Best early jet interceptor?

[MerkavaMK4]

i vote for the first - Me262. Was a damn fine aircraft, better than meteors and shooting stars.

[Unther]

In the era of MiG-21 etc. I'd probably take the F-4B (Navy-Interceptor-Version) of the late 50s/early 60s.

It's not the prettiest aircraft or the most maneuverable, but its technology (radar, infrared-sensor etc.) and its weapons (AIM-9 / AIM-7) were outstanding for its time. Its combat record over Vietnam was also good and the fact that F-4-variants are still in use today shows that it is a great aircraft.

In the really early era, I'd probably choose the F-86 "Sabre". The Me-262 was a great aircraft, but I've read so much about it and I know about the design flaws and the poor materials that were used (and the very low lifespan and reliability of the engines (10 hours at best)).

[Tinwolf]

Just found this thread and it`s right up my street, I love the jets of time gone by.

I have to propose that the Draken was a superb aircraft for it`s time, it had the best airborne radar in Europe until the F15s arrived in the 70s, had a good turn rate and was in service from 1960 to 2005, and in it`s later versions it had the performance and armament to challenge any aircraft.
Gentlemen I give you the Draken

[Carlo]

Good that you remembered the J-35! Great and beautiful aircraft indeed, and unfortunately not much mentioned.

[osuorsa]

hmmmm......Beautifull and mighty Draken! I'm lucky to see those planes almost when ever I want...In Finland we had about 50 of them in four different variants and it was mostly responsible for the defense of the northern Finland's airspace and of the southern Finland, while the MiG-21s were responsible of the eastern Finland...FiAF retired the Draken in 2000, when replacing it with the hornet....