What Military Aircraft Would You Bring Back To Service?
Bristol frightener
Deferring to an Expert
I’ve done only a little piloting myself, so I’m going to defer to Eric Winkle Brown. His favourites were the Sabre and DH Sea Hornet. The Sabre is still extant here and there, in private hands. So for me it’s got to be the Hornet that’s brought back.
As a passenger (though I imagine a fair number of pilots would fancy it too) it’d have to be Concorde.
As an engineer, it’s a close run between SR71 and F117. There are reports that the latter is still occasionally in the skies, so the SR71 gets that vote. They’re my favourite engineering examples, because they’re both extreme illustrations of what happens when engineers are let off the leash and left to get on with it. The SR71 simply because it was so fast, and the F117 simply because it was barely an aeroplane but still flew, was also stealthy, and was also so incredibly cheap (I’m not talking sticker price). $30million for two flying prototypes, even in late 70’s money, was very cheap indeed.
As a passenger (though I imagine a fair number of pilots would fancy it too) it’d have to be Concorde.
As an engineer, it’s a close run between SR71 and F117. There are reports that the latter is still occasionally in the skies, so the SR71 gets that vote. They’re my favourite engineering examples, because they’re both extreme illustrations of what happens when engineers are let off the leash and left to get on with it. The SR71 simply because it was so fast, and the F117 simply because it was barely an aeroplane but still flew, was also stealthy, and was also so incredibly cheap (I’m not talking sticker price). $30million for two flying prototypes, even in late 70’s money, was very cheap indeed.
Last edited by msbbarratt; 26th Oct 2020 at 07:20.
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The Sunderland.......on the basis there was plenty of room to walk about / space to sleep in, and, by far the most essential item....had a very well equipped galley.
It's all about priorities and creature comforts you understand
It's all about priorities and creature comforts you understand
I would go for the MiG-25 Foxbat.
Yes it was built as well as a BL car, yes it was crude and yes it was Soviet. But it was stupidly fast 2.8M climbed like a fallen Angel, looked evil.
I am a bit biased, I had a back seat ride in one 15 years or so ago thanks to a broker and lots of my childrens inheritance.
But by God it was just bloody awesome, then again when you drive a Boeing for work, I suppose any fast jet is!
Yes it was built as well as a BL car, yes it was crude and yes it was Soviet. But it was stupidly fast 2.8M climbed like a fallen Angel, looked evil.
I am a bit biased, I had a back seat ride in one 15 years or so ago thanks to a broker and lots of my childrens inheritance.
But by God it was just bloody awesome, then again when you drive a Boeing for work, I suppose any fast jet is!
Avoid imitations
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Mosquito PR
My vote goes with a PR Mosquito. Cheap, fast at low level, very small radar signature. Flying PR Canberras in early 60s Germany we reckoned that a Mossy could do all that we could - and come back several times.
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