from what I recall from his memoirs, Sakai singlehandedly fought off 15 F6 in that battle off Iwo. He would wait until the fighter was in firing position on his tail and roll away before the pilot could react. When he got back to base, he said his whole body was mush from the stress and he had to be helped from the plane.

but the greatest performance was probably that of the japanese ace Muto over the japanese mainland in february 1945. He took on 12 corsairs (or hellcats, the accounts differ) in a Zero and shot down 4.

A lot of the planes designed in the 50s were very dangerous. They were extremely powerful and were basically designed (and flown) by the seat of the pants, since the study of aerodynamics was rudimentary back then. They also lacked many of the standard safety features (like a g limiter) which are now standard.

Piloting any of them was a very dangerous job.

I recall reading the story of an accident which occurred in the mid 50s. The pilot of a jet fighter, I dont recall the model, flew into the air base at 600 knots at a right angle to the landing strip intending to do a sharp left turn at the very end to slow the plane down and land. In the middle of the turn, both wings tore off and the plane crashed. When they found the pilot, he was dead although he appeared unharmed. When they reconstructed the accident they calculated the sharp turn had subjected the plane and the pilot to a force of 180 gs! resulting in instant death.

I personally find the early jet fighters to be extremely fascinating.

I think this one has got to be one of the most innovative designs that actually worked! It seems like an early version to the modern Osprey!
http://doppelbock.net/blog/wp-conten...v22_header.jpg
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/imgs/v22.jpg


As for worst combat aircraft so far, I'd have to give my vote for the LWS-6 Żubr! I mean who could ever love that fugly plane?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...da/PZL.30.jpeg

Why is it that early eastern European designs are so ugly?

EDIT: Agree about the history of VTOLs.

Not all are ugly IMO. It's probably the 'snout' of this plane that makes it ugly. The fact that it's design was so flawed that says worst combat aircraft. I'm sure it was great as it's intended design (other then the landing gear problem) as a passenger plane. The big forward canopy would probably offer a panoramic view. I wouldn't want to take it into combat however.
http://www.samoloty.ow.pl/rys/rys158.jpg
http://awiacja.republika.pl/Foto/LWS-4.jpg
http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/bww2/pzl30/pzl30-1.jpg

Yes that's interesting :)

I think it would be cool to take a 'Pogo' to commute!:rock:
Not only would you have to parallel park, but also that vertical parking would be tricky...
http://www.planeaday.com/images/2010...Y-1_Pogo_3.jpg

Actually the X-19 and X-22 would be better examples of early versions of the V-22 Osprey.

X-19:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._X-19_1963.jpg

X-22:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...nground_bw.jpg

Already found the worst combat plane:

http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20100928/ca...GXgPVHCGczQg--

We had a development team come up with a proposal to the Pentagon for the manufacture a cheap fighter aircraft. Though we did sell them on the idea of arming the aircraft with lighter fluid and taping a strike anywhere match on the nose. After the contracts were signed and we were made rich. Several aborted strikes missions later we found a problem with the launch and propulsion systems. Seems they could never reach their intended target before crashing to the ground and burning up on impact.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/...88f2eaf225.jpg

Already nominated and discarded:

Neener neener, the Brits did it first!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Rotodyne

At least those are cute. I'd love to try one.

Better save your money:
http://seaeagleinternational.com/

Russians did it better... :O:

They set the payload and alt record with theirs.

So?

:o:doh::dead:

Never seen that before, blimey, what a curious looking beastie. :hmmm:

Rather canny resemblance to the Heinkel 'Wespe' and Heinkel 'Lerche". :yep:

The only normal looking airplane you people ever built was the Spitfire. :O:

Why youuuu..I http://img121.imageshack.us/img121/4...stemoticon.gif

what about the Hawker Hurricane, Typhoon and Tempest! :stare:

HunterICX

I've always thougth that the Typhoon looks like a Spitfire on steroids and Tempest like a Hurricane on steroids. :DL