if you could dogfight anyone in the past or present who would it be?

[Swagger7]

In a simulated dogfight, I'd love to go up against Saburo Sakai with him in a later model zero and me in a La-5 or La-7.

I think one of the most challenging fights would be versus Ilmari Juutilainen, the Finnish ace. He had 94 kills, 34 of them in a Brewster Buffalo. He spent pretty much his entire career fighting superior aircraft and winning anyways. Like Richthofen said, "It's not the machine, it's the man". (Or something to that effect anyway)

Another great fight would be the 25 or so highest scoring WWI aces in their personal planes vs me in a Pitts Special Armed with miniguns, lol!

But in a real dogfight I'd go with winny's idea. It'd be incredibly easy and satisfying, lol!

[STINGERSIX78]

chuck norris...without a plane...

[flynlion]

Originally Posted by Swagger7

In a simulated dogfight, I'd love to go up against Saburo Sakai with him in a later model zero and me in a La-5 or La-7.

I would love to fly with Saburo Sakai, either as his wingman in a real fight or as my opponent in a simulated one. He saw enough death for several lifetimes during the war, when it was all over he became a devout Buddhist and wouldn't kill a mosquito if it bit him. Definately an interesting personality, and an absolute genius with a Zero. Like most pilots, he was about as far from the "Top Gun" stereotype as you can get.

[Swagger7]

Originally Posted by flynlion

I would love to fly with Saburo Sakai, either as his wingman in a real fight or as my opponent in a simulated one. He saw enough death for several lifetimes during the war, when it was all over he became a devout Buddhist and wouldn't kill a mosquito if it bit him. Definately an interesting personality, and an absolute genius with a Zero. Like most pilots, he was about as far from the "Top Gun" stereotype as you can get.

You would probably be interested in this:

http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/a...c/stevens.html

It's an article by a guy who's father was shot down & killed by Sakai in WWII. He met Sakai, who was very friendly to him. Sakai even gave his daughter (a fighter pilot) a small piece of his scarf to carry as a keepsake. Check it out.

[flynlion]

Thank you, Swagger7.

[beaker126]

Francis Gabreski, the guy was a bad@$$.