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.

Harrier GR5 in Gulf War One!!

Short Seamew.

Martin Baker MB5

Convair B-36.

Never entered production, only one built.

Fairey Gannet

Supermarine Attacker

Supermarine Scimitar

Grumman Bearcat; last of the cat single engine prop fighters.
Dudley Henriques

Dudley,think the French used them in VTnam....

You know, I think you're right. More correct for me to say they never saw combat as a US military fighter.

DH,..and possibly Algeria...?

Another a/c also along the line of` if it looks right,it`ll fly right` was the `FORD `, really the Douglas F4D Skyray;;first carrier-borne supersonic jet,could go Mach 1+ in level flight,and held World Airspeed Record..Really shapely aircraft,almost as good-looking as a Hunter...!!...but I`m just a bit biased...

ed..Douglas and Ed Heinemann certainly knew how to design and build great aircraft...until Mcd..came along...

I was thinking Tigercat but I think they did see some action in Korea?

The Supermarine Spiteful and Seafang.

The Supermarine Swift F1

thank god!!

Sea Vixen. Javelin. Victor. F106.

Dr J, ..SV,Jav,Vic were all in the Far East during Confrontation..

Maybe the b-58 wasn't perfect but..

B-47. That really is a strange one, given the numbers and longevity.

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.