Do I really need to elaborate? Vought F-8 Crusader Credit: Jeff Kubina via FlickrĪnother Vietnam-era plane that deserves more love, the fast yet nimble F-8 achieved success in the early days of the Vietnam War, as it tangled with the aforementioned MIG-17. Put it in Ace Combat because: Nuclear rockets. Otherwise, a top speed of just over Mach 2 and nimble handling makes the Delta Dart a suitable addition to Ace Combat. Those weapons alone make for a great fit in video games. And it could also carry a guided nuclear missile, dubbed the AIM-26A. The Delta Dart was meant to intercept Soviet bombers, using a single unguided Genie nuclear rocket to take out the whole flight. Why would you want another obsolete jet aircraft from the 1950s on the list? Well, I’ve got two words for you: nuclear rocket. Put it in Ace Combat because: Who doesn’t want a jet capable of intercepting the Concorde? Yep, that happened. The aircraft broke speed and altitude records, even being able to intercept a U-2 spy plane in the 1980s. Not that it doesn’t look like a beast, largely owing to the stacked engine layout and MIG-style nose.Ī Mach 2-capable interceptor, the Lightning was designed to make quick work of Soviet bombers heading for the UK.
If the Hunter is a classic sportscar, then the Lightning is a classic F1 car, being built purely for speed rather than looks. English Electric Lightning Credit: Ronnie Macdonald via Flickr Put it in Ace Combat because: It’s got classic lines and sounds otherworldly. Armed with four (count ’em!) 30mm cannons and Sidewinders, the Hunter can defend itself from fellow fighters of the time, but the ability to carry rocket pods and Maverick missiles makes it a decent ground-attack platform in a pinch. Nevertheless, the Hunter made a name for itself throughout history, being used in numerous conflicts in the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, Zimbabwe and more. How could you not love a fighter jet that looks like a classic sportscar and sounds like this? The 1950s era Hunter may be obsolete now, but it would still make for a welcome addition to the franchise. Put it in Ace Combat because: It basically fires Energade bottles from its main gun. In addition to the gigantic cannon, the MIG-17 featured two 23mm cannons as well, making for a formidable close-range dogfighting platform.Īnd it’s not like the aircraft wasn’t iconic either, being the backbone of communist Vietnam along with the series-staple MIG-21. Still, the MIG-17 can actually carry air-to-air missiles while retaining the monstrous 37mm cannon found on the earlier MIG. The MIG 15 and MIG 17 have never featured in an Ace Combat game, perhaps owing to the fact that they’re just a little too basic compared to newer fighter aircraft.