The Wow Factor

[herky]

OK following a conversation im looking for opinions on which military aircraft have the WOW factor.You know the sort of thing that makes your hair stand on end when they fly over.This comes from a debate i got into regarding the F16 and the Eurofighter compared with other jets.I am not talking about performance,technologies or effectiveness but just the sheer impression of power.I personally think many of the military jets around look like toys to me.
I have listed and its only my opinion the 6 military jets which to me have this factor.
Feel free to vote and if you want add.I would ask that if you want to add aircraft that is not on there limit it to one type only and please also vote on one of the aircraft listed.Lets see where this goes

[murphyaa]

There have only been a few aircraft that give me that wow! experience when they fly over. First is the B-17, which still looks impressive in the air even after 70 odd years. Second one is the B-2 bomber. The time I saw one, it approached from the front, then did a 90 degree bank turn, and you didn't even know it was there until it turned. I got buzzed by a B-1 once while I was driving a truck past Lackland AFB. That was more of a "Holy Crap!" experience though

[herky]

Originally Posted by murphyaa

There have only been a few aircraft that give me that wow! experience when they fly over. First is the B-17, which still looks impressive in the air even after 70 odd years. Second one is the B-2 bomber. The time I saw one, it approached from the front, then did a 90 degree bank turn, and you didn't even know it was there until it turned. I got buzzed by a B-1 once while I was driving a truck past Lackland AFB. That was more of a "Holy Crap!" experience though

we were buzzed by two a10s while on a canal boat holiday in uk.was a definate underwear changing experience

[justplanedad]

Sorry Gents, A-10 wins hands down.............. Always.

[peter taft]

The one and only B-52 Stratofortress :-)

[Gixergs]

EE Lightning lucky enough to see one at Manston just as they were coming out of service. The airshow control called him up and asked if he would do a quick pass, which he did, he came in just off the deck and bloody fast then stuck her on her tail and disappeared into the heavens that was a wow.

[PhantomCruiser]

Long ago I was aboard the USS New Jersey and we were headed back to Long Beach. Two B-1's flew by at, say maybe 5,000 feet, passed overhead and flew off and I though eh, kinda cool. They got a few miles ahead of us, turned and descended to 100 feet or so, and tore right alongside us. I went from eh to Yeah baby! (even though it's an Air Force bird, I was pretty impressed).

I've seen Tomcats, Hornets (the e/f model, earlier ones I didn't like so much), F-111's... All those aluminum clouds are pretty cool, but that fly-by from those two Lancers is the memory I associate with that particular cruise.

[herky]

Originally Posted by peter taft

The one and only B-52 Stratofortress :-)

thats on my to see flying list

[JohnM]

I remember watching two Vulcans practicing the A Bomb flip off the coast of Cyprus. Even their Lightning escorts pulling verticals couldn't match that.

Try as I might I cannot find any film or video recordings of this maneuver anywhere. Surely it must have been filmed by someone.

[zot]

The bone! Check out the 2:30 mark in this video. Mind you it isn't anywhere near top speed though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8gpQSgaG6c