Tis a sad day

[Colleen Thomas]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060311/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/tomcats_return

The Tomcat is a beautiful, sleek looking plane. The hornet is a very ugly duckling in comparrison.

Something like comparing a '66 corvette to a honda accord.

Time and a changeing world have left the tomcat behind, but I will miss seeing them launching from carriers. They were and still are a beautiful plane.

No one probably cares, but it won't be the first thread I've started that has died a quick death

 

[cloudy]

I haven't seen the hornets, but the F-14 is what always pops into my mind when I think of fighters.

Beautiful planes.

 

[ElizabethWest]

No one probably cares, but it won't be the first thread I've started that has died a quick death

I resemble that remark.

I can't even count the times I saw Top Gun. I was a freshman in college (the first time) when that came out.

 

[rgraham666]

Uhm, what is the Navy going to use when the Chinese, the Europeans or India, to mention future possible theaters of conflict, develop long range bombers and/or long range cruise missiles? The Tomcat's best for knocking these things down a long way from the carriers.

I'm sorry to see it go as well, Colleen. A lovely aircraft.

But I disagree with your opinion of The Hornet. I thinks that's a pretty sweet aircraft as well.

 

[Guest]

My ex-husband is a crew dawg on the 16s. I think they are beautiful planes....

I mourn each time any of our jets are retired from service... not because of a war mongering attitude but it feels like more of our history is going to sleep

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

OK, slight threadjack. You all knew this had to come, this being a porn site and all.

What in your opinion are the 10 most beautiful aircraft in history? (Or two, five, seven, whatever.) I'll start:

1. Spitfire
2. Lockheed Constellation.
3. Concorde.
4. Northrop T-38/F-5.
5. Consolidated Catalina.

That's all I can think of right now. F-16s are pretty also.

OK, one more for the porn site angle: Lockheed F-104 is maybe the sexiest. And, returning to our regularly scheduled thread, ol' Tomcat was pretty doggone sexy also.

 

[Rope64]

6. SR-71

Don't worry about the Tomcats; they'll be given away in the "Excess Defense Articles" program, which kind of sneaks in under budgetary radar, to countries about which our level of support is something we don't want to advertise. Maybe one day we'll see them flying in anger toward us ...

 

[Wildcard Ky]

My ex-husband is a crew dawg on the 16s. I think they are beautiful planes....

I mourn each time any of our jets are retired from service... not because of a war mongering attitude but it feels like more of our history is going to sleep

Where is your Ex stationed? I used to work on F-16's and was stationed at Luke AFB

The Tomcat has served us well, but her time has passed. There's always a new generation of technology to replace the legends. The Tomcat replaced the F-4, and that's about as legendary as a fighter can be.

IMO the most beatiful plane ever made was the XB-70. Only two were ever built. One crashed in flight testing, and the other is now on permanent display at Wright Patterson AFB.

Rob, I know you have limited means, but if you're ever able to get Wright Pat, you need to do it. I spent two full days going through the museum, and still wanted to spend more time seeing everything.

Here's some pics of the XB-70

http://www.boeing.com/history/bna/images/xb-70.gif

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/107273main_XB-70_front.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/107276main_XB-70_behind.jpg

 

[Equinoxe]

I have to agree with Roxanne about the Spitfire being the most beautiful plane ever.

Don't worry about the Tomcats; they'll be given away in the "Excess Defense Articles" program, which kind of sneaks in under budgetary radar, to countries about which our level of support is something we don't want to advertise. Maybe one day we'll see them flying in anger toward us ...

Iran has them and has for decades. Although they most likely don't work, since they don't have the parts to repair them.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

I have to agree with Roxanne about the Spitfire being the most beautiful plane ever.



Iran has them and has for decades. Although they most likely don't work, since they don't have the parts to repair them.

Iran has the old F-14A's. They got them while the Shah was in power in the late 70's. They quit being flyable within a year of the Ayatollah taking over. One of the drawbacks of the F-14 is that it's a very maintenance intensive airplane.

When the Ayatollah took over, we quit providing parts and tecnical support from the factory, and the planes have been sitting ever since.

 

[rgraham666]

Where is your Ex stationed? I used to work on F-16's and was stationed at Luke AFB

The Tomcat has served us well, but her time has passed. There's always a new generation of technology to replace the legends. The Tomcat replaced the F-4, and that's about as legendary as a fighter can be.

IMO the most beatiful plane ever made was the XB-70. Only two were ever built. One crashed in flight testing, and the other is now on permanent display at Wright Patterson AFB.

Rob, I know you have limited means, but if you're ever able to get Wright Pat, you need to do it. I spent two full days going through the museum, and still wanted to spend more time seeing everything.

Here's some pics of the XB-70

http://www.boeing.com/history/bna/images/xb-70.gif

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/107273main_XB-70_front.jpg

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/images/content/107276main_XB-70_behind.jpg

The Valkyrie was a nice looking airplane.

My two faves of all time are the Spitfire and the Mosquito.

Also have a soft spot for the FW190

 

[Equinoxe]

Iran has the old F-14A's. They got them while the Shah was in power in the late 70's. They quit being flyable within a year of the Ayatollah taking over. One of the drawbacks of the F-14 is that it's a very maintenance intensive airplane.

When the Ayatollah took over, we quit providing parts and tecnical support from the factory, and the planes have been sitting ever since.

I know. Although, in theory, that could be resolved by reverse engineering, but it's not likely to happen and would probably be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

I have to agree with Roxanne about the Spitfire being the most beautiful plane ever.

deleted

 

[Equinoxe]

...

Exactly! It's just such a classic design, an absolutely beautiful aeroplane.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

Now my favorite plane isn't pretty, but it's an absolute bad ass. It brought tank busting to a whole new level.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the warthog:

http://www.speq.it/album/a10.jpg

 

[Colleen Thomas]

OK, slight threadjack. You all knew this had to come, this being a porn site and all.

What in your opinion are the 10 most beautiful aircraft in history? (Or two, five, seven, whatever.) I'll start:

1. Spitfire
2. Lockheed Constellation.
3. Concorde.
4. Northrop T-38/F-5.
5. Consolidated Catalina.

That's all I can think of right now. F-16s are pretty also.

OK, one more for the porn site angle: Lockheed F-104 is maybe the sexiest. And, returning to our regularly scheduled thread, ol' Tomcat was pretty doggone sexy also.

1: SR71 Blackbird
2. B-17 flying fortress
3. F-14 tomcat
4. F4u Corsair (Love the gull wings)
5. f-15 Strike eagle
6. p-51 Mustang
7. Spitfire
8. p-38 Lightning
9 p-40 Warhawk
10. PBY Catlina

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

1: SR71 Blackbird
2. B-17 flying fortress
3. F-14 tomcat
4. F4u Corsair (Love the gull wings)
5. f-15 Strike eagle
6. p-51 Mustang
7. Spitfire
8. p-38 Lightning
9 p-40 Warhawk
10. PBY Catlina

Let's discuss this. There is "beautiful" in a pure aesthetic sense. A case can be made for the SR 71, the F-14, F-4U, F-15, P-51, Spitfire, P-38, and Catalina on this basis.

Then there is beautiful in a subjective sense. To a downed pilot bobbing in a tiny raft in the middle of the Pacific in 1944, the Catalina was not just the most beatiful aircraft in the world, it was the most beautiful object in the universe, period. To a B-17 crew beset by Messerschmidts, P-51 'little friends' were the most beautiful sight in the world

Then there is "beautiful" in a historic sense - the drama of the Battle of Britain has to place the Sptifire at the top of this list also. The B-17 also has a place in that honor roll.

But the P-40? (clears throat)

 

[hugo_sam]

1: SR71 Blackbird
2. B-17 flying fortress
3. F-14 tomcat
4. F4u Corsair (Love the gull wings)
5. f-15 Strike eagle
6. p-51 Mustang
7. Spitfire
8. p-38 Lightning
9 p-40 Warhawk
10. PBY Catlina

Hey Colly
I had not posted because I figured my opinion on what constitued beauty in an airplane would differ so much from others,
Your list is almist exactly my own. Especially on the F4U, P-51, P-38, P-40 and B-17.
I think I would add the C-47/DC-3, B-26 and the B-29 as well
JMHO
Thanks

*GBH*
Hugo

 

[Rope64]

Now my favorite plane isn't pretty, but it's an absolute bad ass. It brought tank busting to a whole new level.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the warthog:

http://www.speq.it/album/a10.jpg

Now, the warthog is a really sad story. The Air Force, which believes in bommbers and air superiority fighters, and thinks that ground support is something appropriate for an as-of-yet uncreated military department (the Army, by doctrine, cannot have fixed-wing aircraft at all [well, maybe spotter planes ...], hence all the helicopters), was dragged kicking and screaming into developing the warthog, and at their first opportunity, they not only discontinued the aircraft but saw to it that the assembly line used to make them was destroyed.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Let's discuss this. There is "beautiful" in a pure aesthetic sense. A case can be made for the SR 71, the F-14, F-4U, F-15, P-51, Spitfire, P-38, and Catalina on this basis.

Then there is beautiful in a subjective sense. To a downed pilot bobbing in a tiny raft in the middle of the Pacific in 1944, the Catalina was not just the most beatiful aircraft in the world, it was the most beautiful object in the universe, period. To a B-17 crew beset by Messerschmidts, P-51 'little friends' were the most beautiful sight in the world

Then there is "beautiful" in a historic sense - the drama of the Battle of Britain has to place the Sptifire at the top of this list also. The B-17 also has a place in that honor roll.

But the P-40? (clears throat)

The warhawk is a beautiful plane. Specialy with the shark tooth paint scheme. The inline allisons give it a sleek look that you just can't get with a radial. She wasn't particularly gifted, but she was pretty.

If you ever see a pby in their "black cat" paint scheme, they are beautiful planes in their own right. Not sleek, but we weren't keeping ourselves to fighter types

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Hey Colly
I had not posted because I figured my opinion on what constitued beauty in an airplane would differ so much from others,
Your list is almist exactly my own. Especially on the F4U, P-51, P-38, P-40 and B-17.
I think I would add the C-47/DC-3, B-26 and the B-29 as well
JMHO
Thanks

*GBH*
Hugo

Love the corsair. That long prow spoke of power and the gull wings really make it beautiful in flight.

 

[Rope64]

The best military plane story is probably that of the Hurricane. When it was first developed, the manufacturer thought the British Government would want several hundred, but the order could never be completed. On its own, the manufacturer built a few hundred planes, reasoning that the interesting things happening on the continent might bring about a need that even the British Government would be able to recognize.

Shortly thereafter, the Battle of Britain began, thankfully with a few hundred Hurricanes lined up and ready to serve.

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Now my favorite plane isn't pretty, but it's an absolute bad ass. It brought tank busting to a whole new level.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet the warthog:

http://www.speq.it/album/a10.jpg

AS far as beauty, she's an ugly duckling, but for doing her job, she might be the most competant plane ever designed

 

[imalickin]

My top 10...

1: SR71 Blackbird
2. U2
3. F-14 tomcat
4. XB70
5. f-15 Strike eagle
6. p-51 Mustang
7. Spitfire
8. p-38 Lightning
9 p-40 Warhawk
10. The Black Widow

It's ashame the the F14 will be relagated to the bone yard in the desert as it is a beautiful plane to watch fly. But as the F18 Super Hornet is smaller and cheaper to maintain it is a wise choice.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Sud Aviation Caravelle.

Interestingly, for all their style and pretentions, the French don't seem to make many beautiful aircraft or automobiles (Citroen CV, anyone?) With some outstanding exceptions - the Concorde (joint venture, of course), and the Talbot Largo coupe.