What's the Air Equivalent of a Corvette?

[tcoll777]

p51 hotrod, i mean mustang

 

[bobbysamd]

Cars v. airplanes

How about a Piper Aerostar? Hot airplane that, I understand, has to be flown with care. Something like flying a B-26.

P-51 is good, too.

I didn't realize that 'vettes handle so poorly. I always thought that Dodge Stealths (Mitsubishi 3000GT) were cool cars, especially the more expensive ones with the all-wheel drive and the stick shift with I don't remember how many speeds.

Dodge Viper, too, with the V10 engine. Somehow, I get the impression that Vipers spend a lot of time in the shop.

 

[ShawnC]

Tcoll, how about a Turbine P-51?

A pitts is a fine aircraft but she ain't a vette, shes more manueverable than fast.

Now that someone brought up the L-39 I think that would be my vote now. Those things kick butt, but the upkeep on them is huge.

 

[aero99]

You guys comparing a Corvette to a p-51, F-16 or turbo Lancair have got to be kidding.

Corvettes handle like crap. I have lost at least three fillings riding in vettes. If you need to go fast in a straight line then fine, they are a great car.

IF you really want to ride in a car that has it all, try a porche 959 or 911 twin turbo GT2 or even a 928 s4.

If I were to compare a P-51 or F-16 to a car it would have to be an F-40 Ferrari.

Corvettes are for girls, old men taking viagra, and daddy's rich boy who thinks he has a real car.

Apples to oranges.

 

[KlingonLRDRVR]

My Corvette, is a beatup old Learjet haulin frieght. She still looks sexy under all that dirt and grime and dives just like one. Best of all when it breaks down I don't have to go down to the Chevy dealership and give them my first born. Yes I'm biased - so sue me.

KlingonLRDRVR

 

[TurboS7]

No doupt an old beat up Lear freighthauling 23. Got the class and has the name but it is 60's stuff.

 

[crash-proof]

Why hasen't anyone mentioned the Legend, turboprop 2-seater? That thing is crazy. Or a turbo prop Lancair IV.

Also, Rare Bear, the Reno racer Bearcat (does it still fly?)

And...the winner is....Gee Bee R-2!!!!

 

[Andy Neill]

Thanks for all the good responses. Back in the early 80's, I wrote three episode summaries for a new TV show called "Victor-6" and sent it absolutely nowhere. I believe at the time, I had the guys in a twin Bonanza. I liked V-6 because it had about the span of US-66 and sounded enough like it to evoke the nostalgia.

 

[TrumanSparks]

vette of the sky

My vote would go to the Lear 31a. Both are small, uncomfortable, a little rough around the edges, but go like hell.

The 31a is an unbelievably fun airplane to fly.

PS, if you don’t think Corvettes are real cars, you haven’t been in one of the new models; very fast, and handle extremely well.

The 63' is still my favorite, handles like crap, but is fast and very sexy.

 

[tcoll777]

Shawn C-----never even seen a turbine P51..........it's gotta go like hell, but can't have the sound of the radial!!!

 

[crash-proof]

Thanks for all the good responses. Back in the early 80's, I wrote three episode summaries for a new TV show called "Victor-6" and sent it absolutely nowhere. I believe at the time, I had the guys in a twin Bonanza. I liked V-6 because it had about the span of US-66 and sounded enough like it to evoke the nostalgia.

T-Bone? I love those, really wanna have one. They got the right look with that straight tail, bulky fuselage and those GO-480s make everyone turn their heads!

They even have a site, but it hasn't seen any updates in the last 3 years or so...
http://www.twinbonanza.com/

 

[cjh]

Corvettes are for girls

As a girl, I take exception to that! We girls always said vettes were for guys with a short man complex.

Got to be the worst excuse around for a sports car.

 

[hyper]

I thought we were doing realistic comparisons to vettes. You know, cheap, the ability to actually own one (leaves out all those jets and P51s), etc..

If you want handling and looks second to none that you can actually get even cheaper than a new vette these days without the maintenance and with killer reliability (something no vette has proven yet), get an NSX.

Out handle and outlast most anything on the road at a fraction of the price of comparable performance.

 

[CXAV8]

Vette

Hey Starchkr-
That's big talk for an individual hauling old checks. And speaking of checks, I believe the Vette payment is a little more than your take home.
G-V is where it's at, one of the finest in the world.

 

[VGerect]

For my $.02, i would have to say the Falcon 10 bizjet. Every time I pass by one on the ramp I have to stop and stare at it. I just looks like SPEED!

 

[LR25]

How bout the old Corvette corporate aircraft, they kind of look like a Lear 23.

 

[Medivacer]

Since when did the P-51 have a Radial?? Must have been before my time. Cheers.

 

[sstearns2]

......

The F-16 would have to be more like a ferarri. Sexy as hell, but breaks everytime you start it. I believe a very high up Microsoft guy bought a brand new 2 seat F-16 from Lockheed a year or two ago, unarmed of course.

The essence of a corvette is very good performance at a good price and who cares if the plastic warps and the dash cracks a few years down the road. The last corvette I had was an 89 Z-51 and it would pull 0.9 Gs on the skidpad and run through the cones right with the huge dollar european cars. in other words it handled just fine. The equililent to this has to be the cheap jets. Like the fouga, less than $100K and it will do 400 KIAS level down low and it's easy to fly as long as you can forget that your burning 150 to 300 gph. Others I'm thinking of are the Iskra, L-29, or maybe a mig-15 if your feeling lucky.

Scott

 

[KlingonLRDRVR]

Sstearns2, I wish I was as lucky as you to have good luck with a Vette. Mine was ten years older than yours. Mine was a 1979. Lets see, in two years I replaced the rear end differential, spun a main bearing in the motor, replaced a front break caliber, I had to carry two towels in the back to place on our laps when it rained as the "T-tops" leaked like a garden hose and last but not least the misterious electrical leak that would drain my battery every two days which I finally fixed with a nascar battery quick disconect switch I had to flip every time I parked for the night. The only bonus on the battery disconect was it was a good anti-theft device although I would have been thrilled should some poor thief taken it off my hands. No offence you Vette drivers but I think they are the biggest pile of @#$! ever made. Sorry for my rant as you can see I am crabby and will be quiet now.

KlingonLRDRVR

 

[sstearns2]

.....

I didn't say I had a good experience with my corvette.... Alternator, water pump, mystery electical problems, etc.... I want an NSX. Someday.

Scott