Sapper
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So F 86 and F 104 are the best planes in PAF's arsenal ??
Dear,
You need some schooling in American Fighter program series, so here it goes
When the jet era began, most jets and props had similar flight envelops, and infact the props were considered better till around 46~47.
Grumman & Vought started off their numbering from start series with Grumman numbering FF(prop), F2F(prop), F3F(prop), F4F(prop), F5F(prop), F6F(prop), F7F(prop), F8F(prop), F9F, F9, F10F, F11 & F14, while Vought numbering F4U, F5U, F6U, F7U & F8 etc, ... while the rest of the manufacturers ( Lockheed, North American, Republic, Convair, Northrop, Douglas, McDonnell etc) used numbers after and around and after 80, i.e. P80, then F82 (prop), F84, F85, F86, F88, F89 , F90, F91, F92, F93, F94, F100, F101, F102, F104, F105, F106, F107, F111.
These are seperate from their A series attack planes, i.e. A1(prop), A4, A5, A6, A7, A8, A9, A10.
After this they more or less unified their numbering starting off with F14 onwards. The venerable teen series, F14, F15, F16, F/A18 was and still is the most success series both in numbers built and exported as well as their service life with USAF and Navy. After that the only three numbers have been alloted so far, F20 tigershark, F/A22 raptor & F35 Lightning II. F15 and F16 are projected to still be in USAF service 60+ years after they were inducted. That miraculous, and whats more miraculous is the fact that there is still demand for their export.
So yes , F17 was designed and named justly to fall right into the venerable Teen series, which was the prime of US fighter manufacturing and export.
Regards,
Sapper