Most Beautiful Aircraft of WW2? (1 Viewer)

[Elvis]

Anyone else feel all warm and fuzzy for the Avro Anson and/or Bristol Bolingbroke?

 

[Donivanp]

How true the statement "beauty is in the eye of the beholder "

 

[BarnOwlLover]

HQ photo of a XP-51F out of a series I've bought/will be buying from San Diego Air and Space Museum. Check out their collection if you want some digital or print aviation photos.

 

[J4F-2]

Hands down, no contest ............. the de Havilland Hornet F.3/Sea Hornet F.20.

 

[GreenMottling29]

Lot of very interesting answers to this topic !

My vote goes to the FW-190A for its agressive but harmonious and fluid shapes. Ki-43 as a close second (without that damn antenna mast on the engine cowling would have been my favorite haha) .

For bombers, I always find the Do 17Z nice and quite elegant to look at.

 

[BarnOwlLover]

How about a P-51 with some of the lines of the XP-51F/G and H (namely engine cowling on the F/G, and all three's radiator ducting/scoop), with the proportions of the D/H (namely length), how would that look?

I'd imagine that it would look like a single fuselage, conventionally winged, shorter tailed version of this:

Granted, I don't think the H or the F-82 look that bad either.

All are period images/illustrations from NAA taken in period from San Diego Air and Space Museum's collections (which they have print and digitized photos on sale from their collection, and can be viewed in a small format on Flickr, which is useful if you want to order some).

Also, the D is IMO a bit of a looker. I tend to favor the F/G/H and the F-82, not just for looks and performance, but because they were also designed to be an advanced airframe while being easy to work on and user/production friendly.

 

[BarnOwlLover]

Speaking of P-51Ds:

P-51D Mustang - Miss Kitty III | AirCorps Aviation

www.aircorpsaviation.com

P-51 Mustangs

Explore this photo album by Experimental Aircraft Association on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

 

[SaparotRob]

In the second series of photos, does anyone know what the parasol airplane under restoration is? I was looking for a lower wing root but I couldn't make one out.

 

[Donivanp]

In the second series of photos, does anyone know what the parasol airplane under restoration is? I was looking for a lower wing root but I I couldn't make one out.

What you talking about Willus

 

[SaparotRob]

P-51 Mustangs

Explore this photo album by Experimental Aircraft Association on Flickr!

www.flickr.com

About halfway down, on the right, there is a picture of a Mustang fuselage frame. Behind it, in the background, under the scaffolding, is the airframe of what appears to me to be a parasol airplane. Look for the wing structure on the wall. It's under that.

 

[Shortround6]

My guess is a PT-17 without the lower wing?

The cut out in the upper wing section looks about right.
The single strut landing gear is a clue.
?????

 

[Donivanp]

About halfway down, on the right, there is a picture of a Mustang fuselage frame. Behind it, in the background, under the scaffolding, is the airframe of what appears to me to be a parasol airplane. Look for the wing structure on the wall. It's under that.

Oh, that's not a plane, that there is plane 'ol ribs! 'em is really good!

 

[Elvis]

About halfway down, on the right, there is a picture of a Mustang fuselage frame. Behind it, in the background, under the scaffolding, is the airframe of what appears to me to be a parasol airplane. Look for the wing structure on the wall. It's under that.

I'm with Shortround. It's either a Stearman or a N3N.

 

[GregP]

Looks for all the world like a Stearman to me.

 

[SaparotRob]

My eyes are shot. I just couldn't make out where the lower wings are attached.

 

[GrauGeist]

My eyes are shot. I just couldn't make out where the lower wings are attached.

The lower wing's leading edge will start about a foot back from the main gear, and the wing would be situated near the bottom two stringers.

Hard to see because of the angle of the photo and the plastic draped over the fuselage.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

View attachment 716560View attachment 716561
The rainbow is a stunner

Just to say I ran into this YT on this plane, which is indeed a beaut.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTy0zyfP6KI&t=5s

 

[spicmart]

Best-looking twin-engined fighter of WW2 (together with the Ta 154). The SLEEK Mitsubishi Ki-83.
Wth is a Hornet..

 

[GrauGeist]

The KI-96 was a beauty as well.

To be honest, the Japanese had some of the best looking twin designs of the war.

 

[GregP]

Here's a Ki-96 I drew recently.

Don't have rivet lines or most panel lines and likely won't since there aren't any Ki-96s around to look at, but it's what I could find.