Favorite Aircraft

[Cujet]

As much as I like fighters for their performance and capability, I could never withstand the torture. So something a bit more sedate, but (seems like it would be) still fun to fly, like the A-10 appeals to me. 300 Knot cruise, 2500 mile range, 45,000 foot ceiling.

 

[Inked]

My wife's uncle was a navy pilot during VN. Flew an F-4 Phantom. I asked uncle Carl once what landing on a carrier was like. He thought for a moment like he'd never heard that question before and said 'like crash landing into a closet'. Carl lives in Hood River, Oregon today and has an apple orchard.

BZ Lcdr Uncle Carl.

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Medals of America

PM wrote an interesting article on the “Lead Sled”

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a43315881/f-4-phantom-history/

 

[y_p_w]

When I was a kid, my dad let me choose plastic models at toy stores. I didn't know the first thing about painting them, but I could handle an X-ACTO knife and glue, and the decals were pretty easy. Didn't look like much. But I had a Revell scale model of the USS Eisenhower that also came with these tiny little planes with no detail. And the USS Arizona, which also had planes (that must have been insane launching scout planes from a battleship). And a Revell 1:72 (I think) model of a Jolly Rogers F-14 with the badass skull and crossbones. I was really thinking it was crazy with something that big launching off a carrier.

 

[Shel_B]

I'm a big fan of Stearman planes. Spent a fair amount of time in the mid-late 70s criss-crossing California in Stearmans.

 

[SatinSilver]

 

[wwillson]

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Who saw that coming?

 

[LDB]

F4U Corsair, A10 Warthog, Mooneys, V-tail Bonanza

 

[WeyounDS9]

F20 Tigershark.

A true Volksjaeger.
85% of the capabilities of the JAS39 Gripen at 60% the price.

 

[y_p_w]

I'm a big fan of Stearman planes. Spent a fair amount of time in the mid-late 70s criss-crossing California in Stearmans.

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I was there for Eddie Andreini's last successful performance at the Thunder Over Solano air show at Travis AFB in 2014. Unfortunately, the next day he grounded his Stearman while it was inverted. There's been claims that he might have survived had them come in time with fire trucks to douse it before it eventually caught on fire. It took several minutes for the fire truck to arrive, since it wasn't ready immediately on the flight line. It was on fire where the spectators could see it.

https://www.hmbreview.com/news/new-...cle_fbc48230-7bda-11e4-b537-4be1307d90d4.html

 

[y_p_w]

Who saw that coming?

But he could have picked a different squadron. I'm partial to the Pukin' Dogs.

 

[ctechbob]

This family will always hold a special place in my heart. I've always wished I'd have gotten to see one of them in the air, but that will have to remain a dream.

 

[ArrestMeRedZ]

F-14 , F4U Corsair, and the F-105 Thunderchief.

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That F-105 is a Wild Weasel with 2xAGM-45 Shrikes and 1xAGM-78 Standard Arm anti radiation missiles.

 

[930.engineering]

.
Beyound doubt - most beautiful bird ever, greatest and most beautiful technical marvel man ever created:

 

[y_p_w]

This family will always hold a special place in my heart. I've always wished I'd have gotten to see one of them in the air, but that will have to remain a dream.



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So you've seen one on the ground?

Haven't seen one in the air, but I saw a NASA SR-71 on the ground at an air show in the late 90s when it was still in flyable condition (and flown there). I think the California Science Center in LA has an A-12. Might be the only two-seater.

 

[ctechbob]

So you've seen one on the ground?

Haven't seen one in the air, but I saw a NASA SR-71 on the ground at an air show in the late 90s when it was still in flyable condition (and flown there). I think the California Science Center in LA has an A-12. Might be the only two-seater.

There's one down at the museum in Warner Robins, I've been down there a few times. Also been to the museum in Dayton. The A12/SR71s are cool, but the XB70 is a sight to behold. Still, the Oxcarts and their descendants are my favorite of all time.

 

[Owen Lucas]

the A-10 appeals to me. 300 Knot cruise, 2500 mile range, 45,000 foot ceiling.

It would be amazing to see a demilitarized version available to the public when the A-10 is retired. Like the L-39 Albatross. With those specs it you can fly anywhere in the US, not sure how comfortable NYC to LA would be but it would be quite a sight on the tarmac. No idea how complicated to maintain it would be though.

 

[y_p_w]

There's one down at the museum in Warner Robins, I've been down there a few times. Also been to the museum in Dayton. The A12/SR71s are cool, but the XB70 is a sight to behold. Still, the Oxcarts and their descendants are my favorite of all time.

I saw the NASA one at the 1997 Edwards AFB Open House. It was there but the cockpit was completely covered up so nobody could peek inside. That was a spectacular show. Chuck Yeager was there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of breaking the sound barrier where he got a supersonic ride in the back of an F-15. There were F-117s coming right into the crowd where people had to move back, and I ended up talking to the maintenance chief of one of them. There was a B-2 in a hangar behind (I kid you not) velvet ropes and guarded by one airman with a shotgun and another with an M4.

There were a lot of other stuff there too including the Thunderbirds and a boatload of static displays. Also the first time I saw an F-14 in person, and I talked to the pilot. Later saw him sitting on the "tennis court" watching some of the flying.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Don't know why, I'm partial to first generation jet airliners. Despite the DeHavilland Comet's flaws, it looks futuristic even today. The 707 just has a classic look to it.

 

[JustN89]

The F-16 is my favorite, but this is a clear 2nd for me.

 

[DirectRejection]

The B24 Liberator.

My friend's grandfather was the President of Consolidated Aircraft and designer/inventor of this plane. A whopping 18,500 of them were built. The B24 did a lot of damage during WW II. It was a challenge to fly, but had range and payload.

The Catalina Seaplane was also a Consolidated aircraft. Both were absolutely crucial in deciding the outcome of the War.