What's the Air Equivalent of a Corvette?

[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

 

[NTSing]

Corvettes

Hey I've got a C5 (current generation) 6 speed Corvette and have never had one problem with it. Yes, the older vettes eg, C3 and C4s did have problems as most domestic cars of that era did. Those that say they ride like crap and such are crazy. Also, I've got a buddy that's got a Porsche. Talk about problems, every time he takes it in it's around a grand to fix. I love my Corvette, it's fast, handles very well, reliable, American built and gets great mileage with the 6 speed.

PS: I'm don't suffer from short man's syndrom. I believe they now drive those huge SUVs

 

[wingnutt]

man, whats with the anti-vette sentiment going on in here???

first of all, you dont buy a vette for its plush handling...you want that, go get a caddy.

second of all, the reason they ride rough is their cornering ability. some of y'all ever ride in a fox body Mustang? once again...loves corners but itll rattle teeth also.

and the whole small appendage thing cracks me up. sounds like sour grapes to me...if you cant afford one, then everyone that has one must have an inconsistency somewhere, right??? ...whatever

as a final note, im a Ford guy and dont own one. never have, and probably never will...for the money, id rather build an AC Cobra replica, throw in a fuel injected 427 small block, and stomp all the vette freaks in the tri-state area

 

[cjh]

Wingnutt,

I made the "short man's complex" remark (which IS what we used to say, sorry), and for the record, I'm female, so "short appendages" hardly apply! I did, however, date a guy in college who drove a vette, and "short man's complex" definitely applied to him....he was 5'8" .

Cars in my history include a Porsche 356 and a 911. Current car is a Mercedes ML55. Regards the 55, it's the "fastest SUV in the world", so among notoriously slow cars it rocks! Actually, with a V8 engine and sedan chassis, it's pretty zippy, and I will also say it is by far, b-y f-a-r, the worst car I've ever owned. I'm currently attempting to return it under the Lemon Laws of our state. My first and last foray into SUV world.

And, as an aside, nice to see someone else who recognizes that clowns really are evil little bas%$##s. I used to think I was alone in that opinion, but I've since come to realize there are lots of us out there. I believe "Killer Clowns from Outer Space" is probably based on a true story!

 

[Medivacer]

Wingnutt

My old neighbour build's the AC Cobra replicas. **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** they are nice for replicas.

Give me a PM if you want to get ahold of him.

cheers.

 

[bigD]

My father turns 50 in October, and his all time favorite car is the 427 Cobra. I'm renting him a replica for his birthday. He'll get to have it all day. I think he'll go ape when he sees it on his driveway that morning. Of course I'll already be smiling from getting to drive it to his house!

What an awesome car.

 

[aero99]

The replica cobra's are very sweet.

Two guys in my neighborhood each have one. One day I'm gonna talk one of them into a ride.

Also have neighbors that have an NSX, Boss 302, Viper (olderone) and there are about 3-4 completely restored hot rods here and there.

Funny thing is, all these owners are pilots but one!

I currently have a early model Willis Jeep (and it's for sale )completely restored with all orignal military stuff (siren, cat eyes, shovels) to boot in my garage. All the hot rodders want to ride in the Jeep....grass is always greener.

 

[OtterFO]

Ok, here are a couple of odd balls which fit into the sports car catagory. Piper 1040-T2 and Cessna 406.

 

[crash-proof]

Ok, here are a couple of odd balls which fit into the sports car catagory. Piper 1040-T2 and Cessna 406.

406 is a Caravan II, right? which is not at all like a Caravan!

I saw yesterday up close a Conquest I, I never thought much of 402's till I saw PT-6s on them! Very neat plane.

 

[OtterFO]

406 is a Caravan II, right? which is not at all like a Caravan!

You are correct, its a goofy looking thing. real hot rod though...

 

[4fanman]

hey bigD

Ercoupe!

He said Corvette, not Chevette!!

 

[ILS JNKY]

driving vs flying

well the car would have to be a porsche black tiwn turbo and the top down weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

owned a saab worst car ever$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Just got rid of a ford excurson drank to much gas, now have that chevy truck you know change for a dollar,,, don't ask....


The plane who knows there are so many that i would not realy know where to start, piper meridian, with the Pratt& Whitney 42A Turbine Engine, and lets not for get all the toys man what a ride would be nice,when i get this wont need the porsche

My wife likes the plauts, and then she says i have expencive taste??? go figure...

 

[crash-proof]

Re: driving vs flying

My wife likes the plauts, and then she says i have expencive taste??? go figure...

what's a plauts? Pilatus perhaps? if you're talkin bout the pc-12, all it is IMHO is a single-engine Kingair. But it's nice, amazing slow flyin capability.

Mooneys are pretty hot-lookin..
http://www.mooney.com/images/eagle2/E1.jpg

And what happened to the Cirrus 4-seat pusher homebuilt? That was a reaaaaally sexy lookin plane! Anybody got any news on them?

 

[Timebuilder]

The aviation equivalent of a Corvette?

As a former 'Vette owner, I'd have to say it would be a Bonanza.

Shelby Cobra=Extra 300

CART racecar=jet fighter

 

[Tri-holer]

crash-proof

Cool pix of the DC-3. I actually watched it for longer than I should have waiting for the engine to catch and the prop to really start spinning.

simple minds - simple pleasures.

 

[crash-proof]

crash-proof

Cool pix of the DC-3. I actually watched it for longer than I should have waiting for the engine to catch and the prop to really start spinning.

simple minds - simple pleasures.

You know, it was a cold day, and the old PW-1830 was in dire need of some coffee....kept you in suspense though, eh?

 

[flint4xx]

MD500E.