Ok I know alot of you are into aircraft so here is a fun thread. Post what ever you like. Pics or vids. I'll start off with a few of my favorite aircraft. And yes I have odd tastes.
There are only 4 examples in existence 2 pristine models exist in China. IMHO simply the most magnificent airplane ever constructed. Armed with four .50 caliber machine guns on the top turret and 4 20mm cannons in the belly. You did NOT want to meet this aircraft in a dark ally over the southern pacific.
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09:05 PM
Richjk21 Member
Posts: 2228 From: Central Square NY, USA Registered: Feb 2006
There are only 4 examples in existence 2 pristine models exist in China. IMHO simply the most magnificent airplane ever constructed. Armed with four .50 caliber machine guns on the top turret and 4 20mm cannons in the belly. You did NOT want to meet this aircraft in a dark ally over the southern pacific.
Not entirely true Bill. There are three in the US. One at Wright-Pat AirForce museum. One at the Air and Space Museum. And one presently under restoration to flying condition in Reading Pa. at Mid-Atlantic Air museum. There is one on display in China which is reportibly for sale at 1 mil. Rumors have it there are more than one(read maybe even more than 2). The story goes that after the war there were still some P-61's on the Chinese bases that we flew out of. The crews were working to fix them to flyable condition when the Chinese came in and said Leave. From what I understand it wasn't a polite invitation either. The one in reading is one it's wheels last time I saw it.
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09:13 PM
sostock Member
Posts: 5907 From: Grain Valley, MO Registered: May 2005
it's hard not to like things that fly and blow things up so many to choose from. DH mosquito, ME262, p51-d, f4, sr71. even though it was something of a dog, i'm kind of fond of the DH2 from ww1
[This message has been edited by lurker (edited 01-05-2008).]
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09:31 PM
The_Stickman2 Member
Posts: 1030 From: Lehigh Valley Pa. Registered: Sep 2007
One of my first jobs as a young engineer with Pratt & Whitney many years ago was to recreate tooling to manufacture spares for the J58 engine that was scrapped during the SALT II agreement. I have good memories of the SR-71.
Second best job was working on the nozzle / augmentor engineering project on the YF-119 which became the engine for the F-22 Raptor.
Sometimes miss my old aerospace engineering days.
[This message has been edited by randye (edited 12-31-2007).]
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09:39 PM
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
Bill I have heard many rumors of China having a few. Just one on display. And they are willing to sell it. I here it's not in the greatest shape though.
Originally posted by The_Stickman2: Bill I have heard many rumors of China having a few. Just one on display. And they are willing to sell it. I here it's not in the greatest shape though.
Wanna go in on halves?
I was doing research on them about 3 years ago when I came across the one in Beijing and another one that was rather obscure. Damn I wished I saved the links as I'm having a helluva time finding it now.
Regardless... I just love that plane.
[This message has been edited by 84Bill (edited 12-31-2007).]
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11:21 PM
texasfiero Member
Posts: 4674 From: Houston, TX USA Registered: Jun 2003
My favorite war bird would be the The Northrop P-61 Black Widow.[/URL]
That is one of my favorite planes also. I recently purchased drawings for a 66" r/c model that I'm going to build.
Of the others listed, the B-17 and the Warthog are also favorites.
Here is another of my favorites. I grew up near the SAC base in Altus OK and remember hearing one of these monsters fly over. It is a sound you won't forget.
C-17, KC-135R two types I worked on and spent countless hours on. While not the "stars" of movies, these aircraft provide vital services that allow the USA to project its power on a global scale.
As for the Civilian side:
The Beech Starship 2000 and the Long EZ.
------------------ 1988 Fiero Formula T-tops CJB 143 of 1252 "factory T-top cars"
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01:48 AM
pavo_roddy Member
Posts: 4351 From: State with a city named Gotham Registered: Apr 2004
If were talkin about real world aircraft then the X-29 RULES ALL!! Which ironically, the above pic/link the fighter mode was based on the x-29, i.e., FSW's..........
edit: Definately gotta give a shout out to the X-31 too!! Not as visually appealing as the x-29, but man could you crush anyone in a dog fight, lol........
------------------ Me, I sell engines, the cars are for free, I need something to crate the engines in.... Enzo Ferrari....
Today they are called garage's, yesterday, they were stable's! Eric Jacobsen....
[This message has been edited by pavo_roddy (edited 01-01-2008).]
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02:43 AM
Jarhead 2m4 Member
Posts: 1849 From: Missouri City, TX Registered: Jun 2006
For me, it has to be the KC-130 built by Lockheed Martin.
This special aircraft has a certain personality that I truly adore. It can do anything from aerial refueling to troop/cargo transport, aerial delivery, and battlefield illumination. The US has been flying this aircraft for over 50 years, and with the brand new "J" model, will probably continue to use it for many more. Watch the video starting at 4:19 where it's wheels first touch the ground. It comes to a complete stop, offloads 2 vehicles, reverses back down the runway and takes off with the wheels being on the ground for less than a minute.
------------------ "Semper Fiero"
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04:27 AM
Gokart Mozart Member
Posts: 12143 From: Metro Detroit Registered: Mar 2003
I still find it funny that the F4U Corsair's bend in the wing structure was a result of it's large prop. Instead of redesigning the landing gear they just put a bend in the wings to make the fuselage further from the deck thus making room for the 13 ft. prop diameter.
There is a MiG-15 sitting in the Naval Aviation Museum in NAS Pensacola that was shot down by Marine pilot Jesse Folmer during the Korean War. Care to guess what he was flying? That's right, a Vought F4U Corsair!
------------------ "Semper Fiero"
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10:39 AM
The_Stickman2 Member
Posts: 1030 From: Lehigh Valley Pa. Registered: Sep 2007
I still find it funny that the F4U Corsair's bend in the wing structure was a result of it's large prop. Instead of redesigning the landing gear they just put a bend in the wings to make the fuselage further from the deck thus making room for the 13 ft. prop diameter.
There is a MiG-15 sitting in the Naval Aviation Museum in NAS Pensacola that was shot down by Marine pilot Jesse Folmer during the Korean War. Care to guess what he was flying? That's right, a Vought F4U Corsair!
Whoa A Corsair took down a Mig? That is impressive. BTW I am surprised no one has commented on the Caspian sea monster vid.
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10:57 AM
Toddster Member
Posts: 20871 From: Roswell, Georgia Registered: May 2001
There are way to many to like that I don't think I could seriously pick just one as my favorite but the first one to come to mind was the De Havilland Mosquito due to it's wooden construction which made it light and fast plus it looks just fantastic.
I am however partial to WWII military aircraft mostly because I like the simplicity and ingenuity put into those aircraft considering what we were capable of in that era. For new age aircraft with all them fancy computers and junk I've always liked the usual F-16, F-15, F-14, C-5, A-10 and so on for non US military I like the Su-27 Fulcrum and it's super BA offspring the SU-35 which can do a move called the cobra.
If money were no object and the plane never needed maintenance and it was stored for free my personal choice would be a toss up between the F-104 starfighter and a P-38 both are classy in there own ways and are very cool to look at.
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12:09 PM
litespd Member
Posts: 8128 From: No where you want to be Registered: Aug 99
Cool thread! I've always loved the Century series fighters, F-110 / Phantom included. Fav bomber would have to be the B-58 Hustler. All these aircraft from this era are kind of like the muscle cars of the aviation world.
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02:28 AM
fierobear Member
Posts: 27083 From: Safe in the Carolinas Registered: Aug 2000
