The most impressive planes seemed to always be ugly ducklings A6's, A10's, S3's, OV10's
Yes, yes, yes! You named two more from my Top 10 (especially the OV-10 when armed; S-3 is in at 10/11).
Well yeah but so many ugly ducklings to choose from. The E2 and 130 gets my vote for double barrel ugly but paid off with over 1/2 century of workhorse STILL working. I cut my teeth working on the A version of Hummers in 1970 and here half a century later the basic airframe is STILL being used. The T-56 has grown more prop blades and 1,200 more HP but it's still the basic 501-D13 that powered the Herc, Hummer and CV 580 to name a few. The red fluid was 5606A then B then C then MIL H-28283 and whatever it may be now. (anything BUT Skydrol)!! The C-2 is still well.... the C2, minor system and PP changes no doubt
Long ago in a galaxy far, far away (before most of Long Island turned into a sewer bedroom community for NYC when there were still fishermen and potato farms still abounded) I lived not too far (farm measurements) from both Republic in Farmingdale (A-10 builders) and Grumman in Bethpage. Back then you could see the first Tomcats coming out of the hangers/off the assembly line. Somewhere in the mess is all our old HHG boxes I have one of the original "Anytime, Baby!" F-14 stickers/decals.
The Tomcat was sexy and once it shed it's shlt TF30 engines it really performed BUT we barely got 20 years out of it whereas the old F-4 paid more back for the investment. Hard to believe it evolved from a total pos DOG aka the F-3 Demon.
Speaking of the F-4 and that most wonderful of airframes, the Demon....
I just checked, can be had on ebay for a buck 49 in ebook fashion. Once I can steal it for a couple bucks I'll buy it.
Actually the Mighty Midget Skyhawk could do it long before the Intruder.