Most Beautiful Aircraft...
 

In a similar vein to the "Best named" aircraft thread in this thread i would like to discuss what aircraft people think is the most beautiful or evocative.
my choices would be the A.V.Roe Vulcan
http://www.cocatalyst.com/blog/wp-co...07/vulcan1.jpg
The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire
The BAE Systems Hawk
http://www.aerohub.co.nz/wp-content/...e-and-hawk.jpg
and
The Handley Page Victor
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...Victor_K.2.jpg

I like the sleek simplicity of planes like the F-15, F-16, and F-22(pictured below)
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/th.../f22sunset.jpg

As I've said before, I also like the F4 Phantom, even though it may not be the most sleek like my other favs. but it's big, it's bold, and it looks like it's going to kick your ass.;)
http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/...s/f4snatgd.jpg

As for WWII, the B-25 is a real beautiful bomber
http://accentartandframe.com/catalog...5_mitchell.jpg

Personally, I find the Stuka 87 one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen:
http://www.kilroywashere.org/09-Imag...dy/stuka87.jpg

Its the angled wings and separated flaps.

I don't like the permanently down landing gear, I prefer my angled wings to be on a corsair!:-P

BTW has anyone thought about WWI? Those are some of the most interesting looking planes I've ever seen!:):o
http://www.megahobby.com/productimages/rod/ROD16.jpg

yeah the camel and Bristols
http://z.about.com/d/militaryhistory...pwithCamel.jpg
http://www.balfronheritage.org.uk/im...ol-Fighter.jpg

I too would have picked the BrisFit, probably my favourite fighter of all time, perhaps seconded by the gorgeous Tornado (pardon the MiG...)
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...light_2003.jpg

Jas 39 Gripen NG

http://pici.se/pictures/DuiflfEkm.jpg

Not sure why, but I love the Su-47
http://www.flymig.com/maks_2003/images/berkut.angle.jpg

http://www.airplane-pictures.net/ima...10/12/7555.jpg
hawker hunter

I know this won't be popular, but I like Volvo's so in essence, I like a nice boxy angular shape, and in true Volvo tradition I put forth these 2 candidates.

The F-117
http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...7-98904lgb.jpg
http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/100...0A760B0D811297
http://fastedfjet.com/wp-content/upl...f1-350x262.jpg



and the B-2 Spirit.
http://dummidumbwit.files.wordpress....b2spirit_4.jpg
http://chamorrobible.org/images/phot...-2005-Guam.jpg
http://daphne.palomar.edu/scrout/ams...t_original.jpg

That one is just amazing :grin:

Avro Lancaster
I cant belive i missed it out the first post!
http://www.raf.mod.uk/downloads/wall...aster11024.jpg

Some beautiful planes, from some major conflicts

WW1- Can't beat the classics. (Sopwith Pup & Fokker Dr. 1 Triplane)
http://www.jimmcdowall.org.uk/assets...opwith_Pup.jpg
http://www.riveting-images.com/Werne...Dr1_450pxl.jpg

WW2- You know I had to do this. :D (Yak-3 & La-5FN)
http://www.redstarrc.com/Pictures/Yak-3/Yak-3_1.jpg
http://www.acesofww2.com/soviet/La-5FN_jjboucher.jpg

Korea- Both a the most beautiful jets ever made. (MiG-15 & F-86)
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question.../mig15-f86.jpg

ah well it was nice whilst it lasted...
but the Mig 15 beautiful?
ee lightenings however...
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Aircra...cLightning.jpg mwah! fantastic.

For me? it has to be the Classic lines of the Heinkel HE-111.

http://www.aviationartstore.com/imag...E111_24X12.jpg

YES!!! Love it. I also love the F-18, F-35 and F-5 FREEDOM FIGHTER!!!!

BTW: My first (and so far only car) is a 1982 VOLVO DL. VOLVO is the best!!!!

Volvo: Boxy, but Good.:)

And along the lines of hideous aircraft, I give you the CF-100 Canuck, known as the "Clunk" - ugh....

http://www.spitcrazy.com/CF-100.jpg

My favourite looking airplane is the F-16. I love the thing :).

3 of my favorites, the ASW20, Nimbus, and the lovely LS4:

Hmmmm...thumbnails just don't do these beautiful birds justice. Maybe someone can size them up?

Just click them and they go full size.

The Nimbus is a beauty indeed :cool:.

To have the pics in the normal size use [img]<url>[/img].

How could i miss this aircraft...IM SO DUMB!!!! CAnt forget the CF-105 ARROW!!!

http://http://www.aerospaceweb.org/a...5/cf105_12.jpg

OH YES!!!

The PBY Consolidated Catalina
http://www.hawaiiunderwaterexplorers...alina-vp11.jpg

and the good ol' Hawker Hurricane
http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contri...edijk/2719.jpg

http://www.warbirdalley.com/images/P38-joltin.jpg
and it's fast too!

j7w shinden

http://www.patricksaviation.com/uploads/photos/9061.jpg

MiG-25

This has always been one of my favorites. I loved the stigma surrounding it, more for what the west thought it was capable of, instead of what it could actually do. The fear of it's capabilities was a main reason for the US producing the F-15.

The he-111 with its panoramic windows :o
http://www.richard-seaman.com/Wallpa...bers/He111.jpg

The Pe-2 :o
http://pagesperso-orange.fr/christop.../bird2-pe2.jpg

The Fw-200 Condor
http://www.spmodelismo.com.br/howto/...les/fw-200.jpg

The He-162 Salamander
http://www.military.cz/german/Secret...162/He-162.jpg

The Bf-109 k-4
http://www.corpusetampois.com/che-20...mitt-bf109.jpg

And the B-17
http://www.avionslegendaires.net/Images/Gb17-2.jpg

Anyone Forgetting the Concorde?

http://www.ludd.luth.se/users/texas/...concorde_3.jpg

And here's a lovely Artistic impression ;)

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/user/mpj/Concorde.jpg

And flying with the Red Arrows :-P

http://www.solarnavigator.net/aviati...ows_escort.jpg

ahh if it wernt for fuel costs we could get to new york in half an hour by now

Concorde was beautiful. I want one.
But i also want and FE2b
http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/media/June-RAF-FE2b.jpg

Glad you agree! Here's one of a Nimbus dumping ballast:

Is that a glider?

indeed it is

Actually, the correct word is "sailplane" :razz:

But glider will do. Just about the funnest (and the prettiest) toy ever invented.

i was close enough

The Avro Arrow, I love how it looks. Also reminds me of the space shuttle. Too bad they canceled its development and destroyed the planes :(

Certainly! :) Many pilots still call them gliders. I just prefer the tearm "sailplane" because it's more descriptive of what it actually does, sort of like a sailboat only in 3 dimensions.

This is a pic of the one I usually fly. I know she aint much to look at but she's very light, handles well and I LOVE the open cockpit :cool:

LOL, "coolness.jpg." Must be fun to fly planes. I've never even been on one let alone flown one :(

That's an oldy :P. Your own?

I trained on ASK-21's and 23's, nice n stable. I went to Spain before I could get my license though, so never flew some of the more advanced gliders.

Never been on one? That's easily remedied. Go visit the nearest airport and pay someone a few duckets to take you up. Better still, locate a flight school and take a lesson! It's far better than a video game.

Not mine, it belongs to a local flying club. Most of the club members prefer the Hot Glass birds so I tend to fly this one more than anyone else LoL.

You trained on ASKs? Sweet! Our club had one years ago but sold it, I'm still kinda mad about that LoL

For me my favorite aircraft the F-14D Super Tomcat is supreme
http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/us...-2034C-012.jpg

P-51
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KgIqQvYUs3...660/p51D01.jpg

B-1 Lancer
http://www.militaryspot.com/gallery/.../2b1lancer.jpg

F-22
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft...f22/f22_07.jpg

Ef-2000
http://www.bmcaff.com/gallery/ef2000.jpg

Spitfire Mk.II
http://www.spitfire.dk/mk1.jpg

Corsair F4U
http://www.dir.ct.gov/kids/picturepu...oughtF4U_1.jpg

SR-71 w/Drone
http://www.nationalufocenter.com/art...71d21drone.jpg

Cobra Rattler
http://www.yojoe.com/vehicles/84/rat...ttler_iso2.jpg

Wow, she's a beauty. :o

yeah Its crazy how Cobra had VTOL figured out better than Lockheed, Boeing or Hawker-Siddeley, just take an A-10 and make the engines and wings swivel, duh! And also, who says turret gunners are useless at high speed?

Cobra Rattler FTW!!!

I hope the rattler's in the patch!!

My votes go for: UK - Vulcan, TSR2 and Concorde US - Lancer (the Vulc Mk2?) and the beautiful Tomcat.

Here's a pic with all three of the UK entries!

http://www.trailtrash.co.uk/dux9f.jpg

I'm Bound to recieve some Flak here, but; here Goes.

For me, the Best Looking Vehicle that was involved in the Second World War isen't a Plane. Nope, It's a Tank.( me being a Tank Nut and all...) but to be precise, The PanzerKampWagen VI Ausf. ''P'' Porsche The Porsche Model that enterd the Contest Between Henschel and Porsche for the Production Rights of the King Tiger. Just look at it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...eKingTiger.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...ngton/7BOV.jpg

but my Favo plane.. . . . ? He-111

Might just do that :D I haven't even been in a Passenger jet :(:(:( lol

I don't see it, looks the same as any other tank to my untrained eye. Aircraft are so much more graceful (in my humble opinion).:)

A tank's a tank, but a plane could be anything, even a tank!

http://www.militaryimages.net/photop.../HS129-014.jpg

I said that the Porsche Model of the King Tiger is the Best Looking becasue it is has unlike the ''Production Model'' the Henschel, a sloped turret. A kingtiger call '555' from PanzerLehr 505 had Real Tiger stripes on it when it was killing Josef Staling's 2! it is the most gracious Tank to-date. ;)

Forgot about this bad boy. B1-B :cool:

http://www.grahamowen.com/images8/B-B1.jpg

two words "OH YES"

http://channeldash.org/myPictures/Sw...4H_profile.gif

I love this one......

I saw the Avro Arrow there thats a beaut!
Im supprised its not on here before this but
http://oliversart.co.uk/acatalog/ima...field_trip.jpg
Harrier gr3

glad you added that to the list, ive always been a sucker for the harrier.

Always been one of my favoruites,

Hawker Sidley P 1127
http://www.aiaa.org/tc/vstol/19.jpg
Harrier prototype.

I like both

http://www.ttracing.pwp.blueyonder.c...lf%20190_2.jpg

Oh god yea, the siddley

Nobody can deny how pretty that thing is

Just came across this, the plane itself is nothing remarkable but gotta love this paint job

http://www.southwest.com/images/phot...ery/shamu2.jpg

Slightly odd looking but i like it
Westland Wessex
http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpo...tch_wessex.jpg

:eek:

Indeed, i remember going on holiday the once in wales, and there was a place where they had a wessex with afew other jets and tanks. all available to climb into and have a play around. (obviosly they have all been decomisioned)

Has anyone forgotten about the XB-70 Valkyrie

http://www.military.cz/usa/air/post_war/xb70/xb70.jpg

http://www.murdoconline.net/2008/xb-70_stbd.jpg

Quite a sexy peice of kit

fantastic looking Bird!

could've been straightly flown out of the Thunderbirds..! =)

DEAR GOD thats where i recognise it from FIREFLASH in thunderbirds!

Come on, The Valkyrie is just a few triangles stuck together. Its awesome but it sure isn't beautiful. A plane needs some curves to be beautiful, Like the Blackburn Buccaneer
http://images3.jetphotos.net/img/1/6...1227816306.jpg

And my favourite, the dehavilland Sea Vixen
http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/AirS...e/FoxyLmX.jpeg

I would rather see that plane in a different color than pink.:)

But beautiful indeed.

yes it may be a bunch of triangles but the oddity of the shape make it stand out

Plus i totally agree with you on the sea vixen, sexy

I love this photo of the sea vixen
http://www.heritageaviation.com/flap...n_armament.jpg
You would think the asymmetric cockpit layout would make it look ugly, but I think it just adds to the uniqueness of the plane. She's like a super hot pirate chick with an eye patch lol. Reminds me of the Millennium Falcon too :cool:

oh my days! Now that is one sexy picture, look at those sexy curves. might use that as a background for something

And yeah i really love the way the cockpit is.

shes definately one of my faves. Without a doubt

That is pretty cool. I'm guessing the asymetrical cockpit was to allow better visability of the landing area during left handed carrier traffic patterns. Anyone here know for sure, or better yet flown one?

Well If you look at the first pic again, http://forum.1cpublishing.eu/showpos...9&postcount=68 you can see to the right of the pilots cockpit is what was called the "Cole Hole". At the time it was thought that the radar operator had no need to have a forward view out of the plane. So the radar operators sat fully inside the plane with a small window to the side. This wasn't so popular though as 4 eyes are always better than 2 so no other 2 seater fighter plane has ever copied this.

Though it is all in the eye of the beholder, I think it would be a simple aircraft with good symmetry, gentle curves, and imagery representative of graceful, feared animals...

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/a...-0073c-005.jpg

Some of those Brittish jets you guys posted, I couldn't tell if there was sarcasm involved... 0_o

Nope, no sarcasm these are all genuine comments,

as you say "its all in the eye of the beholder"

the F-16 has been a personal favorite since I was young. will always love this plane.

Gots to be the Nieuport 17 of yore. :P

http://www.military-aircraft.org.uk/...ieuport-17.jpg

Pray Silence for your lord the Mozzie
http://www.spitcrazy.com/mosquito-lr.jpg

Oh Gracious One :grin:

Englishmen, and your damned Mosquito! lol Why must you love that thing like a god!? :P Why can't you enjoy the Blackburn Skua. lol Ugly plane if I've ever seen one. hahaha

im english and i treat the N1K Shiden like a god lol (am i a trator?)

No not a traitor lol just a fool ;) (only kidding)

I just had to go on google to reming myself of what the bloody thing looks like lol

And found that if you enter N1K Shiden into images, it comes up with your sig :grin:

I think that we should have a parallel thread so folks can post up pictures of the ugliest warplanes ever produced.

XD You should make one! lol

Agreed

http://www.airliners.net/aviation-ph.../2/1325277.jpg

FMA pampa:rolleyes:

Wow shes pretty.

Never heard of one of those before:)

Does Argentina still use the Pampa as ground attack? Or have they retired them completely? Haven't seen one of them for awhile. :D

Is it just me that fails to find much to get excited about in modern aircraft (aesthetically speaking)? I love classic aircraft from WW1 - WW2 eras but once the jets hit my interest drops off a good bit.

f6f hellcat

Spitfire mk2 no question. Its the most beautiful plane to ever grace the skys.
Its such an enduring plane. That james may toy story program a couple of weeks ago proves it. My sons freinds are buying models of it after seeing that. Look out for the homemade youtube stop motion films soon!

Just watched it and it was incredible!! felt quite jealous that i wasn't part of it especially as i could appreciate it more than the kids hahahaha. They did a great job with it and it looked superb. Many fond memories brough back to me of me and my dad (RIP) sat together making these models. Used to love it. All in all a great programme.........

EXCEPT (you know whats coming!!!)


he says "the spitfire won the battle of britain" blah blah.


he talks crap lol. You guys know what i think so i wont have to say anything more :P

HaHaHa, Hmmmmm wouldn't have anything to do with the Hurricane now would it Foz??

Just a hunch ;)

Wow a topic still on topic after 10pages!

omg well the name that plane did well too

Its a sign!
http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/speci..._nimrod_r1.jpg Not sure if ive put it before but the Hawker Sidley Nimrod.

I wouldn't say the Nimrod itself is a beautiful plane because it does it's best to uglyfiey the lines it inherited from the most beautiful De Havilland Comet.
http://www.bredow-web.de/Museum_Cosf...t_1A/Comet.jpg


Also the failed AWACS version of the Nimrod was an abomination to the eyes.

http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../3/0784373.jpg
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...BAE_Nimrod.jpg

The Nimrod AWAC failure is a classic of incompedance and poor project management.

Consider this....

There were TWO seperate project teams, with seperate project managers, dedicated to the fore and aft RADAR systems.

There was NO liason between the two teams.

There was NO overall overseer to keep an eye on the enterprise.

And guess what.....

Both Fore and Aft RADAR systems interfered with each other and were software incompatible with each other.

The project ended up unfixable and it was decided that to continue was to throw good money after bad.

It looks like that plane has the Proteus syndrome... :shock: