Hi! What is your all-time favorite airplane and why is it your favorite?

Question

I like those 'Hercules' airplanes because they have a pretty humming sound :)

Answer 1

One of my favourites - the Spartan Executive

http://www.lpjetservices.com/spartan/ima...

Answer 2

Personally, although there are a number of 'favourites' ~ and mainly because of looks, I have to go with the Sunderland and the Catalina flying boats.  My reasons have to do with areas of 'romance' in my minds eye ~ in a period of history set in and around the late 40's and early 50's.

My late father-in-law flew C130's (Hercules) out of RAF Thorny island (as it then was), and (like you) there's a certain fondness for these also ~ although the did belch a lot of smoky exhaust and could look scary 'coming at you' ~ only to change direction in the last hundred feet or so ~ when coming into land or to 'bump n go' whilst you stood there waiting to cross the (Thorny) runways.

Sash

Answer 3

C-130 Hercules.

I have a thing for logistics aircraft of all types, but the C-130 is my favorite aircraft, period.

It is perhaps one of the most useful and versatile aircraft every created.  It has been used for general logistics (troops, vehicles, cargo, etc), retrieving soldiers in-flight (the sky hook concept), command and control platforms, close air support gun ships (AC-130 Spectre), hurricane hunters, electronic warfare, psychological operations, drone control platform, special operations of various types, air-to-air refueling, etc.

It is a STOL aircraft (short take off or landing) and has has been known to employ rocket assisted take offs for those extremely tight airstrips.  They even have models outfitted with ski's for landing on packed snow or permafrost.  Runways not necessarily required.

One of my first encounters on TV was from the movie "Raid on Entebbe" which is a true story where Israeli Air Force C-130's were used to launch a raid on the Entebbe, Uganda airport and rescue hostages being held there.  The aircraft was quiet and able to take off and land on a short runway.

Answer 4

The Avro Arrow, mostly because we'll never know how much of an airplane it would have been. The Mk2 with the real engines--not development ones--was just a few weeks from its first flight when the project was cancelled and the airplane and all plans ordered destroyed in 1959.

Answer 5

I like the Hercules also.  I worked on them for about 4 years.

I also liked the B52.  I would have to say the BUFF is my favorite. I worked on them for about 10 years.  The ones still flying are close to 50 years old and are expected to be used at least another 10 to 20 years.  I takes a well designed and built airplane to do this.  Especially under the conditions this aircraft flys.

Answer 6

All time favorite would be the F-15C Eagle or the F-15E Strike Eagle.

Let's start with the outside

It looks very good. Very proportional and radiates power. Two-engined, which makes me feel safer, and makes the overall aircraft look good also.

Double tail-finned. Adds stability and looks. Very nice general silhouette.

inside, it has two huge powerful engines, giving the aircraft incredible thrust. Big wings give it what is needs to stay aloft during hard, sustained turns. Survivability is enhanced by the structure of the aircraft, it's a little heavy, but the engines compensate for it and the sturdiness adds survivability. Two engines, again, for thrust and survivability. Countless times, dual engined aircraft in wartime took a missile in one tailpipe but got home on the other engine.

The Eagle is adapted for just about every mission. With the Echo version, air-to-ground success is assured, and the E version without bombs is just like the C version, which was designed for air combat.

Sure it doesn't have stealth like the F-22 but where's in honor and pride in throwing rocks from a little hideyhole that may or may not hide you in the future? With AWACS support, and other intel sources, the Eagle can engage Beyond visual range just like any other new aircraft. It can also employ the new weapons being developed so no loss there. New avionics give it what it needs to take on newer generation fighters.

It is the only aircraft of this era that has been extensively in combat and came out winning by a huge margin. All the new tech in the F-22 and F-35 and whatever else the nerds in the pentagon have been making may look good and s**y but it needs to WORK when the S**t hits the fan. The Eagle has proven that quite a few times already, in various climates, under various air forces.

I notice I've been a little too enthusiastic.

I like the Herky Bird too. Another time proven veteran of many conflicts and missions. Would trust it anyday.

Other runner ups for me would be:

Avro Arrow (sadly it didn't become a reality. Finest aircraft us Canadians ever came up with)

F-14

F-4

and the A-6

The F-22 would probably become my favorite airplane but I'll let time eat it up a little and see if it'll do.