Favorite Aircraft

[bigboy]

I have many light singles and multi-engine,piston and turbine airplanes, By far the most fun I had was flying the caravan C-208,
Its a great airplane, very stable, relaible,very nicely equiped for IFR,its not the best looking airplane but it get the job done.

 

[bigboy]

I have many light singles and multi-engine,piston and turbine airplanes, By far the most fun I had was flying the caravan C-208,
Its a great airplane, very stable, relaible,very nicely equiped for IFR,its not the best looking airplane but it get the job done.

Whoops. I meant to say I have flown many ,not I have many (I wish).

 

[yipstick]

"A Plane-a-Day-in-Tampa-Bay" The B-26 Martin Martin Marauder is my favorite airplane (not because I flew it) because my dad flew it at age 23 during WWII and survived his training and 25 combat missions only to return safely and procreate me. And , oh yeah, those "ironing board" wings were just a device to hold the engines on. Don't even get me started on the B-52, which he later commanded. My God, 24 hour airborne alerts!!! I get antsy after 3 hours. So much for a GIV or Global Express job (well, it depends upon the money, n'est-ce-pas?). And in case anyone out there noticed, Je parle francais for that international corporate job, d'accord?

 

[navigator72]

my $.02

Gheeez, There are so many..... I'll start with a DC3, then maybe a Pitts. Oh yeah the almighty Grumman Albatross would be cool too. Oh wait, a Beech Starship (just cause it looks really cool). How bout a Cub for those days when you don't want to go anywhere fast. and oh yeah, one of those new Wacos.....Maybe a Pilatus Porter too.....
That is all, is that asking too much?

 

[avbug]

Hawkerrider, there are a few pure 23's remaining (as pure as possible, anyway). We picked one up yesterday, that was purchased in South Africa, and shipped over. But you're right, there aren't many.

Without question, the ultimate aircraft, bar none, is to me the aircraft which I am privileged to fly at any given time. If I am in a J-3 cub, then it is to me the most fantastic collection of fabric and metal on God's green earth. Should it be something with turbine engines and swept wings, then that is to me the greatest of all aerial beasts.

Whatever I am so fortunate as to be able to fly at any given time, becomes the most fantastic airplane in the world to me. It matters not a whit if climb from a large four engine radial piston powered airplane into a cherokee; the cherokee is a marvel and a true blessing. The greatest airplane in the world.

I have a deep soft spot for round engines. I love to fly them, I love to work on them, I love th hear them, I love most everything about them but the taste of 60 weight oil during a bottom cylinder change on a freezing ramp at three in the morning. Even that has it's moments, though they only become sweet in retrospect.

Dick Scobee, prior to his loss in the Challenger, stated that it is a crime to be paid for doing something one loves so much. How right he was.

To be paid to do this in any form is on the hairy border of the criminal realm. As a child with no money to buy even new shoes, I dreamed of one day making a glider of bamboo and plastic or cloth, held together with stitching and tape. I thought that would be the height of my aerial potential. Now, looking back, I am humbled by the opportunity to do what I didn't dare to dream was possible; I often wonder if I've lived up to the dreams and aspirations of that small boy, and later young man.

What is the greatest airplane in the world? Wherever, whatever, it is the one you sit in, now. There can be nothing better.

Except, perhaps a peanut butter sandwich. With just the right amount of peanut butter, and some grape jelly. Not the clunky kind, but the smooth stuff, and the cheaper the better...

 

[Smoking Man]

Tempco/Globe Swift, not just the factory swifts but the ones that have been modified with the canopy, and the 210hp engines, the poor mans P-51, I have about 35-40 hrs in one. For a tail dragger they don't have the best manners on the ground.


As for WAR Birds, it would have to be the Fokk Wolve 190, mor specifically the TA-152 Version the one with the Daimler Bens water injected engine, The cowl is still a radial but it has the exhaust ports out the lower sides of the cowling. For those of you who have been to WPAFB, (Wright Patterson Air Force Base). There is one on display across from the Twin Mustang, the P-82??? I think.

Also the Gooney Bird.

 

[kilomike]

My favorites will fall in several categories.

First plane I ever flew: Cessna 206. Love that plane. Fun cross country plane.

Cardinal. Most hours in that, and I love flying places with it.

Light Twin, Baron B55. Fun to fly!

Small Jet: Citation. What a pleasure--and easy as a 172, another plane I enjoy flying.

Warbird: P-51 Mustang! Impressive flying capabilities and so much history with them...

Airliner: Love that sleek B757--the long legged beauty as I call it since I love the long landing gear legs with the long sleek body of the 757!

Concorde is in a class all of its own. I hope that I can someday board Concorde to Europe before it is permanently grounded.

Fly safe and enjoy!! I really enjoyed reading about everyone's favorite aircraft. Definitely one of the best threads I've seen so far.

 

[Boeingman]

I must say that I am partial to the F-15. I managed to get a back seat ride before I got out of the military. Very impressive machine.

I saw a promo. film once of the F-15 by McDonnell Douglas when it was first coming out. They had a camera in the cockpit of a F15 and a F-4 with a digitally superimposed altimeter for each.

The pics were side by side with both aircraft taking off. As the F-4 was justing lifting it's nose off the ground, the F-15 was passing through 11,000, vertical.

We left the breifing shaking our heads. From then on every time I flew the F-4, that image was locked in my head.

 

[yipstick]

Superimpose

Hey, Boeingman,

If it helps to curb your wonderlust, superimpose the altimeter of your F-4 onto the instrument panel of your Boeing. No contest. And, oh yeah, superimpose the afterburner onto the tailpipes of same. And, oh yeah, superimpose the sound of those ABs onto your eardrums. Count your blessings, man. Some of us got our military wings clipped because we missed ONE stinkin' letter on the UPT flight physical eye exam. A navigator?!? I don't think so!

 

[Boeingman]

Re: Superimpose

Hey, Boeingman,

If it helps to curb your wonderlust, superimpose the altimeter of your F-4 onto the instrument panel of your Boeing. No contest. And, oh yeah, superimpose the afterburner onto the tailpipes of same. And, oh yeah, superimpose the sound of those ABs onto your eardrums. Count your blessings, man. Some of us got our military wings clipped because we missed ONE stinkin' letter on the UPT flight physical eye exam. A navigator?!? I don't think so!

You get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Are you still dealing with issues from your rejection from UPT?

I fail to understand the point of your post.

 

[yipstick]

I'm sorry

I'm sorry, Boeingman. I just thought you were shaking your head while leaving the promo film in a manner of envy for those who got to fly the F-15. I was just pointing out that I think you were very fortunate for having gotten to fly fighters. It is I who is truly envious and, although not bitter, I am disappointed in the wisdom of initial 20/20 for military aviators. By the way, did you ever wear glasses while in the military cockpit?

 

[Boeingman]

Re: I'm sorry

I'm sorry, Boeingman. I just thought you were shaking your head while leaving the promo film in a manner of envy for those who got to fly the F-15. I was just pointing out that I think you were very fortunate for having gotten to fly fighters. It is I who is truly envious and, although not bitter, I am disappointed in the wisdom of initial 20/20 for military aviators. By the way, did you ever wear glasses while in the military cockpit?

OK. No problem.

The shaking of the head part was only in disbelief of the performance of the F-15. We heard rumors at the time, but a lot was initially classified.

I am very fortunate I know and blessed to have flown (without a scratch) the aircraft that I did. For what it's worth, I did have the chance to fly the F-15 later, but didn't want to.

That whole 20/20 thing is a raw deal. Once you pass that UPT physical you could lose 20/20. Guys from the academy had waivers prior to flight physicals. There were other examples as well.

We had one guy in the unit (zoonie grad.) who could out fly all of us and he was an absolute terror in an F-4. A natural born aviator and fighter pilot.....with corrective lenses. I always thought what a waste it would of been if other guys like him got screened out because of the corrective lenses issue.

I don't know if it is true but I heard an actors son who was killed in an F-4 wore glasses. I don't want to mention names out of respect and I'm not sure of the validity of this either.

There is a story that the Navy (in the Korean war) did a study finding that pilots who wore glasses scored higher on the gunnery ranges than those without.

Again, don't flame me because this is one of those tales passed on that I never actually read.

I always had 20/20. Thank god.

Sorry about the issues comment. Guess I got up to early as well.

 

[yipstick]

Thanks for the input

Thanks, Boeingman. I appreciate your support and hope that someday the military will get their heads out of the sand and realize that those criteria are ridiculous. I grew up in the Air Force (my dad was a 52 a/c) and started flying when I was 15. By the time I got to the physical, I had a comm, multi, instrument and about 700 hours. I'm not bragging, but I'm sure I would have done very well in the program and feel the Air Force lost a potentially excellent candidate. I truly had a passion for military aviation and I'm a little irked (yeah, I guess still have issues) that a good friend of mine had no clue what he "wanted to be when he grew up" ended up flying in the Air Force because some recruiter convinced him. Oh, well, it just wasn't meant to be and I'm happy with the events of my career/life. But if you could arrange just ONE flight for me in the back seat of a fighter, I'd be your friend forever. Heck, even news reporters get to do the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds fam flights.

 

[Boeingman]

Re: Thanks for the input

Thanks, Boeingman. I appreciate your support and hope that someday the military will get their heads out of the sand and realize that those criteria are ridiculous. I grew up in the Air Force (my dad was a 52 a/c) and started flying when I was 15. By the time I got to the physical, I had a comm, multi, instrument and about 700 hours. I'm not bragging, but I'm sure I would have done very well in the program and feel the Air Force lost a potentially excellent candidate. I truly had a passion for military aviation and I'm a little irked (yeah, I guess still have issues) that a good friend of mine had no clue what he "wanted to be when he grew up" ended up flying in the Air Force because some recruiter convinced him. Oh, well, it just wasn't meant to be and I'm happy with the events of my career/life. But if you could arrange just ONE flight for me in the back seat of a fighter, I'd be your friend forever. Heck, even news reporters get to do the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds fam flights.

It is odd how things work out with some people like the guy talked into flying and another like yourself trying anything to get in. But things work out for a reason.

Every guy in UPT that had prior flight experience ended up getting fighters (if they wanted and was available). Well, one guy
I remember wanted to fly the C130.

Wish I could arrange one, but I couldn't do that even when I was in. I did fly 1 FAM flight years back (I was not a T-Bird) with a reporter. Those rides are not arranged by pilots, all PR stuff from above.

I liked to fly to the static displays at airshows with the Phantom. I always enjoyed talking to the kids, getting them motivated to join later in life. It was very difficult telling people with glasses the chances for getting in as a pilot were slim. Always tried to put a positive spin on it by talking about other programs.

Have you looked into the Russian trips where you can fly back seat in the Migs? Expensive but sounds like it would be a great thrill for a civilian pilot to experience this. Hell, I'd love to fly the Mig but I'm sure my wife wouldn't approve of the expenditure.

P.S. The reported did throw up.

 

[yipstick]

Mig gig

Yeah, I saw the thing on the Mig rides for sale (I guess Russia's really hard up) but considering that an American civilian paid $10 million for a trip to the space station, it's probably out of my reach. Well, I guess I'm gonna do the next best thing.....roll a Falcon (don't tell my boss, he's in this forum). Hi, Randy