Favorite Aircraft

[Airline Pilot27]

The Flying Potatoe

The Piper apache, Pa 23-160. I don't know what it was about this A/C but I fell in love with it right away. Maybe it was:
-the fact that it was more then 2x my age when I was getting my multi
-Hearing the roar of the those mighty 160 HP engines come to life during start.
-having to resynchronize the props about every 2 minutes
-or maybe it was because with 2 engines it was still slower then most singles
-the prehistoric cockpit design
-the fact that it burned as much oil as fuel
-that after a while I learned to not wear any good clothes if I get anywhere near it
-flaps and gear where handpumped down single engine (my arm is still soar)
-the outstanding single engine performance (slight exageration)
The spud was an ugly sky slug that will forever be my favorite light twin.

 

[CE402]

Top 10 reasons why 402 is best plane.

1) Pax stepping on pilot's seatbelt helps pilot maintain trim waistline.

2) Unreliable boots help hone ice avoidance skills

3) High-tech two-position heater allows for selection of either 150 degrees F, or trickle of 45 degree air for optimum comfort.

4) Lack of air-conditioning leads to high degree of appreciation for crew lounge and cool beverages.

5) Unreliable door-warning system causes aesthetically pleasing red light to illuminate.

6) Straight-leg landing gear effective tool for keeping hazardous pilot egos in check.

7) Whistling sound caused by ill-fitting bag doors gives illusion of high speed.

8) Weather radar screen provides suprisingly captivating in-flight entertainment (comdedy, drama, suspense, etc.) for passengers.

9) Ability for pilot to hear belch from row 5 passenger reinforces belief that he is monitoring the situation in the cabin, as well as the cockpit.

10) Loud prayers uttered by pax during 1800RVR approach reaffirms faith.

In all seriousness, I love the airplane. I have my health and a job and that makes it all the much sweeter. Plus, big airplanes scare me....Too many buttons and stuff.

Honorable mention: 1) Anything made of fabric
2) Anything loud and smoky

 

[sabreliner]

Of the types I have flown:

Piston Single: E-33 Debonair (Beech sure knows how to build 'em)

Piston Twin: Pa23-250 Aztec (steel frame construction, and EASY to fly)

Corporate Jet: Lr-24 (best power to weight ratio of the 20/30 series and makes LOTS of noise!!)

Turbo-prop Airliner: DHC-8 (big comfortable, quiet, slow, and a joy to fly)

Jet Airliner: I'll let you know (hopefully in not too long!)

Then of course you have the classics, like the P-51D, the B-17, and the DC-3. Haven't flown any of them, but I'd hope I will some day.