What is your favorite aircraft of all time?

[HeyMoe]

My favorite one is depicted in my avatar - and yes I got some stick time on it. Any Aeroplane nuts know what it is?

Here are a few that I love:

L049a Connie
DC-3 / C-47
DC-2

P-40B
P-51B/C
B-17G
B-24H

F-4 Phantom
F-100

F-16

 

[HepKitty]

I don't think Electras have been mentioned yet

 

[/|\]

This particular airplane has a place in my heart. It's a 1970 Cessna 172K Skyhawk. It's the plane I got my fixed-wing license in. The photo was taken before dad bought it in 1976.

 

[HepKitty]

This particular airplane has a place in my heart. It's a 1970 Cessna 172K Skyhawk. It's the plane I got my fixed-wing license in. The photo was taken before dad bought it in 1976.

Spankin!

 

[/|\]

I've always liked the K-models. They have the 150 hp Lycoming four (as opposed to the 145 hp Continental six), and they still had the spring steel main gear. The tubular mains on the later models (along with the longer tail strake) made the aircraft look sleeker. They kind of sat back on the mains. With the spring steel mains, the aircraft stood a little more upright. To me they looked 'jaunty'. I like 'jaunty'. (I also liked the 40º flaps. )

 

[Miller Fan]

For me it's The Boeing B-17 F . Last year I got to ride in a G model, one of only 7 left still flying, out of about about 12,000 built. I worked at Wright Patt AFB for years and this was the only time I was ever acutally off the ground in a plane. You have to love the graceful lines of the Cheyenne tail. What a rush !!!

 

[Miller Fan]

For some reason I can't post the pic I took that day.

 

[/|\]

Just seeing if it will work for me...

 

[CharlieB]

Just seeing if it will work for me...

Thanks. I just could not get it to imbed.

 

[CharlieB]

Tried that the first attempt. Did not work. I'll try again with another image.

Thanks

 

[/|\]

I see what happened. The url you used in your first attempt was to a webpage, not the image. Right-click on the image and choose 'Copy image address' (or 'Open in a new window' and copy the url from the address box).

 

[CharlieB]

I see what happened. The url you used in your first attempt was to a webpage, not the image. Right-click on the image and choose 'Copy image address' (or 'Open in a new window' and copy the url from the address box).

OK, makes sense now. I'll give it a try later with a different image.

 

[Spitfire]

Just love this old warhorse!!!

 

[/|\]

I love the Hurricane! Fascinating construction, and a seriously overlooked aircraft in the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire is still my favourite, but if I had the means to build a collection I'd get the Hurricane first because it's a more forgiving plane. (OK, I'd get a Harvard or an SNJ first to train in. )

 

[Aristaeus]

You'll like this YouTube then. It's a film of FDR taking a tour of the M-130 Hawaii Clipper, which exploded in midair in 1938.

Hello Fletch
I have seen this film before. The video is of the Hawaii Clipper NC14714 which is a Martin M-130 that was Lost over the Pacific between Guam and the Phillipines on 7/29/38. No wreckage was ever found.

The Samoan Clipper NC16734 which was a Sikorsky S-42 was lost near Pago Pago, Samoa, on 1/11/38. Wreckage was found and indicated it had blown up during flight.

[video=youtube;Z3GxJ20pzqg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3GxJ20pzqg[/video]

Maybe it is just me but I have never seen F.D.R. in this film.

 

[Aristaeus]

Wingnut,

Can you explain this a bit more to me? This thing did 443mph in 1934?!?

How is this possible, if Howie set the 1935 record at 235mph?

Perhaps it's the seaplane aspect?

Please elaborate to me, because this is very interesting indeed.

It looks like I have a date with Wikipedia, in the meantime...

The difference is that H.H. set the record for a land based plane reaching a speed of 352 MPH, using the H-1 Racer powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1535 twin-row 14-cylinder radial engine rated at 700HP but tuned to 1000HP and a controllable-pitch Hamilton Standard metal propeller . The H-1 was designed at the time for short, low alt runs, not untill 1937 was the H-1 redesigned for long distance flights at high altitudes. He flew from Burbank to Newark in 7hrs 28min and 25seconds.

Here is a pic of both the long wing, long distance, high alt racer, and the short wing, short distance, low alt racer, the speed record was set with.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hughes_H-1_Racer

The M.C. 72 set the record for the fastest SeaPlane reaching a speed of 440MPH over water. The M.C. 72 was powered by two V12 inline water cooled, supercharged engines, ( 2 x FIAT AS-6 ) linked together turning two contra-rotating propellers which generated about 2,500-3,100 hp.

[video=youtube;gLRLhZJsCh4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLRLhZJsCh4[/video]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macchi_M.C.72

 

[David Conwill]

?????? ...and what has that got to do with aeroplanes?

Well, isn’t it obvious? My grandfather disliked Spam his whole life. Why? Due to his service in North Africa with the Army Air Forces.

Thus, any discussion of aircraft from the Golden Era deserves some discussion of Spam. Our friendly co-poster just decided to spur the conversation by serving us some.

-Dave

 

[HepKitty]

Well, isn’t it obvious? My grandfather disliked Spam his whole life. Why? Due to his service in North Africa with the Army Air Forces.

Thus, any discussion of aircraft from the Golden Era deserves some discussion of Spam. Our friendly co-poster just decided to spur the conversation by serving us some.

-Dave

Um, no thanks. Could that post please be moved to a more appropriate location? Thank you

 

[HepKitty]

Back on topic: the F-22 and SR-71 made it onto the list! and the Electra was mentioned... YES!

http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/aircraft/best-buys/10-sexiest-airplanes.html

Our darling Spitfire made it to the top of the list

 

[David Conwill]

Could that post please be moved to a more appropriate location?

Like nowhere? :lol:

Sorry. On topic: I haven't seen anyone mention the P-6E Hawk. There's a beautiful airplane that screams Golden Era.

-Dave