Originally posted by Samm
I'm not sure the USSR had any one influencial fighter, the IL2 but that's not a fighter .
I'd say the I-16 was influencial, since it was one of, if not, the first mass produced monoplane fighters with retracticle landing gear. It's influence was mostly before the war, but it is still a WW2 fighter.
The French fighters with their Hispano turbolaser cannons were also infuential on armaments. IMHO
The 262 also. It heavily influenced post war fighter design.
I'm not sure who came up with the bubble canopy. There are some early Japanese and British fighters w/bubbles.
