the very successful sud aviation carvelle established this type of aft mounted engine configuration about 10 years before the DC9.
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The Staff of SOH
Top 10 most significant aircraft
- Thread starter robert41
- Start date
the very successful sud aviation carvelle established this type of aft mounted engine configuration about 10 years before the DC9.
Cratermaker
Charter Member
I guess I always thought of it as a rocket on the way up and a glider on the way down. Never really thought about it before.
If a craft is powered by rocket through the atmosphere, what makes it an airplane or just a rocket? Use of aerodynamic control surfaces while using rocket thrust? Use of aerodynamic lift?
Snuffy
Happiness Consultant
Was there something I missed that regulated this discussion to single seaters?
Probably if we want to examine the most significant contribution to the world as we know it today, there is no way that we as a community can down play the significance of at least 3 aircraft that totally effected the way history went.
The Boeing B-17, The Consolidated B-24, and the Boeing B-29. If not for these aircraft produced in the numbers they were produced in and the job they did in their use, the world could possibly be a different place today.
Probably if we want to examine the most significant contribution to the world as we know it today, there is no way that we as a community can down play the significance of at least 3 aircraft that totally effected the way history went.
The Boeing B-17, The Consolidated B-24, and the Boeing B-29. If not for these aircraft produced in the numbers they were produced in and the job they did in their use, the world could possibly be a different place today.
LOL. Where's the DC-8? Did you two break up??
hurricane3
SOH-CM-2025
Have to agree with grumpos
Of course with a screen name like mine you would except me to agree with grumpos,and list the Hawker Hurricane as the most important fighter of WWII.
I know the Hurri wasn't as good as others and seldom was matched egually ,but it's rugged construction, and turning ability brought a lot of pilots home who other wise would'nt have made it ,and according to Francis K Mason (probley the leading expert on the subject) in Wings of Fame Vol. 2 ,quote "In terms of victories over enemy aircraft alone,it is undoubtedly the most successful of all British fighters."
As grumpos said ,the world might be a very different place if not for the Hurricane.It was there when it was needed.:salute:
Of course with a screen name like mine you would except me to agree with grumpos,and list the Hawker Hurricane as the most important fighter of WWII.
I know the Hurri wasn't as good as others and seldom was matched egually ,but it's rugged construction, and turning ability brought a lot of pilots home who other wise would'nt have made it ,and according to Francis K Mason (probley the leading expert on the subject) in Wings of Fame Vol. 2 ,quote "In terms of victories over enemy aircraft alone,it is undoubtedly the most successful of all British fighters."
As grumpos said ,the world might be a very different place if not for the Hurricane.It was there when it was needed.:salute:
There are quite a lot of good suggestions in this thread. However it leaves me with a question. For instance what has been more important for the development of aviation; the first use of a concept which shows an idea works or the first time this new idea is applied in a successful aircraft.
For instance somebody named the Me-262 Schwalbe in this list, however wasn't the Heinkel He-178 which was the first "full jet" more important for the development of aviation.
It is more or less the same with the "Wright brothers". Their flight in December 1903 is generally seen as the start of aviation. However the Englishman John Stringfellow already made powered "heavier than air" aircrafts in 1848 and the first successful manned powered flight in history was most probably already done in 1874 by the Frenchman Félix du Temple de la Croix.
Personally I think the Dh.106 Comet was more important for the development of jet powered airliners than the Caravelle. However how many Europeans didn't make their first trip in a jet powered airliner in a Caravelle? Therefore the Caravelle perhaps not that important for the development of aircrafts, but very important for the development of aviation in general.
So based on my vision above my list might contain some less well known aircrafts.....
Cheers,
Huub
For instance somebody named the Me-262 Schwalbe in this list, however wasn't the Heinkel He-178 which was the first "full jet" more important for the development of aviation.
It is more or less the same with the "Wright brothers". Their flight in December 1903 is generally seen as the start of aviation. However the Englishman John Stringfellow already made powered "heavier than air" aircrafts in 1848 and the first successful manned powered flight in history was most probably already done in 1874 by the Frenchman Félix du Temple de la Croix.
Personally I think the Dh.106 Comet was more important for the development of jet powered airliners than the Caravelle. However how many Europeans didn't make their first trip in a jet powered airliner in a Caravelle? Therefore the Caravelle perhaps not that important for the development of aircrafts, but very important for the development of aviation in general.
So based on my vision above my list might contain some less well known aircrafts.....
- John Stringfellow's Ariel, the first motorised plane
- Fokker Eindecker combined an aircraft fully with guns
- Fokker F.VII first real succesful commercial airliner
- Heinkel He-178 first full jet
- Bell X-1 learned us much about flying supersonic
- Vickers Vimy first aircraft capable to cross an Ocean non-stop (June 1919).
- Junkers J1 Blechesel (Metal sheet donkey) first practical all metal fighter aircraft.
- Dewoitine 510 the turning point in the development of fighters
- Messerschmitt Bf109 the first of the modern fighters
- Macchi MC.202/MC.205 best looking aircraft ever made
Cheers,
Huub
A lot of very good answers. Rather than renaming 9 other aircraft that have continually made the lists, I'd just add the Boeing 307 Stratoliner. First commercial pressurized airliner that allowed travel above the weather. Just before the US entered WWII, the US government forced Boeing to cease production at 10 built in order to concentrate on the B-17 which shared wings, engines and tail surfaces with the B307. Then "requisitioned" the Stratoliners as C-75s for wartime transport use. Before the government stepped in, the Pan Am Stratoliners were shortening travel in the Caribbean while the TWA ones were setting new standards in transcontinental air travel. As C-75s, the Stratoliners pioneered regular land plane flights across the Atlantic transporting VIPs and critical cargo.
Its capable of powered flight so should be considered in my book. I think that it deserves a place in any top ten.
Cratermaker
Charter Member
Yeah, it definitely can be. It is a powered aircraft with a big a** drop tank and big a** JATO units!
Bjoern
worst developer ever
Cratermaker
Charter Member
HouseHobbit
Charter Member
This will be easy, since all the top ten aircraft, of course are from the US..
1)The Wright Flyer...it was the first 3 axis control aircraft aircraft
as the french said in the news papers of the day "We Have been Beaten" ca.1908
2) B52, fifty years of service and counting
3) B-29 most advanced bomber of WW2
4) P-51 best prop fighter of WW2
5) Douglas DC-3 first truly dependable airliner
6) F-86 first Great jet fighter; 10 to 1 kills against the Mig 15
7) SR-71 first mach 3+ spy aircraft
8)Piper Cub many could afford them (Cheap personal aircraft)
9)F-22 the best modern fighter to date
10) 747 for opening the sky to millions of travellers
As expected we the Americans gave controlled flight to the world in 1903..
and have not given up our lead, yet to anyone..
Like it or not; The USA is and will stay the Leader in aviation
Off to hide before the Others see this..
1)The Wright Flyer...it was the first 3 axis control aircraft aircraft
as the french said in the news papers of the day "We Have been Beaten" ca.1908
2) B52, fifty years of service and counting
3) B-29 most advanced bomber of WW2
4) P-51 best prop fighter of WW2
5) Douglas DC-3 first truly dependable airliner
6) F-86 first Great jet fighter; 10 to 1 kills against the Mig 15
7) SR-71 first mach 3+ spy aircraft
8)Piper Cub many could afford them (Cheap personal aircraft)
9)F-22 the best modern fighter to date
10) 747 for opening the sky to millions of travellers
As expected we the Americans gave controlled flight to the world in 1903..
and have not given up our lead, yet to anyone..
Like it or not; The USA is and will stay the Leader in aviation
Off to hide before the Others see this..
stuartcox
Charter Member
As expected we the Americans gave controlled flight to the world in 1903..
and have not given up our lead, yet to anyone..
Like it or not; The USA is and will stay the Leader in aviation.
Off to hide before the Others see this..
Nice to see you laughing over your own comment...
I certainly did!
The Wright Flyer, First powerd heaver than air craft.
Curtiss Golden Flyer, It used Ailerons.
Douglas DC-2/DC-3, First dependable airliner opening air traval to the masses.
Heinkel He-178, First aircraft to fly under turbojet power.
Focke-Wulf Fw-61, First fully-controllable helicopter.
V-2/A4, First long-range ballistic missile and first human artifact to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight. It was the progenitor of all modern rockets.
Bell X-1, First plane to successfully break the sound barrier.
de Havilland Comet, First commercial jet airliner to reach production.
H.S. P1127/Harrier, First VTOL fighter.
Have Blue/F-117, First aircraft designed around stealth technology.
Curtiss Golden Flyer, It used Ailerons.
Douglas DC-2/DC-3, First dependable airliner opening air traval to the masses.
Heinkel He-178, First aircraft to fly under turbojet power.
Focke-Wulf Fw-61, First fully-controllable helicopter.
V-2/A4, First long-range ballistic missile and first human artifact to achieve sub-orbital spaceflight. It was the progenitor of all modern rockets.
Bell X-1, First plane to successfully break the sound barrier.
de Havilland Comet, First commercial jet airliner to reach production.
H.S. P1127/Harrier, First VTOL fighter.
Have Blue/F-117, First aircraft designed around stealth technology.
centuryseries
SOH-CM-2023
Obviously you're forgetting that the A-12 was the predecessor to the SR-71 and flew operational recon sorties over Vietnam before the SR-71 and flew just that little bit faster and higher.......
You've also forgotten that us British gave the World the Harrier not to mention the jet engine and combined with France the Concorde - the US never managed that.
I didn't see anyone mention the eternal solar powered plane that recently flew non-stop for 14 days.
TeaSea
SOH-CM-2014
I've been watching this thread and find it most interesting, but I'd have to now challenge the concept a bit and ask for a definition....
What criterion would one use to determine the "most significant".
Is that based on a leap forward in technology, a significant impact upon aviation in general, a successful business platform, public perception?
I think everyone's answers might change a bit given a scope of the criteria used to evaluate one aircraft against another. Informally, I think that's what's happening in everyone's mind as they give the question some thought.
Also, I'd eliminate the Wright Flier from all lists. The category doesn't exist without it so it should not be compared within the category (flying machines). Rather, you'd compare the Wright Flier to another category of transport, such as a horse or a car.
What criterion would one use to determine the "most significant".
Is that based on a leap forward in technology, a significant impact upon aviation in general, a successful business platform, public perception?
I think everyone's answers might change a bit given a scope of the criteria used to evaluate one aircraft against another. Informally, I think that's what's happening in everyone's mind as they give the question some thought.
Also, I'd eliminate the Wright Flier from all lists. The category doesn't exist without it so it should not be compared within the category (flying machines). Rather, you'd compare the Wright Flier to another category of transport, such as a horse or a car.