Most Beautiful Aircraft

[Catch22]

I'm with Wilja, something about a DSB Corsair just gives me the shivers.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I've been studying the Piaggio P108 lately, and I have to admit it was a pretty plane.

 

[Elvis]

Is it just me or does that Piaggio bear a striking resemblence to an early B-17?

Elvis

 

[vikingBerserker]

Actually it does, especially the tail section.

 

[river]

Hi,

I was looking for "Most Functional Looking" aircraft and found this thread.

I find the Spitfire and B26 Marauder to be lovely looking planes of the WW2 era.

Post WW2 I'd say the SR-71 and XB-70 Valkyrie are two fantastic looking aircraft.

Civilian stuff would be the DC-4, Super Constellation, Britannia, 707, 990 Coronado and VC-10.

river

 

[imalko]

I've been studying the Piaggio P108 lately, and I have to admit it was a pretty plane.

I agree, nice looking plane which resembles early B-17. However, I don't like the shape of the nose section.

 

[Elvis]

Hi,

I was looking for "Most Functional Looking" aircraft and found this thread.

Welcome River!

"Most Functional Looking" is an interesting associated catagory.
I think maybe the cross-over candidate that would stradle both this catagory and that one would be an L-4.
In the same sense that the "functionality" of an Army Jeep is "beautiful", both aesthetcially and practically, so is the L-4.
Great little plane that spurred a couple of post-war markets.

...JMHO.


Elvis

 

[Doughboy]

F4U Corsair.

 

[river]

Hi,

I thought about "most functional" yesterday, while having lunch and watching a DVD on the Beaufighter in RAAF service during WW2. And I thought the Beau is not a pretty aircraft, but with its snub-nose and those big radials and the concentrated firepower, it looks the part. It looks functional and built to kick butt. I also think the P47 is not an asthetic looking plane, but it looks functional more than it looks pretty. The later model B24 with the front/rear power turrets has that "I'm not pretty. I'm built for a purpose" look.

I find the F4 Phantom has that "functional, built to kick butt" look about it.

river

 

[Elvis]

Hi,

When I say "most functional" it can be beautiful or ugly or whatever - it's all in the eye of the beholder.

river

...???...
I never said that wasn't what you meant.
Why do you feel the need to restate yourself?



Elvis

 

[river]

Hi,

Sorry. Old habit on forums where the typed word can at times be misleading to my intentions. I'll edit my previous post. 8)

river

 

[Elvis]

Hi,

Sorry. Old habit on forums where the typed word can at times be misleading to my intentions. I'll edit my previous post.

river

Hi,

I thought about "most functional" yesterday, while having lunch and watching a DVD on the Beaufighter in RAAF service during WW2. And I thought the Beau is not a pretty aircraft, but with its snub-nose and those big radials and the concentrated firepower, it looks the part. It looks functional and built to kick butt. I also think the P47 is not an asthetic looking plane, but it looks functional more than it looks pretty. The later model B24 with the front/rear power turrets has that "I'm not pretty. I'm built for a purpose" look.

I find the F4 Phantom has that "functional, built to kick butt" look about it.

river

Ah, I see what you were getting at now.
That makes much better sense.
Thanks for your help in resolving that issue.



Elvis

 

[billswagger]

Its not my favorite warbird but the late P-40 , M or E is a sleek design, that looks as a fighter plane should.

I'd even give credit to the 109s on looks alone, but i can't say i favor it beyond that.


oh yeah,
i cant leave out the F8F bearcat.

 

[Colin1]

Trot out the same tired old favourites I'm afraid

The Spitfire: graceful, beautiful lines probably at their zenith with the Mk VIII, this was the last of the Merlin fighters, prior to the more muscular lines of the Griffon fighters.

The Mustang: the D was the epitomy of aerodynamically efficient beauty, a well thought-out, clean chassis with compound curves aplenty.

Neither the Bf109 nor the Fw190 series were beautiful in the same sense as the previous two but they certainly had their own, dangerous-looking brand of beauty. Most of the notable German designs looked predatory, viz the Me262, the Ju87.

The Typhoon had all the beauty of a square-jawed, bar-room brawler.

The P-47 looked like the Typhoon's drinking partner...

 

[ccheese]

I've been studying the Piaggio P108 lately, and I have to admit it was a pretty plane.

I didn't know Piaggio built airplanes !! I have a Piaggio motor scooter !!!


However, for a beautiful airplane, my vote goes to the "Connie".

Charles

 

[Civettone]

I didn't know Piaggio built airplanes !! I have a Piaggio motor scooter !!!


However, for a beautiful airplane, my vote goes to the "Connie".

Charles

Well ...
After the war, Piaggio re-tooled the small starter motor used on the big P. XII radials of the P.108 and used it to power the Vespa scooters it now builds in the re-built Pontedera plant.

Kris

 

[Elvis]

Trot out the same tired old favourites I'm afraid

The Spitfire: graceful, beautiful lines probably at their zenith with the Mk VIII, this was the last of the Merlin fighters, prior to the more muscular lines of the Griffon fighters.

The Mustang: the D was the epitomy of aerodynamically efficient beauty, a well thought-out, clean chassis with compound curves aplenty.

Neither the Bf109 nor the Fw190 series were beautiful in the same sense as the previous two but they certainly had their own, dangerous-looking brand of beauty. Most of the notable German designs looked predatory, viz the Me262, the Ju87.

The Typhoon had all the beauty of a square-jawed, bar-room brawler.

The P-47 looked like the Typhoon's drinking partner...

Oh my gaawwwd, Colin, that's sooooo "5 minutes ago".





( )

(actually, I gotta agree. The Spit was one of the most elegant designs of the war)



Elvis

 

[Clay_Allison]

The A-10 Thunderbolt II looks more beautiful to me than any other plane. I went to see Terminator Salvation just because of the A-10s.

 

[Waynos]

I didn't know Piaggio built airplanes !! I have a Piaggio motor scooter !!!


However, for a beautiful airplane, my vote goes to the "Connie".

Charles

They STILL do too

 

[Civettone]

One can say what they want about Italian aircraft designers but they definitely had a sense of style


Kris