What was/is your favorite airplane to fly? [Archive]

misd-agin

27th Dec 2011, 14:55

All in all? 757 w/RR engines. High thrust to weight AND amazing combination of flying (Andes, Rocky Mountains, trans Atlantic, etc). IMO nothing beats rocketing out of a mountain valley in a 757, with a engine out profile loaded ("thrust, don't fail me now!") :D

Nicest? 777. It does so many things that make the job better.

737NG and A300 for the nicest 'balanced' airliners for hand flying. You just had to get over the 'old' cockpit crap.

Military 'nice' aircraft stopped at the T-38, which was pretty nice. Nothing like having it 'talk' to you coming around the final turn.

604guy

27th Dec 2011, 14:57

Beech 17 (Staggerwing). T'was 87 hours of pure bliss!

Machinbird

27th Dec 2011, 15:32

A-4 Skyhawk (But I'm a Phantom guy by trade.) Can't beat Ed Heinemann's application of the KISS principle. You flew it all the time. No one maintained the A/P.

For puddle jumping and mild aerobatics, the Luscombe 8a is my choice. Scared myself more in that than I ever did in a military aircraft.:}

hetfield

27th Dec 2011, 18:10

727
727
727
727

Denti

27th Dec 2011, 19:15

Can't really decide between Ka 8 and Ka 6 CR.

Flying for food i love the 737-700. An absolute pleasure to fly and quite a bit of power, always nice when you get your second engine back at climb thrust and do the clean up at 3500fpm while accelerating in the normal manner ;)

con-pilot

27th Dec 2011, 19:40

Single engine-T-34.

Basic twin engine-TC Baron.

Cabin class twin-Aero Comander 680 Grand Commander.

Turbo Prop-Kingair 200.

Corporate jet-Falcon 50EX.

Airliner-727-100.

overun

27th Dec 2011, 19:57

The Ka-8 is very good agreed, l believe it is possible to make it climb by

easing upwards gently on the stick. Alas, in my view, the Ka - 18

is better. Neither have vices, but you can`t beat span :)

Powered ? the chippy for it`s weight range and, l have to say, the 146

because the over engineered lump has performed, and handled, brilliantly.

fantom

27th Dec 2011, 21:49

Dear me, is that all you have to offer?

Mil : Hunter F9. I'll hold my F4 time in reserve.

Civil: Airbus 320 and the magnificent Airbus 330.

Beat that.

Added later: Slash reminds me of my several years 727 time. Excellent machine.

F100 driver

27th Dec 2011, 22:17

A330.

Beautiful co-ordination, loads of grunt, no trimming, managed approaches absolutely nailed, makes anyone look good!!!!!!

overun

27th Dec 2011, 22:49

Deary deary me.

So your favourite airyplane is better than my favourite ?

" Fight ! "

l`ll give you 21,000ft gain in height for no calories against your Hunter.

TowerDog

27th Dec 2011, 22:57

C-185 for power

DC-3 for fun flying

B-747-200C for making dough

guiones

27th Dec 2011, 23:50

Piston: C310 Riley Turbostream
Prop: Cessna Conquest II Dash 10
Small Jet: Falcon 10
Large Jet: A340-500 (VIP) Light weight, sooo much power!!
For food: A330-200/A380 TIE

G

exeng

28th Dec 2011, 00:04

Flown a lot of Boeing stuff - but the 737-300 I like the most.

Liked the 777. liked the 757 and like the 737 NG - don't like the A320/319.

I liked the 737-200 in many ways apart from the fact it would go down like a brick but wouild climb like mule.

The 747 I can't comment on as I ever only operated as F/E - however from my perspective in that seat it was a worldbeater.

Regards
Exeng

JammedStab

28th Dec 2011, 00:26

Jet contenders 737-200, 727-200: 727 the easy winner(looks better, flies faster, descends quicker, can have a reasonable T.O. alternate, carries a real payload, puts out more smoke and is nice and quiet up front on takeoff and approach)

Big prop contenders: Herc, 748, ATR: Herc the easy winner(powered controls, giant cockpit, good speed, big crosswinds, cool flying)

Little prop Contendors: BE99, BE100, DHC-6: DHC-6 the easy winner(can land just about anywhere on floats,skis or tundra tires)

multiple small Piston contenders: Be-76 by a bit(good, comfortable all year around plane)

Warbird Contenders: DHC-1, AT-6, Stearman, DH82, DH83, PT-26: DHC-1 is the easy winner overall. (If you get a chance, fly one. Excepting speed, flies like a Spitfire, super light on controls, you almost get to an usual attitude by just thinking about it. Can easily hold a very steep turn with one finger).

Worst ever: Any Cessna 337 with the Robertson STOL kit(feels like you are trying to manouver a locomotive).

stilton

28th Dec 2011, 03:51

Boeing 727, my first jet, just a delight to fly.

Boeing 767, close second.

Boeing 757, most overrated, loads of power but handles like a truck !

main_dog

28th Dec 2011, 04:18

Used to fly a lovely if slippery little Mooney that I remember fondly, as well as a PA-23 Geronimo that was funky and underpowered but I still loved.

The 319/320/321 didn't really do it for me (as one pilot put it, "it's like kissing your sister"), but I thoroughly enjoyed flying the B747-200.

I was surprised to find that I enjoy flying the B747-400 even more ;).

I will forever envy those who have had the privilege of flying the DC-3 and the B727 though :ok:.

Big Pistons Forever

28th Dec 2011, 04:33

The Mighty Douglass DC 6. A big wing, reliable engines and wonderfully balanced controls....... the most satisfying airliner to fly ever made.

VC9

28th Dec 2011, 05:36

L188 beautiful finger tip power controls. Instant lift from the propwash over the wing from the constant speed engines.

B737NG

28th Dec 2011, 06:01

First plane .... first Love, the CE177RG I owed for some time. The SWM I certainly do not miss. The B737NG was the nicer version of the Jet to handfly and the B777 made the paycheck earned like a piece of cake.

scotbill

28th Dec 2011, 06:42

Boeing 757, most overrated, loads of power but handles like a truck !The original (RR) 75 handled beautifully and its performance was mind-blowing compared to those types with more than 2 engines.
I believe that Boeing stiffened up the controls after a couple of landing tailstrikes. Still remains one of the most versatile in the history of commercial aircraft.

stilton

28th Dec 2011, 06:48

That may well be, strangely enough the 757-300 is a much nicer flying machine than the -200.

Dan Winterland

28th Dec 2011, 07:27

Glider: ASW19
Piston: Chipmunk.
Turboprop: None.
Small Jet: Hawk
Big Jet: VC10

staircase

28th Dec 2011, 07:49

So many good aeroplanes to choose from makes it difficult, however I could immediately think of the two I would never want to see again;

SD 330 and the Hastings!

captjns

28th Dec 2011, 08:40

B727-100 for that sporty feel with docile landing speeds

Ted Smith Aerostar. Loved out running Beech C-90s, Commander 680s, and 681s. Even gave a fully loaded 690 a run for the money too,

Extra 300-L for flying upside down while listening to CDs or the radio. Not a bad x-country machine either, thanks to the Bose Headsets

Stearman for nostalgia.

scotbill

28th Dec 2011, 09:15

The Stampe - much better aerobatically then the Tiger.
The T33a with Nene engine - simply in a different world to the British jet trainers of the 50s.
Chipmunk - agreed.
Comet IV - overpowered and carried/used too much fuel for the accountants - but beautiful
B767

Max Angle

28th Dec 2011, 09:58

J3 Cub, doors open, farm strip, summer evening. Bliss.

Stone Cold II

28th Dec 2011, 11:41

Do 228 was one ugly plane but was the nicest handling aircraft I have flown. 737 was nice to hand fly but I hated operating the cramped noisy thing. A320 nothing special to hand fly but is very nice environment to operate in.

Overall for me I prefer the Airbus for day to day work. Stiff crosswind give me the Do228, was superb.

Clandestino

28th Dec 2011, 11:52

Q400. Can't recall having a boring day flying her.

747dieseldude

28th Dec 2011, 12:30

747-200 at 300ton.

lederhosen

28th Dec 2011, 15:17

ASW 20, years of fun

SFCC

28th Dec 2011, 15:27

Piston : Zlin 526

Turboprop : Shorts 360-300. Ugly but great to pole

Jet : Airbus 321. Quiet, comfortable, easy.

poina

28th Dec 2011, 18:43

DC-8-73 great machine!

lynn789

28th Dec 2011, 18:57

in years gone by, the usual answer was
the DC 10, being the only wide body that wasnt underpowered

barit1

28th Dec 2011, 19:36

The Stearman and Staggerwing have been mentioned - but I have a very few hours in the rare Spartan 7W and it is sheer delight. Control forces call for fingertip handling. :)

Smilin_Ed

28th Dec 2011, 19:40

A-4 Skyhawk (But I'm a Phantom guy by trade.) Can't beat Ed Heinemann's application of the KISS principle. You flew it all the time. No one maintained the A/P.

AMEN on both counts.

You strap on the A-4, roll to the catapult and off you go, just like a bird.

On the other hand, the Phantom rides down the glide slope line it's hooked to a wire. No fuss, no bother.

For a prop, the A-1, Skyraider is tops. Lots of power and stable as a rock once you learn to manage the torque on takeoff.

Astra SPx

28th Dec 2011, 19:45

The Astra SPx, of course! Climbs like a rocket, sips fuel at 450, .875Mmo, good legs...

And the venerable Chippy.

Megaton

28th Dec 2011, 19:58

Disliked A320 series and Dash 8. Like the 747-400 apart from crap seats and ergonomic nightmare.

Only flew it a couple of times but I really like the Auster Husky.

spacegrand

29th Dec 2011, 11:31

Miles Gemini and Boeing 767

ehwatezedoing

29th Dec 2011, 15:00

Beech 18. Not the first 50hrs though! Built to fly not to drive.. :eek:

And soon enough the Basler BT-67.

Stuck_in_an_ATR

29th Dec 2011, 17:56

The nicest/easiest to fly - C208 Caravan. In terms of handling qualities Cessna engineers got her just right. Perfect balance of control forces/stability/maneuvrability. Would make an ideal primary trainer, but for the operating cost...

Not so easy to handle, but my all time favourite - Extra 300. To quote the late Duke Elegant, "cranky little slut on the ground and a hard ridin' whore in the air" :E (o.k., He said that about a Pitts, but I think this description fits the Extra very well)

Pilatus PC-12 - a great blend of short field performance and decent cruise speed/range, makes perfectly smooth landings everytime due to huge low-preessure tires and shock absorbers. Perfect for short/unpaved runways. A bit heavy on ailerons, but that's the only caveat.

A320 - actually quite nice to hand fly (though feels a bit strange and "spongy" at times) and has a very comfortable cockpit. I have yet to fly a Boeing though...

Helicopters (if it counts) -

Hughes 300. very responsive, yet not too twichy. V eryeasy to control (for a helicopter), with virtually no innertia at all - it just follows your thought/hand. Not so nice for autorotations (sinks like a brick)

Bell-47 - opposite of the Hughes - sluggish, spongy, with huge control delays, very (I mean VERY) slow in crusie. Yet once you get used to it it's a real joy to fly, with unmached visibility thru the bubble canopy. Very benign in autorotations. More like a flying carpet than a helicopter... :O

40KTSOFFOG

29th Dec 2011, 18:40

Without doubt........... L188 Lockheed Electra.

ZQA297/30

29th Dec 2011, 20:07

Different classes, and different reasons.

L-1011-500; because it was the best all-round flying aircraft.

L-188C: perfectly balanced controls, tons of power.

DC-6B: because that was what made me a professional pilot.

Beech D-18S: because that made me into a pilot.

Auster Aiglet (like a Cub, but with inline engine); cos that's what I soloed on.

DC-ATE

29th Dec 2011, 20:28

Lockheed Constellation/Prop [DC-6/7 close 2nd]

Douglas DC-8/Jet

RainingLogic

29th Dec 2011, 20:40

It's less about the plane but the circumstance....Point A to B?

Walk out, hop in, by myself at FL450 reading a book, Oregon to Florida in 4.5 hours.

Citation Ultra.

R22s are pure fun though.

parabellum

29th Dec 2011, 21:16

Piston: Loved the Chippy, The Beech Baron was a pleasure to fly but the Navajo, when trimmed out, was very pleasant also, had a lot of fun in the BN2 Islander, Beech18, another pleasure to fly but a pig on one.

Turbo Prop: Only ever flew the SC7 Skyvan, (The original 'Shed'), fun but very slow and noisy.

Jet: Favourite all time aircraft has to be the B747-400, followed by B767-300ER then B757-200, B737-200 & -300.

the only wide body that wasn't underpowered

That would be pre B747-400 then?

Prober

29th Dec 2011, 21:43

Prop (unfortunately not VP). The Auster AOP 9 was great fun, even if slightly prone to spring a 'ground loop' on you - saw a mate suffer that on a carrier once in the S China Sea. He was helped out, white and shaking, with the sea rushing by 60ft below him. 12 psi tyres let you land almost anywhere. Climb performance required an adrenalin injection in the tropics though, especially in mountainous areas.
Jets - Trident, without a doubt. The "Gripper", once airborne, was fabulous. Not a huge rate of climb, but what a rate of descent! With 1 and 3 in reverse, we got 22,000 fpm once with a windscreen problem. Noisy and heavy on the fuel, but who cared in the days when 'security' was not much more than "You can't take that with you, it stinks (or wriggles or weighs a ton)" and .88 in the cruise until the first fuel scare.
Prober

RetiredF4

29th Dec 2011, 21:44

Despite the over 3300 hrs in the phantom the first real jet i flew (i dont count the 4000 lbs dogwhistle) conquered my heart.:)

--- The "White Beauty" Norththrop T-38 Talon klick (http://www.fly-fighter-jet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/t-38-talon-1.jpg):ok:

Big klick (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Northrop_T-38A_Talon_USAF.jpg)

franzl

exeng

30th Dec 2011, 00:07

I envy you -what memories you must have!

Regards
Exeng

727gm

30th Dec 2011, 00:48

Glider: DG-500
SE Piston: GC-1B Super Swift
ME Piston: DC-3
T-Prop: BE-18T (WW-III)
Jet: B727

Doodlebug

30th Dec 2011, 10:46

Schempp-Hirth Ventus b, with wingtips: Yes, wants to be 'flown' all the time, but isn't that why we go gliding? Fantastic on the straight runs, too!
Cessna 404 Titan. You're perched high up with a great view, taxiing out with your side-window hinged up, listening to that lovely rumble. Lands anywhere. Loads of range, lots of lifting-capability. Only Cessna twin with genuine engine-out capabilities.
Somebody mentioned the venerable Kingair 200. Say no more.
Learjet 31a. Does everything it says on the tin, and more. Delightful handling, lots of power (not silly, like the 60, but more than plenty).
The day-job, oh well... good performance, I suppose.

Anybody willing to let me have a go in their Aero 145? Please, please? :)

Bergerie1

30th Dec 2011, 13:34

Tiger Moth
Chipmunk
VC10

Rob1975

30th Dec 2011, 13:55

parabellum, bergerie - in my limited experience, chipmunk, seconded! (thirded)?!

first experience was aerobatic flight over woodvale as an air cadet:)

chris weston

30th Dec 2011, 17:15

Excellent thread chaps and as much fun as the Concorde one.

Well done all!

CW

fantom

30th Dec 2011, 18:53

Despite the over 3300 hrs in the phantom

Franzl,

Did you meet/know Paul Day (Ex-RAF) ? He probably has more F4 hrs than anyone I have heard of. You might be parallel pilots except you need to have loads of Spitfire hrs as well !.

Best wishes.

RetiredF4

30th Dec 2011, 19:42

Franzl,

Did you meet/know Paul Day (Ex-RAF) ? He probably has more F4 hrs than anyone I have heard of. You might be parallel pilots except you need to have loads of Spitfire hrs as well !.

Best wishes.

No, unfortunately i never met him and never saw him live in the spitfire, though on yT.

Paul Day in the spitfire Great flying there!

I might have similar amount of Phantom hours, but he has acumulated a uncomparable amount of flying expierience in combat jets, i think besides the hours in historic aircraft like spitfire and hurricane he logged 2000 hours in hunters and 1000 hours in the Tornado. And he is still flying.

Besides him i would feel like a greenhorn.

franzl

divinehover

30th Dec 2011, 20:11

All time Fav: Denel Oryx Chopper (South African Air Force Puma body with Super Puma everything else). There's no substitute for that power.

For fun: B727. M 0.88 at FL280. I'm glad I didn't fill the gas tank.

For capability: B747-400. ATL-JNB at 396 Tons. She did it with a smile.

Warbird: AT6 Harvard. She keeps me honest

latetonite

30th Dec 2011, 20:59

Nicest: J3 Piper Cup, then the L-188 Electra.
A300 as a workhorse. B737NG just for the money...

barit1

30th Dec 2011, 22:07

RetiredF4:

Paul Day's Spit routine is all the evidence one needs to disabuse airshow pilots of the need to pull +/- 6gs to impress the crowd! :ok:

N1EPR

31st Dec 2011, 02:09

Best overall B757 RR engines

Close second L1011

I hope someone is keeping score on this thread.

Worth mentioning: DC 9 51, Beech D 18 various models and L188

aerobat77

31st Dec 2011, 10:09

hi gents !

my favourite aircraft is the space shuttle. very good short take off performance and a good climb rate. capable of going above the weather, no need for flying around cb,s , that all with a serious cruise speed. roomy cockpit and a nice autopilot. the only thing is that she is a little tricky when you have to go around being on final. :ok:

keep on posting gents , and a happy new year to everybody !

Flyer517

31st Dec 2011, 10:22

Has to be the A36 Bonanza. Sweet bird.

windriver

31st Dec 2011, 13:23

G-159 Gulfstream 1 :ok:
(and an honourable second mention for the SD360-300)

dinophyler

1st Jan 2012, 20:49

It seems that the L-1011 is a favorite with quite many aviators. Unfortunately I'll never get enjoy the planes from the good ol' days.:{

P&W JT3D

1st Jan 2012, 23:16

Cessna 182A,
Boeing 757 (flew only 200 - RR Eng) and 767,
handflying them, as beautiful as my son and as well sexy as my wife!

Old Smokey

2nd Jan 2012, 04:00

dinophyler,

These are the good ol' days. The aircraft that you fly now will one day be in a museum or on a pole, for the next generation to wish for the good ol' days:ok::ok:

My turn :

Best Aircraft ever : DC3 - I learned 90% of everything that I know on the DC3. I learned the other 10% on the DH82 Tiger Moth:ok:

New Category....

Most Boring aircraft : F27 Friendship. Totally reliable, never let me down, got my initial command on it, but booooooring:zzz:

Regards,

Old Smokey

galaxy flyer

2nd Jan 2012, 04:25

My first fighter, the North American F-100. I specified the builder because there are several 100s, but only one Hun. In 400 hours, it and some squadron pilots taught me more about flying than 10,000 hours anywhere else could have--basic handling stuff.

The C-5, of course. A nightmare to get out of the parking spot--truly a maintainer's full employment program, but could carry many things that couldn't be flown on anything else and a pleasure once airborne. Running a 10-man crew taught me a thing or two about herding cats, as a side bonus. BTW, funny happenstance, I flew both F-100s and a C-5 to the Boneyard.

The Global Express, my current steed. 12 hours at M.84, a reliable magic carpet. Flies beautifully, but few modern planes don't. Can't wait for the new cockpit.

Along the way, the A-10 was fun and challenging until the silk letdown, the Citation was a pleasant entry into corporate flying, the Sabreliner another pleasant NAA flying machine, if cramped in the cabin. Being an engineer on Mr Boeing's 727 was boring were it not for all the entertainment provided by Apollo 8's commander.

In short, I loved 'em all.

GF

ihoharv

2nd Jan 2012, 05:41

but here's my smaller-fry faves among twenty or so types:

Taildragger: Steen Skybolt
Mine was a 180hp built by my old Doctor and his lovely wife. I'm not sure I ever became a master of taildraggers but that little beauty taught me a lot about how to use my feet.

Small nosedragger: Glasair III
Pretty little thing. Fast & relatively easy to fly though landings could be thought provoking. Currently fly a II though with a bigger engine.

Light twin: Piper Geronimo
Souped up Apache. Fun and just deceiving enough to kill ya...flew in and out of a 30' wide and 2000' long strip in NorCal which refined skills somewhat. Thankfully.

Slasher

2nd Jan 2012, 10:34

Did only a few hours on the DC3 Smokey and certainly loved
every moment on it, but you couldn't do a nice barrel roll as
you entered downwind or a pleasant boredom-breaking loop
while cruising enroute like you can in the DH82! :)

RetiredF4

2nd Jan 2012, 18:00

OK465
large & heavy- F-105

First 105 i saw in action was at George AFB me waiting on our turn to take the runway after a flightof 105´s departed.

When they hit burner, the nozzle split open with a terrifying bang, lots of fire and the aircrafts started to creep away. :\

franzl

punkalouver

2nd Jan 2012, 18:49

Fastest - Connie
Funnest - Catalina
Heaviest - Beverly
Easiest -Jenny
Ugliest - Wilga
Oldest - some sort of Cougar

Oops, I thought you were talking about Flight Attendants.

Ashling

2nd Jan 2012, 20:02

Small Jet - Hawk

I'll never forget a certain Kiwi teaching me how to tailslide one on my acceptance ride at Tac Weapons. Great machine loads of fun and good old fashioned ACM, bounced SAPs, strafing and bombing.

Big Jet - Nimrod

Lovely aircraft to handle. 200' day/300' night 60 degree's angle of dangle at 500'. A real sense of achievment and teamwork hunting a sub especially when things went active and you were throwing it around trying to achieve attack tracks and great to have helped rescue a few people and to have assisted those heroic SAR helicopter crews

Commercial - B737 NG

The 320 is better day in day out, its more comfortable and a breeze for NPA's but if I want to fly and keep my flying skills sharp(ish) its the 73 every time.

Island-Flyer

3rd Jan 2012, 07:02

Hands down, G-III (DC variant). I like steam gauges and it performed better than the G-IV at low altitudes.

WannaBeBiggles

3rd Jan 2012, 08:36

I can't believe nobody has mentioned the DHC-2 yet. So much fun, especially on floats. Lighter on the controls than a 206 or 185, taller than the majority of regional turbo props on amphibs and the sound of that R985 rumbling along...

Mach Tuck

3rd Jan 2012, 08:41

Learjet 35 for the challenge

Falcon 2000 for lovely handling

Gulfstream V/550 for its incredible versatility

misd-agin

3rd Jan 2012, 16:23

Maybe we need to define when we started and when we stopped, otherwise we'll have post like this -

Thomas Selfridge - great handling, great thrust to weight. A dream to fly as long as you keep your speed up.

1974 - present

oxenos

3rd Jan 2012, 18:22

Ashling - you summed up the Nimrod beautifully, but when did the minimum height at night become 300' ? It was 200' in my time. ( 1970 -80 )

Ashling

4th Jan 2012, 12:13

Thanks, I was a decade or so after you so I guess the rules changed. That or my memory was fried by sitting above the radar .........

Denti

4th Jan 2012, 12:27

Wouldn't that be something else fried earlier?

Saint-Ex

4th Jan 2012, 12:44

Sea Fury, L749, Concorde.

Glass Half Empty

4th Jan 2012, 21:27

SR71.

I was very lucky to get my hands on one and spent seveal years marvelling at its handling qualties and sheer presence. i will alway be grateful to Airfix for that and my Mum hanging it from the ceiling.
Cheers

thomas surya

25th Jan 2012, 14:06

My loved plane is Fokker 27 mark 50.be i am lic.mechanic with rating B1 since 2003.

onehundred

25th Jan 2012, 17:57

B-707 First and only love

Then 737 Classic

Now 320 Tamagoci

100

hillberg

25th Jan 2012, 19:30

UH 1 & S-58 helicopters

TheiC

25th Jan 2012, 19:46

Fokker 50 for being brilliantly simple and yet a workhorse;
Fokker 100 for it's fabulously light handling, nice flight deck, and ECAM;
Boeing 737 for it's reliability and honesty;
De Havilland Dove for being a true pilot's aircraft (my all-time favourite);
Gazelle for showing me that rotary-wing flying can deliver on it's promises and doesn't have to be a chore;
PA-31 for taking me and my friends/passengers/family where we wanted to go at reasonable cost;
BN Islander for breaking all the rules and unbelievable field performance;
ATR72 for showing me how systems design shouldn't be done, but can be overcome, and convincing me that landing gear doesn't belong in sponsons;
Beech Baron for showing me that quality costs and pays;
CitationJets for being fun little machines (but I'd still buy a King Air 350!).

I could go on... It's been fun!

popito

28th Jan 2012, 15:19

The S-210 Caravelle

O'Neill No6

28th Jan 2012, 16:00

Favourite homebuilt: Rutan VariEze-Very different and very special.

Favourite production light aircraft: Robin DR400-Enjoyed every minute I've spent in these beautifully constructed aircraft.

Favourite small jet: Hawk T1-So simple to operate, a real flying sports car.

Favourite short-haul airliner: B757-It would also cross The Atlantic with ease!

Favourite long-haul airliner: B744-So capable and just so right.

Lightning Mate

29th Jan 2012, 19:34

There are times in life when there is absolutely no competition whatsoever........................

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/56_Loop640-2.jpg

TheiC

29th Jan 2012, 20:19

...and there are people in life whose fortune and ability have favoured them. Well done LM, and thanks for the lovely picture.

I thank the Lightning for two things: great childhood memories of watching them in the sky, and early adult memories of a certain simulator and a certain TRE whose hearing was so bad (a consequence of his many hours in the Lightning et al) that we, in the front, could converse normally without him being aware. A true gent and a lovely trainer, also known for his 'raw data days' on the line. What a shame these times are past; aviators are not what they were...

IslandPilot

29th Jan 2012, 22:06

These are not in the same class as the Frightening!

For Handling: Chipmunk

For Predictablity: BN Islander - it never let you down in foul conditions

For Unpredicability: All Austers

India Four Two

30th Jan 2012, 10:14

I have no idea how I previously missed this thread, but my timing is great. I flew this today and I'll never forget that half hour.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c309/india42/Screenshot2012-01-31at000824.png

Genghis the Engineer

30th Jan 2012, 10:47

Like everybody else I can't list a single choice.

Jet: Hawk T1a, best little flying sports car ever built.
Higher performance piston: Bulldog: good enough in every respect, leaving an overall combination that is a huge amount of fun.
Lower performance piston: Grumman AA5 (just a great little tourer, nothing faintly glamorous about it)
Microlight: Medway Raven; handling that is as near perfect as I've ever seen.

G

JEM60

30th Jan 2012, 14:40

LM. I just knew it was going to appear at some point!!. [Jealous]

rotorfossil

31st Jan 2012, 16:04

Jet - Hunter without tanks.
Higher performance piston - Provost.
Lower performance piston - Chipmunk.
Homebuilt - Europa (once you got it off the ground and before you needed to land it).
As near foolproof as any flying mechanical contrivance - Ballerit (a flying flea type).
Helicopter - Gazelle.

johnbunting

31st Jan 2012, 18:12

Are sailplanes allowed?
Slingsby Petrel, (1939). Very relaxing, thermalling at 25 knots; and beautiful with it. 'God's Own Aeroplane', one of my fellow syndicate members used to call it.

Shaggy Sheep Driver

31st Jan 2012, 18:59

Quite a few have mentioned the dH Chipmunk. hardly surprising - it's far and away the best handling aeroplane I've flown. Here's me in the one I had a share in for 33 years.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b132/GZK6NK/VinceinG-BCSLres.jpg

GQ2

1st Feb 2012, 23:00

Higher powered piston;- Pitts S1S;- As much fun as you can have with your trousers on....!!! :ok:
Low-powered;- A65 Cub Coupe.....so endearing, so simple and SO rewarding......!!! :ok:

maddog62

2nd Feb 2012, 11:30

Like everybody else I can't list a single choice.

same here. This is my list in order of preference

1. F-104 Starfighter - Not the most funny airplane to fly at the beginning but it rewarded you more and more with experience.

2. B707-320 - In some respect similar to the 104. Not the easiest airplane to fly but, once you got to grips with it, a real sweetheart.

3. T-38 - Just easy and beautiful!

Cheers,

mad

pigboat

3rd Feb 2012, 02:57

Piston single, DHC-2 Beaver
Piston twin, Lockheed 10 and 12, particularly the 12.
Turbine, Gulfstream G159.
The DC-3 on skis was fun to fly. Unless you got it stuck in the slush. Would have loved to have gotten my hands on the Basler. Ehwatz, you lucky dog.:ok:

asw28-866

3rd Feb 2012, 03:23

My favourite? Whatever it is I'm flying tomorrow! We are all so fortunate to have experienced the unbridled joy of flight in it's many and varied forms.

Clear skies one and all

'866

(humble C208 and ASW28 driver)

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/capthowie_photos/whataf241210.jpg

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i155/capthowie_photos/asw28866.jpg

l.garey

3rd Feb 2012, 05:43

Another vote for the Chipmunk

http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc39/apollo-fox/wz860wk638.jpg

Laurence

thing

3rd Feb 2012, 12:16

Have only flown the usual spammies for powered so can't really compete with some of the above but gliding

ASW 19 Just slid through the air like a hot knife through butter.
ASK 21 Two seat trainer but I used to love flying it solo. It ran as if on rails.
ASK 8. Would stay up with no effort at all. I remember spending half an hour or so one winter just circling around a guy's garden fire at about 1200'. Also did all my silver in an '8 so it has to be the good old 8 for me. Wonderful a/c. Have also flown the K18 which was a better performer but just not so chuckable as an 8. Light as a feather, I was 30% of it's take off weight....

DCDriver

4th Feb 2012, 13:46

I can't believe we're on p6 without it having being mentioned!

Best heavy - DC-10-30
Best medium - DC-9-32
Best light - DHC1

Worst - or "least satisfying" : A320

Rosevidney1

4th Feb 2012, 18:33

Not many rotary wing types have been mentioned as yet so I would like to nominate the Saro Skeeter. It couldn't lift much weight, wasn't particularly fast and neither could it fly very far - but it was still a joy to fly.

Shaggy Sheep Driver

4th Feb 2012, 20:05

And didn't the Skeeter have a dH Gipsy Major engine, like the dHC1?

John Farley

5th Feb 2012, 11:47

G-VTOL then XA890

Lightning Mate

5th Feb 2012, 13:00

I'll raise you John.....:)

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/1913_800.jpg

John Farley

5th Feb 2012, 14:06

LM

Shame - you have cropped your pic so we can't see which part of the circuit you were in. Pretty colours though - I'll give you that.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v145/johnfarley/G-VTOLFarnborough.jpg

BEagle

5th Feb 2012, 14:32

Shame - you have cropped your pic so we can't see which part of the circuit you were in.

Top banter, JF!

I recall a mate bringing a Jaguar to Valley as no.2 of a pair - the leader was due to give a presentation on the Jaguar to our Gnat course.... Not long out of Valley, said mate used the normal visual circuit cues and admitted to me that he'd had to go into afterburner to persuade the buffeting pussycat around the turn onto final!

The presentation was a disaster. Despite having been warned not to do so, the lecturer pressed 'back' on the slide projector and all his slides shot out onto the floor. So he then stuffed them back into the slide carrier in any old sequence and ad-libbed as he went along... But then came the final nonsense - he tried to play some Telford camera HUD film without having asked for the Telford converter. So the whole film was 90º out and he suggested that we should lean over to watch it....:\

Nicest aircraft I've ever flown? Difficult to say really. Hunter 6 was nice, but had a dire fuel system and no nav kit - its power controls would have been better with Q-feel. Gnat had good nav kit, was an utter delight at low level, but twitchy in formation - it also had very little fuel, could be tricky to land and wasn't terribly reliable, so you had to know your emergency drills very well indeed. Hawk was pretty viceless, but the ones I flew had a truly woeful compass system and a primitive gunsight - they were also directionally less stable for weaponeering than the Hunter. But both issues were later sorted out though, or so I gather. But what idiot didn't specify offset TACAN??

As far as big aeroplanes go, I've only flown the Vulcan and VC10, both of which were so different that it's hard to compare them. Both were classics.

As for smaller aeroplanes, the Chipmunk was very nice indeed, as was the Bulldog with avionic upgrade. One of the nicest overall though, was probably the Jet Provost T5A.

Nastiest? That appalling heap of junk known as the Jetstream T Mk1. An utterly dreadful, poorly harmonised, overcomplicated and noisy device - ETPS said that the C-130K would make a good lead-in trainer for the wretched Jetstream!

Lightning Mate

5th Feb 2012, 16:05

used the normal visual circuit cues and admitted to me that he'd had to go into afterburner to persuade the buffeting pussycat around the turn onto final!

Wot a load of garbage!!!!! Suggest he was an imposter............

you have cropped your pic so we can't see which part of the circuit you were in.

John - I'm sure the subtlety of that comment will be lost on many........:ok:

This is a low level circuit............

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu82/Lightning_29/JaguarLL-1.jpg

BEagle

5th Feb 2012, 16:24

Well, LM it was in the early summer of 1975 and my chum was still on the Jag OCU - so didn't have many hours on the thing.....

And he did admit to being too tight around final.

thing

5th Feb 2012, 16:29

I was never involved with the Jag but remember the first ones visiting Coningsby around '74. I asked one of the jocks what the take off performance was like, he said it doesn't have take off performance, it has take off.

Lightning Mate

5th Feb 2012, 17:16

Well, I was the 1984/85 Strike Command Jaguar display pilot.

The inverted pass, slow roll, and hesitation roll needed at least 400 knots, which was easily achieved from a wing-over after take-off. The problem was directional stability, not thrust....and I only had the Adour 104s at my disposal.

The Jaguar started to run out of directional stability at high alpha.

Directional stability was slightly improved by retaining the outboard wing weapon pylons, which were aft of the centre of gravity in display configuration.

For those who knew it, a great aeroplane - and very capable.

Much excrement of male bovine exhudes from the mouths of people who have never flown it!

John Farley

5th Feb 2012, 18:35

Oh dear LM. Not like you to leave your six so unattended.

Much excrement of male bovine exhudes from the mouths of people who have never flown it!

But not as much as from those who have?

(I only half mean it.................)

Lightning Mate

5th Feb 2012, 18:47

OK John - let's strike a truce.

WEAPON LOAD............................................

But not as much as from those who have?

...oh dear - Let's see how many Jag Mates now take the hook...............

thing

5th Feb 2012, 18:56

I think I may have seen you Lightning Mate at Valley in the mid 80's doing a display for the shiny new pilots and their families. Your display was followed by a fly past in line astern by our Lightnings who were there on STCAAME directly at crowd line in full burner at nil feet for which the OC got a right royal bollocking afterwards.

The Air Force used to be good sometimes....

Lightning Mate

5th Feb 2012, 18:59

The Air Force used to be good sometimes....

WRONG!

In my day it was good ALL the time - ask John Farley.

thing

5th Feb 2012, 19:06

Ah, I was but a humble fixer of your mighty steeds. Yes, you're right actually, even from my lowly station in life it was good 90% of the time. I remember four of us coming back from Belize with a 10 full of pongos. When we landed at Brize we needed to get to Luton quick to catch the sched to Gutersloh, so Brize promptly flew the four of us there in another 10. Couldn't complain about the service that's for sure.