What is your favorite aircraft of all time?

[SkullCowboy]

American? PBY-5a Catalina
German? HE-219A-5 Uhu
Japanese? KI-84-Ib Hayate
Russian? IL2M3 Sturmovik
British? Mosquito F MkII

If I HAD to choose one? It would be a tossup between the PBY and the Uhu.

 

[Rainsfan89]

While there's many great WWII planes, I would have to go with the B-29 Superfortress.

 

[Atterbury Dodd]

And Atomic bomb to go with?

 

[Rainsfan89]

Depends on the situation

 

[DerMann]

Either a Republic P47D:

The plane credited with the most aerial, ground, and (I think) naval kills of the war.

Or a Hawker Tempest:

I like to think of it as a beefier Spitfire, as I under stand the RAF used the Tempests and the older Tycoons to shoot down V1 rockets because of their speed, maneuverability, and armament (four 20mm Hispano auto cannon, plus a menagerie of ordnance).

 

[Ottoman]

Bleh, I'm a sucker for split tails, so for a bomber I'd have to go with the Ju-86. It's so ugly it's beutiful, like the Nell, Hampden, Pe-2, Do-17, Liberator, and company.

Maybe it's the utilitarian look, I dunno. I just like ugly planes. Now, for a fighter it'd either have to be the He-112 or Fiat G.50. I can't decide between the two.

For transports, CAS, etc? There are just too many, I can't decide.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

If I was around in 1947, I'd have spent the fifteen hundred bucks this sold for....

 

[Colonel]

As ever, the one I most desire is Tante Ju. I would have it with no paint, design my own tail design and travel round the world on my own private adventure

But I do like it in snow cammo!!!

Not sure about snow though lol

You picked my favorite also. The alternative would be a C-47 / DC-3. The ultimate workhorse.

By the way, I had the opportunity to go for a ride in a Ford Tri-motor many years ago - and loved it. Wow, what a classic! I've ridden on two of my three favorites - the Ford Tri-motor and the DC-3. I'm still waiting for a ride in a Stearman (that was all arranged, but a thunderstorm moved in and the ride was canceled).

 

[Stearmen]

Rides

I'm still waiting for a ride in a Stearman (that was all arranged, but a thunderstorm moved in and the ride was canceled).

Your not alone! Back in the early 90s I was at Eagle, Colorado and the late Art Vance was there with his P-51 Mustang Million Dollar Baby, he told me, if the reporter didn't show up I could have a ride! The reporter was a no show, so I helped him pre flight the 51, and we were preparing to mount up when he got the word a storm front was moving in! I have sat in five P-51s, and promised a ride in two, and have never been of the ground in one yet!

 

[jaymag_87]

My Top 3 - In Order:

 

[Django]

Mustang or a P-47 probably in PTO markings.

B-24, definitely in PTO markings, and almost certainly in 43rd BG or 308th BG markings.

B-25 in 345th markings (499th with the bat)

and a P-61, also PTO.

To round things out, probably a Cessna Bobcat for family trips.

Guess I better take back up flying! Or start printing money. lol

 

[Silver Dollar]

For my money, it has to be a B 17 Flying Fortress hands down. It may not be the fastest but it sure does do the job.

 

[Warden]

I have a soft spot for the Handley Page Hampden, I guess this comes from the fact it was one of first airfix models I ever made.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Hampden

Harry

 

[Zaxxon]

A bit older but still a great plane: The Udet "Flamingo", here a replica at the Oberschleißheim Oldtimer Fly-In.

 

[Whithead]

WWII - De Havilland Mosquito

Speed, good looks, interesting missions....who needs more?

 

[Phantomfixer]

For my money, it has to be a B 17 Flying Fortress hands down. It may not be the fastest but it sure does do the job.

I have to agree with you Silver Dollar. At age 13 I saw the Shoo Shoo Baby rollinto the hangers at Dover AFB. I think I was 23 when I saw it fly away to Ohio . At 13 I knew more about B-17s than most boys knew about football. It will be nice to get it back to the east coast. Second to the B-17 is anything with guns

 

[Silver Dollar]

I have to agree with you Silver Dollar. At age 13 I saw the Shoo Shoo Baby rollinto the hangers at Dover AFB. I think I was 23 when I saw it fly away to Ohio . At 13 I knew more about B-17s than most boys knew about football. It will be nice to get it back to the east coast. Second to the B-17 is anything with guns

Absitively. The B24 did a bit better job, was faster and could go higher BUT that thing was UGLY. The phrase around the B17 nuts was the B24 was the box the B17 came in. BTW, Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby is my airplane. I bought it from a guy at the museum for $10 bucks. lol Seriously, I visit the museum a few times a month and every time I go there, I sit on a bench under the left wing and read for a while. It's almost like it knows me. It gives me a very profound sense of peace.

 

[HTID Raver]

probably a spitfire or a PBY catalina!

 

[Mr. Godfrey]

By the way, I had the opportunity to go for a ride in a Ford Tri-motor many years ago - and loved it. Wow, what a classic! I've ridden on two of my three favorites - the Ford Tri-motor and the DC-3. I'm still waiting for a ride in a Stearman (that was all arranged, but a thunderstorm moved in and the ride was canceled).

Man, that's bad luck but 2 out 3 ain't bad going, I reckon.

 

[Silver Dollar]

I was lucky enough to have a ride in two of my favorite also. I rode in the B17 909 and got a chance to ride two DC 3s. I wouldn't mind at all taking a ride in a P 40 or a T Bolt but I'm not sure I would survive the barrel rolls without losing everything I ate for the last 12 years. [huh] *yucky*