Aircraft I would have liked to fly on but didn't
 

Reading some of the replies on TS's "favourite aircraft" thread made me think about types I would have liked to fly on and never did. So I thought I would start this as a seperate thread.

As I stated on TS's thread I've been fortunate to fly on a great many types. However, three which eluded me and which I would like to have experienced were the Vickers VC-10, Bristol Britannia and the Bristol B170Freighter.

With the exception of Concorde, which I would think would probably be top of the list for those who never had the opportunity, what were your top three types that you missed out on?

I would join you in the VC10 and Bristol Freighter and then, to my amazement, I struggled to find a third which I had never flown in. I haven't flown in a Viking but have done so in a Valetta which comes pretty close.

Then I thought about flying boats and would have loved to fly in one of the Empire Flying Boats so put that on top of my list.

My amazement was due to the fact that I was never much of a frequent traveller until everything was Boeing/Airbus and yet I seem to have flown in almost everything else that I would want to, and quite I few I wouldn't want to again.

In no particular order (and sneaking an extra one in)

B727
VC-10
L-1049 "Connie"
Convair 880

On the Concorde thing, I think it'd have to be both TU144 & Concorde (just for comparison), it I had to chose one or the other, then it'd be the Russian.

Of course, Constellation.
And perhaps the Curtiss Commando and Convair 580.

Apart from Concorde, the aircraft I would have liked to have experienced a flight on are:

DC4
DC6B
DC7C
DC8

707 for me, if only to complete the Boeing jet range (I assume I will get on a 787 flight at some point in the future). Not flown on a 717 either, but regard that as a McDonnell Douglas jet not a true Boeing!

Will always be frustrated that I never flew on Concorde as Mrs CP and I had been looking at doing just that when its demise was announced which instantly put an end to more accessible fares (we didn't come up in the ballots for tickets needless to say).

Lancaster !

Coquelet, you can still make your wish come true with the Constellation.

.: Super Constellation Flyers :.

That's how I did it, on a round trip GVA-GVA flying through the Alps on a beautiful CAVOK day. A truly magnificent experience.

rsuggit, I think that it's understood we are talking airliners here. So, technically I guess it would be the Lancastrian ;)

Short Empire flying boat - to Lord Howe Island.

It was there - in front of me - 35 quid. Too much I said. :ugh:

I don't think that I would have liked to bumble over the Atlantic in a Connie at heights not above all the weather and without weather seeking radar etc. :yuk:

Thus far, no a/c I have really missed. Looking through my virtual logbook (a spreadsheet) I have tallied a/c by individual models where I have been able to recall them, as I have only collated this data for the last 20 years and had to think back and research what I have been on.

For example, I think I have been on the 727-100 as well as the -200 but am not sure, so have just marked it as one entry. On the other hand, I have done the 747 -100-200-300-400-SP (not the Combi) and so they count as five entries. So for all commercial flights (down to a Fairchild Metroliner that I recall and a small Cessna 12 seater that I don't) it's 49 different models/types. Of which 11 were prop (piston and turbo). So I've been very lucky.

I'm with rsuggitt here - the OP said "Aircraft I would have liked to fly on but didn't" and that doesn't limit it to Civil, does it?

Lancaster for me too.

But my real dream would have been to fly in the TSR2. Maybe I'll have to settle for the Lightning in South Africa?

Sorry boys but as this is an SLF forum I took it for granted that you would understand that I was talking about commercial aircraft which one would like to have flown on as a passenger. Lancaster and TSR2 don't qualify ;)

Fairey Swordfish/Blackburn Blackfish
Rekkof F70/F100

Rode some circuits and bumps in Concorde at Brize Norton circa 1977.

Oh, 3rd aicraft ...

BAC3-11

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c6...ft/BAC3-11.jpg

Top 3
 

Given that I fly on an almost weekly basis it's hard to add any variety to a staple diet of A32X, DH4 or Emb195 in my case but;
Top three (gone forever, in practial terms) VC10, 707, DC8
Top three (still in service) MD11, A340, B777 (yes I know easy to do if I spend some money)
Top three in my logbook Concorde, Comet, DC3 (with an honourable mention to the Shorts 330)

Cheers
RS

Aircraft I have flown on as crew or passenger:

Boeing 707, 720, 727, 737, 757, 767, 777, 777-300 and 747 all variants including Combi

Vickers Viscount, Vanguard, VC10 Super and Standard.

BAC 1-11

Hawker Siddley Trident 1 - 2 - 3

Comet

Caravelle

Douglas DC8, Stretch DC8, DC9, DC10, MD11, MD80

Lockheed L-1011 Tristar and L-1011 -500

Concorde

Airbus A320, 319, 340, 330

Briton Norman (I think) Islander and Trislander

The Convair that looked like a 707/DC8

And as it nearly time for my nap lots and lots of little dinkey things with propellers that I have forgotten.

The one I really would have loved to go on Constellation. It was the first aircraft I really remember when meeting my aunt from California at the old Nissan huts that were London Heathrow Airport 1950's.:ok:

Aircraft I would liked to fly on but didn't
 

My first would have to be the 'Conny'.,secondly would have to be the Convair 990.,and thirdly would have to be the DH Comet.:ugh:

For me it would have to be

Dash 7
HS748
Connie
Caravelle

Handley Page HP42
Short "C" class boat
Constellation

Damn: I was born too late!!:*

Nice thread

I am lucky enough to have pretty long list of flown on includign a few relative rarities like HP herald and IL 62 as well as Conway engined 747s and DC8 the latter with their extending deployable silencers ( !) but would have liked the 747 Sp to complete the Boeing family and a decent big piston-has to be a Starliner but a 1049 connie would be fine.

If I had to choose juat one though it would be a CV 990 -made a great distinctive not loud noise (from the outside at least) - had weird rear fanned turbo fans and super 1960s cool giant 'speed fairings' on the wing trailing edges.
PB