What's your favourite military aircraft?

[Westmarcher]

The other day I was asked by Mrs Westie who my favourite Scottish comedian was. I replied that I didn't really have any favourites of anything (although, on reflection, I might choose Kevin Bridges), that "having favourites" was something someone in their teens or twenties might indulge in and no, not someone as mature and wise as I ...... Sccrreeeeechhhhhhh!!!!  (sound of squealing brakes and tyres). Whoa! Wait! What was I saying? The truth is, I do have favourites - but in a geeky wargaming / military history kind of way.   

I am fascinated with the promotional videos released by defence firms or produced by YouTubers - cool machines, awesome action and often, cool music. Now and again, I find myself infatuated with a particular vehicle or aircraft. Focusing on aircraft only (I'll start another post on vehicles), I find I am currently in love with the Saab Gripen jet fighter. 
I don't fully know why (I'm sure I will get over it) but here is one of these videos.

Here is a link to another one I like .....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeizk30axdU

So, what's everyone else's favourite military aircraft (and if you can explain, why)?

[remember, you have the whole of the history of flight to draw from]

[Fenton]

Hard choice

Probably DH 2 or the Hurricane

[petercooman]

 

[petercooman]

And if we are talking about fighters or bombers (or both), i'll have to say the de havilland mosquito.

[Leman]

I'm afraid this says it all about me - the Leonardo da Vinci gyrocopter.

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

The F Mk6 BAC Lightening - what else is there ?

IanS

[Leman]

The Leonardo da Vinci gyrocopter.

[fsn]

The F Mk6 BAC Lightening - what else is there ?

My father worked on Lightnings. Very fond memories of the roar as they took off on an intercept.


I have a number of aircraft I am quite attached to ...

Sopwith Camel - probably because of the Biggles stories
Bolton Paul Defiant   - because it was just so silly
Bv141 - asymmetric and ugly
Fairey Swordfish - I read somewhere that it was too slow for German AA to track. Probably wrong. 
Bristol Beaufighter - "Whispering Death"
MiG 15 - So ugly and so deadly ... but only because of a British engine!
McDonnel Douglas Phantom - What can I say? - Child of the '70's
SAAB Drakken - I went through a very pro-Swedish period in the 1980s. My 1:300 S-tanks were supported by Drakkens.

[fsn]

The other day I was asked by Mrs Westie who my favourite Scottish comedian was.

The Big Yin, surely?

[fsn]

Oooh! I forgot the Spad A2, where the prop was between the pilot and the gunner.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Any

[d_Guy]

The JU-87 Stuka dive bomber and the F-4 Phantom

But also I think I've mentioned this before:


Also second Leman's choice

[Nosher]

The Lightning

[Ithoriel]

The JU87 "Kanonenvogel" - because strapping a pair of antitank guns onto a Stuka is simultaneously bonkers and brilliant.

[d_Guy]

The JU87 "Kanonenvogel" - because strapping a pair of antitank guns onto a Stuka is simultaneously bonkers and brilliant.

Probably worked better then dive breaks!