24/7 Wall St. Insights

• We used data from a catalog of U.S. Aircraft from a Military Factory.
• The F-15 Eagle is considered one of the most successful modern fighters of the United States Air Force.
• Also, Discover “The Next NVIDIA”

Under the National Security Act of 1947, the Department of the Air Force was created. The department included the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. However, the history of the Air Force can really be traced back further to 1907 and the formation of the US Army Signal Corps. This group utilized kite balloons as aircraft and purchased its first aircraft from the Wright Brothers in 1909. It is obvious as we move forward through time that the Air Force has come a long way to reach the air machines of technology and stealth they utilize today.

The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle has had over 100 combat victories and no losses, reaching speeds of Mach 2.5, pushing past its predecessors into the “wild blue yonder.” In addition to speed, the F-15 is heavily armed and an excellent combat fighter. The F-15 Eagle is considered one of the most successful modern fighters of the United States Air Force, standing in a long line of fighter planes whose service has been undeniably game-changing in years past. This line began with the P-80 Shooting Star, developed as a jet fighter in 1943 by Lockheed and was instrumental in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. From the beginning of this program in 1943 to where it stands now, the USAAF has made itself a high-stakes contender in air combat.

24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of U.S. Aircraft from a Military Factory to determine every central fighter plane to have been in service for the U.S. military. To help tell the story, they have been ordered chronologically by the year the USAAF introduced them into service. Supplemental information from Military Factory is also added and includes the type of aircraft, manufacturer, total aircraft produced, and top speed. While this list is extensive, it does not include lesser-known aircraft or those with smaller production runs.

The story you will gather from these aircraft is one of evolution, willpower, and the desire to be better, faster, and stronger in the sky. You will learn about the change in aircraft takeoff capabilities, from the need for a runway to launching from aircraft carriers or utilizing a vertical takeoff and landing. You might also pick up on the speeds of these aircraft, weapons systems, and heights they can fly. All these upgrades tell the story of the United States Air Force staying true to its motto, “Aim High…Fly-Fight-Win, Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do.”

Why Are We Talking about Fighter Planes of the U.S. Air Force?

The U.S. Air Force is an arm of the Department of Defense, whose job is to protect our citizens but which also happens to be the largest employer in the United States. Not only does it keep Americans working, but it is also an innovator of technology. Technology is how we stay ahead of others on the world’s stage and protect and defend our borders. Fighter planes have been a pivotal instrument in protecting us since World War II, and understanding the development of this tool/weapon is another way to understand better how our country defends itself.

Here is a look at every significant fighter plane in the U.S. military.

40. Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75/Mohawk)

• Year introduced: 1938
• Type: Monoplane fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Curtiss Aeroplane Company
• Total aircraft produced: 1,115
• Top speed: 322 mph

39. Brewster F2A (Buffalo)

• Year introduced: 1939
• Type: Monoplane fighter
• Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 509
• Top speed: 321 mph

38. Lockheed P-38 Lightning

• Year introduced: 1939
• Type: Heavy fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 9,923
• Top speed: 414 mph

37. Grumman F4F Wildcat

• Year introduced: 1940
• Type: Carrierborne monoplane fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 7,722
• Top speed: 332 mph

36. Bell P-39 Airacobra

• Year introduced: 1941
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 9588
• Top speed: 386 mph

35. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

• Year introduced: 1941
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 16,800
• Top speed: 378 mph

34. Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston

• Year introduced: 1941
• Type: Night-fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• Total aircraft produced: 7,478
• Top speed: 339 mph

33. North American P-51 Mustang

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 15,586
• Top speed: 437 mph

32. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Republic Aviation Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 15,660
• Top speed: 433 mph

31. Vought F4U Corsair

• Year introduced: 1942
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Vought
• Total aircraft produced: 12,571
• Top speed: 446 mph

30. Bell P-63 Kingcobra

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 3,303
• Top speed: 410 mph

29. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Carrierborne single-engine fighter
• Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 600
• Top speed: 416 mph

28. Grumman F6F Hellcat

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 12,272
• Top speed: 380 mph

27. Northrop P-61 / F-61 Black Widow

• Year introduced: 1943
• Type: Night fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Northrop
• Total aircraft produced: 742
• Top speed: 366 mph

26. Grumman F8F Bearcat

• Year introduced: 1945
• Type: Carrierborne fighter / interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 1,266
• Top speed: 421 mph

25. Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star

• Year introduced: 1945
• Type: Jet-powered fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 1,715
• Top speed: 577 mph

24. Grumman F9F Panther

• Year introduced: 1949
• Type: Carrierborne fighter
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 1,382
• Top speed: 545 mph

23. Lockheed F-94 Starfire

• Year introduced: 1950
• Type: All-weather interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 853
• Top speed: 585 mph

22. Grumman F9F Cougar

• Year introduced: 1952
• Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 1,392
• Top speed: 647 mph

21. F-100 Super Saber

• Year introduced: 1954
• Type: Tactical reconnaissance / bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 2,294
• Top speed: 864 mph

20. North American F-100 Super Sabre

• Year introduced: 1954
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 2,294
• Top speed: 864 mph

19. North American FJ-2 / FJ-3 Fury

• Year introduced: 1954
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Total aircraft produced: 741
• Top speed: 676 mph

18. CONVAIR F-102 Delta Dagger

• Year introduced: 1956
• Type: Supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: CONVAIR
• Total aircraft produced: 1,000
• Top speed: 825 mph

17. Douglas A-4 Skyhawk

• Year introduced: 1956
• Type: Light attack carrierborne fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
• Total aircraft produced: 2,960
• Top speed: 645 mph

16. F-102 Delta Dagger

• Year introduced: 1956
• Type: Single-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: CONVAIR
• Total aircraft produced: 1,000
• Top speed: 825 mph

15. F-101 Voodoo

• Year introduced: 1957
• Type: Twin-engine interceptor
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
• Total aircraft produced: 885
• Top speed: 1,134 mph

14. Vought F-8 Crusader

• Year introduced: 1957
• Type: Carrierborne naval fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Vought
• Total aircraft produced: 1,219
• Top speed: 1,118 mph

13. F-104 Starfighter

• Year introduced: 1958
• Type: Single-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Total aircraft produced: 2,578
• Top speed: 1,320 mph

12. F-106 Delta Dart

• Year introduced: 1959
• Type: Single-seat supersonic interceptor aircraft
• Manufacturer: CONVAIR
• Total aircraft produced: 350
• Top speed: 1,487 mph

11. F-4 Phantom II

• Year introduced: 1960
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
• Total aircraft produced: 5,195
• Top speed: 1,473 mph

10. F-111 Aardvark

• Year introduced: 1967
• Type: Long-range strategic medium bomber / Tactical strike aircraft
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics
• Total aircraft produced: 554
• Top speed: 1,650 mph

9. Grumman F-14 Tomcat

• Year introduced: 1974
• Type: Swing-wing, carrier-based fleet defense fighter
• Manufacturer: Grumman Aircraft
• Total aircraft produced: 712
• Top speed: 1,544 mph

8. F-15 Eagle

• Year introduced: 1976
• Type: Air superiority fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Total aircraft produced: 1,500
• Top speed: 1,875 mph

7. F-16 Fighting Falcon

• Year introduced: 1978
• Type: Lightweight multi-role fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin
• Total aircraft produced: 4,604
• Top speed: 1,317 mph

6. F/A-18 Hornet

• Year introduced: 1983
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / Northrop
• Total aircraft produced: 1,480
• Top speed: 1,190 mph

5. AV-8B Harrier II

• Year introduced: 1985
• Type: Short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) strike aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / BAe Systems
• Total aircraft produced: 500
• Top speed: 665 mph

4. F-15E Strike Eagle

• Year introduced: 1988
• Type: Strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Total aircraft produced: 420
• Top speed: 1,653 mph

3. F/A-18 Super Hornet

• Year introduced: 1999
• Type: Carrier-based strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing
• Total aircraft produced: 615
• Top speed: 1,187 mph

2. F-22 Raptor

• Year introduced: 2005
• Type: Air dominance fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Boeing / Lockheed Martin
• Total aircraft produced: 195
• Top speed: 1,599 mph

1. F-35 Lightning II

• Year introduced: 2016
• Type: Advanced multi-role strike fighter aircraft
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin / Northrop Grumman / BAe Systems
• Total aircraft produced: 785
• Top speed: 1,199 mph

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