What's your favorite aircraft?

[euroastar350]

Thats an easy answer for me. The Eurocopter Ecureuil series. Single, twin...doesn't matter. Such an elegant and sleek design. Been up in 2 of them and love the smooth ride it offers. And its my username

 

[boxcar]

.
..... F-5e-LO
.

 

[Ken Stallings]

It's pretty much like me answering the question, "Who is my favorite child!"

I have two children and both of my favorite.

I have two airplanes and both are my favorite!

I can honestly say I have never piloted an airplane that I hated or even disliked.

I have flown C-130's, MQ-1, Aerostar, Seminole, Baron, Skyhawks, RV-8, and a long time ago even a Bonanza. I found they all flew great and were enjoyable.

Frankly, my best definition of a great airplane is any aerospace vehicle that is capable of getting you aloft and allowing you a fair chance to make a nice landing when it is time to do so.

Cheers,

Ken

 

[Piglet]

Pretty much some the planes I have built.
A-1
OV-10
F-5
PC-7
P-39
P-51's in non-US markings.
A-10
And......
And....... and....

 

[gigabyte]

C-130s are great aircraft that have given taxpayers a lot of function for their dollar, there can be no doubt, but riding on one is decidedly unremarkable, loud and very uncomfortable. The only thing you're missing out on is a headache and the worst sleep of your life.:ernae:

If you want to know what riding on a C-130 is like, set up a few industrial fans in a room (the ones so loud you can't even yell over them), increase the temp in the room to about 100, and set the room on hydraulics that randomly slam and jolt you around. Oh yeah, make sure the room smells like sweat and jet fuel. Make sure that anywhere you sit in said room has something poking you.

Now that sound like a real ball, first the noise is no problem, I just turn off the Cochlear Implant Processor and I hear nothing, the heat is what I like, living in Atlantic Canada gives me a real appreciation for warmth, a rough ride would be nothing new I get that every time I drive down the street here at home, our pot holes are big enough to swallow small cars in one gulp, the aroma of jet fuel and sweat might take a few minutes to get used to, but I grew up on fishing boats so strong odors are no big deal, OK I might not like the stuff poking into me so much, but I can take some extra padding to allow for that, all in all that C130 ride sounds like a great bit of fun, yup I'd love to do it one day, and god willing if I get a chance I will in a heartbeat.

 

[ARDVARK]

A10 Tankbuster hands down for fixed wing.

Helicopter..Mi-24, absolute beast.

 

[safn1949]

Lockheed Super Constellation,one of the most beautiful airplanes ever.I was at an airshow in upstate NY many years ago and saw one do a low,angled (as in one wing lower then the other,sorry I don't know the proper term) flyby.I was thrilled to finally see one in flight.

I have been inside of the Air Force One Connie at WPAFB,unfortunately I had to bail out quickly because of my claustrophobia (they have Plexiglas panels lining the aircraft,it is about 30" wide inside) I love to fly one in CFS 2 and I will soon install FS 2004 and try it there.

Kinda funny,you should have seen me shoot out that door on the Connie.:d

 

[dominique]

A10 Tankbuster hands down for fixed wing.

Helicopter..Mi-24, absolute beast.

I thought you'd say the F-111 , a great aircraft BTW

 

[tigisfat]

I've had many favorites, like I said, but my keenest observation has me loving whatever aircraft that is of the moment. I've never like MD-11s much, but on the worst deployment of my life a world MD-11 took me home. I remember thinking that the aircraft was truly a magical machine. :salute:

 

[Marvin Carter]

FW 189!!!

 

[peperez]

Definately for me the Tupolev Tu-142 (NATO is Tu-95 Bear). While the Russians have lifted a lot of ideas from other countries (to me most notably the Tu-4 Bull which was a reverse engineered B-29, and they made quite a few variants of it). Also the Tu-144 which was a Concorde likeness (Russians managed to get theirs in the air first, although it was slower and never entered commercial service). The Tu-95 at it's inception took brand new ideas that they learned from the Germans after the war (steeply swept back wings), and incorporated some innovations of their own such as the contra-rotating props. Over it's 50+ years of service it has been upgraded to do almost a limitless amount of missions from nuclear bombing to maritime patrol. After the Tu-95 though I am a big fan of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Rockwell B-1B, Sikorsky H-60's (hard not to like what you work on), and the Antonov An-225. Better leave it at 5 cause I could go on all day.

To be truthfull, Tupolev 144 was faster and owned a lot to other Soviet planes that flew before Concorde, including Sukhoi T-8. The fleet flew comercially but was uneconomical and too noisy internally to be confortable. As German engineers, Soviet one has a taste for the uncommon. They pionered delta and swepth back wings before WW2. They even tested variable technology with a series that flew as biplane and monoplane.

Why Concorde and Tu-144 was so similar? Cause they were designed with same requirements. It's the same with Boeing 707 and DC-8 and VC-10 and Il-62.

Cheers

Pepe

 

[peperez]

My favourite plane is the Dewoitine D.550! A fine racer and fighter with pedigree. Another one is the Blackburn Botha. It will try to kill you sice you are aboard...

Cheers

Pepe

 

[stuartcox]

The BBMF Lancaster.
I can see it several times a year going to the different airshows. Just the sound gives me goosepimples!

 

[fsafranek]

Well, the Mirage obviously. Especially the older ones before the whole thing was one big computer.

I've always liked the F-4 because it was THE fighter-bomber while I was growing up.

And of course the B-1B because I worked at Rockwell when we were building them. Working in publications and later as Editor of the company paper I had incredible access to that aircraft. Those were the days.

In GA I've always like the Cessna Skymaster and the MU-2. For commuters the Swearinger Metroliner and going back even earlier, the Convair 580.
:ernae:

 

[hewman100]

First love: Lancaster

Most enduring: Hurricane, an aeroplane with character.

Others in no particular order, Mustang, Mossie, Wildcat, Swordfish, and the Vulcan. No other jet comes close.

 

[beana51]

For me I guess its the planes in real world I have flown,general Aviation airplanes,the Cessna's,Pipers,Beech's,cubs,` Aeroncas , luscombes,Citbraias,and the like...on the Sim ,my start up plane is the "Flight 1 Archer"...yes the 2002 version,and still a great plane, the other is the AOPA Cardinal, that is my FSX start up.....It could be I flew Cherokees , and all, and owned some of them..In my Walter Mitty world, the HEAVY IRONS catch my fancy! just my 2 coppers!...thanx Vin!

"VIVA LA DIFFERENCE"

 

[Lionheart]

FW 189!!!

Awesome shot Marvin! That is one very unique aircraft design.

How, how, how... can a country the size of Texas come out with so many dang aircraft in 7 years????? HOW?

 

[Bjoern]

How, how, how... can a country the size of Texas come out with so many dang aircraft in 7 years????? HOW?

Engineers, Bill...*good* engineers! :d

 

[Skittles]

Engineers, Bill...*good* engineers! :d

And a rampaging war budget.

 

[peperez]

Awesome shot Marvin! That is one very unique aircraft design.

How, how, how... can a country the size of Texas come out with so many dang aircraft in 7 years????? HOW?

You built one of my prefered planes: the Bugatti! What a plane! Other racer that I love, but unhappily has no simulation version, is the Tsunami.

Cheers

Pepe