Best looking WW2 fighter

[Admiral Beez]

Best looking Italian twin? Has to be this:

View attachment 653756

Couldn't fly worth a damn....but it was good looking!

Disagree. The IMAM Ro.58 is better looking, but to be fair was a one off.

 

[Vincenzo]

You learn something new every day ... here I was, thinking they were French.

the man, the founder, Bugatti was italian, the firm was francaise

 

[GrauGeist]

When Italian born Ettore Bugatti started his business, it was in Molsheim, Germany.
After WWI, that region was ceeded to France.

The modern Bugatti was founded by an Italian in the 80's and is based in Italy.

So everyone's right, depending on which point in time we're talking about!

 

[Admiral Beez]

When Italian born Ettore Bugatti started his business, it was in Molsheim, Germany.
After WWI, that region was ceeded to France.

The modern Bugatti was founded by an Italian in the 80's and is based in Italy.

So everyone's right, depending on which point in time we're talking about!

Reminds me of Fokker. They armed the Luftwaffe in WW1, but was the company German or Dutch? Then there Sikorsky, a Russian fixed wing and American rotary wing firm.

This makes me wonder if Hugo Junkers and family could have fled Germany in 1931 and set up a new aeronautical firm elsewhere. The old man was 76 when he died in 1935, so it will need to be his children that must have the talent and abilities.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

the man, the founder, Bugatti was italian, the firm was francaise

This is what I was thinking, glad I wasn't 200% wrong for once.

 

[GrauGeist]

Reminds me of Fokker. They armed the Luftwaffe in WW1, but was the company German or Dutch? Then there Sikorsky, a Russian fixed wing and American rotary wing firm.

This makes me wonder if Hugo Junkers and family could have fled Germany in 1931 and set up a new aeronautical firm elsewhere. The old man was 76 when he died in 1935, so it will need to be his children that must have the talent and abilities.

The interesting thing about Fokker, is he *technically* was East Javan, of course his parents were Dutch and East Java was a Dutch territory.
That he was making aircraft for Imperial Germany, was because that's where his airplane shop was founded.

Sikorsky's life and contributions to the U.S. is an interesting story, but so is Alexander Seversky's.
He was born in Imperial Russia, served in the Imperial Navy as an aviator, lost his leg in a crash after being shot down by a German Destroyer during WWI. The Navy deemed him unfit to fly but Tsar Nicholas had him reinstated, and Seversky went on to become an Ace, shooting down 6 German aircraft (confirmed out of 13 claimed).

Long story short: without Seversky, there would have been no P-47

 

[nuuumannn]

But Bugatti was italian

The Bugatti 100P was designed by Ettore Bugatti and a Frenchman, Louis de Monge and was built in France and Bugatti hoped to race it in a French air race, the Coup Deutsch de la Meurthe, and then market it as the basis of a military aircraft to the Armee de l'Air, hence the French connection, if you'll pardon the expression...

 

[Dimlee]

Long story short: without Seversky, there would have been no P-47

Without Seversky and Kartveli, I assume.
Interesting: the former was Russian, the latter Georgian and both were born in Tbilisi (Tiflis).

 

[GrauGeist]

Without Seversky and Kartveli, I assume.
Interesting: the former was Russian, the latter Georgian and both were born in Tbilisi (Tiflis).

And Michael Gregor, who was also Russian.

 

[spicmart]

The P-39 has to be a serious contender for the sleekest, most beautiful fighter aircraft of the WW22.

 

[NTGray]

Golly, I hate to break the rules. . .(well, no, I really don't). . .but any contest for "most beautiful airplane" can have only one winner in my judgment. Unfortunately, it's not a fighter and it missed the War, but the winner has got to be the U3A. (See, I found the Air Force version, at least. But most people remember it as Sky King's Cessna 310B Songbird. A prettier plane was never built.)

 

[SaparotRob]

Sky King, brought to you by Nabisco.

 

[GregP]

If they were making Sky King today, the daughter would have to be named Dollar instead of Penny, due to inflation. Here is the original Songbird.

Not quite as sleek as a C 310, but it was his original airplane, replaced by the 310 sometime after the first season, unless I disremember.

 

[special ed]

Sky King had an earlier Cessna I liked better, or just as well as the three ten. I liked his old bamboo bomber, the UC-78.

 

[SaparotRob]

Anyone remember "Whirley Birds"?

 

[Dimlee]

And Michael Gregor, who was also Russian.

Actually, Michael Gregor (Gregorashvili) was Georgian, as Kartveli was (Kartvelishvili).
Though, Armenian aviation enthusiasts might disagree, since Gregorashvili's mother was from an Armenian family.

 

[GrauGeist]

Actually, Michael Gregor (Gregorashvili) was Georgian, as Kartveli was (Kartvelishvili).
Though, Armenian aviation enthusiasts might disagree, since Gregorashvili's mother was from an Armenian family.

I understood him to have been born in what is now Dagestan, moving to Georgia after leaving the Russian military during the revolution?

 

[NTGray]

Anyone remember "Whirley Birds"?

With Chuck and P.T.! Absolutely! You can find some of the episodes on YouTube.

 

[NTGray]

Sky King had an earlier Cessna I liked better, or just as well as the three ten. I liked his old bamboo bomber, the UC-78.

Yeah. . .for the longest time I thought that was some sort of Beechcraft. As pretty as a 1950s pickup truck. (Sorry, but I fell for the 310's curves (in places) and the straight lines (in other places, like the engine nacelles). And those watermelon-seed tip tanks are just gorgeous. In fact, I like the Super Constellation almost as much.

 

[swampyankee]

Anyone remember "Whirley Birds"?

Yes.