Ignoring all the crazy logistical issues for most of these:
B1-B
Vulcan, Victor and Valiant
Harrier
Buccanneer (for the low passes in ground effect :) )
And for complete lunacy, fit a Concorde with a couple of 303s in the wings and call it military!:)

Or fit the bomb-bay

Westland Lysander , with a quieter exhaust :)

I recall ages ago reading some work someone had done to calculate the top speed, came out at M3.4 so far as I can recall. The limiting factor is the compressor inlet air temperature, which increases with speed. Any faster than that and the air temperature profile throughout the compressor results in the latter stages getting hot enough to melt.

Of course, Reaction Engines’ helium cooled heat exchanger on their Sabre concept overcomes that general limitation. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if that pitches up in something hypersonic in the US.

Aircraft I Like would to be still flying.
 

The Harrier gr9. Lightning. f4 phantom. vulcan. f14 tomcat. Mosquito.

Wasn't there a design for the Vickers Funbus as a bomber (& indeed a maritime patrol aircraft) both fitted with a bomb bay & disposable pods under the wings? If I recall in the bomber role it could have carried 40,000lb worth (or maybe more) of bombs. Get's my vote!

I hate to say it, and sorry to be controversial, but none of the RAF's retired types were really world beating either by the time they were retired or even when introduced. The Eurofighter Typhoon is OK, as was the Lightning. Tornado, adequate. We'd have bene far better to buy a half dozen squadrons of F/A18s and upgraded to E/F models really. Could have deployed them on a carrier, and on land. A truly versatile aircraft. F15s are still better than the Eurofighter and they're 40 years old.

The Harrier was different, unique and specialised like nothing before or since. The Harrier II was a fine aircraft, once the wiring fires were sorted. But other than cost, we could have bought some A10s and had a far more potent beast.

Hate to say it, and credit where it's due, but the UK military industry really hasn't done something world leading since the Spitfire. Hope BAe's new baby kicks ass though!

Could you have written a more poorly balanced post?

When you say, "as was the Lightning," I presume you refer to the English Electric Lightning.

At the risk of every WIWOL on the forum hating me forever, no, it really wasn't 'ok' when put into historical context. It was neglected by the political class, and as a consequence it was out-classed by fighters capable of delivering RH weapons.
It had the potential, it just didn't have the investment and its IR weapons were old and dated - the later models of the AIM-9 in those days were a quantum leap in technology.

Maybe in the 60's, the Lightning really was top dog. When RH technology really started to pick up, anything that wasn't providing a similar capability was left behind.

Oh, and let's not even go there with regards to fuel...

Canberra...

Quite.

And in its original carrier borne, strike role, Buccaneer.

Let's face it, the title of this thread might as well be " What age would you like to be again?"

I beg to disagree! The Canberra was outstanding throughout its RAF service, and the PR9 better than many platforms in the specialised role of high altitude reconnaissance,.

Mig 21would be a nice aircraft to return to service

In my adoration for Her I neglected any Ram rise...3.4 is still excellent
Thanks

just because you don’t like what he said, doesn’t make it “unbalanced”. There’s a reason that no one bought the Lightning. There was an F-104 and the dispatch reliability of the Lightning was less than 70% at any given time.

I'm kind of glad the political class neglected it, to be honest.

The Phantom was a wonderful aeroplane and I don't think the Lightning, even if given all the money in the world, could have been close to being as capable and it would have undermined the case to buy the F-4.

So true.
What Military Aircraft Would You Bring Back To Service?
None of them. They’re obsolete.

Meh... Tornado GR4 is still relevant and would easily fit back in for the next few years in that hypothetical situation.

It wasn't that long ago that it was delivering good news to vile people.

I seem to recall we had one at Halton, @1979 , they were also maintained at Syerston along with Air Cadets Barges and Kirby Cadets and the like.

Ttfn

what's interesting is how many of the suggestions want to add/change things to the light of their life - armament, engines, electronics