Planes That Changed the World
I wasn't really surprised to see that nobody mentioned the Kc135. It was the forerunner of the 707 and is still the main tanker of the USAF. It is rarely mentioned except in passing in aviation books, but the rest of the USAF wouldn't be able to do much without it.
Thread Starter
Hempy, I knew that was coming 
- but I had to use the title of the program (yes, aircraft or airplanes would have been a better choice)
Danny, the DC-3 episode first airs this weekend so I'm making an educated guess here, but I fully expect they will cover the evolution of the DC-3 which naturally would include the DC-1 and -2.
BTW, IIRC, the DC-1 was really just a prototype - only one built, DC-2 was the 'production' version (similar to the Dash 80 being the prototype for the KC-135 and 707)
- but I had to use the title of the program (yes, aircraft or airplanes would have been a better choice)
Still small voice: Before the DC3 was the DC1 and DC2......
BTW, IIRC, the DC-1 was really just a prototype - only one built, DC-2 was the 'production' version (similar to the Dash 80 being the prototype for the KC-135 and 707)
Chief Bottle Washer
Although an aircraft, rather than an aeroplane, the UH-1 Huey changed warfare as we knew it.
Surely one that changed the world
Surely one that changed the world
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If we say Comet is it fair to say Yoke Peter particularly? Arguably it's loss led to a greater understanding of the effects of Hull pressurisation and metal fatigue?
IMO, Planes that changed the world (the most) were catalysts of real change, sometimes coupled with a particular engine but, not necessarily the first in a particular speciality !
Wright Flyer
Fokker Eindecker
Gotha bomber
Supermarine S6
DC2/3
Spitfire
DH Mosquito
Me262
B29
B47
Bell X-1
DH Comet
Fairey Delta 2
F-111
747
Concorde
F14
Tornado IDS
Space Shuttle
A300 two-man flightdeck
F22
OAP
Wright Flyer
Fokker Eindecker
Gotha bomber
Supermarine S6
DC2/3
Spitfire
DH Mosquito
Me262
B29
B47
Bell X-1
DH Comet
Fairey Delta 2
F-111
747
Concorde
F14
Tornado IDS
Space Shuttle
A300 two-man flightdeck
F22
OAP
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Onceapilot,
If you're having Tornado IDS then you have to add Buccaneer to that very long list of yours.
Lower, faster, further with a greater payload = Buccaneer!
Bloggs
If you're having Tornado IDS then you have to add Buccaneer to that very long list of yours.
Lower, faster, further with a greater payload = Buccaneer!
Bloggs
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Both very impressive aeroplanes, but were either really world changing? If that could be said of any military type it would surely be the Sturmovik.
The 747 opened up long-haul travel beyond the "jet-set". The A330 has (for better or worse) allowed people of all incomes to travel the world.
The 747 opened up long-haul travel beyond the "jet-set". The A330 has (for better or worse) allowed people of all incomes to travel the world.
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In no particular order:
UH1 - helicopter workhorse which created manoeuvre warfare.
C47/DC3 - the first realistic AT.
C130 - ubiquitous second gen AT.
HS Trident - 1st commercial Cat III autoland
747 - intercontinental travel system that created true profit
Airbus (various) - changing the World with commercial FBW ethics, but not quite there yet.
B52 - global strategic projection.
CH47 - a monster SH capability.
Predator/Global Hawk - the future.
UH1 - helicopter workhorse which created manoeuvre warfare.
C47/DC3 - the first realistic AT.
C130 - ubiquitous second gen AT.
HS Trident - 1st commercial Cat III autoland
747 - intercontinental travel system that created true profit
Airbus (various) - changing the World with commercial FBW ethics, but not quite there yet.
B52 - global strategic projection.
CH47 - a monster SH capability.
Predator/Global Hawk - the future.
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IMO, Planes that changed the world (the most) were catalysts of real change, sometimes coupled with a particular engine but, not necessarily the first in a particular speciality !
Wright Flyer
Fokker Eindecker
Gotha bomber
Supermarine S6
DC2/3
Spitfire
DH Mosquito
Me262
B29
B47
Bell X-1
DH Comet
Fairey Delta 2
F-111
747
Concorde
F14
Tornado IDS
Space Shuttle
A300 two-man flightdeck
F22
OAP
Wright Flyer
Fokker Eindecker
Gotha bomber
Supermarine S6
DC2/3
Spitfire
DH Mosquito
Me262
B29
B47
Bell X-1
DH Comet
Fairey Delta 2
F-111
747
Concorde
F14
Tornado IDS
Space Shuttle
A300 two-man flightdeck
F22
OAP
Bell X-1
There are a few mentions of the Bell X-1 here but perhaps the posters should google the Miles M52.
I believe that the X-1 was a reworked M52 after Miles were told to send their design to the USA as part of the war reparations. The Air ministry spec for the M52 was published in 1943 with innovations such as the all flying tailplane, which Chuck Yeager publicly said was the most significant part of the X-1, and the intakes used on the SR71 specified already as designed by Frank Whittle, all back before 1943!
An interesting read. The M52 was due to be flown by Capt Eric Winkle Brown.
MM
I believe that the X-1 was a reworked M52 after Miles were told to send their design to the USA as part of the war reparations. The Air ministry spec for the M52 was published in 1943 with innovations such as the all flying tailplane, which Chuck Yeager publicly said was the most significant part of the X-1, and the intakes used on the SR71 specified already as designed by Frank Whittle, all back before 1943!
An interesting read. The M52 was due to be flown by Capt Eric Winkle Brown.
MM
Boeing 314 Flying boat; probably the biggest contributor to the idea that people could fly anywhere.
Boeing 747. probably the biggest contributor to the idea that lots of people could fly anywhere.
Boeing 737 probably the biggest contributor to the idea that people could fly cheaply (almost) anywhere. Completely killed the romance of air travel as a consequence; now we just whinge about security delays.
B-29 We can hit you. The Manhattan Project cost $2bn, the B-29 cost $3bn. The weapon needs to hit the target.
B-52 We can hit you anywhere
KC-135 Anything we fly can now get anywhere and stay airborne there forever.
Mosquito, a novel idea that worked far better than anyone outside DH expected, and that has had designers ever since continually looking for novel ideas. It's the airborne equivalent of trying to design a better mousetrap.
Spitfire/Merlin - Excellence is beautiful.
Whatever you first flew solo/operationally.
The DHC-2 Beaver - the airborne pick-up truck
Boeing 747. probably the biggest contributor to the idea that lots of people could fly anywhere.
Boeing 737 probably the biggest contributor to the idea that people could fly cheaply (almost) anywhere. Completely killed the romance of air travel as a consequence; now we just whinge about security delays.
B-29 We can hit you. The Manhattan Project cost $2bn, the B-29 cost $3bn. The weapon needs to hit the target.
B-52 We can hit you anywhere
KC-135 Anything we fly can now get anywhere and stay airborne there forever.
Mosquito, a novel idea that worked far better than anyone outside DH expected, and that has had designers ever since continually looking for novel ideas. It's the airborne equivalent of trying to design a better mousetrap.
Spitfire/Merlin - Excellence is beautiful.
Whatever you first flew solo/operationally.
The DHC-2 Beaver - the airborne pick-up truck
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AOC authorised thread drift re never call it a 'plane.
Willard said " Aeroplane is just so faggotty and pompous ".
You had better tell that to Flying Officer W.J. "Pissy" Pearson.
Matter closed.
Willard said " Aeroplane is just so faggotty and pompous ".
You had better tell that to Flying Officer W.J. "Pissy" Pearson.
Matter closed.
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Aircraft that changed the world
The very first... the Wright Flyer, and those aircraft of the next 5-10 years that developed the idea of flight.
The protagonists of the BoB; had that gone awry, things would have been very different around the world. So the Hurricane, Spitfire and the Bf109.
The WW2 heavy bombers. Lancaster, B-17, B-29 and to a lesser extent the B-24, Stirling etc.
The 707 for really bringing jet travel to the fore.
The 747 for making it a bit cheaper.
Not so much an aircraft, but an idea. ETOPS. Making the world smaller and even cheaper, with the A300,310,330, 757, 767, 777. I know there are others, but you don't really want to cross the Atlantic in a 737. Nor really a 757.
The 727, 737, A319/320/321, for making the short hauls accessible to the average man/woman/family.
Military jets - the Phantom, F16, MiG 21, MiG 29, thousands upon thousands of them made.
But the one that gets my vote is the CH-47. The Wokka is a beast of a machine. It perhaps doesn't really belong in this list, but it certainly changed my world. I loved flying in those things, and hooking under them. Spending a lazy afternoon on SPTA setting up for night flying, and then controlling them at night. Calling in a missing-man formation of them at a MACR's funeral. But above all, flying in them.
The protagonists of the BoB; had that gone awry, things would have been very different around the world. So the Hurricane, Spitfire and the Bf109.
The WW2 heavy bombers. Lancaster, B-17, B-29 and to a lesser extent the B-24, Stirling etc.
The 707 for really bringing jet travel to the fore.
The 747 for making it a bit cheaper.
Not so much an aircraft, but an idea. ETOPS. Making the world smaller and even cheaper, with the A300,310,330, 757, 767, 777. I know there are others, but you don't really want to cross the Atlantic in a 737. Nor really a 757.
The 727, 737, A319/320/321, for making the short hauls accessible to the average man/woman/family.
Military jets - the Phantom, F16, MiG 21, MiG 29, thousands upon thousands of them made.
But the one that gets my vote is the CH-47. The Wokka is a beast of a machine. It perhaps doesn't really belong in this list, but it certainly changed my world. I loved flying in those things, and hooking under them. Spending a lazy afternoon on SPTA setting up for night flying, and then controlling them at night. Calling in a missing-man formation of them at a MACR's funeral. But above all, flying in them.