Most beautiful plane

http://www.aviationartprints.com/bac_lightning.htm

the old Lighting

and Yeah, I love the Vulcan, Spits & Mosquitos..

Dads old squadron, the 55th TFS @ Heyford..





and his other group, the 77th, aka 'the worlds greatest"





He was also in the Tiger Sqadron







Wethersfield -Essex, & Upper Heyford -Oxon..


RAF Wethersfield









http://www.geocities.com/scchurchill/we ... mories.htm

 

1st place Hawker Hurricane. The ultimate in study no nonsense, no frills warplanes.
2nd pace Supermarine Spitfire. Beautiful grace full line, just piped at the post for looking a bit too pretty to be a fighter
3rd North American P-51 Mustang. A plane that couldn't look more all American if you nailed a couple of cowboy boots and a ten gallon hat on to it.



Honourable mention. Fairly Swordfish. How can you not like a plane that outlived its intended successor in front line service?

 

I can't understand the appeal in the Mustang. With that under-fuselage radiator at best it looks pregnant, at worst like it's the wrong side of a couple of decades hard drinking.

 

The Australians were developing a Mustang-like fighter, CA-15 Kangaroo. Now that one really looked pregnant. No good photo on the net, unfortunately.

Photos here.

 

"swift things are beautiful"_Coatsworth

 

Beauty often lies in perspective... I normally don't find the Phantom very pretty, but here:

 

I've always found the Lockheed P-38 Lightning quite beautiful, in a unique sort of way.

As for modern warplanes, I love the Grumman F-14 Tomcat.

 

http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/ ... 5/gee5.jpg

words cannot explain how much i love this plane...the Gee Bee R1

 

Re CA-15 Kangaroo and no photos. Try Ronnie Olsthoorn's computer graphics - this is a regular wallpaper on my PC.
http://home.wanadoo.nl/r.j.o/skyraider/ca-15_1.htm
Contender for fastest piston engined aircraft ever (non-race modified), along with the Martin Baker MB-5 and one or two others.

 

Mine will be the (a65m??) Zero, the japs sacrifced armour for grace and range. sorry no time to look for pic but i'm sure you guys know how it looks.

 

The Zero was the A6M. Mass-production variants were the A6M2, A6M3 and A6M5, the latter in sub-types (a, b and c chiefly IIRC), these formed the bulk of the Zero/Zeke'z production runs. I would have to agree with you though, it is a nice looking plane.

 

Another vote for the P-38 Lightning. My favorite models being the F-G-H with their streamlined engine intakes. The P-38L of course as one of the finest piston-engined planes of the war.

I also think the F-16C Falcon is one of the most handsome contemporary fighters out there... like a modern-day P-51 Mustang.

Tim

 

One thing I'm always struck by when I see both the P-51 and the F-16 fly is the pilot visibility - you can clearly see the pilot's head sticking way up above the airframe in a big perspex bubble - they miust enjoy fantastic visability.

 

My favorite wwII plane would be the Hurricane, which as mk IIc with 4 cannon had a real look of purpose in addition to the classic paint job.

Newer planes....how about the B-36, at least it sure looked nice when Jimmy Stewart was flying it up in those clouds...or maybe the graceful B-47

 

The Su-27 Flanker... actually i prefer the Su-33 Naval variant (with its cannards) but both are beautiful planes... The F-16 falcon is a close second, and for WW2 i will choose the FW 190

 

Call me Mr.Unimaginative, but there's nothing quite like the Spitfire. But most of the American aircraft looked pretty good as well, like the B-17, the Mustang, the B-25 or the P-40. The P-47 is my fav American fighter but I wouldn't call it beautiful.

 

In terms of more modern planes, the F-15 has beautifully clean lines...

 

I have to agree with you if modern planes are to be included. The Su-27 is stunning.

 

Having just seen a Miles Gemini flying at Shuttleworth, I have had my heart stolen away.