Lots of contenders, here are a few.

The Hughes H-1 Racer (this photo shows a replica built several years ago which was tragically lost in a fatal crash; the original is at the Smithsonian)



The Republic XR-12 Rainbow (neither prototype was preserved unfortunately)



The Northrop YB-49 (all airframes destroyed - too bad!)


Ok, none of these three are still in the world.

---

[picasaweb.google.com] [www.flickr.com]

Remember the TV show Baa, Baa Black Sheep from MANY years ago?

I always thought the Corsairs were cool...

I have always liked the F-111 Aardvark



and the B1-B Lancer



and the coolest plane of all time, the YF-12 or the SR-71




I have tried to use my contacts through work, and through my father's friend, the former head of PR for the USAF (2 star general), to get me performance info on the SR-71, and it is still classified beyond me.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2006 08:50PM by Racer X.

I still think the SR-71 Blackbird is the coolest thing in the air...




Primary Function: Strategic Reconnaissance
Contractor: Lockheed-Martin Skunkworks
Power Plant: 2 Pratt and Whitney J-58 axial-flow turbojets with afterburners
each produces 32,500 pounds of thrust
Length: 107.4 feet (32.73 m)
Height: l8.5 feet (5.63 m)
Weight: 140,000 pounds (52,250 kg) Gross takeoff weight
80,000 pounds (30,000 kg) JP-7 fuel weight
Wingspan: 55.6 feet (16.94 m)
Speed: over Mach 3.2 / 2,000 mph (3,200 kph)
Range: over 2000 miles (3200 km) unrefueled
Altitude: over 85,000 feet (26,000 m)
Unit Cost:
Crew 2

Even though the planes have been officially retired, there are still a few mothballed and a few still in use by NASA. The government still has not listed the top speed, altitude, or range for the plane. The book "Skunkworks" is a fantastic detail of Lockheed Martin's baby. There is one in the Boeing Flight Museum at SeaTac and one at Wright Patterson AFB. They are amazing to behold. In the Boeing museum the planes are arranged chronologically. The SR-71 looks completely out of place because it was started in the '50s I believe. Our Air Force was largely prop planes still in the '50s?!? This was so far ahead of its time that time still hasn't caught up with it.

---

**************************************
MacResource User Map: [www.zeemaps.com]#

P-51 Mustang, Cadillac of the sky!

2 years ago, Quad Cities Airshow, after a mock bombing run set off the grass around the runway.

[jamie.macsales.com]

I took this pic earlier this year; all 3 look nice to me but the P-51 is always a beautiful subject.

[jamie.macsales.com]

More at [jamie.macsales.com]

---

Good Luck!
Jamie Dresser
Other World Computing

I kinda like the XB-70 Valkrie.

[www2.interceptor.com]

One of the first planes to hit mach 3, very cool but created a very hazardous vortex and flys no longer.


I also like the Blackbird with the exception that it kinda cheats by almost flying in space.

---

_______________________________________________________________
Security is just a word. The act of being secure is entirely different.
"...but I think that to make your dream a reality, having a dream itself is a mandatory prerequisite"
From A Book: Walking Through The Impossible

Just because it has two clutches, shifts faster, uses a torque converter or has near-infinite gear ratios, requires less driver intervention and is more efficient doesn't make it better in my opinion.
Save The Manual Transmission

Quote
ztirffritz
Even though the planes have been officially retired

I thought they had been brought back to service?

Quote

There is one in the Boeing Flight Museum at SeaTac

Maybe I'm mistaken, but the Museum of Flight (at Boeing Field) doesn't have an SR-71, but the smaller version of that plane (IIRC.)

---

Help MacInTouch: Buy from Amazon? use this link [amazon.com]
Mac News & Info: [macintouch.com] [macnn.com] [tuaw.com]
Mac Benchmarks: [barefeats.com]
Used Mac Stuff [FS/T]: LowEndMac Swap List
Mac Software Updates: [macupdate.com]
Fonts: [dafont.com] [fontspace.com]
Online Computer Store With Mac Support: [macsales.com]

The inspiration for dozens of fighterjets, the Avro ARROW




A-10 Thunderbolt II, The prettiest aircraft you'll ever see if pinned down by enemy fire.

All above are beautiful. I'm still partial to the B17G:


Had the opportunity of getting on board the B17F used as the Memphes Belle when the movie came out. What really struck me was how small the B17 was:


Also dug the P38 lightning:

---

JoeM

Quote

Quote

There is one in the Boeing Flight Museum at SeaTac

Maybe I'm mistaken, but the Museum of Flight (at Boeing Field) doesn't have an SR-71, but the smaller version of that plane (IIRC.)

We're both right.
From the Museum of Flight website:
"* The world's only Lockheed M-21 with D-21B Drone, a CIA-sponsored variant of the famed Mach 3 Blackbird spyplane"

---

**************************************
MacResource User Map: [www.zeemaps.com]#



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/10/2006 09:49PM by ztirffritz.

Quote
M A V I C

Quote
ztirffritz
Even though the planes have been officially retired

I thought they had been brought back to service?

Quote

There is one in the Boeing Flight Museum at SeaTac

Maybe I'm mistaken, but the Museum of Flight (at Boeing Field) doesn't have an SR-71, but the smaller version of that plane (IIRC.)

the YF-12 is only a few feet shorter AFAIK. I think the YF-12 is a single seat, and the SR-71 is a 2 seater.

Are there any Corsairs still flying?
what about C-46's?

roshi

Has to be the Supermarine Spitfire. As flown by the "few".

---

Comedy Central: Best news channel that isn't a news channel.

Fox News: Best comedy channel that isn't a comedy channel.

rutans racer



always thought the F100 was cool

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

The Warthog and the P-38L are two of my favorites.

And then there's the poor man's P-38:



And of course:


and


Then there's the Tomcat's predecessor:





The Marines have a pretty nice bird:



and


A VERY slick little bird:



And in 10.4 regalia:



Not to mention some rotary wing stuff:



and

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

I've always thought the DC3's were beautiful planes. And the P51 is the best looking WWII fighter, IMHO (nice photos Jamie).

---

Northern California Coast

if i ever win the lottery im gonna buy me a T-38 or maybe a catalina -- totally redone on the inside like a luxury room -- and then travel with the family (flying RV!)

---

Edited 999 time(s). Last edit at 12:08PM by jdc.

Just to add a little international flavor (since we are talking about "in the world"):


The Flanker and the Fulcrum were worthy opponents to the F-15,F-16, and F/A-18.

---

-----
"This Macresource Forum rocks!"

To each his own, but I always was enamored with some of the earlier birds.

Three that immediatly come to mind are:

The Nieuport 11


Léon Levavasseur's Antoinette


and last but not least, Santos-Dumont's Demoiselle


outcast

Man, y'all have good taste. Pan', it's a shame the AVRO wasn't built (likewise with the B-49). jdc, I've often had the same thoughts in regard to the Catalina.

I really liked the latest Harrier variants. And the Russians build some of the most impressive (in terms of maneuvering) and beautiful fighters.

The F-14 will most likely always be one of my favorites.

The 337 (a.k.a. the poor mans P-38) is nice. One of my friends used to call it the 'suck me, blow me'.

Quote
Racer X

Quote
M A V I C

Quote
ztirffritz
Even though the planes have been officially retired

I thought they had been brought back to service?

Quote

There is one in the Boeing Flight Museum at SeaTac

Maybe I'm mistaken, but the Museum of Flight (at Boeing Field) doesn't have an SR-71, but the smaller version of that plane (IIRC.)

the YF-12 is only a few feet shorter AFAIK. I think the YF-12 is a single seat, and the SR-71 is a 2 seater.

I think it's 10' shorter, and it's also slower. At least that's what they told me when I saw it several years ago.

---

Help MacInTouch: Buy from Amazon? use this link [amazon.com]
Mac News & Info: [macintouch.com] [macnn.com] [tuaw.com]
Mac Benchmarks: [barefeats.com]
Used Mac Stuff [FS/T]: LowEndMac Swap List
Mac Software Updates: [macupdate.com]
Fonts: [dafont.com] [fontspace.com]
Online Computer Store With Mac Support: [macsales.com]

You all have great taste. I find no fault with any of these aircraft but I will show my bias and say none of you has mentioned the Cessna CJ3, or the Citation X. Since I teach maintenance on the CJ3 and have worked on the Citation X since before it was certified they are near to my heart.

Must go to bed soon so I can get up tomorrow and teach a class on the CJ3's smaller siblings the CJ1+ and CJ2+.

CJ3:
[www.jobwerx.com]
[cj3.cessna.com]

citation X:
[www.airliners.net]
[vrb747.tripod.com]

---

Birdmanjeff


www.magfundraising.com/faleofamilyadoption
www.cafepress.com/aviary

Quote
M A V I C

Quote
Racer X

Quote
M A V I C

Quote
ztirffritz
Even though the planes have been officially retired

I thought they had been brought back to service?

Quote

There is one in the Boeing Flight Museum at SeaTac

Maybe I'm mistaken, but the Museum of Flight (at Boeing Field) doesn't have an SR-71, but the smaller version of that plane (IIRC.)

the YF-12 is only a few feet shorter AFAIK. I think the YF-12 is a single seat, and the SR-71 is a 2 seater.

I think it's 10' shorter, and it's also slower. At least that's what they told me when I saw it several years ago.

The YF-12 was shorter and slower and it was an interceptor. The SR-71 was originally designated as A-12 and was a single seat spy plane bulit for the CIA (one of the above photos shows one). the only A-12 left is at the Intepid museum. All others were two seats. They were called back to acive duty but I believe have again been retired.
The SR-71, constellation (did anyone mention the "connie"), the P-38, the f-104, and the U-2/TR-1 all were designed by Lockheed cheif designer Kelly Johnson and his team. He was an amazing man with true vision and an eye for making beautiful aircraft.

---

Birdmanjeff


www.magfundraising.com/faleofamilyadoption
www.cafepress.com/aviary

RacerX- ya need to do some weird searching for the SR71 data. Yes, the primary data is still classified, since it's 'vulnerability'. And since it's a recon bird, you end up at carve-out classification right up there with com data.

However- I still recall finding out the airfoil parameters of the SR71 from a US document repository that my local library had back in the early 70's- it was a supercritical airfoil. A friend of mine (we were 13) and I were writing flight simulator software, and wanted to model an SR71. So we peeked, and read like only geeks in a library can read, and found a few gems. Probably re-classified since then.

I'd vote for the Aurora project, but I've never seen it- had a friend who 'saw' it over Kwaj when it burned from horizon to horizon one warm Pacific Missle range night.

I still think the loveliest aicraft are sailplanes. Pure of flight, mininal 'technology'. I fondly remember riding in a twin-seater. We started sinking, searched the skies around us, and found hawks soaring in a thermal nearby. Those hawks got us another half hour of flight time. All you can hear is wind noise. What a ride !

Saab Has some nice aircraft

[www.canit.se]

Also some interesting canceled prototypes

[www.canit.se]

cbelt said " I'd vote for the Aurora project, but I've never seen it- had a friend who 'saw' it over Kwaj when it burned from horizon to horizon one warm Pacific Missle range night."

My father-in-law and I were on his deck one night at twilight, and we saw an odd contrail of rings. I checked at work, and several guys who "might know something" smiled and said they have no idea. One quickly changed the subject and said he needs to get his wife a car, and he was thinking of a used Olds Aurora, and then he turned around and walked off.

The Phantom and the Warthog are, I think, the two most *serious* looking warplanes ever; as to most beautiful, the Spitfire reigns supreme, closely followed by many other beautiful craft, including the fantastic Canadian AVRO (was it designated the CF-105? The memory is going), perhaps the best all-purpose fighter to come out of the early Cold War times, and a victim of America's "we'll sell you marginally OK airplanes a lot cheaper" NATO program.

As with ships and boats, so with airplanes -- in general, if it looks right, it is right. And whoever mentioned the Aardvark, a great airplane that never got the deployment and respect it deserved. Only the Aussies used it intensively and it served them very well indeed.

---

What it is, man, a low-down and funky feelin'

Yep, F-111 Aardvark and the B1-B. I have this thing for big sleek swing-wings.

My dad was given a presentation model of the original B1 design, complete with movable wings and I grew up with that in the house. I sure wish I still had that.

You guys know about the "new" ME-262s? [www.stormbirds.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2006 12:47AM by Racer X.

The Lockheed Constellation..

[aerofiles.com]

---

“No persons are more frequently wrong, than those who will not admit they are wrong.” -- François de La Rochefoucauld

"Those who cannot accept the past are condemned to revise it." -- Geo. Mathias

The German word for contraceptive is “Schwangerschaftsverhütungsmittel”. By the time you finished saying that, it’s too late



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/11/2006 04:01AM by Ombligo.

Hello Iran.

Wow, the Citation X. Seen and been in plenty of them. Definitly a winner. Fastest cruise speed (excess of .9 Mach) on a currently operational commercially available airplane. That thing is the 'muscle car' of business jets. There is also another brute that used to be made by Piper called the Cheyenne 400LS. Though a propellor driven airplane, that thing is a hoss. I've seen it do near vertical climb outs. It could out-perform many jets.

I thought we were talking pretty. Most of the fighter jets people have posted could be classed as "purposeful" or some such adjective, but not "pretty". Here's a photo I took of the Hughes Racer in the Smithsonian. That is definitely a pretty plane, as are the Spitfire and P-51 Mustang IMHO.



Here's a P-51 (I didn't take this shot):

---

"In science it often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they would actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again. They really do it. It doesn't happen as often as it should, because scientists are human and change is sometimes painful. But it happens every day. I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion." (1987) -- Carl Sagan

There's been an A-12 sitting at the MSP airport for the past several weeks. I'm guessing it's going to run at a local airshow sometime soon, but don't know for sure.