What is your favorite aircraft of all time?

[Diamondback]

It will be good to see XH558 in the air again.

Indeed. I've been watching the restoration process for years online, and it's exciting to think that the very plane that inspired my love affair with the Vulcan not only escaped from scrap, but is going to fly again... (XH558 was the real star of Thunderball, in my book...)

Nubsnubs, you have good taste in aircraft as well.

 

[Micawber]

Indeed. I've been watching the restoration process for years online, and it's exciting to think that the very plane that inspired my love affair with the Vulcan not only escaped from scrap, but is going to fly again... (XH558 was the real star of Thunderball, in my book...)

Nubsnubs, you have good taste in aircraft as well.

Magic
...deafening but magic.

 

[Sir RBH]

Magic
...deafening but magic.

Thats just brilliant.. what an amazing aircraft..

Thats just made my day here!!

 

[Mustang]

Look, 9 O'Clock...

...it's the P-51 Mustang!

For those of you use to digital watches/clocks, I'm referring to my avatar:eusa_doh:lol

 

[shoelessjoe]

Two Favorites by Kurt Tank

After having spent countless hours lurking, I figured it was time to break my maiden -- The Fedora Lounge ... what a wonderful site!

Okay, those two favorites:

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190D (Langnasen) Dora Series

The Focke-Wulf Ta 152

Follow the link to some excellent aircraft photos, including the finest Fw 190D-13 pics you'll ever see (Images 28 & 29)
http://www.flightof2photography.com/gallery.php

 

[Chas]

The Spitfire, Sopwith Camel and the Avro Lancaster.

All the brave young men....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syvaXrGYDzE&NR=1

 

[Sweet_Lorraine]

The Spitfire, Sopwith Camel and the Avro Lancaster.

Same here, Chas. Along with those, I've always liked the Me163 Komet.

 

["Doc" Devereux]

Talking of racing aircraft, I have always thought the DH.88 Comet an absolute beauty

My all-time favourite. One day we shall see her fly again, and with 'Black Magic' currently under restoration can you imagine the pair flying together?

As for Avro Vulcan, Diamondback is right its a VERY good looking plane. Strange that this 1950s plane is simular in shape to the Eurofighter, looks like the boffins in the 1950s with thier slide rules and hand drawn plans where ahead of the 2000 boffins with the computers.

Not for the first time, nor the last I'll wager.

I'm fond of the Spitfire, but think the crown there goes to R. J. Mitchell's original vision: the Supermarine Type 300:

Finally...

Speaking Of Racing:

The coolest trophy ever

Raise you:

 

[Fletch]

I've always liked the Me163 Komet.

You gotta love an aircraft whose fuel could (and sometimes did) dissolve its own pilot alive.

 

[Smithy]

http://www.cometracer.co.uk[/URL]

Talking of pre-war beauties and one which I listed as a great favourite of mine, HAC will hopefully have their original Hawker Fury flying this year. Now that I just have to see!


EDIT: Sorry, don't know why the quote and URL thingies haven't worked. Tried changing them but didn't work. Spanner in the works...

 

["Doc" Devereux]

I am nearly having kittens waiting for when that happens Doc!

That makes two of us!

Talking of pre-war beauties and one which I listed as a great favourite of mine, HAC will hopefully have their original Hawker Fury flying this year. Now that I just have to see!

You'll just have to pop over here and see us then, won't you?

 

[Smithy]

Oh I'll be there with bells on when the Fury's up and running.

And there's also the little matter of the inaugural meeting of "The Fedora Lounge Irvin Appreciation Society" at the White Hart to organise

 

[Twitch]

Ya know with so many people that obviously like aircraft here we should have more serious topics on planes going....[huh]

 

[shoelessjoe]

It carried a bigger payload than the B-17, but with nick-names like "Flying Boxcar" and "Flying Coffin" you just don't get the press that you do with a sexy name like "Flying Fortress".

Indeed ... though B-24's could fly faster and farther than the B-17's, early Liberators lacked the defensive capacities and the ruggedness (having a propensity to catch fire upon taking hits) of the Flying Fortress.

When flying joint missions with Consolidated Liberators, B-17 crews from the 91st BG commented on how the Luftwaffe would circumvent B-17 formations, preying instead on the more-vulnerable B-24's ... from these missions were born quips, such as: The B-24's are the crates our B-17's were shipped in and The Liberator is the best fighter cover a B-17 could ask for.

 

[Sweet_Lorraine]

You gotta love an aircraft whose fuel could (and sometimes did) dissolve its own pilot alive.

I was going solely on looks there, Fletch.

 

[Diamondback]

Ms. Lorraine, you might consider giving the Me263 improved-version concept a look...

http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/Messerschmitt-Me263/me-263.php

There is no record of it ever flying, and only two were built.

 

[Nick D]

Curse you, Red Baron!!!

 

[Al]

I know this is in the WWII genre, but you said all time....
The F-4 Phantom.

Dan G,

Nice Phantom photos, I worked as a flightline maintenance mechanic on the F-4 Phantom (USAF). Also worked on A-7s and F-111B sweep wing.

-Al

 

[Chas]

Barker's mount: B6313. The top crate of the Great War. 40+ kills by this plane alone. Numbah one!

 

[Lucky Strike]

Obvious choices are often so for a reason.

The Spitfire gets my vote. No contest.