the best looking aircraft
Aviator Extraordinaire
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma USA
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evansb, I walked all around that aircraft once when it was in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It looked the same as pictured except the test probe extending from the radar dome had be removed and a normal radar dome had been installed. The engines were installed on what was termed 'soft mounts' under the wings. You could put your hand on one of the engines and push the engine from side to side. I can't imagine what that looked like airborne in just mild turbulence.
You probably already know the history of the Mc Donnell 220, that it was built in competition to the Lockheed Jetstar for an Air Force contract. I was told that the primary reason the 220 lost was because the under-slung engines were too close to the ground and the Air Force were concerned about FOD danger. I don't know if this is true or not, however, number 2 and 3 engines are/were very close to the ground.
Never the less, it is a very beautiful aircraft. (Or was, I lost track of it, I don't know if it has survied or not.)
I'll see if I can find out.
You probably already know the history of the Mc Donnell 220, that it was built in competition to the Lockheed Jetstar for an Air Force contract. I was told that the primary reason the 220 lost was because the under-slung engines were too close to the ground and the Air Force were concerned about FOD danger. I don't know if this is true or not, however, number 2 and 3 engines are/were very close to the ground.
Never the less, it is a very beautiful aircraft. (Or was, I lost track of it, I don't know if it has survied or not.)
I'll see if I can find out.
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Wet Coast
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Hey ! 
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18
The sole survivor (N4AZ) having spent long periods at both ABQ and ELP is now registered to Fresh Fuel Inc. of IWA (Phoenix/Williams). The company has other esoteric machines - F104, T2V, Magister - so I'd say it's in good hands
.
Will it ever fly again ? One can but hope.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showpos...8&postcount=18
The sole survivor (N4AZ) having spent long periods at both ABQ and ELP is now registered to Fresh Fuel Inc. of IWA (Phoenix/Williams). The company has other esoteric machines - F104, T2V, Magister - so I'd say it's in good hands
.Will it ever fly again ? One can but hope.
Join Date: Mar 2006
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French style
Did anyone hear the sketch on Radio 4 last weekend, saying the French were so snooty the original Concorde design had the nose go disdainfully upwards for landing ?
DZ
DZ
On the whole, I think that this should be a competition for second place.
Best looking, surely in the piston and turbine categories, are the Spitfire and Concorde.
Second,hmmm
I'll offer one for second place in the turbine category...
And in the piston category, which is probably too new for you lot...
G
Best looking, surely in the piston and turbine categories, are the Spitfire and Concorde.
Second,hmmm
I'll offer one for second place in the turbine category...
And in the piston category, which is probably too new for you lot...
G
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Yes well this 'best looking' business is of course entirely subjective but still .. it requires multiple categories. In the post-WWI biplane category I would certainly continue to tender the Beech D17 posted (above)!
In the jet fighter category there is little question that Genghis' SEPECAT Jaguar (above), especially in black, is a handsome craft.
In the home-build category the Vari/Long Ez (or sleeze as it is sometimes known) is of interest (but not in my view beautiful). Most people attribute this design to a chap called Burt Rutan without realising that it was our own George Miles who actually pioneered this wing arrangement!
George Miles holding a model of the canard wing 'Libellula' which he went on to test fly.
Photo: 1944
Earl
In the jet fighter category there is little question that Genghis' SEPECAT Jaguar (above), especially in black, is a handsome craft.
In the home-build category the Vari/Long Ez (or sleeze as it is sometimes known) is of interest (but not in my view beautiful). Most people attribute this design to a chap called Burt Rutan without realising that it was our own George Miles who actually pioneered this wing arrangement!
George Miles holding a model of the canard wing 'Libellula' which he went on to test fly.
Photo: 1944
Earl
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: On the Rump of Pendle Hill Lancashi
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The Beaufighter with Bristol Herc engines No1
The Hellcat with bubble canopy No2
Tempest No3
Spit No 4
Mossie No5
Mustang Bubble Canopy No6
Lanc No7
Liberator No8
Lightning N09
Phantom N10
IMHO
Peter R-B
The Hellcat with bubble canopy No2
Tempest No3
Spit No 4
Mossie No5
Mustang Bubble Canopy No6
Lanc No7
Liberator No8
Lightning N09
Phantom N10
IMHO
Peter R-B
Join Date: Jun 2010
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this one has to be included haha 
G-MKXI - The Real Aeroplane Company Supermarine Spitfire PR.XI Aircraft Photo @ Airplane-Pictures.netApparently the pink colour was used as camaflague when the sun was low in the sky but pilots didn't like it as it made them feel vulnerable! It is a Supermarine Spitfire PR. XI. 
Last edited by Hannah222; 20th Nov 2010 at 13:04. Reason: link wouldn't appear!
I was careful to pick the much more slender Jaguar T2, the chunkier GR1 just isn't as pretty. (Mind you, both were pretty ineffective warplanes!) Overwing sidewinders, well, I'm sure they worked - but they really did look utterly wrong !
If we want to get picky about the origin of the canard pusher, that's of-course Messrs Wright. Like all other aircraft types, it got improved upon over the years.
Close up, perhaps the most beautiful of the family is the Berkut...
G
If we want to get picky about the origin of the canard pusher, that's of-course Messrs Wright. Like all other aircraft types, it got improved upon over the years.
Close up, perhaps the most beautiful of the family is the Berkut...
G
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Sheer powerful beauty
Thanks, ionagh, for that shot of the TSR2 - of all the beautiful aircraft I've seen (and of course, so many that I haven't) that, for me is THE ONE - and only partly because I was drooling to fly it when I drove aeroplanes at low level for a living.
Sometimes I dream of doing very nasty things to the eejuts who got it cancelled ...
Apart frm that, Concorde, Hunter and the A330-300 also "do it" for me, plus the Spitfire, Tempest, Canberra, Dassault Falcon and Mirage IV, Caravelle and, and and ...
Sometimes I dream of doing very nasty things to the eejuts who got it cancelled ...
Apart frm that, Concorde, Hunter and the A330-300 also "do it" for me, plus the Spitfire, Tempest, Canberra, Dassault Falcon and Mirage IV, Caravelle and, and and ...
Genghis Sr. was an apprentice at Supermarine and used to build Scimitars, and as such it's always fascinated me.
But that aside, I really can't see it as a beautiful aircraft.
G
But that aside, I really can't see it as a beautiful aircraft.
G
