Nominations needed for Aviation History Magazine article

[stepwilk]

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.

[A30yoyo]

What were your top ten uglies.Stepwilk?

[pigboat]

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

Beechcraft 17. (http://www.dick.mckay.org/Staggerwing.htm)

[rjtjrt]

Hawker Hunter.
Concorde (obviously)

[DougGordon]

Hawker Hunter
F-100 Super Sabre
Mirage 2000

[ZH875]

Airbus Beluga

Bristol T188

Fairey Delta 2

VC-10

[dakkg651]

Martin Baker MB5.

Any modern sailplane.

Hawker Hunter of course!

[treadigraph]

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

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.

[stepwilk]

"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 (http://www.historynet.com/the-13-ugliest-airplanes.htm)

and you can read it on line.

[Jig Peter]

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 ... :E:E

[sablatnic]

De Havilland Albatross (With the new fins)

Or maybe the Heston Napier racer.

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

[Loki]

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.

[treadigraph]

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

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

[HighLifelowtime]

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.

[skytrain10]

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

[Alogan]

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

[Warmtoast]

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.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20China%20Bay/ChinaBay-ExerciseJET1957-IndianNavy.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20China%20Bay/ShortSealandINS-103.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAF%20China%20Bay/ShortSealandINS-102.jpg

[stepwilk]

"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!

[A30yoyo]

Here's a few....
De Havilland....Original single pilot nose DH-86
Getty Images - Unsupported browser detected (http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/3067405/Hulton-Archive)

and the DH-95 Flamingo
http://www.rcyachts.net/oziom/Leica/Flamingo%20G-AFYH%20%20maybe%20Redhill%2024%20Jan%201948%20A.jpg

Boeing.....if a bomber can be 'beautiful' the B-29
Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" Heavy Bomber (http://www.constable.ca/caah/b29.htm)
and curiously terminated early by Boeing, the beautiful 757
Boeing: Multimedia - Image Gallery - 757 (http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/gallery/images/commercial/757/757-01.html)

Italian style...
Savoia Marchetti SM79 'Sorci Verdi' team
http://www.aerei-italiani.net/Bruno_Fanton/Sorci%20Verdi.jpg
CANT Z1007bis
http://www.finn.it/regia/immagini/cantz/cantz_1007bis_francia_libera.jpg
Caproni Ca133
http://www.finn.it/regia/immagini/caproni/caproni_ca133_catturato.jpg
Piaggio P-136L
Photos: Piaggio P-136-L Royal Gull Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitled-(DN-Expressen)/Piaggio-P-136-L-Royal/0609590/L/)

Lockheed Starliner
Photo of Lockheed L-1649A Starliner N7301C - Aviation Safety Network (http://aviation-safety.net/photos/displayphoto.php?id=19661218-0&vnr=1&kind=PO)

Douglas DC-6B
http://www.stinsonflyer.com/prop/dc6-07.jpg
A-4 Skyhawk
Photos: McDonnell Douglas A-4G Skyhawk Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Australia---Navy/McDonnell-Douglas-A-4G/0984449/L/)
A-3 Skywarrior
Photos: Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Navy/Douglas-EA-3B-Skywarrior/1006676/L/)

SAAB 340
http://www.x-plane.org/home/urf/aviation/img/saab/saab340.jpg

[Proplinerman]

Fairey Fantome.

[Loki]

A couple of people have mentioned the Beech Staggerwing:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k288/loki_021/forafrica/d17s.jpg

[pigboat]

I'd contend that the Spartan Executive is a serious rival - the essence of 1930s beauty.
Agreed treadders, but what tipped my hand to the Staggerwing was when Spartan stuck a nosewheel on a one-off example. Sacrilege. :=

http://www.airventure.de/oshkosh05/1_fly_in/osh05_spartan_executive_1456.jpg

[Loki]

I thought this Waco was quite pretty when I saw it;

("Miss Sonya"...seen at Seattle,King County, August 2006)

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k288/loki_021/waco2.jpg

[Wander00]

I think it is still very pretty!

[stepwilk]

dakkg651 made the excellent suggestion that a modern high-performance sailplane should be considered for my most-beautiful list.

Though I have a long-unused glider rating, I've been away from the field for long enough that I have no idea what the most beautiful contenders are today. So, a question: can anybody sailplane-knowledgeable be more specific about exactly which sailplane(s) should be considered?

[barit1]

pigboat:

I had a boss once who was a student at Spartan during the flight tests of the Spartan 12. Don't recall if they ever achieved a TC for it; they at least understood the direction the market was moving.

But what of that lovely yellow/white DGA right behind? THAT is one rugged beauty, and you ignorami who think beauty is a purely visual attribute -
Gee, I don't know what to do with you. I'm not sure you can be cured.

(However, the Spartan 7W and the Gooney Bird are as classy as they come!)

[treadigraph]

Pigboat, agree that the tri-gear Spartan is ugly... don't mess with visual perfection.

Barit1, I like the Howard as well - only ever seen one in the flesh that I can recall (I think there MUST have been several at Oshkosh other than the Mr Mulligan replica when I went, but I was somewhat overwhelmed), which took part in a UK/Australia vintage air rally about 20 years ago. Sadly, I think it was later destroyed in an accident in Australia.:{ On the upside, I was watching the Gypsy Moths the other week - plenty of DGA action in that!

[LTAfan]

How about:
Levasseur Antoinette series
Focke Wulf Fw-190

[stevew62]

F4U Corsair !

It was my favourite kit as a Kid ( that & the Lysander )
http://www.luftfahrt.ch/images/grenchen06f4u4corsair.jpg

Picture "borrowed" from www.luftfahrt.ch (http://www.luftfahrt.ch)

[barit1]

The prettiest of the smaller twins - Lockheed 12-A

http://www.airbum.com/pireps/Lockheed12A4.jpg

Props to Budd Davisson for his pilot report & photos at Pilot Report: Lockheed 12A Electra Jr. (http://www.airbum.com/pireps/PirepLockheed12A.html)

[India Four Two]

So, a question: can anybody sailplane-knowledgeable be more specific about exactly which sailplane(s) should be considered?

Stephan,

I read some years ago a suggestion that modern sailplanes were the ultimate example of "form follows function" and that if the design trends continued, you wouldn't be able to distinguish the different models.

So based on that, I suggest you just pick the LS, ASW or Schemp-Hirth model that appeals to you.

I know it is old, but my bias is towards the Standard Cirrus, mainly because I used to fly one. A world-beater in its time.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/StandardCirrus5-24-201112-56-06PM.png

When you compare it with modern sailplanes, it is hard to believe the design is 40 years old.

[henry crun]

My suggestion for a sailplane pic would be one of the larger ones, say a Nimbus 4, dumping water as it races to the finish line in a competition.
Beautiful sight.

[superspotter]

Nothing comes close to the staggerwing.
I also like the A380....