What is the name of this anime series?

Sounds a lot like Macross.

I agree. It might be Macross, but there’s a lot of Macross series.

Transformers?

Not macross. It was an older series, it had good animation for it’s time, I’d remember the name if I saw it again. Last time someone linked to a list of dhows like this.

Robotech? No wait. Robotech and Macross are the same thing, are they?

@XOIIO It could be an older season of Macross; the first season aired in 1982. Here’s the Wikipedia page on the Macross series.

Martian Successor Nadesico?

TVTropes page here. You have been warned.

Was the main character black-haired and wore a red and white flight suit?

Not sure tv tropes is a good place to send someone. VERY effective site for losing track of time and accidentally spending hours

YES! it was robotech! I love that series!