Tech over time

First gen US fighter plane

Jan 1, 1943

the first us air force fighter was the P-59 Airacomet http://www.aviation-history.com/bell/xp59.html

another first generation fighter plane

Jan 8, 1944

the Lockheed P-80 shooting Star was another first generation fighter plane. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-80_Shooting_Star

another second generation US fighter plane

Apr 1, 1956

another second generation fighter was the Convair F-102 Delta Dagger https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_F-102_Delta_Dagger

Second gen US fighter plane

Mar 25, 1957

the second generation fighter was the Vought F-8 Crusader. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_F-8_Crusader

Third gen US fighter plane

Dec 30, 1960

The F-4 Phantom 2 was the third generation US fighter plane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II

fourth gen US fighter plane

Sep 22, 1974

the Grumman F-14 Tomcat was the fourth generation fighter plane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F-14_Tomcat

fifth generation US fighter plane

Dec 15, 2005

the Lockheed Martin F-22 raptor was the fifth genaration fighter plane https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_F-22_Raptor

sixth generation US fighter plane

Feb 9, 2016

the sixth generation fighter plane hasn't been released yet https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2016/02/06/this-futuristic-fighter-jet-will-likely-be-unveiled-to-america-during-the-super-bowl/