What is your favorite fixed wing aircraft?

[manfredvonrichthofen]

What is your favorite fixed wing aircraft? Why?

Personally I love the A-10 Warthog. Perfect for CAS and can easily take a fight in the air. Armored o take maximum damage, complete the mission and get the pilot home safely. It doesn't have the largest loadout capacity, but can still carry a can of you know what and deliver it right to the enemies front door.

[HGjunkie]

This will be the cheesiest answer in this thread:

The F-22 Raptor.

Pure awesomeness, and all that advanced technology wrapped into one shiny package.

[a2capt]

If someone else is buying the gas and oil, anything is my favorite

You buy, I fly!

[Thrashed]

My favorite one is the one that I am flying. 

Today it was the Boeing 737-900ER.

[DakRadz]

Thrash- I could use a lift, think you could help me out? Seems you have plenty of cargo space..

Mine would be the F-14. Why? Well, the educated answer is that is was an extremely capable aircraft that is still fairly top of the line performance-wise today (though maintenance was a killer, which I am led to believe is why the Super Hornet replaced it). And this may not be educated, but these are my impressions.

The REAL answer? I loved the show JAG growing up, and wanted to be Harm. When I found out that the Navy had decommed all the F-14s, I lost interest in being a pilot... And quickly regained, because I was 13 and fluctuated my interests like that.

[PA Guy]

For a slightly nostalgic twist:

A-1 Skyraider.  That huge R3350 radial could shake the world.

A-6 Intruder

[Senty7]

SR-71 Blackbird.  First flew in 1962, but if it appeared today, it would still rank among the state of the art.

F117A Nighthawk.  Radar sig of an eighth-inch ball bearing, and proof that Kelly Johnson picked the right guy to succeed him at the Skunk Works.

Changed my mind:  Five big black and white beheamoths named Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.  0 to 17,604 in eight and a half minutes.  You gotta like that.  God Speed, Challenger and Columbia. 

--Senty

[PHall]

SR-71 Blackbird.  First flew in 1962, but if it appeared today, it would still rank among the state of the art.

F117A Nighthawk.  Radar sig of an eighth-inch ball bearing, and proof that Kelly Johnson picked the right guy to succeed him at the Skunk Works.

Changed my mind:  Five big black and white beheamoths named Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.  0 to 17,604 in eight and a half minutes.  You gotta like that.  God Speed, Challenger and Columbia. 

--Senty

You forgot the first shuttle Enterprise. She never made it to space, but she paved the way for the others.
And after the Challenger accident, there was serious talk of rebuilding her so she would be "space rated".
Building Endevour from the spare parts supply proved to be cheaper.

[PHall]

As for my favorites. The three airframes that kept me alive through 28 years of military flying.
EC/KC-135, KC-10A and the C-141B/C.

[Senty7]

(Quote): You forgot Enterprise.

Didn't forget, just opted not to included it. 

[FastAttack]

got to many favorites

P-51 Mustang
P-38
Corsair
A4 Skyhawk
F4 Phantom
Concorde
SR-71 BlackBird.
F-15 / F16

Oh can't forget to add a glider ASW-27!

Now if I was filthy rich my weekend plane would be a warbird - P51 or Corsair.

[SarDragon]

Lockheed Constellation. Winged elegance.

[FARRIER]

Boeing 747-100 and 200 series
Embraer EMB120 (Turboprop)

Both aircraft are a workhorses and they can take a beating.

[JeffDG]

SR-71 Blackbird.  First flew in 1962, but if it appeared today, it would still rank among the state of the art.

F117A Nighthawk.  Radar sig of an eighth-inch ball bearing, and proof that Kelly Johnson picked the right guy to succeed him at the Skunk Works.

Changed my mind:  Five big black and white beheamoths named Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.  0 to 17,604 in eight and a half minutes.  You gotta like that.  God Speed, Challenger and Columbia. 

--Senty

Those aren't airplanes, they're gliders.   

[ol'fido]

F-86 Sabrejet.  Last of the real dogfighters before all that missile business screwed it up.

[DC]

I think in categories, picking one favorite airplane isn't possible.

Vintage Military: P-51D or the Spitfire, both are capable and very graceful.

Vintage Civil: Lockheed Constellation, hands down, sleek and powerful

Modern Military: F-15E. I like the Raptor, but a Strike Eagle loaded with ordinance just screams power, death and destruction in a way the F-22 can't. The A-10 matches it in air-to-mud mean-ness, but can't go supersonic and dogfight too. The Mudhen can do it all.

Modern-ish Civil: B727

[Flying Pig]

I would like to start off by saying this thread discriminates....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1Z_Viper

AH-1Z

But if I must. I will say the AV-8 Harrier.  But only if it has "United States Marines" painted on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier_II

[DC]

I would like to start off by saying this thread discriminates....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_AH-1Z_Viper

AH-1Z

But if I must. I will say the AV-8 Harrier.  But only if it has "United States Marines" painted on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier_II

Nuked for lack of research on topic. Never mind.

[flyboy53]

deHavilland Mosquito and Boeing B-17. Both are rather timeless in design and purpose.

I've had the honor of crawling through two B-17s. One at Grissom AFB and the Fuddy Duddy when it was still at Geneseo.

[davidsinn]

Does it have to have wings? My favorite would be the X-24A Lifting Body. That program had such potential.

[BlueLakes1]

I'll go with the one I get to fly at work, the Pilatus PC-12. King Air 200 speeds and altitudes with more cabin space and on half the gas.

[davidsinn]

I'll go with the one I get to fly at work, the Pilatus PC-12. King Air 200 speeds and altitudes with more cabin space and on half the gas.

Some guys have all the luck...

[SarDragon]

F-86 Sabrejet.  Last of the real dogfighters before all that missile business screwed it up.

The USN folks might beg to differ. There was "The Last Gunfighter" F-8 Crusader, which went out of service in 1976 as a fighter. It was the last American fighter with guns as the primary weapon, principally serving in the Vietnam War.

The F-86 was retired in the US in 1970.

[BlueLakes1]

I'll go with the one I get to fly at work, the Pilatus PC-12. King Air 200 speeds and altitudes with more cabin space and on half the gas.

Some guys have all the luck...

I AM lucky... I won't deny that at all. 

[AngelWings]

F-22 RAPTOR ALL THE WAY! HOOAH! It is sexy, very fast, stealth, and it is most importantly versatile. The F-15 is my second choice, and my third choice would be the C-17 Globemaster III. F-15 used to be what the F-22 is today, and the C-17 is the most agile cargo plane today. Saw them all at airshows, and was blown away by them each time.
My favorite civilian fixed wing aircraft would be the Staudacher S-300D, the same has airshow pilot John Klatt. That baby can survive -/+ 20 G's!

[Al Sayre]

XB-70 Mach3+ Bomber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vPvr29wJ80

[davidsinn]

XB-70 Mach3+ Bomber
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vPvr29wJ80

I have had the pleasure of getting real close to that bad-boy, it was very awe inspiring. It's amazing the crap we did in the 50s and 60s that we can't replicate today.

[Al Sayre]

NASA was flying one for a little while in the late 60's, I got to see it airborne once when I was about 7 or 8.  Awesome is the only way to describe it.

[davidsinn]

NASA was flying one for a little while in the late 60's, I got to see it airborne once when I was about 7 or 8.  Awesome is the only way to describe it.

You suck major The last one is in the museum annex at the USAF museum and that's where I saw it.

[SarDragon]

Oh, yeah, gotta add the OV-10 Bronco. Kool as hell, and a hoot to fly.

[ol'fido]

I would also like to add the Me108 to my list. Wish someone would start building them again or put it into a homebuilt kit.

[RiverAux]

The last one that safely returned me to the ground (it changes a lot).

[PHall]

I would also like to add the Me108 to my list. Wish someone would start building them again or put it into a homebuilt kit.

IIRC, the Me108 was fabric over a metal tube framework. If you can get a complete set of plans and know a good welder you're half-way there.

[ol'fido]

I would also like to add the Me108 to my list. Wish someone would start building them again or put it into a homebuilt kit.

IIRC, the Me108 was fabric over a metal tube framework. If you can get a complete set of plans and know a good welder you're half-way there.

Re: Me108B..."The fuselage is of all-metal, monocoque, stressed skin construction." "Me109", Martin Caidin, Ballantine Books, pp.17.

[twofivexray]

Citabria 7KCAB

[bosshawk]

Just to keep this thread from changing over to uniforms:    the airplane that I have owned and flown for over 19 yrs, the BE-33 Debonair and the one that took me lots of places in the Army, the OV-1 Mohawk.  Neither is the fastest, sleekest or sexiest, but both are fun to fly and both get me home when it is time to do that.

[scooter]

For me, B737-100/200. It didn't have much thrust, no magic magenta line, made plenty of noise though. You had to fly it all the time, even on autopilot. Great satisfaction hand flying a Cat II single engine ILS low approach and return for full stop(on a PC). Never got bored, even at cruise.

[GroundHawg]

Oh, yeah, gotta add the OV-10 Bronco. Kool as hell, and a hoot to fly.

The Bronco is my Fav plane ever. Ive always wanted to do a jump out of one. Im so jealous youve flown in one much less flown it.

[blackrain]

For a slightly nostalgic twist:

A-1 Skyraider.  That huge R3350 radial could shake the world.

A-6 Intruder

My favorites too. Especially the Skyraider. It was there to help the guys down in the mud. No higher calling.

[jmoring87]

My favorite is the A-10.

But I'm currently stationed with a EA-6B squadron. Didn't see anyone mention that.

[SarDragon]

My favorite is the A-10.

But I'm currently stationed with a EA-6B squadron. Didn't see anyone mention that.

The only kool thing about an EA-6B is the "high efficiency, electrically driven, high altitude propellers" on the wing pods. 

Otherwise, a major maintenance PITA.

[Al Sayre]

^^+1

[Keith West]

How about in each category?

Spam Can:
Cessna 182

WWII:
F4U Corsair

Vintage Jet:
A-4 Skyhawk

Current Jet:
F-18 Super Hornet

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Spam Can: oh yeah, Cessna 172, not 82, I just like the old 172 a little better not sure why, probably because WIWAC it was what we had, and we loved it.
WWII: P51Mustang, LOVE IT!!!!
Vintage Jet: F-4 Phantom, nice sweet adaptable loadout.
Current Jet: Still the A-10. I literally owe those things my life.

[gordo07]

For me, the P-3 Orion and the P-2V Neptune. Both post military with a white and red paint job and big one or two digit number on the tail.  They've help/saved my ass a few times at work.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

For me, the P-3 Orion and the P-2V Neptune. Both post military with a white and red paint job and big one or two digit number on the tail.  They've help/saved my ass a few times at work.

I must ask, what do you do?

[davidsinn]

For me, the P-3 Orion and the P-2V Neptune. Both post military with a white and red paint job and big one or two digit number on the tail.  They've help/saved my ass a few times at work.

I must ask, what do you do?

I'm guessing woodland fire. That description sounds like water bombers.

[gordo07]

Correct for the most part, I'm a fire fighter for the forest service out west. Except it's a retardent they use in them now, red some water lots of surfactant some fertilizer, and slicker than snot if you walk on it. We don't have the water supply to support with water, sonar turn to the retardent, plus it can be put down ahead of the fire to give us ground pounders a fighting chance to catch up.

[Shotgun]

Fly fast - F-111.  Had these at Mt. Home AFB when I was a kid

Fly slow - Piper Sport (now Czech Sport Aircraft). A plane I could realistically actually fly some day

Fly upside down - T-6 Texan II

[Trung Si Ma]

Peterson king Katmai
(http://www.katmai-260se.com/katmai.html)