Best looking WW2 fighter

[fastmongrel]

This is the aircraft, but this piccie was taken in 2018.

View attachment 652659Martlet taxi

Always makes me laugh when people bang on about the poor view forwards when on the ground of the Spitfire and 109. Looking at the photos the pilot of the Wildcat/Martlet can see lots of cowling but sod all else

 

[Graham Summers]

Bugatti 100P. Built 1939. View attachment 571523Does this one count?
It was meant to build a fighter-version of it at some time.

Here's a picture of the P110, as the fighter variant was designated, in its element.

 

[swampyankee]

Always makes me laugh when people bang on about the poor view forwards when on the ground of the Spitfire and 109. Looking at the photos the pilot of the Wildcat/Martlet can see lots of cowling but sod all else

"Good forward view" and "conventional gear" are a rare combination.

 

[GrauGeist]

"Good forward view" and "conventional gear" are a rare combination.

Even in a Piper Cub, it's not easy to look directly over the cowl when on the ground.

 

[spicmart]

Here's a picture of the P110, as the fighter variant was designated, in its element.
View attachment 653057

Yes. Saw this one a while ago. But to carry enough armament (and fuel?) to make an impact they would have to have built it a bit enlarged while keeping the same proportions and aerodynamics. It could have been a world beater.
Using one engine for cruise flight to keep fuel consumption low and activating the other engine for combat. Carrying at least two 20mm cannons.

 

[Admiral Beez]

BUGATTI 100P

The Bugatti 100P Was Ahead Of Its Time, Here's Why

A story of ambition, a lost aircraft and a project that ended sadly in tragedy, the 100P tells us much about aviation.

www.flitetest.com

 

[GrauGeist]

The 100P was a pure air-racer.

While it was a gorgeous aircraft, it held little promise as a base for a fighter.

 

[GregP]

The Ki-61 was based on the Heinkel He-100, of which numerous prototypes were build but it did not go into production. The He-100 did set a world speed record however, in 1938. Several He-100Ds were sold to Japan, where they influenced the design of the Kawasaki Ki-61 II Hein, or Tony.

Unless I disremember (possible), the Ki-61 was based on a DB 601Aa, not the He 100. It has little to nothing in common with the He 100 other than basic low wing monoplane layout and the DB inverted V-12 engine.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

BUGATTI 100P

The Bugatti 100P Was Ahead Of Its Time, Here's Why

A story of ambition, a lost aircraft and a project that ended sadly in tragedy, the 100P tells us much about aviation.

www.flitetest.com

This completely violates the "If it's ugly, it's French" rule.

 

[SaparotRob]

The exception that proves the rule.

 

[Glider]

Looks alone

British Single engine = Tempest
British Twin = Hornet
US Single Engine = P51D
US Twin = P38
German Single Engine = FW190A
German Twin = He219
Jap Single = Ki84
Jap Twin = Ki45
Italian Single = Macchi 202
Italian Twin = Anybody?
Russian Single = Yak 3D
Russian Single = PE2

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Looks alone

British Single engine = Tempest
British Twin = Hornet
US Single Engine = P51D
US Twin = P38
German Single Engine = FW190A
German Twin = He219
Jap Single = Ki84
Jap Twin = Ki45
Italian Single = Macchi 202
Italian Twin = Anybody?
Russian Single = Yak 3D
Russian Single = PE2

De gustibus non disputandum.

 

[SaparotRob]

Looks alone

British Single engine = Tempest
British Twin = Hornet
US Single Engine = P51D
US Twin = P38
German Single Engine = FW190A
German Twin = He219
Jap Single = Ki84
Jap Twin = Ki45
Italian Single = Macchi 202
Italian Twin = Anybody?
Russian Single = Yak 3D
Russian Single = PE2

Finally, a metric I understand.

British SE = All Merlin Spitfires (I can't really tell them apart except for that tropical nose job one. Yuchhhh)
British Twin= Mosquito
US SE = P51-D
US Twin = Mosquito
LW SE = TA-152
LW Twin = HE-219
IJA SE = Ki-61
IJA Twin = J1N
RA SE = Macchi 202
RA twin = Anybody?
VVS SE = Yak 3
VVS Twin = Does the Pe-2 count?

 

[Vincenzo]

This completely violates the "If it's ugly, it's French" rule.

But Bugatti was italian

 

[buffnut453]

Finally, a metric I understand.

British SE = All Merlin Spitfires (I can't really tell them apart except for that tropical nose job one. Yuchhhh)
British Twin= Mosquito
US SE = P51-D
US Twin = Mosquito
LW SE = TA-152
LW Twin = HE-219
IJA SE = Ki-61
IJA Twin = J1N
RA SE = Macchi 202
RA twin = Anybody?
VVS SE = Yak 3
VVS Twin = Does the Pe-2 count?

Best looking Italian twin? Has to be this:

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

 

[SaparotRob]

But Bugatti was italian

We were hoping no one would notice.

 

[Vincenzo]

For a italian twins you can look to IMAM Ro.57

 

[SaparotRob]

Cool airplane! Thanks.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

But Bugatti was italian

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

 

[GrauGeist]

British Single: Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V
British Twin: Westland Whirlwind
Dutch Single: Koolhoven FK.58
Dutch Twin: Fokker G.1
French Single: Bloch MB.57
French Twin: Potez 630-01
German Single: Focke-Wulf Fw190A-8
German Twin: Heinkel He280
Italian Single: Macci MC.202
Italian Twin: Savoia-Marchetti SM.91
Japanese Single: Kawasaki KI-61
Japanese Twin: Kawasaki KI-102
Soviet Single: Yakovlev Yak-9
Soviet Twin: Tupolev Tu-2S
U.S. Single: Curtiss P-40C
U.S. Twin: Grumman F7F