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Fighter Jet History
I have some planes here that defined america in both wars and became the base of the fighter jets we use today -
First American aircraft is made, The Aeromarine 39
This seated two people and did not have any guns. It was technically not a fighter jet until the USAAF gave the pilots bombs to throw out of the window. Since it was mainly wood it was very light and could break very easily. It was half plane and half pontoon. -
Boeing F4B is made
This plane seated one person and was one of the first planes to carry guns and external bombs. Instead of wood, like the earlier planes, this one is made out of aluminum -
Curtis P-6 Hawk
This plane seated only one person. This was a very fast plane for its time by reaching speeds of 200+ mph. It had a very small gun and carried no bombs. -
Boeing 314 C-98 is made during the middle of world war II
This plane was very very big and had 11 people on board. It mostly carried mail and maybe even bombs or wounded. Only 12 were ever made. -
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
This plane seated one person and was a very slow and powerful airplane. It was mostly a bomber plane and was the only plane to be used throughout a war (world war II). -
Bell X-1 is made at the end of world war II
The Bell X-1 could only hold 1 passenger and was the first plane to break the speed of sound and went about 950 mph. -
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor
The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor held 2 people and was more of a training plane then a fighter and never had any weapons on it. -
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter revolutionizes rocket powered aircraft
This plane held only one person and was heavily armed. The lower guns could fire 6000 rounds in a minute and also it had 4 sidewinder missiles. -
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II
The F-4 Phantom held two people and could move at incredible speeds of 1472 mph. It had so many missiles and guns that I cannot include all of them in this description. The F-4 Phantom also carried nuclear weapons. -
Grumman A-6 Intruder
This plane held 2 people. This plane had a full arsenal of weapons. Ranging from Land mines to sidewinder heat seeking missiles. -
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II
Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II holds 1 person and is heavily armed and is used a a ground force tactical strike bomber. -
Lockheed EC-130H
This plane needs at least 16 people for full operation. There are no guns on this since it is the earlier model of the C-130 Hercules. -
Boeing/McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle
For full operation 2 people are required. It has never been tested for its maximum speed but it has been over 1,650 mph. Ths plane is mostly a bomber and bombs ground troops and bunkers. -
McDonnell/BAE QF-4
This is a target drone that is rigged with explosives. Since it is a drone it holds no person inside but is controlled by a monitor. -
F/A 18 Super Hornet
This plane has two models and the first model holds only one and the second model hold two people. This plane is both a bomber and an excellent air to air fighter. This type of plane is used throughout the United Nations. -
Boeing EA-18G
The Boeing EA-18G holds two people and it has no guns. Only missiles under the wing and even missiles on the tip of the wing. -
Lockheed F-35 Lightning II
This amazing jet holds one person this jet is a very good combat jet and also a good joint strike fighter. It is a very new jet and is also a stealth jet. Which means it does not come up on enemy radar.