Outstanding aircraft types that didn't see combat
There must be lots of combat aircraft types over the years that didn't ever get to see action. Of them, which are your favourites?
I'm discounting here the myriad aircraft types that might be considered experimental, odd, lacklustre, humdrum or uninspiring, or were solely involved in non-combat duties (training etc). I'm really looking for examples of mainstream, frontline historic combat aircraft. I'm also discounting types in current air force inventories, on the basis that they might still see combat one day.
So which are your favourites? I had hoped to nominate the English Electric Lightning, but a bit of research shows they were apparently used in a ground-attack role in Saudi Arabia in 1969.
I'm discounting here the myriad aircraft types that might be considered experimental, odd, lacklustre, humdrum or uninspiring, or were solely involved in non-combat duties (training etc). I'm really looking for examples of mainstream, frontline historic combat aircraft. I'm also discounting types in current air force inventories, on the basis that they might still see combat one day.
So which are your favourites? I had hoped to nominate the English Electric Lightning, but a bit of research shows they were apparently used in a ground-attack role in Saudi Arabia in 1969.
If we include reconnaisance varients, and though outside of declared hostiities, RB-47s were intercepted, fired upon by MiG-15/17s and returned fire during flights over the Soviet Union. Several were damaged and some shot-down.
Hardly outstanding. The idea of the laminar wing was that it would improve on the performance of the Spitfire. in fact, the increase in speed was marginal, the critical Mach No. was lower, and it had poor stall characteristics. They then tried to get the R.N.to accept the Seafang. A carrier aircraft with poor stall characteristics was not the best of ideas. The "Jet Spiteful" evolved into the Attacker, with the same wing, but was not in front line service for long.
I did consider the RB-47s but was really highlighting that the standard bomber version didn't see combat. It does seem surprising, given that it was in service during Korean conflict and the early days of the Vietnam War. Can't recall if the 'bomber' B-50 saw service either. Possibly not.
Marine Corps night fighter squadron VMF(N)-513 flying F7F-3N Tigercats saw action in the early stages of the Korean War, flying night interdiction and fighter missions and shooting down two Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes.[9] This was the only combat use of the aircraft.
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The Rhodesian Air Force were using surviving RhAF and ex SAAF single-seat and dual-seat Vampires in internal ground attack operations right until 1980.
I did consider the RB-47s but was really highlighting that the standard bomber version didn't see combat. It does seem surprising, given that it was in service during Korean conflict and the early days of the Vietnam War. Can't recall if the 'bomber' B-50 saw service either. Possibly not.
But were the Attacker's stall characteristics much better than the Seafang?
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RAF Vampires saw action during the Malayan Emergency and Mau Mau uprising, presumably ground attack.
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I'll see your IIIO, and raise you IV.
The CAC Sabre misses the mark Cooda, From 1958 to 1960, CAC Sabres of No. 78 Wing RAAF (78 Wing), comprising 3 Sqn and 77 Sqn, undertook several ground attack sorties against communist insurgents in the Federation of Malaya, during the Malayan Emergency.