favorite aircraft
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A-10's are still around I believe. I wouldnt mind riding in one of those!
My favorite aircraft is the Lockheed Constellation. I believe it's one of the prettiest aircraft ever built. I'm lucky enough to be able to work on one that is still airworthy.
I don't fly ( would love to but alas other responsibilities keep me from it ) but my 2 favorite planes are the F16 and the Sukhoi 31M that Svetlana Kapanina flys.
If I were lucky enough to get a ride in either I fear I wouldn't remember much of it as both planes generate coma inducing G forces!
But at least in the Sukhoi I'd get to meet Svetlana.....
If I were lucky enough to get a ride in either I fear I wouldn't remember much of it as both planes generate coma inducing G forces!
But at least in the Sukhoi I'd get to meet Svetlana.....
The Connie really is pretty.
Imagine the last of them in regular service in the US in a late Eastern Airlines livery being run on the shuttle.
The Connie is a happy memory from the time when Douglas ruled the commercial skies with Lockheed playing a close second in the market for long haul propliners.
There were also a few piston twins from Martin and many from Convair.
Boeing played only a very minor role in the propliner market.
This state of affairs would end abruptly in 1958.
Imagine the last of them in regular service in the US in a late Eastern Airlines livery being run on the shuttle.
The Connie is a happy memory from the time when Douglas ruled the commercial skies with Lockheed playing a close second in the market for long haul propliners.
There were also a few piston twins from Martin and many from Convair.
Boeing played only a very minor role in the propliner market.
This state of affairs would end abruptly in 1958.
A lot of great planes are listed...I admire all of them...notables include the Connie, 747, Concorde, XB-70, Blackbird (A-12, YF-12, SR-71 and M-21 variants included), RA-5 Vigilante, Corsair (the F-4U variety), Spitfire, and others...
But I will always remain a Tomcat fan...in nearly 2,000 hours, and quite a few combat missions, the big fighter (F-14) always got me home...
But I will always remain a Tomcat fan...in nearly 2,000 hours, and quite a few combat missions, the big fighter (F-14) always got me home...
My favorite aircraft varies, just like my taste in music. If you asked me what my favorite band is, I couldn't tell you. Right now I'm facinated by the F-8 Crusader.
Originally Posted By: Astro14
But I will always remain a Tomcat fan...in nearly 2,000 hours, and quite a few combat missions, the big fighter (F-14) always got me home...
+1 on the big Tomcat!!
Was the GE F110-400 engine as big of an improvement in that airframe as it looked on paper? I worked on the electronic engine controls when I was with GE aircraft engines. Surprisingly it was an analog control.
But I will always remain a Tomcat fan...in nearly 2,000 hours, and quite a few combat missions, the big fighter (F-14) always got me home...
+1 on the big Tomcat!!
Was the GE F110-400 engine as big of an improvement in that airframe as it looked on paper? I worked on the electronic engine controls when I was with GE aircraft engines. Surprisingly it was an analog control.
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SR-71 here as well. By far my favourite aircraft. Just an incredible piece of engineering, especially given the time it was developed.
Originally Posted By: shell_user
Very nice stranger! Reminds me of a small Lear Jet. I am probably wrong though.
Its a Falcon 20 (built in France), fitted with Garrett ATF3 engines (civilian versions have the smaller GE engines). Its a fun plane to work on. Super reliable with lots of redundancy for safety.
Very nice stranger! Reminds me of a small Lear Jet. I am probably wrong though.
Its a Falcon 20 (built in France), fitted with Garrett ATF3 engines (civilian versions have the smaller GE engines). Its a fun plane to work on. Super reliable with lots of redundancy for safety.
Originally Posted By: Astro14
A lot of great planes are listed...I admire all of them...notables include the Connie, 747, Concorde, XB-70, Blackbird (A-12, YF-12, SR-71 and M-21 variants included), RA-5 Vigilante, Corsair (the F-4U variety), Spitfire, and others...
But I will always remain a Tomcat fan...in nearly 2,000 hours, and quite a few combat missions, the big fighter (F-14) always got me home...
Love that jet, saw them fly for the last time at OCEANA in 2006 awesome jet! I am so jealous!!! i'd give a lot for one cat/launch and flight. But they are no more. I watch a few squadron videos from time to time. The quickstrike 21 tomcat variant would have been awesome if it had made it off paper.
A lot of great planes are listed...I admire all of them...notables include the Connie, 747, Concorde, XB-70, Blackbird (A-12, YF-12, SR-71 and M-21 variants included), RA-5 Vigilante, Corsair (the F-4U variety), Spitfire, and others...
But I will always remain a Tomcat fan...in nearly 2,000 hours, and quite a few combat missions, the big fighter (F-14) always got me home...
Love that jet, saw them fly for the last time at OCEANA in 2006 awesome jet! I am so jealous!!! i'd give a lot for one cat/launch and flight. But they are no more. I watch a few squadron videos from time to time. The quickstrike 21 tomcat variant would have been awesome if it had made it off paper.
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Yeah, the F-14 I always loved watching videos of. The F-18 I like too. Anyone here fly the P-3 orion?
I would love to fly the MD-80.
My stepfather flew the MD-80 before going to the Airbus A319/320
Originally Posted By: JetStar
+1 on the big Tomcat!!
Was the GE F110-400 engine as big of an improvement in that airframe as it looked on paper? I worked on the electronic engine controls when I was with GE aircraft engines. Surprisingly it was an analog control.
The F-110-400 made the plane incredible. You could select Max AB at 500'/250KTs accelerate to 450, pull straight up and that jet would accelerate going straight up...you would be through 40,000' in less than 60 seconds from start...
That engine killed a good friend of mine, though, in an AB liner burnthrough...
+1 on the big Tomcat!!
Was the GE F110-400 engine as big of an improvement in that airframe as it looked on paper? I worked on the electronic engine controls when I was with GE aircraft engines. Surprisingly it was an analog control.
The F-110-400 made the plane incredible. You could select Max AB at 500'/250KTs accelerate to 450, pull straight up and that jet would accelerate going straight up...you would be through 40,000' in less than 60 seconds from start...
That engine killed a good friend of mine, though, in an AB liner burnthrough...
Bell AH-1 Cobra.
My dad moved from the UH-1C gunship to the AH-1G Cobra in Vietnam. Fully loaded he didn't have to slide along the perforated steel planking and bounce into translational lift. The Cobra could just lift off. He flew Cobras until he retired in 1985.
He always said, that the Jet Jockeys, "...managed their aircraft, we fly ours."
My dad moved from the UH-1C gunship to the AH-1G Cobra in Vietnam. Fully loaded he didn't have to slide along the perforated steel planking and bounce into translational lift. The Cobra could just lift off. He flew Cobras until he retired in 1985.
He always said, that the Jet Jockeys, "...managed their aircraft, we fly ours."
Originally Posted By: shell_user
Yeah, the F-14 I always loved watching videos of. The F-18 I like too. Anyone here fly the P-3 orion?
Orion's are one of my favorite aircraft, mainly because of their use in firefighting.
Yeah, the F-14 I always loved watching videos of. The F-18 I like too. Anyone here fly the P-3 orion?
Orion's are one of my favorite aircraft, mainly because of their use in firefighting.
As many of you know, I fly regularly, on a wide variety of General Aviation and Commercial aircraft. The globe is mine!! (just a joke, I'm very fortunate)
My bottom line is that an airplane is at it's best when designed for travel. And, when you can bring friends/family along, even better. It truly brings the world to your front door.
Fighters, high altitude cruisers, aerobatic toys, trainers and helicopters all have a place. But, they always fall short of the ultimate dream of rapid, comfortable, teleportation.
So, with that in mind I nominate the mighty Gulfstream series of Corporate jets. Incredibly powerful, comfortable, all weather capable and downright awesome.
My bottom line is that an airplane is at it's best when designed for travel. And, when you can bring friends/family along, even better. It truly brings the world to your front door.
Fighters, high altitude cruisers, aerobatic toys, trainers and helicopters all have a place. But, they always fall short of the ultimate dream of rapid, comfortable, teleportation.
So, with that in mind I nominate the mighty Gulfstream series of Corporate jets. Incredibly powerful, comfortable, all weather capable and downright awesome.
Originally Posted By: Cujet
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My bottom line is that an airplane is at it's best when designed for travel. And, when you can bring friends/family along, even better. It truly brings the world to your front door.
Fighters, high altitude cruisers, aerobatic toys, trainers and helicopters all have a place. But, they always fall short of the ultimate dream of rapid, comfortable, teleportation.
So, with that in mind I nominate the mighty Gulfstream series of Corporate jets. Incredibly powerful, comfortable, all weather capable and downright awesome.
You and I have very different ultimate dreams for airplanes...mine are more aligned with birds of prey - lethal, powerful, maneuverable...that said, I can appreciate the beauty of something that was built for a single purpose, and I listed a few of my favorites.
The Gulfstream is a nice limo for the skies...but I just have a different idea of when an airplane is at its best...
...
My bottom line is that an airplane is at it's best when designed for travel. And, when you can bring friends/family along, even better. It truly brings the world to your front door.
Fighters, high altitude cruisers, aerobatic toys, trainers and helicopters all have a place. But, they always fall short of the ultimate dream of rapid, comfortable, teleportation.
So, with that in mind I nominate the mighty Gulfstream series of Corporate jets. Incredibly powerful, comfortable, all weather capable and downright awesome.
You and I have very different ultimate dreams for airplanes...mine are more aligned with birds of prey - lethal, powerful, maneuverable...that said, I can appreciate the beauty of something that was built for a single purpose, and I listed a few of my favorites.
The Gulfstream is a nice limo for the skies...but I just have a different idea of when an airplane is at its best...
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