The prettiest airplane in the history of aviation -

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Posted: 11/13/2005 9:02:04 PM EDT

The DH 88 Comet

Only sailplanes surpass this masterpiece.

Pindicks (the image host)

Posted: 11/13/2005 9:03:11 PM EDT

[#1]

too red

Posted: 11/13/2005 9:06:50 PM EDT

[#2]

Too pointy.

Posted: 11/13/2005 9:09:29 PM EDT

[#3]

That's not what she said!

Posted: 11/13/2005 9:12:18 PM EDT

[#4]

Image thief.
Prolly stole the plane, too.

Posted: 11/14/2005 12:22:47 AM EDT

[#5]

Staggerwing Beeches got these kicked seven ways to Sunday, and I'm not even getted started.

P-38s, F-4Us, etc

Posted: 11/14/2005 12:48:06 AM EDT

[#6]

The SR-71 is the coolest looking plane ever.

Posted: 11/14/2005 1:05:03 AM EDT

[#7]

too many answers

Posted: 11/14/2005 1:18:54 AM EDT

[#8]

This is my love...

Posted: 11/14/2005 1:22:22 AM EDT

[#9]

For sheer visceral response, nothing beats Kelly Johnsons best.

Posted: 11/14/2005 2:02:51 AM EDT

[#10]

Posted: 11/14/2005 2:27:27 AM EDT

[#11]

Posted: 11/14/2005 2:31:17 AM EDT

[#12]

B-1B.

End of story.

Posted: 11/14/2005 2:39:19 AM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Staggerwing Beeches got these kicked seven ways to Sunday, and I'm not even getted started.

HUGE +1 on the Beech 17!!!!!!!!!

Back about '93 or so, I was TDY to March AFB. I took a drive out to Flabob and saw a replica of the Comet being build. While I was in the hangar checking it out and talking to one of the guys working on it, another guy was hammering out cowlings by hand. Now that's custom!

Speaking of the Staggerwing, have any of you been to the Staggerwing Museum in Tullahoma, TN? I went once. It was like a trip to an aviation Mecca. Absolutely fantastic!

Posted: 11/14/2005 3:01:38 AM EDT

[#14]

p-38

Posted: 11/14/2005 3:02:55 AM EDT

[#15]

Supermarine Spitfire MK V

And all Spitfires in general.

Posted: 11/14/2005 3:11:58 AM EDT

[#16]

Original poster said "prettiest", not most agressive, or manly, or cool, etc.

Posted: 11/14/2005 3:49:00 AM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
Supermarine Spitfire MK V

And all Spitfires in general.

+1 (tied with a P-51)

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:01:15 AM EDT

[#18]

... One of my all-time favorites

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:23:13 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
This is my love...

www.eam.net/jamara/Pilatus/pilatus_porter.jpg

www.modelspot.com/photo/iat04/porter.jpg

members.fortunecity.com/gvanroy1/work/pc6-21.jpg

I have a lot of jumps out of turbo Porters, not particularly fond of 'em.

Here's a real beauty! I have one jump out of one of these.

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:26:15 AM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

For sheer visceral response, nothing beets Kelly Johnsons best.

Although it is a beautiful plane, I would disagree with your statement:

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:28:34 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Supermarine Spitfire MK V

And all Spitfires in general.

+1 (tied with a P-51)

home.hawaii.rr.com/theokazakis/resources/spitfire.jpg

WOW!!!

I agree, anyway that the second in row of my favourite is P51 Mustang D version (with bubble canopy).

But the Spitfire flies even when standing motionless on the ground.

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:30:59 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
freespace.virgin.net/pbratt.home/assets/De%20Haviland%20Comet_site.JPG

The DH 88 Comet

Only sailplanes surpass this masterpiece.

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/92/CC09_DH_Comet.jpg/300px-CC09_DH_Comet.jpg

www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4515/cometb.jpg

www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4515/cmt.jpg

The shadow under the third photo has an interesting shape.

Pindicks

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:37:31 AM EDT

[#23]

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:48:39 AM EDT

[#24]

My Fave:

WBK

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:50:52 AM EDT

[#25]

Blohm & Voss BV 141

The Blohm + Voss BV 141 is a World War II German tactical reconnaissance aircraft prototype. It is best remembered as the most asymmetrical aircraft to have ever flown.

In 1937, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium issued a specification for a single-engined reconnaissance aircraft with optimum visual characteristics. The preferred contractors were to be Arado, but the request prompted the Focke-Wulf company to work up the alternative idea of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189, a twin-boom design with two smaller engines and a central crew gondola, while Blohm + Voss proposed something far more radical. The proposal of chief designer Dr Richard Vogt was the unique asymmetric Bv 141.

The perspex glazed crew gondola on the starboard side housed the pilot, observer and rear-gunner, while the fuselage on the port side led smoothly from the 1000hp Bramo 123 engine to a tail unit (which was symmetrical in the Bv 141 V1 prototype).

It would seem that the displacement of lift vs weight, and thrust vs drag, would have induced tendencies to yaw and roll requiring continual trimming to control, but in fact the aircraft proved very stable and maneuverable. Indeed Dr Vogt had calculated that the greater weight on one side of the aircraft could be cancelled out by the torque of the propeller.

Three further prototypes and an evaluation batch of five Bv 141As were produced, but the assessment was that they were underpowered. By the time that a batch of five Bv 141Bs were built with the more powerful BMW 801 engines they were too late to make an impression, and the authorities proceeded instead to order production of the Fw 189. The Bv 141B had the starboard tail-plane virtually removed to improve the rear-gunner's field of view.

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:51:46 AM EDT

[#26]

Quoted:
Original poster said "prettiest", not most agressive, or manly, or cool, etc.

exactly.

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:54:50 AM EDT

[#27]

Quoted:
www.airliners.net/photos/photos/3/3/1/823133.jpg

#2 on my list. Quick, someone post a photo of a Delta Dart for the hat trick!

ETA: Too late

Posted: 11/14/2005 4:55:58 AM EDT

[#28]

Quoted:
avions.legendaires.free.fr/Images/Gbv141.jpg

Blohm & Voss BV 141

The Blohm + Voss BV 141 is a World War II German tactical reconnaissance aircraft prototype. It is best remembered as the most asymmetrical aircraft to have ever flown.

In 1937, the Reichsluftfahrtministerium issued a specification for a single-engined reconnaissance aircraft with optimum visual characteristics. The preferred contractors were to be Arado, but the request prompted the Focke-Wulf company to work up the alternative idea of the Focke-Wulf Fw 189, a twin-boom design with two smaller engines and a central crew gondola, while Blohm + Voss proposed something far more radical. The proposal of chief designer Dr Richard Vogt was the unique asymmetric Bv 141.

The perspex glazed crew gondola on the starboard side housed the pilot, observer and rear-gunner, while the fuselage on the port side led smoothly from the 1000hp Bramo 123 engine to a tail unit (which was symmetrical in the Bv 141 V1 prototype).

It would seem that the displacement of lift vs weight, and thrust vs drag, would have induced tendencies to yaw and roll requiring continual trimming to control, but in fact the aircraft proved very stable and maneuverable. Indeed Dr Vogt had calculated that the greater weight on one side of the aircraft could be cancelled out by the torque of the propeller.

Three further prototypes and an evaluation batch of five Bv 141As were produced, but the assessment was that they were underpowered. By the time that a batch of five Bv 141Bs were built with the more powerful BMW 801 engines they were too late to make an impression, and the authorities proceeded instead to order production of the Fw 189. The Bv 141B had the starboard tail-plane virtually removed to improve the rear-gunner's field of view.

"Most asymmetrical aircraft to have ever flown"

I guess the writer has never seen Burt Rutan's Boomerang before.

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:06:01 AM EDT

[#29]

More P6E goodness.

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:08:38 AM EDT

[#30]

Damn sam ! you guys have got nice taste when it comes to airplanes . DH's , Spits , Hustlers , Starfighters , old Corsiars and a Connie .

I dont have a photo avaliable BUT I always loved the looks of a Granville Bros. R1 Gee Bee racer . I've always heard only Jimmy Doolittle was the only man to surrvive flying one . I think they just kept rebuilding it / them .

That remake doing the shows was awsome

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:12:20 AM EDT

[#31]

Quoted:
This is my love...

www.eam.net/jamara/Pilatus/pilatus_porter.jpg

www.modelspot.com/photo/iat04/porter.jpg

members.fortunecity.com/gvanroy1/work/pc6-21.jpg

This plane was designed to be cheap to produced. There are no curves. Just a few radiuses where one flat panel meets another.

My preferences run toward the Spitfire, Corsair, or Constellation.

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:14:09 AM EDT

[#32]

Quoted:
"Most asymmetrical aircraft to have ever flown"

I guess the writer has never seen Burt Rutan's Boomerang before.

media.popularmechanics.com/images/tb_9611STTRAA.jpg

Inasmuch as the Boomerang uses two engines to overcome the aerodynamic asymmetry, I think that Vogt's design is far more, well, eccentric.

You know, people did design, build and fly airplanes before Burt Rutan.

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:15:51 AM EDT

[#33]

Quoted:
Quoted:
www.airliners.net/photos/photos/3/3/1/823133.jpg

#2 on my list. Quick, someone post a photo of a Delta Dart for the hat trick!

ETA: Too late
www.f-106deltadart.com/119fis/177-10.jpg
www.f-106deltadart.com/119fis/177-03.jpg
www.f-106deltadart.com/119fis/lastf106retires.jpg

Uh,damned near anything made by Convair. The Convair 880 was one of the prettiest airliners ever produced,still holds the coast to coast record. The DC-8 series would be a close second.

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:17:19 AM EDT

[#34]

Quoted:
Damn sam ! you guys have got nice taste when it comes to airplanes . DH's , Spits , Hustlers , Starfighters , old Corsiars and a Connie .

I dont have a photo avaliable BUT I always loved the looks of a Granville Bros. R1 Gee Bee racer . I've always heard only Jimmy Doolittle was the only man to surrvive flying one . I think they just kept rebuilding it / them .

That remake doing the shows was awsome

Uhhh ... Then you'd better stay out of the "Ugliest airplane" thread, or you're going to have a major issue with captainpooby!

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:19:17 AM EDT

[#35]

I vote the DC3, always a treat to see one

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:39:08 AM EDT

[#36]

Loud, Proud and 'cause we could:

Posted: 11/14/2005 5:40:01 AM EDT

[#37]

Current mil: F16
Old mil: P51 or Spitfire
Civ S/E: Staggerwing Beech

Posted: 11/14/2005 6:18:47 AM EDT

[#38]

It's a toss up.

Posted: 11/14/2005 6:19:09 AM EDT

[#39]

Quoted:
Loud, Proud and 'cause we could:

www.i29.photobucket.com/albums/c282/sfdave/DSCF5706.jpg

Your photo? Much better than the ones I posted on page one. Thanks!

Posted: 11/14/2005 7:22:34 AM EDT

[#40]

I think the beech Starship is a great looking airplane. I actually had the pleasure of one fly over me a few years back and the shape of it was stunning to say the least. Today there is only one privately owned one in existance because Beech for some reason decided to buy back all the Starships and destroy them. The reason for this is unclear to this day but one is still privately owned by a person who refused to return his. He bought up every spare part made for it and plans to keep it flying well into the future.

Here it's being used as a chaseplane for the "X" prize constest.

Posted: 11/14/2005 7:35:00 AM EDT

[#41]

Quoted:
freespace.virgin.net/pbratt.home/assets/De%20Haviland%20Comet_site.JPG

The DH 88 Comet

Only sailplanes surpass this masterpiece.

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/92/CC09_DH_Comet.jpg/300px-CC09_DH_Comet.jpg

www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4515/cometb.jpg

www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/4515/cmt.jpg

Pindicks (the image host)

Where's Dagny Taggart ?

ckmorley

Posted: 11/14/2005 7:42:15 AM EDT

[#42]

Heathens! All of your are heathens. No one has mentioned this aircraft???

Im not even going to post its name.

Posted: 11/14/2005 8:01:11 AM EDT

[#43]

Quoted:
Heathens! All of your are heathens. No one has mentioned this aircraft???

www.chicagocentennialofflight.org/images/images_aircraft/BeechStaggerwing_OldRhineb.JPG

Im not even going to post its name.

It's been mentioned a couple times.

Try this:

www.staggerwing.com/

Posted: 11/14/2005 8:08:21 AM EDT

[#44]

Quoted:
Heathens! All of your are heathens. No one has mentioned this aircraft???

www.chicagocentennialofflight.org/images/images_aircraft/BeechStaggerwing_OldRhineb.JPG

Im not even going to post its name.

Beech Staggerwing

On to the prettiest ariplane ever built
Hughes H-1

I actually saw this airplane before the owner and builder crashed flying back from Oshkosh. It was the most beautifully aircraft I have evver seen, and I have seen alot of aircraft in my life. The sheet metal work was flawless. It looked like an actual mirror. I guarantee that if you have ever seen this airplane in person, you would agree with me.

RemMan

Posted: 11/14/2005 8:33:10 AM EDT

[#45]

Quoted:
I think the beech Starship is a great looking airplane. I actually had the pleasure of one fly over me a few years back and the shape of it was stunning to say the least. Today there is only one privately owned one in existance because Beech for some reason decided to buy back all the Starships and destroy them. The reason for this is unclear to this day but one is still privately owned by a person who refused to return his. He bought up every spare part made for it and plans to keep it flying well into the future.

www.image4u.org/jimtash/GA14G13.jpg

Here it's being used as a chaseplane for the "X" prize constest.

www.image4u.org/jimtash/04_10_04_SpaceShipOne_X_Prize_2_0185.jpg

One worked for an FBO that was also a Beech dealer.Beach really did a piss-poor job of selling the Starship,our demo came in filthy,and missing ALOT of interior parts. Also,the price was hard to justify,as Beech was also selling the KingAir(easier to sell to large Corps.)also lots of used Citations on the market at the time.Beech bought back all(except one,i met the die-hard who refused to sell,he was from TX,)so they would'nt have to support such a small fleet.(they remembered the Convair 880-990 fiasco)

Posted: 11/14/2005 8:35:20 AM EDT

[#46]

Quoted:
Quoted:
Heathens! All of your are heathens. No one has mentioned this aircraft???

www.chicagocentennialofflight.org/images/images_aircraft/BeechStaggerwing_OldRhineb.JPG

Im not even going to post its name.

Beech Staggerwing

On to the prettiest ariplane ever built
Hughes H-1

img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/Remman1/over_lake.jpg
img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/Remman1/pl1.jpg
img.photobucket.com/albums/v410/Remman1/pl2.jpg

I actually saw this airplane before the owner and builder crashed flying back from Oshkosh. It was the most beautifully aircraft I have evver seen, and I have seen alot of aircraft in my life. The sheet metal work was flawless. It looked like an actual mirror. I guarantee that if you have ever seen this airplane in person, you would agree with me.

RemMan

I noticed during "The Aviator" that the close-ups of DeCrappio had an open cockpit, and the distant shots of this H-1 had a canopy. back and forth, back and forth. Open cockpit, canopy, open cockpit... in the movie.

My wife hates sitting next to me in movies.