Just a Nice Pic
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AZ_HighCountry
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Considering all the issues it has had with its development, it is still a top-notch fighter.
Fatman17
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Grounded Dreams: CAC CA-15 – The Heavyweight Hunter That Arrived Too Late
The CAC CA-15 was developed during WWII as an advanced interceptor to replace earlier Australian fighters. Influenced by leading designs of the time and powered by a Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, it demonstrated impressive speed and climb performance in testing. However, development delays and the rapid shift to jet aircraft made it obsolete before production, leaving only a single prototype that was eventually scrapped in 1950.
Kapil KajalPublished May 8, 2026
CAC CA-15.Image via airwar.ru
Fatman17
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Mexico to Replace F-5E/F Tiger II After Decades of Service
May 10, 2026
20:07
Mexican F-5E/F Tiger II. Photo from Wiki
The Mexican Air Force has begun a program to replace its F-5E/F Tiger II light fighters, acquired in the 1980s.
Zone Militaire reported this news.
AZ_HighCountry
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Just read the article. Interesting choice of replacement aircraft they are considering.
Fatman17
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An American POV
This is an interesting topic because when looking at the F-15's combat record, while impeccable we must admit it's generally done in favorable conditions. That doesn't mean it's not top tier but I think many other aircraft have combat records that are more impressive. So here's my top 10 as of 2026.
1. F-86 Sabre: The Korean War kill record is contested, but the MiG-15 was a formidable opponent that was brutal for early US and allied airpower, and the F-86 often came out on top, and had a favorable kill ratio even against Soviet pilots.
2. Mirage III: Also counting the Israeli Nesher, but the Mirage III was the workhorse of the IDF its most intense aerial combat during Six Day War and Yom Kippur War. And when it fought, it was often heavily outnumbered, and yet still came out on top.
3. F4F Wildcat: This is a darkhorse but consider that the F4F fought in early WW2 against Japanese pilots which were among the best in the world, while USN was still learning carrier aviation doctrine and tactics. It slugged it out against the Zero in the harshest conditions, but still ended up with a 6.9:1 kill ratio, so very impressive that it was able to achieve this after the early harsh lesson learned.
4. P-51 Mustang: The kill ratio is good, but the strategic effect was enormous, the ability to escort bombers from England to Germany and back had a massive effect that can't be understated.
5. F-15 Eagle: While overall conditions were favorable, the 106-0 kill record is still extremely impressive, and early Israeli victories especially in the 1982 Lebanon War still had very dangerous opposition with SAM batteries and lots of Syrian fighters.
6. Spitfire: This aircraft was pivotal in Battle of Britain and slugged it out against the Bf 109 especially early Luftwaffe pilots which were excellent.
7. F-4 Phantom: This is a signature Cold War aircraft, and even with restrictive ROEs in Vietnam and some early harsh lessons, this became the primary air superiority fighter before the Eagle came along for a reason, and it was called "World's Leading Distributor of MiG Parts".
8. F6F Hellcat: Granted, the Hellcat benefitted from lessons learned during early WW2 years, but once USN refined its carrier aviation system, the Hellcat absolutely dominated the Japanese overall with very lopsided kill ratio. Not technically the most impressive but it had the right combination of qualities and is often called "right aircraft at the right time".
9: A6M Zero: Can't forget about how utterly formidable the Zero was in early WW2, the IJN carrier force was considered the best in the world at the beginning of WW2 for a good reason. Even if late war, Japanese doctrine and lack of pilot rotation meant that attrition whittle them away.
10: F4U Corsair: This had a rocky start with carrier integration because of handling difficulties, but it proved its worth in Soloman Islands campaign and also later in WW2, and Japanese pilots considered it the most formidable Allied aircraft in WW2. The multirole capability as a fighter-bomber is also noteworthy.
Honorable mentions: Hawker Hurricane, F-14A Tomcat (Iran service), MiG-15, MiG-21, Bf 109.
Now, if we want to go by aircraft that got wrecked, some names pop up for me as well.
Dishonorable mentions: Blackburn Roc, Blackburn Botha, MiG-23, Brewster Buffalo.
This is an interesting topic because when looking at the F-15's combat record, while impeccable we must admit it's generally done in favorable conditions. That doesn't mean it's not top tier but I think many other aircraft have combat records that are more impressive. So here's my top 10 as of 2026.
1. F-86 Sabre: The Korean War kill record is contested, but the MiG-15 was a formidable opponent that was brutal for early US and allied airpower, and the F-86 often came out on top, and had a favorable kill ratio even against Soviet pilots.
2. Mirage III: Also counting the Israeli Nesher, but the Mirage III was the workhorse of the IDF its most intense aerial combat during Six Day War and Yom Kippur War. And when it fought, it was often heavily outnumbered, and yet still came out on top.
3. F4F Wildcat: This is a darkhorse but consider that the F4F fought in early WW2 against Japanese pilots which were among the best in the world, while USN was still learning carrier aviation doctrine and tactics. It slugged it out against the Zero in the harshest conditions, but still ended up with a 6.9:1 kill ratio, so very impressive that it was able to achieve this after the early harsh lesson learned.
4. P-51 Mustang: The kill ratio is good, but the strategic effect was enormous, the ability to escort bombers from England to Germany and back had a massive effect that can't be understated.
5. F-15 Eagle: While overall conditions were favorable, the 106-0 kill record is still extremely impressive, and early Israeli victories especially in the 1982 Lebanon War still had very dangerous opposition with SAM batteries and lots of Syrian fighters.
6. Spitfire: This aircraft was pivotal in Battle of Britain and slugged it out against the Bf 109 especially early Luftwaffe pilots which were excellent.
7. F-4 Phantom: This is a signature Cold War aircraft, and even with restrictive ROEs in Vietnam and some early harsh lessons, this became the primary air superiority fighter before the Eagle came along for a reason, and it was called "World's Leading Distributor of MiG Parts".
8. F6F Hellcat: Granted, the Hellcat benefitted from lessons learned during early WW2 years, but once USN refined its carrier aviation system, the Hellcat absolutely dominated the Japanese overall with very lopsided kill ratio. Not technically the most impressive but it had the right combination of qualities and is often called "right aircraft at the right time".
9: A6M Zero: Can't forget about how utterly formidable the Zero was in early WW2, the IJN carrier force was considered the best in the world at the beginning of WW2 for a good reason. Even if late war, Japanese doctrine and lack of pilot rotation meant that attrition whittle them away.
10: F4U Corsair: This had a rocky start with carrier integration because of handling difficulties, but it proved its worth in Soloman Islands campaign and also later in WW2, and Japanese pilots considered it the most formidable Allied aircraft in WW2. The multirole capability as a fighter-bomber is also noteworthy.
Honorable mentions: Hawker Hurricane, F-14A Tomcat (Iran service), MiG-15, MiG-21, Bf 109.
Now, if we want to go by aircraft that got wrecked, some names pop up for me as well.
Dishonorable mentions: Blackburn Roc, Blackburn Botha, MiG-23, Brewster Buffalo.
Fatman17
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National Security
The U.S. Air Force Built 116 B-58 Hustler Supersonic Bombers — 26 Were Lost to Accidents Before the Entire Fleet Was Retired in 10 Years.
Fatman17
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Boneyard Files: Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star – The Ghost of the Jet Classroom
Developed from the P-80 Shooting Star in the late 1940s, the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star became the US Air Force’s primary jet trainer for more than a decade. With over 5,600 built, the T-33 served worldwide in training, reconnaissance, research, and even combat roles. Operated by nations including Canada and Japan, and later used by NASA for flight research, the aircraft became one of the most influential trainers of the jet age before many retired examples were sent to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, famously known as “The Boneyard.”
Kapil KajalPublished May 12, 2026
Two Lockheed DT-33A Shooting Star aircraft, 53-5192 and 53-5106, sat together at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on September 10, 1968, shortly after arriving in storage during August that year, with 53-5106 already carrying Production Control Number TC854.Image via Neil Aird
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