Best looking a/c ever

[Pope Mobile]

Well we've had every other list; best at LL; fastest; blah blah
But what about the best looking? Simple rules; The Hunter does not qualify in any way since it is UGLY. Old gits, get this into your port addled brains; it is not the last of the sports cars! It is the last of the dull, boring models. The decider is; What would you like to strap on right now for 1 hr of GH, based solely on it's looks?
Typhoon? Very sexy
F3 - Nah
F18 resembles a pig
Harrier - squat, tiny, zzz
GR4 ha ha
Jaguar - pretty nice actually
Lightning - Cool
F4 muscular freak
Buc - bent (obviously)
F15 - maybe
F14 - YES! until the wings are fwd
Spit - of course!

Overall, my vote goes to the Typhoon. Very Sophisticated. Really nice looking jet.

And the daftest? JPmk3. Like a pregnant sow, only slower, and significantly louder.
:)

[Big Green Arrow]

For my money it's a split decision between the Spit Mk5/9 and the P 51D...If I had the moolah either would do!

[solotk]

Spitfire XIX

Everything else is just pugs......

[BlueWolf]

The Spit was a honey, no two ways about that. So was the twin engined Supermarine racing thing which came out before the war....anyone know what it was called?

Actually I have something of a fondness for twins.... the Mosquito, the P-38, various Beechcraft, even the ME262.

But best looking of all? Hell, that's a hard one.

Concorde?
Mirage V?
Jag...yeah, good call

But my money goes on the Viggen. What a sexy beast.....
:ok:

[maninblack]

DH Mossie!

Style, speed, birch ply! Just; like a flying drumkit.

[Jackonicko]

Mossie? Nice try, but then they made it really pretty and produced the Hornet.

The Hunter was nice looking, but the P1081 (basically a swept Sea Hawk with Hunter-type back end) looked nicer, and the Sea Hawk nicer still.

Viggen? If you think that's good looking I'd hate to see your Mrs! The Swedes don't do good looking, they do purposeful. The Gripen's not bad, I suppose, though.

The Jag looks nice from some angles, but not others.

[Talk Split]

Not that i'm a great lover of the French, but it has to be the Rafael. Poetry in motion.

[Wycombe]

I know it's not pointy, but my vote goes for the Vickers Funbus.

Also for the noise (almost a note) it makes at idle, and the full-on noisy crackle on a cold morning in Oxon (actually miss being woken up by it).

[Genghis the Punk]

What about the Frogfoot or Warthog? Not what you'd call conventionally attractive but both have a certain something about them. Thinking bigger, how about the Valkyrie or Lancer

[soddim]

The Mk 2 Spit has got to have the best lines and the best pedigree.

Of all the jets the banned Hunter is without doubt the best looking fighter but if it is disqualified then the F86 is next.

If it looks right it always does the job well - does anyone think the Typhoon looks right?

[Jackonicko]

Nicest Spits: Mk VIII with pinty tail, Mk XI, and Mk XVIII with bubble canopy.

Nicest Hawker pistons: Fury (obviously, though the Gauntlet was prettier) and the Sea Fury.

Nicest twins: Canberra, Hornet, Whirlwind

[West Coast]

F4u Corsair..and on the civ side the Beech Staggerwing

[Jackonicko]

F4U? Westy! You are on drugs.....

[SALAD DODGER]

Come on guys, its got to be the B1 Lancer. Its impossible to resist watching if theres one in the air, sexy sleek body, packs a punch, roars like a lion and goes like the clappers.

Shes like those Women that your mother always warned you about...

[Chalkstripe]

I always had an admiration for the Supermarine S6b, the one that won the Schneider trophy for the 3rd and final time.

http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/Schneider.htm (http://)

Not necessarily pretty, but truly classic lines, and what a pedigree!

I'm with Genghis on the Valkyrie, probably the most extraordinary looking aircraft, certainly for it's time.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/modern_flight/mf37.htm (http://)

all this and M3.1 at FL730 - wow:eek:

[rivetjoint]

B-1, wings in either position, lovely aircraft whether at 500 knots or 15 taxying.

[BEagle]

DH 88 Comet
DH Hornet
Super VC10
Concorde
Spitfire XIX
Gnat
Dart 15






............and, bo££eaux to you all, Hawker Hunter F Mk 6!!

[tony draper]

Mig 21-----very sexy.

[Woff1965]

What about the Vulcan?

[Compass Call]

Strikemaster -- Constant speed, variable noise.

BAC 1-11 -- Variable speed, variable noise.:)

[Noah Zark.]

F.104 Starfighter, Mirage F1, Blackbird (Uniquely pretty. Or should that be pretty unique?) Even the Javelin was good looking from most angles.

What about a nice shiney Bristol 188, anyone?

[Rhino power]

F-4J, nice clean 'hard wing', chin pod free radome, long 'burner cans, loved the RAF ones in the wrongly applied blueish green camo, didn't look so good in the correct RAF scheme, although only a couple were sprayed up in the right colours.

And close but no cigar..... F-106A/B, F-104, SU-22

Regards, RP

P.S. Was there ever a definitive reason why the F-4J(UK) was sprayed up in the wrong colours, I've heard it was the zinc chromate primer showing through, FS codes instead of BS codes, and so on, anyone know?

[DB6]

Spitfire Mk XIV or XVIII with teardrop canopy.
Sacrilege: any Spit with clipped wings and 'Me109s' with Merlins :yuk:

[bootscooter]

To choose a Spitfire would be such a cliche, and I avoid them like the plague.....so it's between the B1, Vulcan and TSR2.

[wub]

TSR 2 for sure - hell, it even looks good on the back of a truck:cool: http://www.pbase.com/image/11532330

Twin Mustang
Hunter
Convair Hustler
B2
Boeing 747-400 (especially when I'm just about to board to go somewhere nice ;) )

[nevsmiff]

What about any Antanov?

[denachtenmai]

After Concorde, which gets my vote, try the Douglas D558-11, sexy looker or what! http://www.edwards.af.mil/gallery/html_pgs/miscaircra1.htm
regards Denachtenmai.

[KPax]

TSR2, any ac cancelled by a Government must have had something good going for it. I also like the U2 (don't laugh)

[Magic Mushroom]

Biplane:
1. Hawker Fury 1.
2. Albatross DV.
3. Tiger Moth.

'Classic' Monoplanes:
1. de Havilland Mosquito PR variants.
2. de Havilland Hornet.
3. Supermarine Spitfire Griffin PR variants.

Post War stuff:
1. Hawker Hunter.
2. Boeing B-47.
3. Mirage 2000.

Helos:
1. mmm...I'm sure that somebody must love them!

Regards
M2

[BeauMan]

Gotta be a Beaufighter. Not the prettiest, but she's one tough old bird with some pretty quirky tendencies. Just how I like 'em. ;)

[DummyRun]

Albert, 'A face only a mother could love' or somthing like that, if anyone remembers the ad.

Shutting up now Sir.

[Mystic Greg]

I see nobody has yet mentioned the E-3. Okay, I'll get my coat.............

(But the original B707 does get my vote).

[LOMCEVAK]

Anyone who starts off by banning the Hunter obviously is well balanced; a tree trunk on each shoulder! Must have wanted to fly one but never did!!!

But apart from the Hunter:

Pistons; Spitfire V, DH Hornet

Jets; SR-71, Concorde, YF-23


And if anyone starts a thread on the ugliest - no contest; X32!!!!

[flygunz]

Mig 15
Beautiful in an ugly sort of way, kicked ass for a time too.

[Noah Zark.]

The Canadian Avro Arrow.

[garp]

F100 Super Sabre, that nose...
Also the Voodoo and Delta Dart, they've always fascinated me.

[SASless]

My vote is a Stearman done up in US Army colours.....or....the Herc.....now there is function and form! Leave Heathrow...and land in Africa on a dirt road.....cruise on two....back into the parking slot.

[Random UAS Stude]

1. DH Comet (Either variety)
2. Percival Mew Gull
3. Miles Hawk Speed Six
4. Gloster Gladiator (in silver of course)
5. Westland Lysander
6. (Any thing else with a Bristol Mercury....)
7. Hurricane G-AMAU (in blue and gold...)
8. Hunters, Spitfires, etc.......

In no particular order...

:O

[ShyTorque]

I agree with F-100 Super Sabre.

Also the first jet able to go Mach 1 whilst Straight & Level as I remember.

[John (Gary) Cooper]

First Choice: Speedbird Comet 4
Second Choice: Speedbird Comet 4
Third Choice: Speedbird Comet 4

[RFCC]

A 'clean' Victor. Especially the prototype with the cheat line.

[fobotcso]

If we're talking Hunters, it can't be the 6 or above.

It'd have to be the 1,2,4 and 5, with straight leading edges and no Sabrinas that flew like darts (for not very long!) and pitched up all around East Anglia in the 50s. They really were pretty.

No, not Concorde, but the BAC 221 WG 774 which was the ogee wing conversion of one of the FD2s for Concorde aerodynamic research. A dream to look at and to fly...

[Dunhovrin]

Slightly off-thread but...

The best sound in the world was the sound of a Shackleton getting airbourne - because it meant you weren't on board.

[witchdoctor]

Definitely the Vulcan B2 (ground still shaking from the last flight I believe), or the SR71 in a high speed low pass (hee hee, very funny).

Ugliest, without doubt the Nimrod AEW - I hope the designer is now free of all illegal substances and won his bet.

[maxburner]

1. Hunter
2. F4 (yes, I know, but I cant help it)
3. F15
4. SR71
5 Spitfire (any mark)
6. Concorde

[scroggs]

1. DH Sea Hornet (nicer colour scheme than the RAF variant)
2. Concorde
3. TSR2
4. Valiant B2 (there was only one - soooo gorgeous in black!)
5. A330
6. Albert - of course!

Sorry, no single-engined rubbish!

[TheNightOwl]

In spite of the ban,

Hunter FGA9
TSR2
F4J
and, for the civvies, the aeroplane designed by God, the Beech Staggerwing!

Kind regards,

TheNightOwl.

[Pope Mobile]

I know, I know, all those octagenarians that flew the Hunter have come clean and admitted how much they loved the sad, slow, g-bleedin' machine. It's so sweet. One even wrote that I must have a chip on both shoulders; never flown the jet.

But I did. And it was dull. I also fought against it. In a Harrier. And it was ALWAYS a dead cert. Force it slow; gun the living daylights out of it. HA h\Ha.
But I digress. Gonna change my vote (I started this so feel entitled:)

Spitfire it is. Mr Aviation photo man (name defeats me), pls provide photographic evidence!

[RRAAMJET]

In no particular order:

Concorde
Sia Marchetti SF-360 (Ferrari with wings...mmmm)
Spit IX
A-5 Vigilante (also way ahead of its time)
F-9 Tiger
Boeing 757 (big-t***ed bird with long legs and sleek body)
Hughes Air Racer (with the long-range wing-set on)
:cool:

Now, the ugliest....

1. The Shorts Skyvan/330/360...the Ulstermen should stick to drinking....(truly the proof that "it flies as it looks")
2. AEW Nimrod fiasco...was unlucky enough to fly the sim whist in the RAF - see proof laws above....
3. Airbus 340-200 scary-underpowered-crocodilopig
4. JP-3 small-scary-underpowered-crocodilopig
5. Anna-Nicole Smith (proof that "pigs can't fly")
6. X-32 with or without Anna-Nicole Smith sitting on the wing

and my all-time winner:

The BAe ATP (Advanced Technical Problem)
:D :yuk:

[L J R]

What no Buccaneer fans yet?

Who said the Typhoon was 'sexy' ? - needs his head read.

Why are you all still clinging to the TSR-2????

Is there a closet BAE link somewhere here??


The best looking aeroplane is one you are at the controls of and can walk away from in my book.

[LOMCEVAK]

Buccaneer fan I most certainly am! But even I would not describe it as "The best looking aircraft ever". Mean looking, purposeful, brutish; a "real man's" aircraft. But not a beauty to look at from the outside - only to look out of when rock steady at 550 kts and 25 ft! Happy days. Any similar comments from RRAMJET, perhaps?!

[RCOV 2 ENG]

What about the Vulcan?
Sheezalady!:confused:

[Orange Whip]

The Mighty Wessex of course.

Funny how nobody thinks of the obvious!

[teeteringhead]

Attaboy Orange Whip!! Let's hear it for ther rotary Queen (Mother?) of the Skies!! :D :D

[eng1170]

Mmmmm!!.......

Mil stuff:

Spit Mk9,(no comment!)
Jag,(dont know why it just is)
Hawk, (any takers?, I think its a sweet little thing, the kind of jet
your Mum would like you to fly!!!)
F-15E (manly "heavy-metal")
F-16 (sex on 3 wheels and a s***load of power!)
Bucc, (in a perverse sort of way)

Civi stuff:

757 (a real beauty when fresh out the factory)
L-1011 Tristar (atleast Lockheed's no.2 engine wasn't an
afterthought!)
737-400 (worked on em long enough, now like part of family!!)


I know there's alot, but hey, no-one said you were only allowed one and I felt greedy!!

[Kolibear]

aahhh De Havilland!

Comet Racer, Mosquito and Hornet

I can't believe that no one has mentioned the Folland Gnat

[swinging monkey]

It has to be the Vulcan, on it's tail going straight up - wonderful

The swinging Monkey
'Caruthers, take me home, I'm getting too sentimental'

[BEagle]

Actually, Kolibear, I did on page 2:

"DH 88 Comet
DH Hornet
Super VC10
Concorde
Spitfire XIX
Gnat
Dart 15






............and, bo££eaux to you all, Hawker Hunter F Mk 6!!"

But I'll let you off as you obviously have good taste!

[Warped Factor]

Constellation does it for me :D

WF.

[AirfixPilot]

Su27
Phantom
Lightning

Any takers?

[LOMCEVAK]

To continue with BEagle's final point, why not just have a YES/NO poll on the Hunter F Mk6!!! Gets my vote as well.

[dangermouse]

prop: Martin Baker MB5/ DH Hornet (tied)

Jet: only one choice...... XB70 !!!! (big and beautiful)

Rotary: AH56A (Cheyenne)/KA50 (tied as well)


some new ones there I believe

[Red Snow]

There's sex (Tu-22 Blinder) and there's beauty (Rafale A prototype) but if you want both try the F-8 Crusader

[attackattackattack]

I always loved the F5 Freedom Fighter when I was a kid (I also liked Captain Scarlet and I think there is a link :) ). Still think it has beautiful lines.

Angel Craft (http://www.fitertown.com/f5/n3e_clouds_web.jpg)

F5 (http://members.tripod.com/chris_bishop_ca/decked_angels.jpg)

[smartman]

Obvious. Hunter - any Mark.

[Max Stout]

I don’t think it’s been mentioned yet, so how about the B-58 Hustler. Four donks, mega pointy, mega swept delta, mega dangerous if you lost an engine supersonic.

[wub]

Beat you to it with the Hustler Max:

"TSR 2 for sure - hell, it even looks good on the back of a truck http://www.pbase.com/image/11532330

Twin Mustang
Hunter
Convair Hustler
B2
Boeing 747-400 (especially when I'm just about to board to go somewhere nice )"


I had a 1/32nd scale model of a Hustler when I was a kid, the model was so pointy I remember stabbing myself in the leg with it

[WE Branch Fanatic]

At the risk of being predictable....... what about the Sea Harrier?

Oh yes, the mighty SHAR: not sure whether FRS1 or FA2 looks better though. :confused:

No, I've decided. Sea Harrier FA2 with 4 x AMRAAM.

[Pope Mobile]

I have had the misfortune of parking my Shar beak to beak with a Tomcat at a static display. The mighty jump jet looked utterly pathetic I'm afraid. Kind of short, fat, and about as mean as the teletubbies.
I have also seen it next to F16s, F4s, F18s blah blah..and the ONLY time it looks good is next to a Tucano. And of course,
the Hunter.:D

[Zoom]

TSR2
Concorde
B-58
Gnat - in red only
F-16
F-104
All Spitfires
All Mosquitoes
Original Lear Jet
B-47 had something about it, too

[moggie]

It has to be the VC10 - no contest.

Grace, pace and a descent amount of space. Designed in the days when style was style - what other airliner has a 3 space urinal fitted at the back??????

Ok, so it's noisy but where else will you get 8000'/min SUSTAINED ROC out of an airliner (yes I did that - out of Oslo Gardermoen - and we didn't bust any rules, either).

[VP8]

Lightning F6

SR71

Followed by the best little beastie AN225 Myria

But then thats my opinion!!

VEEPS

[sycamore]

Biplanes: Hawker Fury 2
Gloster Gladiator
WW2/Late pistons
P-38
D-H Hornet
Spit 16
Sea-Fury
Jets
F86
Hunters
Swift9
Su-27
Civil
Constellation
Ambassador
Rapide
B747(`cos I`m going on MAS 0007 on Sat.)
Concorde
Rotors
AH-56 Cheyenne( `cos it was the best)
Gazelle
Whirlwind 10(`cos you could fly-by-thought) :O

IF you want the best-looking,ready -for -business
aircraft,then it has to be:

A-1(H) Skyraider-Spad-DumpTruck
It could do everything: dive-bombing,toss-bomb,nuc.delivery,fighter,close-air support,A-A refuelling,CSAR; and it could do it for yonks!

Hope someone can post a pic.Plse!;)

[Vick Van Guard]

Hello Sycamore

I do not think they went past '7' with the Swift old bean.

My 2p's worth....

Fairy Gannet (especially the AEW 3)

I'll get my coat...........................

[saudipc-9]

Come on now! What about the A-10:O

Call me Ugly will you!!!! When I finish with you I'm going after your family;)

[Human Factor]

1. DH Comet (jet) prototype in the bare metal.
2. Spit Mk 9
3. Mosquito
4. Not an aeroplane admittedly, Thrust SSC.

[sycamore]

V V G, just checking!By Mk9 they should have had it sorted!:O

[Jackonicko]

A fave Uncle flew Swift 5s ("a better FR aircraft than a Mark Ten Hunter") and 7s. They certainly had the Swift well-sorted by the seven. The 6 was an unbuilt recce variant, and the 8 was to have been a two seat trainer. Think the 9 would have been a two-seat night fighter, but could be guessing that!

[46Driver]

First of all, great site - I don't hear anything at all about Delta, Comair and the RJDC - THANK YOU. The best looking aircraft? No doubt: the F4U Corsair (in production all the way to 1952). Most imposing? the Boeing B-52 with her bomb bays open and raining MK-82's (coming soon to a desert near you....)

[saudipc-9]

46Driver,
Hopefully not tooooo near to me:p

[ex-knuck]

My 2 cents worth, the F104 Starfighter, looks like it's going super even on the ground.
P.S. The Mirage 111 is not far behind.

[FireAxe]

It's got to be the TSR 2, saw it at Cosford. WOW!!!

It just yearns to fly.

[MajorMadMax]

Sorry, I breezed through this thread...did anyone mention the Fulcrum? Even though it is a maintenance hog, the thing is beautiful in flight. Check out the vids at the GAF 1 Sqn, 73 Fighter Wing site www.fabulousfulcrums.de and you will have to admit this bird looks good in flight. I particularly love the Slovak two-seater tiger-striped paint job ...

http://www.paulnann.com/images/pn_w2197.jpg

Cheers! M2

[YellowBelly]

All very well talking about the best-looking aircraft, but we shouldn't ignore another important aspect - the noise!

For jets, the Vulcan has (had) to be tops (and as my girlfriend said at one airshow "Oh! Doesn't it make your chest throb?" - needless to say, I married her). The rest of the jets just sound alike, apart from the distinctive 'whistling' of the F104 perhaps.

But its the piston props that get my vote everytime - who can ignore the unmistakable sound of a Merlin (or preferably 4 flying in close formation). Also, most aircraft with a radial engine make the ears prick up in appreciation....

Is this a personal perversion, or are there any other aircraft 'noise spotters' out there?!

[bighedsmallface]

The F8F Bearcat and the Sea Fury take the Prop honours in my book for sheer 'engine with wings' loveliness. And for the jets the Lightning (seems to be a theme developing here - 1:1 trouser to mouth).

"Santa is always happy because he knows where all the bad girls live":)

[RatherBeFlying]

http://www.aafo.com/gallery/week/1226-124.jpg

[solotk]

http://warbirds.mega.com.pl/zdjecia/spit_xix.jpg

and one of Gary Parsons excellent studies , from the F4 Website

http://www.f4aviation.co.uk/airshow01/airfete/spitfire.jpg

[Soulman]

Sure there are some sexy ones out there, but if we were voting for the "Most Abnormal Beast", my 2 votes would go to :

1st. Shorts Skyvan - Makes me laugh every time I see a pic of one!

Check her out at: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/324766/M/ & http://www.airliners.net/open.file/341033/M/

AND

2nd. XB-70 Valkyrie - It's like a super-quick girraffe.

Check her out at: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/322713/M/

I know it's completely irrelavant to the topic - just had to chuck in some humour. :p

Cheers,

Souls.

Before I sign out for the evening,

The mighty F-111 (Yeah, I'm an Aussie!) still looks darn' awesome to me.

Swing wings, Mach 2.5, 30 years old and still capable of movin' a hell-of-a-lotta mud. :D

Call me old fashioned if you will, but the Pig has to be one of the meanest, sexiest and sleekest looking craft around today. Sure the B-1 lovers will back me up... The Pig and the Bone are almost like brothers!

Sure this will convince a few - http://www.airliners.net/open.file/347536/M/

Cheers,

Souls.

P.S - Think she is one of very few around capable of LEGALLY releasing a 90ft candle from her backside too! :p

[Pope Mobile]

Soulman,

I already brought up the topic of ugliest, but will reiterate my vote for the Jet Provost Mk3. Uglier than a dockyard oyster. Louder than a Lightning. Less nimble than a pregnant duck.

And, since this thread has been viewed by > 5,000, what does it need to get greater than a 1 star vote? Just interested :O

[MajorMadMax]

Souls

Concur on the 'Vark, used to watch them do this at dusk in Idaho when I was at Mountain Home AFB. By the way, the Aussie 1st Sqn came by to visit when I was there in the mid-80s.

Cheers! M2

[Yeller_Gait]

Talking of the ugliest, perhaps not too many people have seen the roll-out pictures of the Nimrod MRA4 yet, but it makes the Nimrod AEW look beautiful.

You have been warned .... when a picture of the MRA4 is posted here.

[Spur Lash]

Spit Mk.XII
Sea Fury
Tempest II
Mossie (all marks)
Corsair
Typhoon
Swordfish

and loads of others!!!!!

[BikerMark]

1st place - the Victor, especially a clean mk2 in anti-flash white with the pale roundels. My personal favourite is SR2 XL161 (cos I visited that one in 1972)

2nd place - the Valiant, a very clean & tidy aircraft. Shame about the wing spars...

3rd - the Vulcan, totally impressive presence, but not really a truly aesthetic aircraft.

[Hornet Moth]

D.H. 87B Hornet Moth
D.H. 82A Tiger Moth
D.H. ? Mossie
Spitfire Mk. I
Spitfire Mk. XIV Tear - drop canopy, and clipped wings
Republik P-47D Thunderbolt
Colditz P.O.W. escape glider






The least favourite: Bf- 109E and The Maule

[Arclite01]

Hawker Tempest
Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Fury
Gloster Gladiator
Avro 504
Me 262

Ugliest - Bachem Natter (which reminds me of a girl I once went out with :) )

Arc

[MOSTAFA]

Howzabout

The one that takes you home.

[BEagle]

Ugliest - Southbound TriStar at 2300 when you've got a few weeks in the South Atlantic winter to look forward to.

Prettiest - Northbound TriStar at any time when you've just escaped from the Islas Malvinas back to Blighty!

But now it's by A330. As Britmiddishlandnationalbmi or whatever their stupid yoof-speak new title is proudly advertises being a member of the Star Allaince, are their lucky Malvinas-bound punters claiming Miles-and-More points? If not, why not. Discuss...

Uh-oh. That grunt will accuse me of thread creep again...

[Airbedane]

Call me old fashioned if you like, but most beautiful ever has to be the Spitfire, probably the PRXIX, especially in blue.

If it's limited to jets, then in spite of the first post, Hunter F6.

WW1 - Albatros DVa in lozenge camo.

Edwardian - Blackburn 1912

Modern Military- Rafale

Modern Civil - Concorde, with the B757 a close second

[BEagle]

I concur - PR XIX it is!

Or Hunter F6.

Best noises:

Bristol Fighter at a fair speed
Hunter F6 blue note
F-104 "Ah -HOOOOOOOOO-waaaaaaah" weird afterburner noise
Vulcan on 2-eng overshoot using more power than the QFIs liked. Described by my old captain as the 'rutting dinosaur' sound.

But none have the Merlin magic! The best there is.