best airplane
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I also like the lines of the Tupolev Tu-154 and Tu-134.
I've had the pleasure of travelling on Qatar A330's and B777's. They are superb inside, but then again, the inside of a "private" BAe One-Eleven is.......
So what exactly do we define as the best ever aircraft?
Sales, safety record, perceived "sleek" lines.......
I've had the pleasure of travelling on Qatar A330's and B777's. They are superb inside, but then again, the inside of a "private" BAe One-Eleven is.......
So what exactly do we define as the best ever aircraft?
Sales, safety record, perceived "sleek" lines.......
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So what exactly do we define as the best ever aircraft?
And it's a personal choice thing anyway. Me, for best, the MD-11 but I'm biased because I've spent 20 plus years of my life dedicated to her, but the Connie will always be the most "beautiful" in my book.
Luxury flying in a 777 ???? Have you ever been in a 777 ???? Surely not. It's well regarded as having the noisiest cabin of all the current crop of widebodies, when you are in the window seats. Goodness knows how Boeing managed that. Alternatively there is the prospect of being middle seat again in Y on one of the 2-5-2 configured ones. A good, reliable, mass hauler, yes, but "redefining luxury flying" - No !
Gnome de PPRuNe
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As the Connie has already been suggested, then I'll plump for the DC-6. Ahhhh.... Or if you prefer jets, the VC-10.
Can hardly tell one modern twin jet from the next.
Can hardly tell one modern twin jet from the next.
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Nearly 40 years ago I was taking a course in fracture mechanics, taught by a metallurgist ex-Lockheed Skunk Works. I asked him that question, but with safety in mind as at the time I was a very nervous flier. His answer was the Convair 880/990 (remember, this was 40 years ago). I asked, "What about Boeings?" He said there was no elegance in their designs - they got burned in the past designing too close to the limits so they overdesign everything. To somebody who came to class every day with failed airplane parts explaining how when the engineer screwed up this design, this part broke and xxx people died, this made me a lot more comfortable when flying any of their planes. Wouldn't you know the Turkish Airlines DC-10 crashed during the semester I was taking this class. The instructor came to class carrying a DC-10 cargo door latch and gave us a lecture on PPD (piss poor design). Of course we know now it was not a metallurgical failure but it certainly was classic PPD.
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WHBM, I was lucky, sat up front in B class on the 777. Very comfy lie flat beds etc.
Hmmmm, VC-10, the flying banana, Yes, very beautiful sleek lines.
Hmmmm, VC-10, the flying banana, Yes, very beautiful sleek lines.
dream-liner 787
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Don't you mean the Nightmareliner 787? How, after delays of over 3 years, Boeing still insist on using the Dreamliner name is beyond me. It's been an absolute nightmare for Boeing.
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How can you define "best airplane" without specifying "best for what mission"?
That said, success in the marketplace surely must be considered. One would be foolish to ignore the Cessna 170/172/175 series - in production since 1948 (albeit with a 10-year break in the 80s-90s). In the neighborhood of 50,000 aircraft total, flying in nearly every country in the world.
That said, success in the marketplace surely must be considered. One would be foolish to ignore the Cessna 170/172/175 series - in production since 1948 (albeit with a 10-year break in the 80s-90s). In the neighborhood of 50,000 aircraft total, flying in nearly every country in the world.
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Best airplane
Having been flying in a variety of aeroplanes since 1948, I liked Shackletons, because I could take as much kit as I wanted, and had a decent brew when airborne, could get me head down when I felt tired, and us penguins get very tired when flying. I liked the VC10 for the luxury, and I liked the Connie for her looks although I was unlucky never to get a flight in one. I also like the small GAs Robins, Austers, etc, might be tight fit at my age, but they are what flying is really about - at least I think so.
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You may all wonder at this, but when I was doing my training a MU-2 use to come in from Kalgoorlie every day it seemed. She looked like she was going flat out, when she was parked up. Have always wanted one since.
What a beautiful beast.
What a beautiful beast.