If it looks right...
 

I agree the Hunter looked and flew the part, but was critiszed by a rather famous Test Pilot for never having matured into a decent weapons system; this proved totally correct, it was a great aircraft to pole around the sky & impress one's girlfriend, which counts for most RAF aircraft !

As for a Harrier being 'shot' by an A-10, well though I worked on Harrier development I'm a huge fan of the A-10, having seen it on test ranges etc and think we could do with a lot of moderised versions now in Afganistan; this little input could go on for ever, re. guns etc, but that A-10 v. Harrier must have been very lucky !

I was fortunate enough to fly the Vulcan.

As a lad my Captain would invoke "Olympus Lift" on the go around: so much power. Brilliant airplane.

How Does it Make me Feel?
 

Folland Gnat - Sporty spice - looks terrific, tight fit and very responsive little beauty!

Slight thread drift but refering to the A-10 it's funny that, despite all the robo-high tec weaponry on the battlefield, nothing beats sending a blizzard of bullets into Terry T's mess tins, eh? Granted, 6 barrells of 30mm high velocity mental-rpm type DU bullets but still bullets and low tech at that. High tech is all well and good but we still seem come back to weight of fire. (I would also like miniguns, 50 cals etc etc to be taken into consideration). In this respect, I expect the A-10 to go on for ever! Watching one roll in for a guns pass you just KNOW that this is going to sting. There is a certain inevitability that someone is going to wish he was somewhere else.

Wot? Miramar? Thought you'd got shoved on that Alcatraz sim across the Menai:)

Right... Watch after 00:30... That would make your eyes water... :ok: I always used to love watching them run in live at Sennybridge...

The Sea Harrier. Mk 1 or 2, will stay with me; seeing one on engine run was enough to impress / frighten the hell out of anyone, let alone seeing John Farley perform his famous take-off ( several less experienced pilots tried it unofficially, and paid with their lives...).

Having said that, I was always impressed by the visiting A-10's at the West Freugh test range - if anyone from the 1980's is reading, thankyou, a very friendly lot happy to show us over the cockpit & systems.

There seems a gap in the market for a modernised version of the A-10, carrier capable, right now; don't even get me started on Harrier GR9's, AV-8B's & guns, been there and seen / filmed the results !

A huge amount of potential thrown away by politics.

In answer to your original question, the Sea Harrier FRS1 ( or 51 with the Indian Navy ) does it for me !!!

Gainesy
 

Ok. Not literally.
More's the pity!
BV:sad:

F15A, clean and in full reheat (as my old man used to say,"its not bloody afterburner"!!!!) climbing almost vertical.
had a huge poster in my bedroom when i was a nipper.
jeeez, has she been in service that long???

As perviously mentioned Hawker Typhoon ,De Havilland Mosquito ,the A/C that put in the "shifts" the spits got the glory but these two where down in the mud with the troops !
Also like to say the A-10 for the same reasons,

For shear heart stopping aircraft its the Tomcat ,maybe it is the "top gun" dream we all got sold by Mr Bruckheimer /Ridley Scott no matter wot its a thing off beauty ! was heartbroken when it was finaly retired and was informed that most where being CRUSHED to stop Iran getting a hold of any parts :mad:

Did I mention the one that never flew......XB-70 Valkyrie.

Mach 3+ riding its own supersonic shockwave,
two speeds: parked and Sheeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttt!

Hey, A A - nice!:ok:;):E

MIL

F4 - For its brutish good looks and don't f..k with me aura.
Buccaneer - Made from girders and built like a brick s...house.
F14 - Grumman clearly tried to follow on from the F4.

CIVI

Super Connie - For its sheer grace and elegance.

OVERALL

Concorde - Simply the best.

And for sheer perfection........the VC15 :D

F104 Starfighter - Sooo sleeek, looks like it could fly to the stars

Japanes Zero - nippy (!)

SU27 - mighty

B2 - awesome

F16 - graceful & elegant

P51 - Cadillac of the sky

Lockheed P38 Lightning - solid & steady, (2 engines very comforting flying far out over the ocean)

Mirage 2000 - ruthlessly efficient

Well that will be a first for anything French!:E

Bugatti 100......

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/n...icture19-1.jpg

Aviate - What in all that is holy is that? It looks like some sort of widowmaker though.

Bright Yellow Seakings make me feel like committing golf...


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

(RM golfers, ifr that gets out the papers will look even sillier...)

I have a massive soft spot (should that be a hard spot?) for the Buccaneer. When I first saw one in the flesh at IAD '79 St Mawgan, I got goosebumps.
Same place, 2 A10's flew past all strange noises and weird looks - and I had no idea what they were. Brilliant.
And finally the F105 Thunderchief. Never seen one flying, but stood in awe next to the 'Yellow Rose of Texas' on the Dyess walk of fame. God they are huge, and only one engine!! You would feel like a hard b*****d if you flew one of those.