That would depend on which side you are onquote:
Originally posted by Clement:
Second vote for the Lockeed A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog). I can't imagine anything more beautiful to a soldier than looking up and seeing one of this:
Outrun's List of Pretty Aircraft
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I'm stuck in the past, so any prop plane from the WWII era is beautiful to me. This also includes the German fighter jets from that era. I've been lucky enough to go to museums in England, Germany and the US and see first hand some beautiful old War Birds. Even got a chance to go inside a B-17. You'd thing it's big but it's real cramped inside for a 6'1" guy who's not "skinny"
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Whimsey
Whimsey
U-2 You need to see them going through the pattern, landing and taking off to fully appreciate them. Think powered sailplane on steroids.
North American F100. Nice clean lines and a real solid airplane.
Lockheed F-104 Lawn Dart. Not much of a fighter, but a beautifull, small, light, hot rod.
MIG-21
North American F100. Nice clean lines and a real solid airplane.
Lockheed F-104 Lawn Dart. Not much of a fighter, but a beautifull, small, light, hot rod.
MIG-21
Then there's this. It's so ugly, it's beatutiful!!
Here is part one(of about 22 parts) with comentary by readers of an alt. history of WW2 starring the B-36. Written by a professional military analyst.
http://p074.ezboard.com/fhistorypoliticsandcurrentaffairs68862frm24.showMessage?topicID=14.topic
Here is part one(of about 22 parts) with comentary by readers of an alt. history of WW2 starring the B-36. Written by a professional military analyst.
http://p074.ezboard.com/fhistorypoliticsandcurrentaffairs68862frm24.showMessage?topicID=14.topic
I have a couple to add.
I think the rockwell B-1b is a beautiful plane. I also think the F/A-18 is the best looking fighter out there with the F-16 a close second.
F-86 to me has the essential looks of a "jet fighter".
If you like the F-22's looks you should have seen it's competition the F-23, it was truly a "next generation" fighter.
the B-2 was made by northrup-gruman, not rockwell. they have vowed never to make another airframe, only subsystems, they are much more profitable.
it's funny that the f-117 was considered by kelly johnson to be the ugliest plane the skunkworks had ever concieved.
the B-52's nickname "BUFF", "Big Ugly Fat Fellow" has ugly right in the name. there is nothing "pretty" about it but it's function makes it georgeous.
If any of you are ever in the Dayton, Ohio area the Air Force Museum is a must see. it has an awesome collection of aircraft spanning the entire history of military aircraft.
I think the rockwell B-1b is a beautiful plane. I also think the F/A-18 is the best looking fighter out there with the F-16 a close second.
F-86 to me has the essential looks of a "jet fighter".
If you like the F-22's looks you should have seen it's competition the F-23, it was truly a "next generation" fighter.
the B-2 was made by northrup-gruman, not rockwell. they have vowed never to make another airframe, only subsystems, they are much more profitable.
it's funny that the f-117 was considered by kelly johnson to be the ugliest plane the skunkworks had ever concieved.
the B-52's nickname "BUFF", "Big Ugly Fat Fellow" has ugly right in the name. there is nothing "pretty" about it but it's function makes it georgeous.
If any of you are ever in the Dayton, Ohio area the Air Force Museum is a must see. it has an awesome collection of aircraft spanning the entire history of military aircraft.
There are some pretty good military aircraft museums scattered around the country. The one in Atwater, on the edge of the old Castle AFB is good. It has one of 2 remaining B-36s, B52, B47 yada yada on display along with a lot of other great old aircraft.
Travis AFB in Fairfield CA has a nice museum with several displays including a B52. Since 9-11 it has beciome difficult to go see the Travis museum. The McClellan museum in Sacramento is smaller but still has a nice list of aircraft.
None of these are on the scale of Wright Pat near Dayton, but it pays to look around your region for Air Museums, they tend to be under advertised.
Not yet but I will. I take my daughter to the Aust War Memorial at least once a month as she just loves all the aircraft. Lancaster Bomber 'G for George' is her favourite (she calls it Big G for George) and it's the star attraction along with an ME 109 in the special 'Striking By Night'. http://www.awm.gov.au Click Striking by Night RHS about half way down. Exceptional sound and light show. The 888mm Ack Ack gun really shakes the foundations!
888mm
How about the MD F4 Phantom? To me this is the old bad-a$$ musclecar of the skies!
F4 Phantom
There are countries that still use it, too (after extensive upgrades).
F4 Phantom
There are countries that still use it, too (after extensive upgrades).
Some really good choices so far...
I really like the Constellation, any of the V bombers and the B-58 hustler. The F-86 ought to have it's own sentence it's so pretty so this is it. The DC-3 is a magnificent aircraft to watch fly too. Most of the modern aircraft are pretty but are designed using tools that optimise the flight characteristics over aesthetic desire unlike older aircraft where designers made "choices".
All time favourite though is the Avro CF105 Arrow Avro Arrow
The thing just looks "right" given it was rolled out of the factory in 1957.
I really like the Constellation, any of the V bombers and the B-58 hustler. The F-86 ought to have it's own sentence it's so pretty so this is it. The DC-3 is a magnificent aircraft to watch fly too. Most of the modern aircraft are pretty but are designed using tools that optimise the flight characteristics over aesthetic desire unlike older aircraft where designers made "choices".
All time favourite though is the Avro CF105 Arrow Avro Arrow
The thing just looks "right" given it was rolled out of the factory in 1957.
If you are ever passing through the other CA, there is a V bomber at the old Castle AFB Museum.
Avro Vulcan B2
Also an Avro Canada CF-100 Canuck, B57 Canberra and a deHavilland Canada U-6A Beaver for you Commonwealthphiles
Actually, it's made by Fairchild, or maybe Lockheed bought them out or something?quote:
Originally posted by Clement:
Second vote for the Lockeed A-10 Thunderbolt (Warthog). I can't imagine anything more beautiful to a soldier than looking up and seeing one of this:
B-58 Hustler
Even though I'm partial to warships that Hustler is a mighty fine lookin' critter!!!!!!
Plane guarding behind a carrier, our itty bitty destroyer escort was around a mile behind and a bit to the side of the carrier involved with landings and take-offs. If a plane ditched our job was to get there as quick as possible and grab the pilot.
Standing atop the bridge, watching the planes come and go, I shot the breeze with a friend. We noted an incoming F4 Phantom. Sure was coming in steep!!!! Too steep!!!! WHAM!!!!!! It slammed onto the deck and bounced, and bounced, right over the arresting cables!!!!!
The last we saw of it was it sliding past the bow then disappearing from view. Eeeeeek!!!!! Did it hit the water? Did that 80,000 ton behemouth run over the top of it????
Nope.......
A heartbeat later that Phantom suddenly appeared.... at full throttle going almost straight up as it barely missed being hit by that carrier.
A few seconds later the noise of those afterburners reached us. Not as a sound, though. Yes, we could hear the ROAR but we also felt the sound as it impacted against our chests. WOW!!!!!!!
Such power!!!!!! I hope the laundry detergent was as powerful to clean that pilot's shorts!!!!!
Sadly........ later that day..... the alarm went off as we rushed to the aircraft that hit the water before reaching the carrier. The engine flamed out and down it went. I forget the name of the plane but it was the one used by the Navy for 24-hour all-weather bombing, missile attacks, etc. It might have been the Prowler.
Anyway, I ran to the weather bridge, atop the navigation bridge, for the best view of the action. As the swimmers prepared themselves and the boat crew was getting the motor whale boat ready to go the captain brought our speeding ship to a stop using full-back on the screws. His sea sense was good as we shuddered to a stop right next to the aircraft that was now 20 or so feet underwater. Looking into the relatively clear Pacific Ocean water we could see the white of the pilot's helmet..... still, no movement. A couple swimmers dived in and began swimming down....... but, the plane was sinking and in seconds had disappeared from view.
**** .
No one spoke of the incident then or later. At least nothing that I heard. Oh well. Duty called and we returned to our station, plane guarding the operations that continued unabated.
hope this pic appears
Even though I'm partial to warships that Hustler is a mighty fine lookin' critter!!!!!!
Plane guarding behind a carrier, our itty bitty destroyer escort was around a mile behind and a bit to the side of the carrier involved with landings and take-offs. If a plane ditched our job was to get there as quick as possible and grab the pilot.
Standing atop the bridge, watching the planes come and go, I shot the breeze with a friend. We noted an incoming F4 Phantom. Sure was coming in steep!!!! Too steep!!!! WHAM!!!!!! It slammed onto the deck and bounced, and bounced, right over the arresting cables!!!!!
The last we saw of it was it sliding past the bow then disappearing from view. Eeeeeek!!!!! Did it hit the water? Did that 80,000 ton behemouth run over the top of it????
Nope.......
A heartbeat later that Phantom suddenly appeared.... at full throttle going almost straight up as it barely missed being hit by that carrier.
A few seconds later the noise of those afterburners reached us. Not as a sound, though. Yes, we could hear the ROAR but we also felt the sound as it impacted against our chests. WOW!!!!!!!
Such power!!!!!! I hope the laundry detergent was as powerful to clean that pilot's shorts!!!!!
Sadly........ later that day..... the alarm went off as we rushed to the aircraft that hit the water before reaching the carrier. The engine flamed out and down it went. I forget the name of the plane but it was the one used by the Navy for 24-hour all-weather bombing, missile attacks, etc. It might have been the Prowler.
Anyway, I ran to the weather bridge, atop the navigation bridge, for the best view of the action. As the swimmers prepared themselves and the boat crew was getting the motor whale boat ready to go the captain brought our speeding ship to a stop using full-back on the screws. His sea sense was good as we shuddered to a stop right next to the aircraft that was now 20 or so feet underwater. Looking into the relatively clear Pacific Ocean water we could see the white of the pilot's helmet..... still, no movement. A couple swimmers dived in and began swimming down....... but, the plane was sinking and in seconds had disappeared from view.
**** .
No one spoke of the incident then or later. At least nothing that I heard. Oh well. Duty called and we returned to our station, plane guarding the operations that continued unabated.
hope this pic appears
Rick 88mm of course. I'm a crappy typist.
How many know an Avro Vulcan B2 could out dogfight an F15 at high altitudes? The most impressive plane I've actually seen flying here in Oz. F111's doing a 'dump and burn' is something to behold particularly at night.
The Vulcan is a pretty outdated aircraft, but is is amazing to see. It's huge delta shaped wingspan may be a slight advantage at high altitude....but against an F-15? Doesn't the F-15 eagle hold the world record for the highest altitide for a fighter? Even if it doesn't it must still be higher than a Vulcan can fly. Maybe I'm wrong!?
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