What's your favorite millitary aircraft?
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Rockrivr1
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My favorite has to be the two I've worked on when I was in the Navy. First was the F-4 Phantom. Two rockets and seats. Smoked like a bastard, but fast as all get out.
The second is the F/A-18. Multipurpose and sleek. Not as fast as the F-4, but a lot more versatile. Not to mention a lot more harder to fix to. Especially when it threw a code for an aileron issue. That damn 168 panel needed to come off the top of the wing. That sucker had over a hundred screws that had to come out to do the rewiring.
Hummmmmm, now that I think of it. I really only liked the F-4. Duct tape and lots of hydrolic fluid kept that baby airborne.
The second is the F/A-18. Multipurpose and sleek. Not as fast as the F-4, but a lot more versatile. Not to mention a lot more harder to fix to. Especially when it threw a code for an aileron issue. That damn 168 panel needed to come off the top of the wing. That sucker had over a hundred screws that had to come out to do the rewiring.
Hummmmmm, now that I think of it. I really only liked the F-4. Duct tape and lots of hydrolic fluid kept that baby airborne.
Agent P
Member
english kanigit
Member
Rockrivr1, to hear my dad talk about his time working on the Phantom is quite amusing. He said it was impossible to work on any part of it with out making a blood sacrifice to the bird...
It's funny 'cause he still gets worked up about it to this day!
It's funny 'cause he still gets worked up about it to this day!
Kamicosmos
Member
Oh, bunches.
All time favorite: F4U Corsair. My dad had an old model of one when I was a kid, and I was fascinated/obsessed with them ever since. The real pitty? I've never seen one in real life!! Ever!
I also love the F117, saw one in person on the tarmac shortly after they 'revealed' them Wow. I am also a sucker for the F-16, MiG 29, B-17, A26/B25, P-40, Spitfire, SR-71, ME109, ME262, A10, Space Shuttle.....on and on.
Corsairs definitely are my favorite though, hands down.
All time favorite: F4U Corsair. My dad had an old model of one when I was a kid, and I was fascinated/obsessed with them ever since. The real pitty? I've never seen one in real life!! Ever!
I also love the F117, saw one in person on the tarmac shortly after they 'revealed' them Wow. I am also a sucker for the F-16, MiG 29, B-17, A26/B25, P-40, Spitfire, SR-71, ME109, ME262, A10, Space Shuttle.....on and on.
Corsairs definitely are my favorite though, hands down.
Sharps Shooter
Member
C-47 (DC-3) +1
Seeing as how I have about 2000 hours in USN Sikorsky H-3 choppers, I'm kind of partial to them. But my all time favorite aircraft, military or otherwise, is the C-47 (DC-3). The DC-3 has been around for nearly 70 years, it's an all time great workhorse, and I think it's gorgeous. It has to be the 30-06 or 45 ACP of airplanes.
I always get a thrill when I watch the movie "Band of Brothers" when all those C-47s filled with paratroopers are lining up to take off and more are already airborne on the eve of the invasion of Europe. I know in reality it was dark when those planes took off, but it's a great scene anyway.
Seeing as how I have about 2000 hours in USN Sikorsky H-3 choppers, I'm kind of partial to them. But my all time favorite aircraft, military or otherwise, is the C-47 (DC-3). The DC-3 has been around for nearly 70 years, it's an all time great workhorse, and I think it's gorgeous. It has to be the 30-06 or 45 ACP of airplanes.
I always get a thrill when I watch the movie "Band of Brothers" when all those C-47s filled with paratroopers are lining up to take off and more are already airborne on the eve of the invasion of Europe. I know in reality it was dark when those planes took off, but it's a great scene anyway.
Shaun
Member
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Shaun
Member
I have 4
DHC-2 - De Havilland Beaver
SR71 - Not one other plane has the speed
A10 -- Nothing is safe with this plane in the air.
P51 Mustang - Just a beauty http://www.airliners.net/open.file/838269/M
DHC-2 - De Havilland Beaver
SR71 - Not one other plane has the speed
A10 -- Nothing is safe with this plane in the air.
P51 Mustang - Just a beauty http://www.airliners.net/open.file/838269/M
asteffes
Member
The C5A.
Giving new meaning to "don't make me come over there!"
Giving new meaning to "don't make me come over there!"
The F35 plus giant laser cannon definitely gets a nod, though it's still a few years down the road... and the ABL is cool enough to warrant a mention.
But nothing else can crack open a Macross missile swarm quite like an A10 with 11 underslugn M260 lightweight launchers (19 70mm Hydra rockets, now laser guided) while soaking up damage like a tank.
The RAH-66 Comanche has cool factor going for it, I was always a fan of Airwolf, but it's not very practical. I'd say I like the Hind, but they used a *glass* canopy instead of polycarbonate. I haven't seen such an invincible death machine with such a glaring weak spot since I played Sonic the Hedgehog.
I've always thought the SR-71 would be a great platform to build an orbital spaceplane on...
Favorite fighter jet that's not vaporware? the X29. Forward swept wings not only look cool, but are damn nimble little bastards. (In other words, great dogfighters) The Switchblade also looks like an interesting concept, taking the FSW thing a bit further.
But which would I fly? None of the above. I'd want a Bird of Prey. Maybe if they could cram a HELLADS laser in there it'd be armed, but that's not the point of such a craft.
But nothing else can crack open a Macross missile swarm quite like an A10 with 11 underslugn M260 lightweight launchers (19 70mm Hydra rockets, now laser guided) while soaking up damage like a tank.
The RAH-66 Comanche has cool factor going for it, I was always a fan of Airwolf, but it's not very practical. I'd say I like the Hind, but they used a *glass* canopy instead of polycarbonate. I haven't seen such an invincible death machine with such a glaring weak spot since I played Sonic the Hedgehog.
I've always thought the SR-71 would be a great platform to build an orbital spaceplane on...
Favorite fighter jet that's not vaporware? the X29. Forward swept wings not only look cool, but are damn nimble little bastards. (In other words, great dogfighters) The Switchblade also looks like an interesting concept, taking the FSW thing a bit further.
But which would I fly? None of the above. I'd want a Bird of Prey. Maybe if they could cram a HELLADS laser in there it'd be armed, but that's not the point of such a craft.
F-14 Tomcat
Sweep wing, incredible range, and I believe it carried the 1st Beyond Vis Range AA missle system....plus it's big, beautiful, and has been protecting the fleet for a long long time.
Although I did stare starry-eyed at an SR-71 display once for quite a while
ps- not me in that pic, LOL
Sweep wing, incredible range, and I believe it carried the 1st Beyond Vis Range AA missle system....plus it's big, beautiful, and has been protecting the fleet for a long long time.
Although I did stare starry-eyed at an SR-71 display once for quite a while
ps- not me in that pic, LOL
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Nightcrawler
Member
Hmm...
Was a huge aviation buff as a kid. Still am, in a way.
Favorites? To many to mention.
Gotta love the Thud.
And the Phantom, of course.
The BUFF. Naturally.
Was a huge aviation buff as a kid. Still am, in a way.
Favorites? To many to mention.
Gotta love the Thud.
And the Phantom, of course.
The BUFF. Naturally.
tailgunner
Member In Memoriam
B-52 naturally. We always said look to Mcdonnell-Douglas for leadership and Boeing for aircraft.
denfoote
Member
The original Thunderbolt.
P47.
4 .50 BMGs on each wing took out many an axis fighter!!
P47.
4 .50 BMGs on each wing took out many an axis fighter!!
Mongo the Mutterer
Member
Mongo the Mutterer
Member
Bulldozer
Member
Have always been partial to the :
Saab-Scania J-37 Viggen, and its successor, the JAS-39 Gripen.
Saab-Scania J-37 Viggen, and its successor, the JAS-39 Gripen.
Jake
Member
B-52
One of my, if not my, all time favorite planes. Been around for over 50 years and from what I understand it is projected to serve on active duty till 2040 placing it up there with the 1911 and Ma Deuce in active duty longevity.
YF-23 Black Widow II
The one that lost out to the F-22 Raptor in the selection process. That is one wicked looking aircraft.
And on somewhat of a side not. If you have a Playstation 2 and like modern military aircraft you've got to play Ace Combat 4 and 5. I've been playing 5 for the last 2 weeks and it's a great game. About 35 real world planes, ranging from classics like the F-4, A-6 and Mig-21 up to things like the F-22, F117 and Su-37.
One of my, if not my, all time favorite planes. Been around for over 50 years and from what I understand it is projected to serve on active duty till 2040 placing it up there with the 1911 and Ma Deuce in active duty longevity.
YF-23 Black Widow II
The one that lost out to the F-22 Raptor in the selection process. That is one wicked looking aircraft.
And on somewhat of a side not. If you have a Playstation 2 and like modern military aircraft you've got to play Ace Combat 4 and 5. I've been playing 5 for the last 2 weeks and it's a great game. About 35 real world planes, ranging from classics like the F-4, A-6 and Mig-21 up to things like the F-22, F117 and Su-37.
oneshooter
Member
Don't confuse the B-25 Mitchell with the B-26 Marauder. The 25 carried a heavier bomb and gun load. And did not try to kill the crew on takeoff! 
Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
And did not try to kill the crew on takeoff! Oneshooter
Livin in Texas
coonan357
Member
I say the planes that I liked where the B-17 my grandfather helped machine the reduction gears in the engines , then was sent out to kansas to be a tailgunner for one, but got "bumped" because of his clerical skills where needed more ( thank goodness because those guys where the ones who hardly survived I think he said it was like 1 of 5 ) and it was the plane that my Exwifes grandfather piloted during WWII and got 2 of them shot out under him and got them down "hard" but survived ( the second landing broke his back ) . I love the Vought F4U Corsair (saw several at Oshkosh ) P51's (ditto) The F-4 phantom , and the other one is the B-52 my cousin was an ATC at Ellsworth in S.D. 15 years ago , when I delivered some fuel additive up there For the USAF I got a impromptu tour of the thing ( couldn't go inside due to security reasons ) but there is nothing like the sight/sound of watching a BUFF (Big ugly fat fella) taking off loaded out, the wings just hang there from what I understand they don't have them anymore up there . another is the F-14 . love the picture of purevertical over St Louis , my brother was in Okinawa when they still had some/one? SR-71 there in the 80's got pics of them (from a distance of course) and some f-14's from his sqaudron that he was an PA for ( that was during the korean airliner shootdown so I couldn't have any closeups )
but there is nothing like the sight/sound of watching a BUFF (Big ugly fat fella) taking off loaded out, the wings just hang there from what I understand they don't have them anymore up there . another is the F-14 . love the picture of purevertical over St Louis , my brother was in Okinawa when they still had some/one? SR-71 there in the 80's got pics of them (from a distance of course) and some f-14's from his sqaudron that he was an PA for ( that was during the korean airliner shootdown so I couldn't have any closeups )Stickjockey
Member
Jeff, I'm pretty sure you mean the Goodyear F2G "Super Corsair". FG-1 was the designation for F4U's built by Goodyear. The F2G was the designation givent o the last variant, with a Pratt & Whitney R4360 (same engine as on the Boeing B-50 and Lockheed Constellation) 28-cylinder-yes, that's twenty-eight- engine and a bubble canopy. Looks like this:
As for me, I've got too many to choose. I am thinking, though, that I missed something: can it be, that in four pages of replies, noone has mentioned the F-86?
Little Loudmouth
Member
Hmm...I have several.
A-10
AH-64 Apache
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F4U Corsair
F6F Hellcat
F-20 Tigershark
SR71
F-86 Sabre
P-38 Lightning
and last but definitely not least:
P-51 Mustang
A-10
AH-64 Apache
F-16 Fighting Falcon
F4U Corsair
F6F Hellcat
F-20 Tigershark
SR71
F-86 Sabre
P-38 Lightning
and last but definitely not least:
P-51 Mustang
Preacherman
Member
Guys, much as I love aircraft and enjoy this thread, it really isn't connected with gun discussions or THR's mission in any way. Sorry to be the grinch on this one - but it's OT.
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