Statistically, the P-51 was a better plane than the P-38 once the Merlin was added. This is why you don't see P-38's in competition at the Reno Air races these days. They just couldn't keep up with the souped up Mustangs.
That being said, I still like the P-38 better.
Here is a craft that looks somewhat similar to the P-38,that I DID see at the Reno air races a couple of years back. It was outclassed by the other jets in the competition, but still beautiful nonetheless...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_VampireWe've mentioned the XB-70 before. Walking under the one remaining craft at Wright Patterson and touching the underbelly was a 'religious' experience for me...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_XB-70_ValkyrieGrowing up under the flight path to the local bombing range from the local airbase, I can still remember the distinct whine of the F-4's flying overhead. F-4's were one of the few craft that saw service in the Air Force, Navy, and Marines simultaneously, used for a time by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds. Checking the Wiki, it looks like South Korea, Greece, and Turkey are among countries still flying the F-4, along with Iran...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_III still think that the YF-23 looks more interesting then the F-22...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_YF-23And, of course, I must mention the X-29. Not sure if the forward swept wings would lend themselves at all to stealthy characteristics, but they do look cool!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_X-29I've attached one of the photos of the Vampire that I took at the Reno Air races. An electrical short prevented the craft from taking off that day (pinched cable when an access panel was closed - ugh), but it did compete on the following day. The Delfins and Albatros'es dominated the competition that year, and continue to do so... BTW, the Jet Class has a less than 15 degree maximum sweep requirement in case you were wondering...
http://www.racingjets.com/content/jets