed in excess of 485 miles per hour . In 1947 a Mustang twin was introduced which was designated the F82 , which was basically 2 P51 bodies joined into one aircraft with dual engines .