Nominations needed for Aviation History Magazine article

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

19th May 2011, 22:44

#1 (permalink)

stepwilk

Thread Starter

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

Posts: 875

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Nominations needed for Aviation History Magazine article

What are the most beautiful airplanes ever?

The magazine recently published a piece of mine on the ugliest airplanes of all time, and it elicited so much attention, comment and readership that now they want me to do the other end of the spectrum.

Constellation, SF-260, F-86, Hughes Racer, 707, Spitfire, Deperdussin, Concorde, Cessna 310...there are a zillion possibilities (well, at least dozens) and I'd like to come up with a list that covers everything from WWI to the present, with equal weight given to a WWI fighter, a vintage biplane, a classic 1930s single, both piston and jet air transports, same for fighters, a Postwar general aviation airplane and a number of other important categories.

It would also be fun to come up with some surprises: choosing the Spitfire is like shooting fish in a barrel, but was there possibly a French (gasp!) or Italian fighter even lovelier?

I'd like to also limit the criteria to the visual, not the visceral: lots of people consider the Lanc or the B -24 beautiful because it brought them home alive and/or did a lot of damage to the enemy, but I hope to leave out such emotions and deal simply with airplanes as objects of beauty. Never mind if it had terrible single-engine handling, was a piece of crap quality-wise or was a failure on the market, what do you people consider to be the most beautiful airplanes ever?

I ask because I admire your knowledge and opinions, frankly.

19th May 2011, 23:36

#2 (permalink)

A30yoyo

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: Cornwall UK

Age: 79

Posts: 507

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

What were your top ten uglies.Stepwilk?

20th May 2011, 00:32

#3 (permalink)

pigboat

Join Date: Feb 2000

Location: CYZV

Age: 77

Posts: 1,256

Likes: 0

Received 1 Like on 1 Post

There can only be one classic '30's single.

Beechcraft 17.

20th May 2011, 01:22

#4 (permalink)

rjtjrt

Join Date: Dec 2003

Location: Australia

Posts: 926

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Hawker Hunter.
Concorde (obviously)

20th May 2011, 05:39

#5 (permalink)

DougGordon

Join Date: Sep 2008

Location: Langourla, France

Age: 78

Posts: 127

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Hawker Hunter
F-100 Super Sabre
Mirage 2000

Last edited by DougGordon; 20th May 2011 at 05:40. Reason: addition

20th May 2011, 07:45

#6 (permalink)

ZH875

Join Date: Apr 2003

Location: Lincolnshire

Age: 64

Posts: 2,278

Likes: 19

Received 35 Likes on 14 Posts

Airbus Beluga

Bristol T188

Fairey Delta 2

VC-10

20th May 2011, 08:53

#7 (permalink)

dakkg651

Join Date: Dec 2004

Location: shrewsbury

Posts: 340

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Martin Baker MB5.

Any modern sailplane.

Hawker Hunter of course!

20th May 2011, 10:07

#8 (permalink)

treadigraph

Gnome de PPRuNe

Join Date: Jan 2002

Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort

Age: 60

Posts: 12,593

Likes: 130

Received 274 Likes on 152 Posts

Grumman Tigercat - curvaceous, slender and a nice pair right where they should be! Sounds great too.

Quote:

There can only be one classic '30's single.

I'd contend that the Spartan Executive is a serious rival - the essence of 1930s beauty.

20th May 2011, 14:32

#9 (permalink)

stepwilk

Thread Starter

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

Posts: 875

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

"What were your top ten uglies, Stepwilk?"

It was actually 13, now that I see the article again, but go here...

The 13 Ugliest Airplanes » History Net

and you can read it on line.

20th May 2011, 17:18

#10 (permalink)

Jig Peter

Join Date: Feb 2008

Location: Toulouse area, France

Age: 93

Posts: 435

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Stepwilk

Would you add the Blackburn Botha to your list of uglies, please? That comapny really did go for "odd" lines - seems thay did too much work for the Navy ...

PS Buccaneer ? I'm just not going there ...

20th May 2011, 19:18

#11 (permalink)

sablatnic

Join Date: Aug 2009

Location: Denmark

Age: 68

Posts: 401

Likes: 105

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

De Havilland Albatross (With the new fins)

Or maybe the Heston Napier racer.

Or one of Stelio Frati's planes, the Falco maybe.

20th May 2011, 20:11

#12 (permalink)

Loki

Join Date: Mar 2001

Location: Asgard

Posts: 488

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

I agree with the nomination for the DH Albatross....lovely!

I have a soft spot for the Mig 21....the early ones with the area rule fuselage.

Some very nice pre war aircraft from Hawker.... Demon, Hart, Fury etc.

A bit left field, but the Republic XF12 "Rainbow" (only 2 built) was something to behold.

20th May 2011, 21:14

#13 (permalink)

treadigraph

Gnome de PPRuNe

Join Date: Jan 2002

Location: Too close to Croydon for comfort

Age: 60

Posts: 12,593

Likes: 130

Received 274 Likes on 152 Posts

Quote:

Or one of Stelio Frati's planes, the Falco maybe.

In stepwilk's case that's awfully close to bribery!

20th May 2011, 21:25

#14 (permalink)

HighLifelowtime

Join Date: May 2011

Location: British Isles

Age: 76

Posts: 4

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

My Fave

Sablatnic, anything by Stelio Frati is the epitome of Italian style, ie. - gorgeous - and will win you extra brownie points with Stepwilk, who I think built and flew a Falco for some years. The usual suspects, Spits, De Havs. are all worthy contenders natch. - but may I put in a vote for the rugged, clean-cut simplicity of the F86A Sabrejet from North American Aviation Inc.

20th May 2011, 21:42

#15 (permalink)

skytrain10

Join Date: Oct 2008

Location: Wales, UK

Age: 65

Posts: 6,062

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Here are a few of my favourites,
Frati Falco (some names just keep cropping up!)
Miles Gemini
P-51D Mustang
Douglas DC-8-61 or 63
Constellation
Beech 17
SR-71

20th May 2011, 22:01

#16 (permalink)

Alogan

Join Date: Jun 2005

Location: Hampshire

Posts: 26

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

A dozen or so aeroplanes that I've always thought very beautiful:

Vickers VC10
Waco YMF
Hawker Hunter
Concorde
Lockheed Constellation
de Havilland Comet
Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza
Luscombe 8
Supermarine Spitfire
Macchi MC72
Supermarine S6B
Lockheed P-80

20th May 2011, 22:29

#17 (permalink)

Warmtoast

Join Date: Nov 2006

Location: South of the M4

Posts: 1,638

Likes: 3

Received 15 Likes on 6 Posts

I always considered the Short Sealand amphibian as a 'pretty' aircraft.

A couple of Indian Navy Sealands from the Indian Navy Fleet Requirements Unit at Cochin took part in the JET '57 exercise at Trincomalee (Ceylon) and were based at RAF China Bay in October 1957 where I took these photos.

Lovely lines for an amphibian.

20th May 2011, 22:32

#18 (permalink)

stepwilk

Thread Starter

Join Date: Dec 2007

Location: Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York

Posts: 875

Likes: 0

Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

"Or one of Stelio Frati's planes, the Falco maybe..."

I have to admit that I built and for five years flew a Falco, which is now in Australia on its second Ozzie owner. I may have to choose the SF-260...

Also, I'm interested that nobody has mentioned the DH88 Comet. Some great suggestions, though, for which many thanks!