Fighter planes from Australia, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United States, videos, pictures, and specifications, throughout aviation history, plus a scale RC airplane guide.
 The first fighter planes originated during World War I. Scout reconnaissance fighter planes became a valuable asset, observing battlefield conditions during the time. When aircraft from both sides would meet in the sky, crews would often shoot at each other with small arms. Gradually larger and more sophisticated weapons found their way on board the aircraft. When machine guns were mounted in airplanes dedicated to shooting others from the sky, fighter planes were born. YouTube – Fighter Planes
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Fighter planes A – D:
Italy’s only fighter planes built for the First World War, they first flew in 1917. They were later purchased by Latvia, Poland, and the Soviet Union: Ansaldo A.1
Fighter planes produced in Japan, the primary fighters in their war with China: Mitsubishi A5M
Japanese fighter planes that dominated the sky over the Pacific in the first years of World War II: Mitsubishi A6M Zero
German radial engine powered biplane based on lessons learned from the SD series aircraft: Arado Ar 64
Made in Germany, they were first flown in 1931, with an in-line engine, and longer wings than their predecessors: Arado Ar 65
Fighter planes of Germany, deployed in 1933 as night fighting and training aircraft: Arado Ar 66
Single seat fighter planes that were much smaller than their predecessors, first flown in 1933, but never went into production: Arado Ar 67
The Luftwaffe’s most popular fighter planes prior to the start of WW II: Arado Ar 68
Light German fighter planes with a high single wing that had fixed landing gear in streamlined fairings and were armed with twin 7.92 mm machine guns: Arado Ar 76
Tested by Germany prior to the start of WW II. They lost the competition for production against Messerschmitt: Arado Ar 80
German fighter planes produced as prototypes, first flown in 1937, equipped with twin 7.92 mm machine guns and one 20 mm cannon. They were to be based on the never completed Graff Zeppelin aircraft carrier: Arado Ar 197
They were produced in Germany and tested in 1940, powered by twin engines. The fighter planes had handling and maneuverability issues which were never overcome and never went beyond the prototype stage of production: Arado Ar 240
Flown in 1942, based on the Ar 240, but with a three foot longer fuselage and more powerful engines, they never went into full production: Arado Ar 440
Fighter planes of Great Britain that first flew in 1946 and was retired in 1954: Supermarine Attacker
Czech fighter planes that are recognized as among the best biplanes ever produced: Avia B 534
Fighter planes deployed by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1917. About 700 were produced: Aviatik D.I
Fighter planes first deployed with the British Royal Navy in 1943, but did not see any action during WW II. They remained deployed through 1953: Blackburn B-37
The most heavily armed British fighter planes of WWII: Bristol Beaufighter
German primary WW II fighter planes, they had the most WW II victories, and are the most all-time produced fighter planes: Messerschmitt Bf/Me 109
Twin engine, long range, heavily armed fighter planes that met with success as night fighters: Messerschmitt Bf-110
First ever fighter planes of Great Britain to successfully use on board radar to intercept other aircraft: Bristol Blenheim
Heavily armed Australian fighter planes of WW II: CAC Boomerang
First flown in 1933, exported by Italy to China for use against the Japanese, the Italians considered them as under performing, and never used the aircraft: Breda BA 27
Finland’s most successful World War II fighter planes: Buffalo
British RAF main fighter planes from 1932 to 1936: Bulldog
Italy’s mass produced fighter planes of WW II: Macchi C.202 Folgore
One of Italy’s best World War II fighter planes: Macchi C.205 Veltro
Scored the most air to air victories overall of WW I: Sopwith Camel
First Canadian jet powered fighter planes which flew in 1950, they were designed for day/night, all-weather interception. They were deployed through 1981: Avro CF-100 Canuck
Manufactured in South Africa, they first flew in 1986, based on the Mirage, but with canards up front, more powerful engines, advanced weapons and avionics: Atlas Cheetah
Jet powered fighter planes produced in Taiwan, resembling a smaller F-16 fuselage and wings, with the nose of a F-20, and twin engines: AIDC Ching-kuo
Deployed with the Italian Air Force in 1936, they were low wing monoplanes with fixed landing gear which performed poorly during the Spanish Civil War: Caproni A.P.1
Italian all-metal biplanes which proved themselves during the Spanish Civil War: Fiat CR.32
World’s last biplane fighter planes: CR.42 Falco
Series of German fighter planes comprised of the Albators D.I, Albatros D.II, Albatros D.III, Albatros D.V, and Albatros D.Va, built during WW I, each experiencing a short period of air superiority: Albatros D Series
Best German World War I fighter planes built in large numbers: Fokker D.VII
Excellent dog fighter German World War I fighter planes built in limited numbers: Fokker D.VIII
First fighter planes of the Dutch Air Force: Fokker D. XXI
First British RAF fighter planes armed with four machine guns: Boulton Paul Defiant
Primary French fighter planes deployed at the start of WWII: Dewoitine D.510
The best French fighter planes of WW II: Dewoitine D.520
Early WW I British fighter planes praised for their maneuverability: de Havilland DH.2
Among the first to use a faster firing machine gun propeller interrupter mechanism, it was produced in Great Britain: de Havilland DH.4
Night fighters of the Luftwaffe that met with some success during early WWII: Dornier Do 17
Successor to the Do 17, equipped with heavier armament and more powerful engines: Dornier Do 217
The fastest twin prop driven World War II fighter planes, they were built in Germany: Do-335 Pfiel
Built by the British in 1917, with a head hole in the top wing for improved pilot visibility, armed with up to four forward firing machine guns: Sopwith Dolphin
Fighter planes of the WWI Red Baron Squadron: Fokker Dr.1 Triplane
Arguably the world’s most advanced fighter planes when deployed in 1960: Saab Draken
Fighter Planes E – F:
Germany’s first WWI fighter planes with a single wing and propeller synchronized machine gun: Fokker Eindecker
Light jet powered fighter planes built to meet French and NATO specifications, first deployed in 1961: Dassault Etendard
Europe’s “top gun” fighter planes of the twenty first century: Eurofighter Typhoon
Japanese fighter planes resembling an enlarged F-16, built from 1995 to 2011: Mitsubishi F-2
Primary fighter planes of the then new British RAF: Bristol F.2
Enlarged, faster version of the U.S. FH-1 Phantom which flew from 1948 to 1965: McDonnell F2H Banshee
One of the first jets produced as a dedicated all weather aircraft specialized for fighting at night: F3D Skyknight
First swept wing fighter planes built by McDonnell, and the first aircraft to be armed solely with missiles, first deployed in 1956: F3H Demon
First Grumman fighter planes produced for the U.S. Navy: Grumman F3F
Regarded as one of the best fighter planes of WW I: Martinsyde F.4 Buzzard
Scored the most victories of United States fighter planes in the Vietnam War: F-4 Phantom
Last U.S. fighter planes made from wood: Boeing F4B
First U.S. Navy supersonic fighter planes: F4D Skyray
Primary United States Navy fighter planes at the start of World War II: Grumman F4F Wildcat
One of the best U.S. WW II fighter planes, and the first single engine aircraft to exceed 400 MPH in level flight: F4U Corsair
Used by the U.S. Air Force as an enemy fighter to train pilots in combat tactics: Northrop F-5
Deployed with the U.S. Navy, that were navalized versions of the P-1: Curtiss F6C
Had the most WW II victories over Japanese aircraft: F6F Hellcat
First U.S. Navy multi-engine fighter planes: F7F Tigercat
Innovative U.S. Navy fighter planes, never fulfilling their potential due to their engines: F7U Cutlass
“Last U.S. gunfighter”: F-8 Crusader
Last carrier-based Grumman single piston engine fighter planes of the U.S. Navy: Grumman F8F Bearcat
First jet powered fighter planes to be produced by Grumman: F9F Panther
Smallest, lightest jet powered fighter planes produced by Grumman, which experienced continuing engine problems, deployed by the U.S. Navy from 1957 to 1961: Grumman F-11 Tiger
Famed U.S. Navy fighter planes armed with the AIM-54 Phoenix – the longest range air-to-air missile: F-14 Tomcat
Had the most United States air to air victories in Desert Storm, and is the fastest U.S. fighter: F-15 Eagle
Mainstay U.S. medium fighter planes and most produced fighters in the West: F-16 Falcon
Primary U.S. Navy fighter planes of today, replacing the F-14: F-18 Super Hornet
First flown by the U.S. in 1982, based on the F-5, but with greater top speed and advanced avionics, they cost less than contemporary fighters and had lower operational costs. Three were produced, but the project was dropped in favor of the F-16: Northrop F-20 Tigershark
Considered the best current United States fighter planes deployed: F-22 Raptor
Most expensive U.S. stealthy fighter planes project: F-35 Lightning II
First U.S. fighter planes to down an enemy aircraft during the Korean war: F-82 Twin Mustang
First United States fighter planes built after World War II: F-84 Thunderjet
Most U.S. fighter planes victories in Korea: F-86 Sabre
One of the first U.S. jet powered all-weather interceptors: F-89 Scorpion
First U.S. fighter planes with an afterburner: F-94 Starfire
First U.S.A.F. supersonic fighter planes: F-100 Super Sabre
The fastest U.S. fighter planes of their time: F-101 Voodoo
First U.S. operational delta wing aircraft and the first supersonic all weather interceptors: F-102 Delta Dagger
U.S. fighter planes holding simultaneous records for speed, climb, and altitude: F-104 Starfighter
First U.S. supersonic tactical fighter planes: F-105 Thunderchief
Fastest single engine fighter planes: F-106 Delta Dart
The world’s first dedicated fighter planes: Vickers FB 5
Pusher prop fighter planes, with a pilot in back and a gunner up front, used in WWI before interrupting gear for machine guns was invented, credited with downing Max Immelman: Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.2b
Single seat pusher prop fighter planes where the pilot also manned the machine gun, first flown in 1915: Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8
Main British Royal Navy aircraft carrier based attack fighter planes of WW II: Fairey Firefly
British Royal Navy fighter planes deployed from 1923 to 1934: Fairey Flycatcher
Fighter planes which flew with the RAF, deployed from 1926 through 1945: Fairey Fox
Post World War II U.S. Navy fighter planes with a propeller in front and jet in back: FR-1 Fireball
Regarded as Germany’s best World War Two piston engine powered fighter planes: Focke Wulf FW-190
First English RAF fighter planes to exceed 200 mph: Hawker Fury
Italy’s first all-metal monoplane fighter planes with retractable landing gear: Fiat G.50 Freccia
Had the widest flight envelope of any Italian WW II fighters and considered among its best: Fiat G.55
Italian built jet powered fighter planes produced in response to NATO specs for a rough field aircraft capable of trans sonic speeds: Fiat G.91
Fighter Planes G – L:
Last open cockpit fighter planes of the English RAF: Gloster Gauntlet
Last biplane fighter planes of the English RAF: Gloster Gladiator
Lightweight British jet powered fighter planes, first flown in 1955, and not retired until the 1970’s, making use of the smallest engines possible, also flown by India: Folland Gnat
Sweden’s most advanced jet fighters: Saab JAS 39 Gripen
The primary fighter planes of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire through June of 1917: Hansen-Brandenburg D1
Jet powered fighter planes capable of vertical take off, hovering, and transitioning to level flight: Harrier Jump Jet
Fastest World War II jet powered fighter planes: Heinkel He-162
Said to be the only German propeller driven night fighters with the speed and maneuverability to be able to intercept the Mosquito, and, the first fighter planes with ejection seats: Heinkel He-219
The first jet powered fighter planes produced by German engineers, built in India, which flew from 1961 to 1990: HAl Hf-24 Marut
Primary interceptors of Great Britain from 1946 to 1951: de Havilland Hornet
Longest serving British built fighter planes: Hawker Hunter
During the battle of Britain the fighter planes which accounted for more victories over enemy aircraft than all other air and ground forces combined: Hurricane
Soviet biplane fighter planes, known for their maneuverability, which saw action from 1936 to 1941: Polikarpov I-15
Soviet monoplane fighter planes with retractable landing gear, they were deployed from 1933 to late 1943: Polikarpov I-16
Romania’s best WW II fighter planes: IAR-80
License built MiG-21 fighter planes, built and deployed in China, exported throughout the world as the F-7: Chengdu J-7
The best Chinese fighter planes in service today: Chengdu J-10
Fighter planes that are stealthy, undergoing testing by China, that first flew in January of 2011: Chengdu J-20
Fighter planes developed by China and Pakistan jointly, first deployed in 2007. They are scheduled to be Pakistan’s primary fighter aircraft with some 250 planned, and are currently deployed by China in small numbers for evaluation: CAC/PAC JF-17
First Japanese Navy interceptors of World War II: Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
Fighter planes first produced in 1968, still in service today: SEPECAT Jaguar
World’s first twin engine delta wing fighter planes, and first British all-weather aircraft, first flown in 1951: Gloster Javelin
Fighter planes deployed by China since 2006, used for light attack and training: Guizhou JL-9
Versatile Luftwaffe fighter planes, and among the most effective WW II night fighters: Junkers Ju-88
French built aircraft used by England at the start of WW I due to a shortage of British fighter planes: Morane-Saulnier Type N
First French jet powered fighter planes: Dassault Mystere
First flown in 1936, they were the first Japanese Army monoplane fighter planes, but had fixed landing gear: Nakajima Ki-27 Nate.
Japanese Army fighter planes that were the first with retractable landing gear. They were capable of turning inside the Zero: Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa
Poorly maneuverable Japanese fighter planes designed for high speed and climb to intercept enemy aircraft, they entered production in 1942: Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki
Fast and maneuverable Japanese twin engine fighter planes credited with downing seven B-29’s in a single night: Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu
Disappointing Japanese twin engine high altitude fighter planes used as bomber interceptors: Mitsubishi Ki-46-III Kai
Only Japanese World War Two fighter planes to use an in-line engine: Kawasaki Ki-61 Hein
Backbone Japanese fighter planes when they were deployed in mid-1944, they were faster than Mustangs and Thunderbolts at low and middle altitudes: Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate
Japanese WW II twin engine fighter planes, produced in small numbers as day time bomber interceptors, equipped with 75 mm cannons: Mitsubishi Ki-109
One of the fastest, most maneuverable Soviet fighter planes of World War II: Lavochkin La-5
Successors to the La-5, used as high altitude interceptors: Lavochkin La-7
Among the last of the Soviet piston engine fighter planes. They were deployed from 1944 through 1951: Lavochkin La-11
Advanced prototype fighter planes developed by Israel to be the primary fighter/bombers of the Israeli Air Force in 1986: IAI Lavi
Fighter planes used by France, deployed prior to WW II, armed with machine guns and bombs, primarily used for reconnaissance: ANF Les Mureaux 110
Experimental fighter planes produced in France, a variant of its predecessor using the Hispano-Suiza 12Nb engine:ANF Les Mureaux 111
Produced in France for testing using the Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs engine: ANF Les Mureaux 112 R2
Fighter planes deployed initially with the Armee de l’Air as reconnaissance and attack aircraft: ANF Les Mureaux 113 R2
Used by France in early WWII as night fighters: ANF Les Mureaux 113 CN
Tested as night fighters by France:ANF Les Mureaux 114 CN
Fighter planes tested prior to WWII by France, but never put into service: ANF Les Mureaux 170 CN
Fighter planes produced by France as prototypes, first flown in 1936, praised for maneuverability, but never produced due to lack of a well performing engine: ANF Les Mureaux 190
Fastest jet powered fighter planes ever produced in England: English Electric Lightning
Fighter Planes M – R
Among the first British monoplane fighter planes of WW 1: Bristol M1C
Fighter planes that, with their successors, were deployed by nine French fighter groups at the beginning of WW II. Known for the ability to take a great deal of battle damage, they were slower and less maneuverable than the Luftwaffe aircraft they faced: Bloch MB.151
Main fighter planes of Italy when it entered WW II: Macchi MC-200 Saetta
Fastest WW II fighter planes: Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet
First production jet powered fighter planes: Messerschmitt Me 262
Smallest pulse jet fighter planes: Me 328
Two seat heavy Luftwaffe fighter planes that succeeded the Bf-110: Messerschmitt Me-410
Jet powered night fighters that first flew in 1950, they were produced by modifying the Meteor two seat training aircraft, including adding radar in an enlarged nose, moving cannons from the nose to wings, and lengthening the fuselage: Armstrong Whitworth Meteor NF.11
Only Allied jet powered fighter planes to see action during World War II: Gloster Meteor
Soviet high altitude interceptor: MiG-3
Main Soviet Korean War fighter planes: MiG-15
Among the best Soviet jet fighters based on the MiG-15 with improvements, introduced in 1952 and still flying for many countries to date: MiG-17
First supersonic Soviet jet fighters: MiG-19
World’s most produced jet fighters capable of supersonic speeds: MiG-21
World’s first swing-wing fighter planes, built by the Soviet Union from 1967 to 1985: MiG-23
Fastest fighter planes ever produced: MiG-25
Dominant air-superiority fighter planes when they first flew in 1977, they remain among the best Russian fighters to date: MiG-29
No other European fighter planes were produced in such large numbers as these French fighters: Dassault Mirage
Fighter planes used by the US Army, USN, and USMC. They were open cockpit biplanes with fixed landing gear, deployed from 1925 to 1931. About 158 were produced: Boeing Model 15
French built aircraft used by England at the start of WW I due to a shortage of British fighter planes: Morane-Saulnier Type N
Multi-role British RAF fighter planes of WWII: de Havilland Mosquito
French single engine fighter planes made from plywood and light metal alloy sheeting, first flown in 1939, outdated by modern Luftwaffe aircraft at the start of WWII: Morane-Saulnier M.S. 406
First French jet fighter planes: Dassault Mystere
Japanese land-based fighter planes developed from float planes: Kawanishi N1K Shiden
French WWI fighter planes, deployed in 1915, that could out maneuver Eindeckers: Nieuport 11
Backbone French WWI fighter planes, known for their strength and maneuverability: Nieuport 17
French fighter planes flown by WW1 U.S. aces including Eddie Rickenbacker: Nieuport 28
Primary French fighter planes following WW1, set FAI speed record of 171 mph in 1920: Nieuport-Delage NiD-29
Fighter planes of Great Britain, the first ever to land on a moving ship in 1917: Sopwith Pup
Fighter planes, the first in the U.S. to be designated with “P” for pursuit. Some 25 were ordered for the U.S. Army in 1923. They were open cockpit biplanes with the speed of the fastest aircraft, but used liquid cooled V-12 engines instead of the less easily damaged radial engines of their contemporaries: Curtiss PW-8
Fighter plane successors to the PW-8. A total of 93 were built that were deployed with the U.S. Army from 1925 through 1930: Curtiss P-1
Fighter planes, deployed from 1929 to 1939, known for their speed, setting a 1932 speed record. Some 70 were produced: Curtiss P-6
The primary Polish fighter planes of WW II: PZL P.11
The first United States all-metal, low-wing fighters: Boeing P-26
Main U.S. fighter planes defending Pearl Harbor and the rest of Hawaii during the Japanese attack: Curtiss P-36
The only U.S. fighter planes to be produced during the entire Second World War, they had the most U.S. fighter planes victories: P-38 Lightning
Mid engine fighter planes that were among the most heavily armed Allied aircraft of WW II: Bell P-39 Airacobra
Fighter planes flown by the Flying Tigers of WW II: P-40 Warhawk
The largest, most produced United States WW II fighter planes, responsible for the destruction of over 11,000 enemy planes: P-47 Thunderbolt
WW II fighter planes with the range to accompany bombers on the long missions: P-51 Mustang
The first jet fighters produced by Bell Aircraft that flew in 1942, but were found inferior to current propeller driven aircraft: Bell P-59 Airacomet
First operational U.S. Air Force jet fighters: P-80 Shooting Star
Russian fighter planes, first deployed in 1941, known for their high speed and high altitude performance: Petlyakov Pe-3
German WWI fighter planes known for their strength, reliability, dive speed, and turning abilities: Pfalz D.111
French twin engine monoplane fighter planes, with retractable landing gear, which were among the best performing aircraft when they first flew in 1936: Potez 631
WWI fighter planes, originally designed as bombers, that were excellent escorts for French bombers: Caudron R.11
One of the best French twin engine escort fighters of WWI: Caudron R.22
The most advanced French fighter planes of today: Dassault Rafale
Among the fastest, most maneuverable, Italian fighter planes of WWII: Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario
Fighter Planes S – Z
Only Swedish front-line fighter planes initially propelled by piston engines and later by jets, first deployed in 1945 using a pusher engine, switching to jet engines in 1949: Saab 21R
First Swedish swept-wing fighter planes, deployed in 1951 and retired in 1976: Saab 29 Tunnan
Biplane fighter planes produced in Germany, first test flown in 1927, cancelled due to poor high speed maneuverability: Arado SD I
Fighter planes built as larger successors to the SD I, that still experienced maneuverability issues and never went into production: Arado SD II
Fighter planes produced in Germany at the same time as the SD II, but with different engines, they too were rejected as inferior to other aircraft of the time: Arado SD III
Fighter planes first flown in 1930 using a single center float and wingtip floats. They lost in a competition with Heinkel and were never produced: Arado SSD I
The world’s fastest single piston engine production fighter planes: Sea Fury
England’s best WW I fighter planes: Royal Aircraft Factory SE5
British built jump jets for the Royal Navy which first flew in 1963, receiving major upgrades in 1978, 1998, and 1993, retired by the Royal Navy in 2006: BAE Sea Harrier
First fighter jets of the Royal Navy: Hawker Sea Hawk
First swept wing two seat all weather Royal Navy fighter jets flown from 1961 to 1972: de Havilland Sea Vixen
Germany’s WW I fighter planes built in an effort to improve on the French Nieuport 11: Siemens-Schuckert D
Large British Royal Navy fighter jets that could carry an atomic bomb, first flown in 1957 and retired in 1969: Supermarine Scimitar
First English RAF fighter planes built entirely from metal: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
British fighter planes deployed just two months before the end of WWI, among the most advanced of their time: Sopwith Snipe
Best French WW I fighter planes: SPAD XIII
Great Britain’s best fighter planes of World War Two: Spitfire
Fast, poorly maneuverable Soviet interceptors deployed from the 1960’s to the 1990’s. One downed a KAL 747 airliner which strayed into Soviet air space in 1983: Sukhoi Su-15
Fast and highly maneuverable Soviet air superiority fighters deployed from 1982 to present: Sukhoi Su-27
Among the best Russian fighter planes currently in service: Sukhoi Su-30
Latest Russian Navy fighter planes: Sukhoi Su-33
Among the most capable fighter planes of the Russian Air Force deployed today: Sukhoi Su-35
Forward swept wing prototype fighter planes used as a basis for fifth generation plus Russian aircraft: Sukhoi Su-47
First RAF British fighter planes using afterburning engines, swept wings, and tricycle landing gear: Supermarine Swift
Russian stealthy prototype fighter planes: Sukhoi Su-57
Fastest German single propeller driven World War Two fighter planes: Focke Wulf Ta-152
British fighter planes credited with destroying 638 V-1 missiles between June 13 and Sept. 5, 1944: Hawker Tempest
Highly maneuverable, supersonic fighter planes, produced by India, currently deployed: HAL Tejas
Multi-role jet planes, produced jointly by Great Britain, Germany, and Italy: Panavia Tornado
British WWI fighter planes, among the best climbing and maneuverable of their time: Sopwith Triplane
Longe range Soviet all-weather interceptors deployed from 1960 to 1992, the world’s largest: Tupolev Tu-28
Effective fighter planes of the British RAF, eventually equipping 26 squadrons: Hawker Typhoon
First British jet fighters ever to land on an aircraft carrier: de Havilland Vampire
French long range sub-sonic fighters that were also used by Israel, where they saw action downing one enemy aircraft. They served from 1958 to 1974: Sud Aviation Vautour
Highly maneuverable supersonic jet fighters, serving Sweden from 1967 to 2005: Saab Viggen
Fighter planes deployed with the Royal Navy in 1917, based on the Sopwith Pup: Beardmore WB.III
Twin engine British WWII fighter planes armed with four 20 mm cannons: Westland Whirlwind
The smallest jet fighters: XF-85 Goblin
Fighterplanes, based on the P-39, designed as tail draggers for operating from aircraft carriers. They were rejected by the U.S.N. as inferior in performance to existing Navy fighter planes: Bell XFL
Early jet fighter prototypes, first flown in 1945, which never went into production due to engine performance and maneuverability being inferior to other aircraft of the time: Bell XP-83
The first with variable sweep wing fighter planes, first flown in 1951, that never went into production due to poor handling: Bell X-5
Fighter planes flown by the Soviet Union in WW II, made primarily from wood, that eventually had a 447 mph top speed, an excellent climb rate, and good maneuverability: Yakovlev Yak-3
The Soviet Union’s best WW II fighter planes: Yak-9
Soviet front line jet fighters from 1945 to 1955: Yakovlev Yak-17
Successor to the Yak-17 from 1947 to 1957, they had more powerful engines and higher vertical stabilizers with the horizontal stabilizers placed mid-fin: Yakovley Yak-23
First all-weather radar equipped Soviet jet fighters deployed from 1955 to 1965: Yakovlev Yak-25
Transonic speed capable Soviet medium altitude all-weather interceptor jet fighters deployed from 1961 to 1985: Yakovlev Yak-28
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