61. Tupolev Tu-160

Entered Service: 1981
Retired: N/A
Cost: $70 million*
The Tupolev Tu-160’s NATO reporting name is “Blackjack.” In Russian, the all-white Tu-160 is nicknamed “Belyj Lebed,” or “White Swan.” The Tu-160 is a variable-sweep-wing, strategic heavy bomber. The Tu-160 was designed in the seventies by the Soviet Union, presumably to compete with aircraft the US had from companies such as Boeing.

Tupolev Tu-160 @EmbassyofRussia / Twitter.com
The Tu-160 is the largest, heaviest Mach 2+ aircraft ever made. In terms of length, it is second only to the XB-70 Valkyrie. In addition to being the largest and heaviest, this combat aircraft is one of the fastest bombers in the world. It has a top speed of 1,379MPH.

62. Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Entered Service: 1940
Retired: 1945
Cost: $3 million*
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was made for the Imperial Japanese Navy by Mitsubishi Aircraft company. The Type Zero was flown from 1940 until 1945, and 10,939 of them were built. When people think of Mitsubishi, they might think of the Honda competitor that makes sporty cars and SUVs.

Mitsubishi A6M Zero ©Wikimedia.org
However, the Zero is far from that picture. This bomber was a dogfighter, and it prevailed time and again against Allied forces during WWII. That is, until the Allies developed new tactics and better equipment, thus allowing them to overpower the Zero (nicknamed “Zeke”). By 1944, the Zero was no longer able to hold its own against Allied Forces.

63. Hawker Hurricane

Entered Service: 1935
Retired: 1947
Cost: $2.1 million*
The Hawker Hurricane had its first flight in 1935, and it was introduced two years later on Christmas of 1937. The Hurricane was a British aircraft, designed with a Merlin engine by General Motors competitor Rolls Royce. The aircraft was a powerhouse during WWII, though it didn’t get the press coverage that the Supermarine Spitfire did.

Hawker Hurricane ©Wikimedia.org
The Hawker Hurricane inflicted 60% of Luftwaffe losses sustained during WWII. The Hurricane fought in every single major WWII theater. Sir Sydney Camm, a legendary aircraft designer, was responsible for the fighter jet. 14,487 were built for the RAF and Canada. It would later be developed into the Hawker Henley.

64. F-16 Fighting Falcon

Entered Service: 1974
Retired: N/A
Cost: $18.8 million*
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was designed for use by the US Air Force, but twenty-five other countries use the Falcon. This fighter jet is an air superiority day fighter, but, over time, it has expanded into a successful multi-role aircraft that can fly in all weathers. 4,604 of these have been built since General Dynamics won the contract in 1976.

F-16D Fighting Falcon @Toryu1963 / Twitter.com
The USAF doesn’t purchase the Falcon anymore, but it is exported. The Falcon’s key features are its bubble canopy and side-mounted control stick. The frameless canopy allows for better visibility, while the side stick makes maneuvering easier.

65. Bf 109 Fighter

Entered Service: 1935
Retired: 1945
Cost: $1.5 million*
The Bf 109 has been relegated to relic status. The fighter aircraft was used by the Luftwaffe during WWII, as well as the Royal Romanian Airforce. Though it was used by the bad guys, there is no doubt that it was one of the most advanced planes of its time.

Bf-109 Fighter @tjoleary3 / Pinterest
Designed to compete with US planes like those designed by Boeing, the Bf 109’s advanced features (for the time) included an all-metal monocoque, closed canopy, retractable landing gear, and V12 aero engine that was inverted and liquid-cooled. The Allied air fighters nicknamed the Bf 109 the “Me 109.”

66. Dassault-Breguet Mirage

Entered Service: 1978 
Retired: N/A
Cost: $23 million*
The Dassault Breguet Mirage was designed by Dassault Aviation, a French company on par with the likes of US weapons-designers like General Dynamics. The Mirage was the overall name given to the series of supersonic, delta-winged fighter jets, the Mirage III was the series’ most successful variant.

Dassault-Breguet Mirage @FASTmuseum / Twitter.com
The III would go on to be produced by not just Dassault Aviation, but other licensed contractors as well. The Mirage series all had the same basic airframe. They differed in terms of equipment and powerplant capabilities. Earlier Mirage planes had no tails, but later Mirage planes had canard foreplanes tacked on.

67. KC-46 Pegasus

Entered Service: 2019
Retired: N/A
Cost: $189.4-$250.2 million*
The KC-46 Pegasus, presumably named after the flying horse from Greek mythology, is an aerial refueling aircraft. It also performs strategic military transport. The Pegasus was developed by Boeing, and it is partially based on its 767 jet airliner. The USAF awarded Boeing the contract during its KC-X tanker competition.

KC-46 Pegasus @hal_cohen / Pinterest
The Pegasus was designed to replace the KC-135 Stratotanker, also designed by Boeing. The Pegasus is one of the newer aircraft on this list, having been delivered in January of 2019. The US Air Force announced that it plans to purchase 179 Pegasus aircraft (at a development cost of $241.2 million) by 2027.

68. F-16D Fighting Falcon

Entered Service: 1984 
Retired: N/A
Cost: $14.6-18.8 million*
The F-16 Fighting Falcon D is a supersonic fighter aircraft. It serves in many different roles, and the A/B variation had its first flight in January of 1974. Around 4,600 of these aircraft have been built since General Dynamics won the contract. The D is part of the Falcon C/D, and it is a two-seater. The D was first developed in 1984.

F-16D Fighting Falcon @Toryu1963 / Twitter.com
The FF-D was the Block 25. It had improved radar and cockpit avionics. It also had all-weather capability with BVR (beyond visual range). The C/D had an operational cost per flight hour of $7,000-$24,000, depending on the calculation method used.

69. E-3G Sentry

Entered Service: 1972
Retired: 1992 (G upgraded in 2015)
Cost: $270 million*
More commonly known as AWACS, the E-3 Sentry is an airborne early warning & control aircraft. The Sentry was derived from the 707, which was also designed by Boeing. The Boeing Sentry has been used by the USAF, NATO, RAF, FAF, and RSAF. The Sentry is easy to spot, thanks to its distinctive radar dome, which rotates above the fuselage.

E-3G Sentry @JetPhotos / Twitter.com
68 aircraft were built. The E-3G was the latest model built. It is a USAF Block 40/45 modification. It has upgrades to its hardware and software, which improves communications, threat tracking, computer processing, and automates functions like IOC (which was previously manual).

70. C-5M Galaxy

Entered Service: 1998 
Retired: N/A
Cost: $224.29 million*
The C-5M Galaxy is an enhanced version of the Galaxy, which is a large transport craft that Lockheed designed and Lockheed-Martin, the company’s successor, maintains and upgrades. The Galaxy’s development was fraught with problems, including financial difficulties and cracks in the aircraft wings, among other issues.

C-5M Galaxy @kadonkey / Twitter.com
The C-5M Super Galaxy, designed in 1998 by Lockheed, is a new and improved Galaxy. The C-5M has new engines, modernized avionics, and a service life that is expected to extend past 2040. The USAF was the first purchaser of the Galaxy, and it has been a supporting aircraft in every single US military conflict since 1969.

71. E-8C Joint STARS

Entered Service: 1988
Retired: N/A
Cost: $244.4 million*
The E-8 Joint STARS is an airborne battle management, ground surveillance, and command & control aircraft. The STARS in the name stands for Surveillance Target Attack Radar System. The USAF uses the E-8 to track aircraft and ground vehicles. It also takes pictures and relays them to ground/air theater commandos.

E-8C Joint STARS @11111Lemon / Twitter.com
The E-8C is an upgraded version, also designed by Northrop Grumman. The E-8C comes with two ARC-190 HF radios, twelve ARC-164 UHF radios, fitted with HAVE QUICK technology, AN/APY-7 radar, and three VHF radios. The E-8C has a cruising speed of 450MPH and a service ceiling of 42,000 feet.

72. T-38C Talon

Entered Service: 1959
Retired: N/A
Cost: $756 million*
The Talon is a twin-jet, two-seat supersonic jet trainer. The Talon was the first supersonic jet trainer in the world, and it is also has the highest production quantity of any jet of its kind. The T-38C is the T-38A with avionics and structural upgrades. There are many variants of the Talon, and the Talon is in use by dozens of countries (other than America).

T-38C Talon @kadonkey / Twitter.com
Designed by Northrop Grumman, the project was first named the N-102 Fang. General Electric designed a small engine after the one they’d originally proposed, which weighed nearly 4,000 pounds, was rejected by Northrop because it was too large and expensive.

73. U-2S

Entered Service: 1955 
Retired: N/A
Cost: $9.1 million*
The U-2 series by Lockheed was nicknamed “The Dragon Lady.” This high-altitude recon plane has been used by the USAF and CIA. It provides intelligence-gathering in all-weather, day or night. The U-2S was a re-designation of both the TR-1A and U-2R. Lockheed partnered with General Electric to update the F118 engine.

U-2S @L_ThinkTank / Twitter.com
The U-2S also has improved sensors. A GPS receiver has been added. So far, thirty-one U2 planes have been converted to U-2S. The “TR” designation stands for “tactical reconnaissance.” The TR-1A, from which the U-2S was converted, had its first flight in 1981. The TR-1A is easy to spot, thanks to a “superpod” under each of its wings.

74. B-1B Lancer

Entered Service: 1984
Retired: 1988
Cost: $283.1 million*
The B-1B Lancer was an improvement of the B-1. The B-1B Lancer was first brought up as a possibility during the Carter presidency, but Carter had not made a decision on whether to contract with Boeing and have the B-1 updated. The Reagan administration decided to go ahead and have the B-1B developed as a stop-gap between the B-1 and the development of the highly-advanced ATB.

B-1B Lancer @tjoleary3 / Pinterest
The B-1B was completed in 1983, and it started flight testing in March of that year. On September 4, 1984, the B-1B rolled off the production lot. The B-1B ceased production on May 2, 1988.

75. P-51 Mustang

Entered Service: 1950
Retired: 1957
Cost: $570,000*
Designed by North American Aviation, the P-51 Mustang was a major aircraft component of the USAAF, RAF, RNAF, and RCAF during WWII and the Korean War. The Mustang was first designed in 1949. Originally, North American Aviation was just going to build an old design of a Curtiss P-40.

P-51 Mustang @bishesh_tweets / Twitter.com
But, execs changed their mind and proposed the more modern Mustang (no relation to the Ford car of the same name, of course). Over 50,000 of these single-seat, long-range fighter-bombers were built. Each unit cost $50,985 during WWII (the equivalent of $570,000 in today’s money). The Mustang was officially retired in 1957, though it flew with the Dominican Air Force until 1984.