What is the most beautiful areoplane ever made?

Question

It can be a mass-produced model or a single aeroplane built for any purpose. Any size, any country of origin, any age.

Secondly, does your choice still exist today- can it be seen in the flesh? If not, what would be your second choice with this in mind?

I only ask as I recently had the fortune to visit the USA and the Smithsonian Museum. When I was up on the balcony I reached out and touched the Spirit of St Louis (is that the real one or a replica, by the way?!) and instantly fell in love with the old days of aviation.

A third and final question: which aeroplane do you think epitomises the golden, romantic age of air travel...are are any of these still in existence 'in the flesh'?

Thanks!

Answer 1

F-15 ACTIVE

Answer 2

P-51D Mustang... Awesome from any angle.

Answer 3

Supermarine Spitfire. Preferably the earlier marks with the Merlin engine. Just the most beautifull aircraft.

Yes they are still around today.Seen at most airshows and there are some based stateside.

Second choice would be the English Electric Lightening. They are still flying them in Thunder City in South Africa.Simply the purest interceptor aircraft.

Third question. Probably the DC3 but the DeHavilland Dragon Rapide is prettier.And both are still flying.

Answer 4

Someone else mentioned the Beech Staggerwing. Probably the sexiest thing to ever fly.

Answer 5

Supermarine Spitfire.

Answer 6

I agree with the previous answer of the Concorde probably the greatest most beautiful plane ever.  The golden romantic age of air travel for commercial flight the Ford Trimotor, for rich man's flight the Beach Staggerwing, for personal flight the almighty Piper Cub.

Answer 7

CONCORDE MACH 2.5

it would CREAM all those other aircraft !!!

CONCORDE RULES =P

I voulonteer at BROOKLANDS and its great !!!!!!!!!!!!

I LOVE CONCORDE !!!

WOOW BBDG !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2nd VULCAN !!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOO

3nd SPITFIRE

4rd Tucano

Answer 8

The Vought F4U Corsair was the best fighter of WWII for one on one dog fighting.  Oddly enough I  talked with a gentleman,who was actully knighted by the Queen of England and was the lead pilot in the movie "Memphis Belle."  I caught him as he was flying the last know ME 109 Messerschmitt.

Anyway Sir Walker stated after he said, "I've flown them all (WWII) fighters and I own a Spitfire."  Anyway I asked him was was the best fighter in WWII?  His response was, "it depends what your mission was, nothing would beat a P-51 Mustang for escorting bombers into Germany.  But one on one dog fights and for the fun of flying it would be the F4U Corsair.  Not only was it a great plane to fly but you had room to move around in the cockpit with great visibility.

Needless to say, it was the most interesting conversation I ever had with a pilot about WWII aircraft.  It was just a little weird to talk with a Brit from a cockpit of a German ME 109.

Answer 9

DC-3/C-47

Answer 10

F22 raptor, knocks spot of the typhoon in looks & performance, coming to an airbase near you soon.

Answer 11

I can think of 2,

The Beech Staggerwing, B-17:

http://www.aviation-history.com/beech/17...

and the Lockeed SR71: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR-71

Answer 12

Spitfire

Concorde

B-47

Comet

Answer 13

No contest........... CONCORDE!!

Answer 14

the airbus 2000. it has a casino on-board what could be more beautiful than that

Answer 15

Avro Anson.

aka 'The Flying Pig'.

Answer 16

p 51 mustangs are very nice...   F 15s look like a pissed off wasp..after ww2 there were flying boats...the pan am clippers...flew to the orient... had beds to sleep..

Answer 17

i love how 747's look or a380s

Answer 18

old school:

Hawker Sea Fury, A-1 Skyraider, P-47, P-51, de Havilland Mosquito, B-17

modern day:

B-52, AC-130, B-1, The Super Guppy, A-10, F-22, C-17, Extra 200, Super Decathlon, HH-60 Pavehawk, Eurocopter Dauphin.

Answer 19

The Concorde

Only 20 were built, it was a technical triumph but a financial debacle.

.

During the first test flight the radio operator in the chase plane flying in formation with the Concorde was stunned by the beauty of the aircraft in flight and radioed "you cannot possibly realize how beautiful you are"

.

Answer 20

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so we all have different opinions, but i'll go with the Concorde.

It doesn't fly anymore, but theres still one preserved in the Airbus factory at Toulouse.

Answer 21

"Spitfire" Sorry only a few remain today but can be seen at Air Shows and some Aviation Museums

Your third question, same as above.

Answer 22

The one taking me away on holiday next week.  Yipee!

Answer 23

for the best looking airplane, i would have to say either the douglas F4D sky ray, or the updated version of it, the F5D sky lancer. both are delta wing aircraft with nicely rounded wingtips.

they do exist today, in fact there is a space museum in ohio that has an F5D on display in the parking lot.

as for which aircraft epitomizes the golden age of flight, in my opinion it would be the piper cub. many pilots took their initial flight training in one, and it was used in the army air force, and later the USAF, as a trainer, and a spotter plane.

Answer 24

I have a sentimental spot for the old biplanes, such as the SPAD S.XIII and the Nieuport 17. I think they epitomized the allure of flight : one pilot, his machine, and the open skies. I know there are some reproductions around, perhaps even an original here and there.

The Spirit of St. Louis at the Smithsonian is indeed the original. Lindbergh himself donated it to the museum in 1928.

Answer 25

Military. RAF. The Euro Fighter Typhoon. Best ever. 1523 mph. Wow

Answer 26

Took my little son to a fantastic air show recently, and we fell in love with the top of the bill:

EF-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon. The speed, the grace, the look of such a finely tuned piece of aviation, totally blew me away.

I bought him a model one, and it goes with him everywhere, so I guess it is his favourite, too.

PS There were some pre-war planes there, which were beautiful in their simplicity and mobility.

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