The Coolest Planes, Ranked

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25. Learjet 23

FPG

The Learjet 23 was the first mass-produced business jet, creating a new class of aviation. A Learjet soon became the definition of business success when it was introduced in 1964, showing that the owner was too busy, too important, and too rich for commercial air travel.

The original project was intended as a ground attack fighter for the Swiss Air Force. When that did not work out, Bill Lear adapted the designed into an executive jet which retained fighter-like performance, whisking eight passengers at 540 mph and instantly creating a whole new market.

A series of other Learjets followed, and other manufacturers soon started producing their own executive jets. Learjet have been owned by Bombardier Aerospace since 1990, but the Learjet brand is as potent as ever.

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24. Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Museum of Flight Foundation

When it came into service in 1940, the Zero was the most capable carrier-based fighter in the world, combining high maneuverability with speed and longer range than competitors. As a dogfighter, it outclassed Allied carrier aircraft in the early stages of the war.

The Zero was armed with two machine guns and two 20mm cannon—heavy armament at that stage—and it was light weight and highly maneuverable, making the Zero a deadly opponent.

However, the situation changed as the war continued. The U.S. introduced newer and more capable fighters, and the Zero ceased to be a dominant force.

In 1944 the Zero took on a new and sinister role as one of the first Kamikaze planes, loaded with a 500-pound bomb in terrifying but ultimately futile suicide attacks on U.S. warships.

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23. F-16 Fighting Falcon

Historical//Getty Images

Small but powerful, the single-engined F-16 is arguably the most successful combat aircraft of the modern era. Better known by its nickname of “Viper,” the F-16 was introduced in 1978 and soon became the workhorse of the USAF and many others. It is now flown by some 24 U.S. allies from Belgium to Taiwan. As of 2015 there were more F-16s in service than any other fighting aircraft in the world.

The distinctive bubble canopy gives unrestricted visibility in all directions, a useful asset in a fast-moving air fight. Originally designed as a low-cost sidekick to help out the bigger F-15 Eagle and make up numbers, the F-16 turned out to be not only an effective fighter but an all-round performer, deadly against targets on the ground as well as in the air.

The F-16 is well known as the plane flown by the USAF’s Thunderbirds display team.

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