Beauty In the Eye of the Beholder: Part 1

[michaelmaltby]

This is not a "poll". This is an invitation to discuss what is beauty when it comes to the design of AC. Granted ... beauty isn't everything .

But - IMHO - aircraft should look like they belong in the air. While I love the MD Phantom, Thunderbolt II and Skyraider - they appear as payload platforms held aloft by pure thrust or prop power. And while the B-2 is a superbly designed AC - it is unflyable by humans.

So - my most beautiful candidates.

MM

 

[Airframes]

Some good ones there. I'd add the P51, Constellation and Hunter, although I'm sure I'll think of more !

 

[mikewint]

Don't know if we want to go in this direction but I vote for planes that can actually "live" in the sky.
1. The Solar Impulse, has just completed a non-stop 26 hour flight. After flying all night it still had 3 hours of battery power left.
2. The Zephyr, completed a 14 day flight reaching an altitude of 60,000ft

 

[michaelmaltby]

"... I vote for planes that can actually "live" in the sky."

I got no problem with that -- a little fragile for my taste but definitely on the cusp. Same with unmanned AC. A new unmanned looks like a miniature B-2 and can land on an aircraft carrier. Again - the cusp.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFVxYlR8Bf8

MM

 

[ivanotter]

My favourite is still F-4. It just looks GOOD. It is like a business jet: If you mean business go get an F-4.

F-16 is elegant

 

[fastmongrel]

Hawker Fury pure Art Deco aeroplane

 

[michaelmaltby]

I don't know about art deco, fastmongrel, but it's certainly a very refined bi-plane. Did Bader lose his legs stunting one of these ..?

I guess my candidate for "beauty" bi-plane would be this:

MM

 

[fastmongrel]

Did Bader lose his legs stunting one of these ..?



MM

I think Bader lost his legs in a Bristol Bulldog. Not totally sure but I think the Fury wasnt in service at the time.

 

[fastmongrel]

The Hawker P 1081 prototype not an aircraft I know much about but I came across it looking for something else. Lovely clean lines halfway between the Hawker Seahawk and the Hunter.

 

[Airframes]

Yep, it was a Bulldog in which Bader crashed.

 

[mikewint]

How about tri-planes. I've always thought the Fokker DR-1 "Red Baron" was pretty cool

 

[michaelmaltby]

Yep.. the Tri is beautiful.

MM

 

[fastmongrel]

If were having triplanes the original and best (well its wings didnt come off quite as often but they were still a weakness) the Sopwith Triplane the inspiration for the Fokker Dr1

 

[parsifal]

For WWII fighters, my favourites in terms of grace would be

1) Zero
2) FW 190
3) Spitfire
4) Mosquito

The ugliest, or least attractive (disregarding fringe types) would be

1) Brewster Buffalo
2) I-16
3) Hawker Tempest
4) Me 110

 

[syscom3]

Heres my three.

The P38

The P26

The F86.

 

[mikewint]

How about a prototype, only flew about 3 - 4 times before the war ended but is pretty spectacular in flight: The Ho-229

 

[michaelmaltby]

Yep - that sure qualifies.

MM

 

[Maximowitz]

I think I might be in the minority here.....

 

[michaelmaltby]

Ugly brute - could it do anything the Mosquito couldn't?

MM

PS - Haha Max - good one s'truth.

MM

 

[Maximowitz]

Not really. Apart from not warping due to wet weather!