First generation jet fighter
Encyclopedia
Aircraft classified as first generation jet fighters
are the first attempts at creation of military aircraft using jet engines. A few were developed during the closing days of World War II
but saw very limited combat operations. The generation can be split into two broad groups: World War II era fighters such as the Me 262 and mature first generation fighters such as the F-86 used in the Korean War
.
The "generations" of fighter aircraft are a relatively modern concept based on claims for "Fifth Generation" fighters. They are rough categories based on similar designs and do not correspond to a rigid definition.
aircraft. Some of these fighters were tested using piston engines to evaluate the airframes before the jets to power them were available or reliable enough to sustain flight.
The first operational turbojet aircraft, the He 178, was a German design that first flew in 1939. It was used as the basis of the later He 280, a design passed over for the Me 262. A similar British design, the Gloster E.28/39
had provisions for some armament, but the guns were not fitted on either prototype.
The P-59 Airacomet
was the first American jet fighter to be put into service but it was widely seen as an inferior design and never saw combat. The piston-engined P-51 Mustang
could reach higher top speeds and had a much greater range.
The Japanese had some experimental models, such as the Nakajima J9Y Kikka, but none saw operational use.
. World War II
ended before jet fighters were common. The United States
and the United Kingdom
also had jet fighters operational before the end of the war, but neither saw much use. The British Meteor
was used to intercept Germany's V-1 cruise missiles. The American Lockheed P-80 entered service in the closing phases of the war and was deployed to Europe but arrived too late to see any combat.
The earliest jet fighters did not carry radar
or other sophisticated avionics
and had similar equipment to the piston-engined counterparts used during the war. Machine guns and cannon
were the primary armament, though the Me 262 also used air to air rocket
s against Allied bomber formations and could carry unguided bombs.
The significant operational aircraft in this group include:
Nazi Germany
Other aircraft were built or developed during the war, did not see combat. Many entered general service in the immediate post-war years. Examples include:
The Russian aircraft were based heavily on British engines (including a reverse-engineered Rolls-Royce Nene
engine) and German designs, and were developed after the end of World War II. The French Ouragan was also a design of the late 1940s rather than a wartime effort.
, and the FR Fireball
was a mixed-propulsion aircraft with a propeller in front and a jet engine in the back designed for use on an aircraft carrier
. The Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich I-250 and Sukhoi Su-5
were similar concepts but used a motorjet
instead of a turbojet and were not designed for carrier use.
Further experiments after the war with mixed propulsion included the XF2R Dark Shark
and the XF-84H Thunderscreech
, one of the loudest aircraft ever flown. The Thunderscreech, however, was a much later design, being a contemporary of the clearly second generation F-104 Starfighter
. None of these hybrid-propulsion planes saw combat or major use, though the Fireball was used operationally for two years.
After World War II, some additional aircraft were built using refinements of the ideas used in the first attempts. Some of these included a swept wing
and some could break the sound barrier
in a dive, but almost all of them lacked the thrust
to do so in level flight. Radar
was used in dedicated interceptors
and night fighters but early models required a dedicated radar operator. These aircraft are mostly associated with the Korean War
. Some interceptor
designs, such as the F-94
used rockets such as the Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
as their primary weapon instead of guns.
/
A notable post-war fighter that was never used operationally was the FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
, a prototype fighter built in Argentina
. The Pulqui II was designed by a team which included former German
engineers led by Kurt Tank
and was based on initial designs for the Focke-Wulf Ta 183
, the proposed successor to the Me 262. The Pulqui II itself was a successor to the I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I, a prototype jet fighter developed in Argentina by Emile Dewoitine
in the late 1940s and the first of its type to fly in South America.
, with semi-active radar homing
, forced changes in aircraft design.
There is not a bright, clearly defined line between first- and second-generation fighters, and some early second-generation fighters, such as the F-8 Crusader
, still had guns as their primary armament. Infrared-guided or so-called "heat-seeking" missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder
and early beam-riding missiles like the Kaliningrad K-5
were used on late first-generation aircraft.
was an unusual aircraft that only flew once, resulting in the death of the pilot. It was originally designed as a rocket
powered aircraft but later used turbojets. While the plane carried machine guns, the wings were also reinforced to allow the plane to survive ramming attacks.
. Having the bomber carry a fighter as well as turrets to defend itself led to some unusual designs, none of which were implemented.
. A notable mention of this is the Shenyang J-5
, a Chinese aircraft developed from the MiG-17, which is used by North Korea
in the ground attack role and in other countries as a trainer.
Fighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
are the first attempts at creation of military aircraft using jet engines. A few were developed during the closing days of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
but saw very limited combat operations. The generation can be split into two broad groups: World War II era fighters such as the Me 262 and mature first generation fighters such as the F-86 used in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.
The "generations" of fighter aircraft are a relatively modern concept based on claims for "Fifth Generation" fighters. They are rough categories based on similar designs and do not correspond to a rigid definition.
World War II Era
The initial attempts were straight-winged subsonic planes based heavily on the design concepts that had worked well in piston-poweredAircraft engine
An aircraft engine is the component of the propulsion system for an aircraft that generates mechanical power. Aircraft engines are almost always either lightweight piston engines or gas turbines...
aircraft. Some of these fighters were tested using piston engines to evaluate the airframes before the jets to power them were available or reliable enough to sustain flight.
The first operational turbojet aircraft, the He 178, was a German design that first flew in 1939. It was used as the basis of the later He 280, a design passed over for the Me 262. A similar British design, the Gloster E.28/39
Gloster E.28/39
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* James, Derek N. Gloster Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-807-0.* Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.* Morgan, Eric B. "A New Concept of...
had provisions for some armament, but the guns were not fitted on either prototype.
The P-59 Airacomet
P-59 Airacomet
The Bell P-59 Airacomet was the first American jet fighter aircraft, designed and built during World War II. The United States Army Air Forces was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went...
was the first American jet fighter to be put into service but it was widely seen as an inferior design and never saw combat. The piston-engined P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
could reach higher top speeds and had a much greater range.
The Japanese had some experimental models, such as the Nakajima J9Y Kikka, but none saw operational use.
Aircraft that entered service
The plans for the first operational jet fighter, the Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe were drawn up in 1939, and the airplane first flew under jet power in 1942. The Me 262 was not operational until 1944, and its effectiveness was crippled by the deteriorating infrastructure of Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
. World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
ended before jet fighters were common. The United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
also had jet fighters operational before the end of the war, but neither saw much use. The British Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
was used to intercept Germany's V-1 cruise missiles. The American Lockheed P-80 entered service in the closing phases of the war and was deployed to Europe but arrived too late to see any combat.
The earliest jet fighters did not carry radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
or other sophisticated avionics
Avionics
Avionics are electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites and spacecraft.Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to meet individual roles...
and had similar equipment to the piston-engined counterparts used during the war. Machine guns and cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
were the primary armament, though the Me 262 also used air to air rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
s against Allied bomber formations and could carry unguided bombs.
The significant operational aircraft in this group include:
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
-
- Messerschmitt Me 262Messerschmitt Me 262The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems prevented the aircraft from attaining operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944...
- Heinkel He 162Heinkel He 162The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger was a German single-engine, jet-powered fighter aircraft fielded by the Luftwaffe in World War II. Designed and built quickly, and made primarily of wood as metals were in very short supply and prioritised for other aircraft, the He 162 was nevertheless the fastest of...
- Gloster MeteorGloster MeteorThe Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
- Messerschmitt Me 262
Other aircraft were built or developed during the war, did not see combat. Many entered general service in the immediate post-war years. Examples include:
-
- Dassault OuraganDassault OuraganThe Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan was the first French-designed jet fighter-bomber to enter production, playing a key role in resurgence of the French aviation industry after World War II. The Ouragan was operated by France, Israel, India and El Salvador...
- de Havilland VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
- Hawker Sea HawkHawker Sea HawkThe Hawker Sea Hawk was a British single-seat jet fighter of the Fleet Air Arm , the air branch of the Royal Navy , built by Hawker Aircraft and its sister company, Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. Although its origins stemmed from earlier Hawker piston-engined fighters, the Sea Hawk became the...
- Supermarine AttackerSupermarine AttackerThe Supermarine Attacker was a British single-seat naval jet fighter built by Supermarine for the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm . It was the FAA's first jet fighter.-Design and development:...
- BellBell AircraftThe Bell Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer of the United States, a builder of several types of fighter aircraft for World War II but most famous for the Bell X-1, the first supersonic aircraft, and for the development and production of many important civilian and military helicopters...
P-59 AiracometP-59 AiracometThe Bell P-59 Airacomet was the first American jet fighter aircraft, designed and built during World War II. The United States Army Air Forces was not impressed by its performance and cancelled the contract when fewer than half of the aircraft ordered had been produced. Although no P-59s went... - LockheedLockheed CorporationThe Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
P-80 Shooting StarP-80 Shooting StarThe Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but... - McDonnellMcDonnell AircraftThe McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 16, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule...
FH PhantomFH PhantomThe McDonnell FH Phantom was a twin-engined jet fighter aircraft designed and first flown during World War II for the United States Navy. The Phantom was the first purely jet-powered aircraft to land on an American aircraft carrier and the first jet deployed by the United States Marine Corps... - Ryan Aeronautical FR FireballFR FireballThe Ryan FR Fireball was a mixed-power fighter aircraft designed by Ryan Aeronautical for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the Navy's first aircraft with jet propulsion. Only 66 aircraft were built before Japan surrendered in August 1945. The FR-1 Fireball equipped a single...
(see below) - Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 'Fargo'Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 was the first Soviet turbojet fighter developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich in the years immediately after World War II. It used reverse-engineered German BMW 003 engines...
- Yakovlev Yak-15Yakovlev Yak-15The Yakovlev Yak-15, NATO reporting name: Feather, USAF/DOD designation Type 2) was a first-generation Soviet turbojet fighter developed by the Yakovlev design bureau immediately after World War II. It used a reverse-engineered German Junkers Jumo 004 engine...
/17 'Feather'
- Dassault Ouragan
The Russian aircraft were based heavily on British engines (including a reverse-engineered Rolls-Royce Nene
Rolls-Royce Nene
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Bridgman, L, Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. Crescent. ISBN 0-517-67964-7-External links:* *...
engine) and German designs, and were developed after the end of World War II. The French Ouragan was also a design of the late 1940s rather than a wartime effort.
Hybrid Propulsion
Early jet engines had poor accelerationAcceleration
In physics, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. In one dimension, acceleration is the rate at which something speeds up or slows down. However, since velocity is a vector, acceleration describes the rate of change of both the magnitude and the direction of velocity. ...
, and the FR Fireball
FR Fireball
The Ryan FR Fireball was a mixed-power fighter aircraft designed by Ryan Aeronautical for the United States Navy during World War II. It was the Navy's first aircraft with jet propulsion. Only 66 aircraft were built before Japan surrendered in August 1945. The FR-1 Fireball equipped a single...
was a mixed-propulsion aircraft with a propeller in front and a jet engine in the back designed for use on an aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
. The Russian Mikoyan-Gurevich I-250 and Sukhoi Su-5
Sukhoi Su-5
-See also:...
were similar concepts but used a motorjet
Motorjet
A motorjet is a rudimentary type of jet engine which is sometimes referred to as thermojet, a term now commonly used to describe a particular and completely unrelated pulsejet design.- Design :...
instead of a turbojet and were not designed for carrier use.
Further experiments after the war with mixed propulsion included the XF2R Dark Shark
XF2R Dark Shark
-See also:-Bibliography:* Ginter, Steve. Ryan FR-1 Fireball and XF2R-1 Darkshark, Naval Fighters Number 28. Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Books, 1995. ISBN 0-942612-28-0....
and the XF-84H Thunderscreech
XF-84H Thunderscreech
The Republic XF-84H "Thunderscreech" was an experimental turboprop aircraft derived from the F-84F Thunderstreak. Powered by a turbine engine that was mated to a supersonic propeller, the XF-84H had the potential of setting the unofficial air speed record for propeller-driven aircraft, but was...
, one of the loudest aircraft ever flown. The Thunderscreech, however, was a much later design, being a contemporary of the clearly second generation F-104 Starfighter
F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
. None of these hybrid-propulsion planes saw combat or major use, though the Fireball was used operationally for two years.
Korean War
Swept wing
A swept wing is a wing planform favored for high subsonic jet speeds first investigated by Germany during the Second World War. Since the introduction of the MiG-15 and North American F-86 which demonstrated a decisive superiority over the slower first generation of straight-wing jet fighters...
and some could break the sound barrier
Sound barrier
The sound barrier, in aerodynamics, is the point at which an aircraft moves from transonic to supersonic speed. The term, which occasionally has other meanings, came into use during World War II, when a number of aircraft started to encounter the effects of compressibility, a collection of several...
in a dive, but almost all of them lacked the thrust
Thrust
Thrust is a reaction force described quantitatively by Newton's second and third laws. When a system expels or accelerates mass in one direction the accelerated mass will cause a force of equal magnitude but opposite direction on that system....
to do so in level flight. Radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
was used in dedicated interceptors
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
and night fighters but early models required a dedicated radar operator. These aircraft are mostly associated with the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. Some interceptor
Interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically to prevent missions of enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Interceptors generally rely on high speed and powerful armament in order to complete their mission as quickly as possible and set up...
designs, such as the F-94
F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:...
used rockets such as the Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
Mk 4/Mk 40 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket
The Mk 4 Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket , sometimes called the Mighty Mouse, was a 2.75 in diameter unguided rocket weapon commonly used by U.S. military aircraft. It was intended as an air-to-air weapon to allow interceptor aircraft to shoot down enemy bombers with greater range and effectiveness than...
as their primary weapon instead of guns.
Interceptors/Night fighters
-
- Avro CF-100 CanuckAvro CF-100The Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck was a Canadian jet interceptor/fighter serving during the Cold War both in NATO bases in Europe and as part of NORAD. The CF-100 was the only Canadian-designed fighter to enter mass production, serving primarily with the RCAF/CAF and in small numbers in Belgium...
- de Havilland VenomDe Havilland VenomThe de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
/ de Havilland Sea Venom - Yakovlev Yak-25 'Flashlight'Yakovlev Yak-25The Yakovlev Yak-25 was a swept wing, turbojet-powered interceptor aircraft and reconnaissance aircraft built by Yakovlev and used by the Soviet Union.-Design and development:...
- NorthropNorthrop CorporationNorthrop Corporation was a leading United States aircraft manufacturer from its formation in 1939 until its merger with Grumman to form Northrop Grumman in 1994. The company is known for its development of the flying wing design, although only a few of these have entered service.-History:Jack...
F-89 ScorpionF-89 ScorpionThe Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an early American jet-powered fighter designed from the outset as an all-weather interceptor. Though its straight wings limited its performance, it was among the first USAF jet fighters with guided missiles, and notably the first combat aircraft armed with air-to-air... - LockheedLockheed CorporationThe Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
F-94 StarfireF-94 StarfireThe Lockheed F-94 Starfire was the United States Air Force's first operational jet-powered all-weather interceptor aircraft. It was a development by Lockheed of the twin-seat T-33 Shooting Star trainer aircraft.-Design and development:... - DouglasDouglas Aircraft CompanyThe Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
F3D SkyknightF3D SkyknightThe Douglas F3D Skyknight, was a United States twin-engine, midwing jet fighter aircraft manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo, California. The F3D was designed as a carrier-based all-weather aircraft. It saw service with the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps...
- Avro CF-100 Canuck
Fighter-bombers
-
- Dassault Mystère I/II/III
- Dassault Mystère IVDassault Mystère IV|-See also:-External links:*...
- Saab 21RSaab 21R|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Andersson, Hans G. Saab Aircraft since 1937 . London: Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-831-3....
- RepublicRepublic Aviation CompanyThe Republic Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York. Originally known as the Seversky Aircraft Company, the company was responsible for the design and production of many important military aircraft, including the P-47 Thunderbolt, F-84...
F-84 ThunderjetF-84 ThunderjetThe Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946... - RepublicRepublic Aviation CompanyThe Republic Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, Long Island, New York. Originally known as the Seversky Aircraft Company, the company was responsible for the design and production of many important military aircraft, including the P-47 Thunderbolt, F-84...
F-84F ThunderstreakF-84F ThunderstreakThe Republic F-84F Thunderstreak was an American-built swept-wing turbojet fighter-bomber. While an evolutionary development of the straight-wing F-84 Thunderjet, the F-84F was a new design. The RF-84F Thunderflash was a photo reconnaissance version....
Air superiority fighters
Many of these also had fighter-bomber variants./
-
- CAC SabreCAC Sabre|-See also:-Bibliography:* Allward, Maurice. F-86 Sabre. London: Ian Allen, 1978. ISBN 0-71100-860-4.* Curtis, Duncan. North American F-86 Sabre. Ramsbury, UK: Crowood, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-358-9....
/ - Canadair Sabre
- Shenyang J-5Shenyang J-5The Shenyang J-5 , originally designated Dongfeng-101 - , and also Type 56 before being designated J-5 in 1964, is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. The J-5 was exported as the F-5...
- Saab TunnanSaab TunnanThe Saab 29, popularly called Flygande tunnan , was a Swedish fighter designed and manufactured by Saab in the 1950s. It was Sweden's second turbojet-powered combat aircraft, the first being the Saab 21R...
- Saab LansenSaab Lansen|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Erichs, Rolph et al. The Saab-Scania Story. Stockholm: Streiffert & Co., 1988. ISBN 91-7886-014-8....
- de Havilland VampireDe Havilland VampireThe de Havilland DH.100 Vampire was a British jet-engine fighter commissioned by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. Following the Gloster Meteor, it was the second jet fighter to enter service with the RAF. Although it arrived too late to see combat during the war, the Vampire served...
- de Havilland VenomDe Havilland VenomThe de Havilland DH 112 Venom was a British postwar single-engined jet aircraft developed from the de Havilland Vampire. It served with the Royal Air Force as a single-seat fighter-bomber and two-seat night fighter....
- North AmericanNorth American AviationNorth American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War... - McDonnellMcDonnell AircraftThe McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 16, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule...
F2H BansheeF2H BansheeThe McDonnell F2H Banshee was a single-seat carrier-based jet fighter aircraft deployed by the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps from 1948 to 1961. It was one of the primary American fighters used during the Korean War and was the only jet-powered fighter ever deployed by the Royal... - McDonnellMcDonnell AircraftThe McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 16, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule...
F3H DemonF3H DemonThe McDonnell F3H Demon was a subsonic swept-wing United States Navy carrier-based jet fighter aircraft. After severe problems with Westinghouse J40 engine that was ultimately abandoned, the successor to the McDonnell F2H Banshee served starting in 1956 redesigned with the J71 engine... - Lavochkin La-15 'Fantail'Lavochkin La-15-See also:-Bibliography:*Gordon,Yefim. Lavochkin's Last Jets. Midland Publishing. Hinkley. 2007. ISBN 1 85780 253 3-Further reading:*Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995. London:Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9....
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 'Fagot'Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR by Artem Mikoyan and Mikhail Gurevich. The MiG-15 was one of the first successful swept-wing jet fighters, and it achieved fame in the skies over Korea, where early in the war, it outclassed all straight-winged enemy fighters in...
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 'Fresco'Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the USSR from 1952 and operated by numerous air forces in many variants. Most MiG-17 variants cannot carry air-to-air missiles, but shot down many aircraft with its cannons...
- Yakovlev Yak-23 'Flora'Yakovlev Yak-23|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. "Early Soviet Jet Fighters". Hinkley: Midland. 2002. ISBN 1-85780-139-3* Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1...
- CAC Sabre
Cancelled fighters
-
- I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I
- FMA IAe 33 Pulqui IIFMA IAe 33 Pulqui IIThe FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II was a jet fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1940s in Argentina, under the Perón government, and built by the Fábrica Militar de Aviones...
- Aérocentre NC 1080Aérocentre NC 1080-References:* Green, W. & Swanborough, G. . The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-85833-777-1-External links:* *...
- Aerfer ArieteAerfer Ariete-See also:-References:* Swanborough, Gordon. Air Enthusiast, Volume One. London: Pilot Press, 1971. ISBN 0-385-08171-5....
/ Aerfer LeoneAerfer LeoneThe Aerfer Leone was a fighter designed in Italy in the late 1950s. It was a final attempt to develop the Aerfer Sagittario 2 into a workable aircraft....
/ Aerfer Sagittario 2Aerfer Sagittario 2|-References:* The Aeroplane, December 21, 1956, p. 924* Giuseppe Ciampaglia, Dal SAI Ambrosini Sagittario all'AERFER Leone, January 2004, IBN editore, with English translation by Stephen Richards-See also:... - Nakajima J9Y
- Nakajima Ki-201Nakajima Ki-201-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London, Putnam & Company, 1970 . ISBN 0-370-30251-6....
Nazi GermanyNazi GermanyNazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by... - Focke-Wulf Ta-183
- Heinkel He 280Heinkel He 280The Heinkel He 280 was the first turbojet-powered fighter aircraft in the world. It was inspired by Ernst Heinkel's emphasis on research into high-speed flight and built on the company's experience with the He 178 jet prototype. A combination of technical and political factors led to it being...
- Horten Ho 229Horten Ho 229The Horten H.IX, RLM designation Ho 229 was a late–World War II prototype fighter/bomber designed by Reimar and Walter Horten and built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik...
- Messerschmitt Me P.1101Messerschmitt Me P.1101|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Myrha, David. Messerschmitt P.1101- X Planes of the Third Reich Series. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, 1999. ISBN 0-7643-0908-0....
- Messerschmitt Me P.1106Messerschmitt Me P.1106The Messerschmitt P.1106 was an intended improvement to the Messerschmitt P.1101. It went through several redesigns; the first version had a T-tail with cockpit faired into the vertical stabilizer, the later design having a V-tail with the cockpit moved slightly forward. In both cases the wings...
- FFA N-20FFA N-20-References:NotesBibliography* Haller, Ullrich. "The Swiss N-20 Jet Fighter-Bomber". Air Pictorial,July 1964. pp. 203–204.* Munziger, Ernst. Düsentriebwerke. Luzern:Baden Verlag, 1991. ISBN 3-85545-056-0....
- Gloster E.1/44Gloster E.1/44|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Ashley, Glenn. Meteor in Action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1995. ISBN 0-89747-332-9.* Bowyer, Chaz. Gloster Meteor. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1985. ISBN 0-7110-1477-9....
- Gloster E.28/39Gloster E.28/39|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* James, Derek N. Gloster Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam, 1987. ISBN 0-85177-807-0.* Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Chancellor Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.* Morgan, Eric B. "A New Concept of...
- Saunders-Roe SR.A/1Saunders-Roe SR.A/1|-See also:-References:*London, Peter. British Flying Boats. Stroud, UK:Sutton Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0-7509-2695-3.*Mason, Francis K.The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland, USA:Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7....
- Alekseyev I-211 / Alekseyev I-215
- Lavochkin La-150Lavochkin La-150The Lavochkin La-150 , was designed by the Lavochkin design bureau in response to a 1945 order to build a single-seat jet fighter using a single German turbojet...
- Lavochkin La-168
- Sukhoi Su-9 (1946)Sukhoi Su-9 (1946)The Sukhoi Su-9, or Samolyet K , , was an early jet fighter built in the Soviet Union shortly after World War II. The design began in 1944 and was intended to use Soviet-designed turbojet engines. The design was heavily influenced by captured German jet fighters and it was subsequently redesigned...
- Sukhoi Su-15 (1949)Sukhoi Su-15 (1949)|-See also:-References:*Antonov,Vladimir & Gordon, Yefim & others. OKB Sukhoi”. Leicester. Midland. 1996. ISBN 1 85780 0125...
- Sukhoi Su-17 (1949)
- Yakovlev Yak-19Yakovlev Yak-19-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-978-6.-External links:*...
- Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)Yakovlev Yak-25 (1947)|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gordon, Yefim. "Early Soviet Jet Fighters". Hinkley: Midland. 2002. ISBN 1-85780-139-3* Green, William & Swanborough, Gordon. "The Complete Book of Fighters". London: Salamander Books. 1994. ISBN 1-85833-777-1...
/ Yakovlev Yak-30 (1948)Yakovlev Yak-30 (1948)|-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-978-6.-External links:*... - Yakovlev Yak-50 (1949)Yakovlev Yak-50 (1949)|-See also:-References:* Gunston, Bill. Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-978-6.-External links:*...
A notable post-war fighter that was never used operationally was the FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II
The FMA IAe 33 Pulqui II was a jet fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1940s in Argentina, under the Perón government, and built by the Fábrica Militar de Aviones...
, a prototype fighter built in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The Pulqui II was designed by a team which included former German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
engineers led by Kurt Tank
Kurt Tank
Kurt Waldemar Tank was a German aeronautical engineer and test pilot, heading the design department at Focke-Wulf from 1931-45. He designed several important aircraft of World War II, including the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 fighter aircraft.-Early life:Tank was born in Bromberg , Province of Posen...
and was based on initial designs for the Focke-Wulf Ta 183
Focke-Wulf Ta 183
The Focke-Wulf Ta 183 Huckebein was a design for a jet-powered fighter aircraft intended as the successor to the Messerschmitt Me 262 and other day fighters in Luftwaffe service during World War II. It was developed only to the extent of wind tunnel models when the war ended, but the basic design...
, the proposed successor to the Me 262. The Pulqui II itself was a successor to the I.Ae. 27 Pulqui I, a prototype jet fighter developed in Argentina by Emile Dewoitine
Émile Dewoitine
Émile Dewoitine was a French aviation industrialist.- Prewar industrial activities :Born in Crépy-en-Laonnois, Émile Dewoitine entered the aviation industry by working at Latécoère during Word War I...
in the late 1940s and the first of its type to fly in South America.
The End of the First Generation
By the 1950s, the next major group of fighter aircraft were planes that used air to air missiles as their primary armament and could routinely exceed the speed of sound in level flight. First generation fighters were limited to engagements in visual range, and the expected performance of new missiles, like the AIM-7 SparrowAIM-7 Sparrow
The AIM-7 Sparrow is an American, medium-range semi-active radar homing air-to-air missile operated by the United States Air Force, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, as well as various allied air forces and navies. Sparrow and its derivatives were the West's principal beyond visual...
, with semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing, or SARH, is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer-range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is only a passive detector of a radar signal – provided by an external ...
, forced changes in aircraft design.
There is not a bright, clearly defined line between first- and second-generation fighters, and some early second-generation fighters, such as the F-8 Crusader
F-8 Crusader
The Vought F-8 Crusader was a single-engine, supersonic, carrier-based air superiority jet aircraft built by Vought for the United States Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing the Vought F7U Cutlass...
, still had guns as their primary armament. Infrared-guided or so-called "heat-seeking" missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-9 Sidewinder
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is a heat-seeking, short-range, air-to-air missile carried mostly by fighter aircraft and recently, certain gunship helicopters. The missile entered service with United States Air Force in the early 1950s, and variants and upgrades remain in active service with many air forces...
and early beam-riding missiles like the Kaliningrad K-5
Kaliningrad K-5
The Kaliningrad K-5 , also known as RS-1U or product ShM, was an early Soviet air-to-air missile.-History:...
were used on late first-generation aircraft.
Flying Ram
The Northrop XP-79 flying wingFlying wing
A flying wing is a tailless fixed-wing aircraft which has no definite fuselage, with most of the crew, payload and equipment being housed inside the main wing structure....
was an unusual aircraft that only flew once, resulting in the death of the pilot. It was originally designed as a rocket
Rocket
A rocket is a missile, spacecraft, aircraft or other vehicle which obtains thrust from a rocket engine. In all rockets, the exhaust is formed entirely from propellants carried within the rocket before use. Rocket engines work by action and reaction...
powered aircraft but later used turbojets. While the plane carried machine guns, the wings were also reinforced to allow the plane to survive ramming attacks.
Parasite Fighters
Early jet fighters did not have the range to escort bombers all the way to the target and back, the same problem that had plagued the B-17 and its contemporaries during the bombing campaigns of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Having the bomber carry a fighter as well as turrets to defend itself led to some unusual designs, none of which were implemented.
- XF-85 GoblinXF-85 GoblinThe McDonnell XF-85 Goblin was an American prototype fighter aircraft conceived during World War II by McDonnell Aircraft. It was intended to be carried in and deployed from the bomb bay of the giant Convair B-36 bomber as a parasite fighter. The XF-85's intended role was to defend bombers from...
, carried in the bomb bay. - FICON projectFICON projectThe FICON program was conducted by the United States Air Force in the 1950s to test the feasibility of a Convair B-36 Peacemaker bomber carrying an Republic RF-84K Thunderflash parasite fighter in its bomb bay. Earlier wingtip coupling experiments including Tip Tow which were attempts at carrying...
using the F-84
Aircraft still in use
A few of the aircraft from this generation are still in use by the air forces of smaller nations, typically in the ground attack role and not as fightersFighter aircraft
A fighter aircraft is a military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other aircraft, as opposed to a bomber, which is designed primarily to attack ground targets...
. A notable mention of this is the Shenyang J-5
Shenyang J-5
The Shenyang J-5 , originally designated Dongfeng-101 - , and also Type 56 before being designated J-5 in 1964, is a Chinese-built single-seat jet interceptor and fighter aircraft derived from the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17. The J-5 was exported as the F-5...
, a Chinese aircraft developed from the MiG-17, which is used by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
in the ground attack role and in other countries as a trainer.
See also
- Fighter aircraft generations
- List of jet aircraft of World War II