31 replies to this topic

[SG Pilot]

I thought I might ask some of you since I really like aviation (hence my name).

My favorites:


Boeing Sikorsky RAH-66 Commanche (Bottum helo)

The AH-64 Apache (above) is also a really cool one too. I'll never forget the time when one of those flew over me when I was at a military camp


A-10 Warthog, I have a relative that worked with these planes


General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, I like this one becasue it's one of the smaller jet fighters and I think it's cool!



And the Lockhead Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for it's vertical take-off and landing abilities and it's neat design.

Do you have any favorites?

~SGP

Edited by SG Pilot, 11 June 2006 - 08:14 PM.

[PissBacon]

The P-38 Lightning has always fascinated me for some strange reason.


Additionally, the F-4 Phantom II caught my interest while playing Chuck Yeager's Air Combat; putting on the afterburners and nosediving ripped that baby's wings off after leveling out at 10 ft altitude.


P.S. Isn't it strange the first search of the F-4 in google images returns a pic with the f-4 and p-38 together?

[GeneralPrimevil]

For helos, I like the Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk. The thing can be used for anything and can survive a crash as long as it is put down on the wheels. As well, every summer I used to have a dozen or so of these babies fly over head, as well as a Littlebird once and a pair of Apaches. When the president once came, two A-10s also flew overhead (with those previously mentioned Apaches following), once of which was doing some sort of 'S' maneuvering over the lake...they looked like Air National Guard.

One Fourth of July (maybe Memorial/Veterans' Day), a Blackhawk flew around my town at the highschool; the pilot having fun with the right-stick, left-pedal, throttleup...man those things are loud...


As for planes, I like the AC-130 gunship. The thought of a 105mm Howitzer shooting out of the side of a plane along with a tetra of miniguns and a pair each of 40mm Bofors and 20mm Vulcans is just mind boggling*...


*Unfortunatly both the 130U and 130H don't have the miniguns...and even still, I might be thinking of "Puff the Majic Dragon," a beast of a plane used in `Nam.

[Flaming Hilt]

Well, noticing how those are all warplanes, I feel a little awkward posting this, but I have always been a Mooney fan:



As for warplanes, I would say the A-10 Warthog -- it's a cool design for what it's used for -- but in the end, I'd have to settle with the Northrop B-2. I've always been a stealth person (and, coincidentally, we share birth years...).



I also went to an air show centered specifically around stealth planes, and it was frickin' amazing! You can barely hear those things... mostly it's just a little whisper of wind from the air displacement if they ever get too close.

EDIT: Picture size.

Edited by Flaming Hilt, 11 June 2006 - 10:39 AM.

[SgtSniper]

A-10 http://www.fas.org/m...f-7910d-518.jpg


Apache Attack copters because they are frickin' cool and my uncle flies them. http://media.graytvi...che-Longbow.jpg

Edited by Sgt.Sniper, 11 June 2006 - 11:08 AM.

[Flaming Hilt]

Hey, have you guys tried YS Flight Sim?
(go to downloads)

I don't mean to be advertising, but it's a pretty cool program. There's over 100 planes and quite a few environments. Pick your weapons (missiles, bombs, # of), go at it. You can also just grab a boeing and fly from airport to airport.

The maps are small and the graphics aren't really up to par, but it's free. And once you get the online/multiplayer figured out, it's really fun. Otherwise, the AI isn't bad.



There's also a lot of fan websites with custom aircraft n 'stuff. I've got over 300 planes now from those that I've downloaded (of course, I haven't played in quite a while)...

[LordoftheRing434]

I've always been a fan of the B-17 Flying Fortress. They had one at a local airshow a few years back and I got to go inside. Very cool stuff.

The F-14 Tomcat also looks pretty dang sweet. I saw it in "The Final Countdown" when I was younger and I've liked it since.

And the Enola Gay. It won the war with one big flash.

And the Sopwith Camel of course...I totally forgot about it when I posted a few hours back.

Edited by LordoftheRing434, 12 June 2006 - 01:20 AM.

[m15399]

The coolest aircraft has gotta be the SR-71 Blackbird.





Edit: Oh, sorry for the big image. It was the coolest one.

Edited by m15399, 11 June 2006 - 02:23 PM.

[Pineapple]

Well, noticing how those are all warplanes, I feel a little awkward posting this, but I have always been a Mooney fan:

Don't feel awkward. Actually, that's, for the most part, the most realistic of possibilities of actually being able to handle an airplane. Unless, of course, most of the posters here join the Air Guard or Air Force.

Here's my favorite;


Good ol' "wun-oh-four-niner-five"

It's my brother-in-law's Cessna 150, and he inspired me to pursue my Private Pilot's license 20 years ago, when I was about you folks' age. I've only gotten as far as my first solo, and haven't completely finished (45 hours dual instruction, 1 hour solo), but I just might go ahead and get my "ticket".

It's his work plane (he works three islands here in Hawaii, so it's his commuter vehicle), and once in a while, he calls me for a "warm up" run. How can I refuse?


As far as military hardware, I'm pleasantly surprised that many of you still love the 'ol "Hawg" (A-10). I've loved it since it came out many years ago as "the ugliest plane in the Air Force". It's beastly and tough.

If anyone cares, I'm involved in MS FlightSim 2004, and fly with Transload Virtual Airlines in the Oceania division. That is, until my FS computer (house comp) burned out it's power supply quite awhile ago. I never replaced the comp (yet), but still fly although offline.


-Piney-

[AssassinNF]

I'm a huge fan of aircraft, so here goes:

I've always liked the A-10 Thunderbolt II (Warthog). It's awesome the way that the A-10 can lose a tailfin, an engine, or even half a wing and still keep flying. It's also very manuverable(SP?) and has the largest gatling gun of any plane its size.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is gonna be awesome, as well. They are even designing laser weapons to be mounted on it.

Then there's the XB-70 Valkyrie, the F-22 Raptor, the F-14 Tomcat, the B-2 Spirit, the B-52 Superfortress, blah blah blah. I could probably list awesome planes forever...

[SG Pilot]

For non military planes, I like the Cessna Tomahawk:



And non military helo:



One of the only rotorless helicopters and the quietest one in the world!

MAn.. I could keep going, I like many aircraft!

Overall, I like these general aviation aircraft. I hope that when I get my pilot's lisence in the future that I can fly one of these.

By the way, if you're a blimp fan, don't be afraid to post and say you like blimps

Edited by SG Pilot, 11 June 2006 - 08:15 PM.

[WratH]

For non military, it's gotta be one of these three:



I've been in the front seat of all of them, DHC-2 Beavers and a DHC-3 Otter. The one in the ocean is in Fiji in case you were wondering.

[Powersniper]

Spitfires have been a favorite of mine (mostly the clipped wing type though)
http://www.spitfirea...es/spitfire.jpg

Who can ever really dislike the the Warhawk and P-51 Mustang?
http://www.richard-s...hlights/P40.jpg
http://wuarchive.wus...x/vehic/p51.jpg

A-10s have been a favorite of mine also. I wonder if/when they're gunna retire it...

[SG Pilot]

A-10s have been a favorite of mine also. I wonder if/when they're gunna retire it...

As far as I know, it will retire in at least a decade. Sometime in the 2020's I think. It's supposed to be replaced by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter which is supposed to replace a couple others too.

[GeneralPrimevil]

Oy, the SR-71, using JP-7 'napalm' to get it to mach 3, off the record mach 3.7...the forced-air intake engines are neat, since they do no rely on a fan (as much) to get the incoming air compressed for ignition. The plane also leaks like a collander until it gets above a certain altitude and stretches its, what, five inches due to friction heat?
Then again, the service record of never losing a plane(in combat)/pilot is pretty good to. I don't like the 'B' version (as pictured) even though the 'C' was neat...modified 'A' I think it really is. Funny how there are only three twin-sticks, the two 'B's and the one 'C'. It is also funny that that plane I seem to remember everything I ever learned about it...strange, especially since I hate the thing. Ha, it got replaced by satellites. Pff...


If it is high altitude, high speed aircraft we are talking about, then the X-15 takes my vote. Something about going at 7.5 times the speed of sound just kinda...well...it's more like a rocket though...
I am too lazy to go get a pic of it.





Civilian craft? I guess me sayin DC-3 would be bad, since those were normally C-3 cargo planes in WW2. How about...umm...I wish I knew more civilian aircraft.



Chuck Yeager, didn't he take the Bell X-1 to mach 1 back in...the 50s? The name finally rang a bell (er...no pun) as I was watching "Behind Enemy Lines"...er.

[Carrtoon]

AV-8B Harrier! It floats like a chopper and is just flat out awesome!

[Carbon]

I've always had a facination with the Gee Bee racer.....



It was once the fastest plane on earth. Not to mention one of the more deadly....

As far as what I've actually been flying lately...that'd be parafoil kites.


(the pic isn't me, and the kite is a little bigger than mine, but you get the idea.)

Parafoils are frameless kites that gain their shape (and resulting lift) when they get filled with wind. And they have lift. You can attach other things to the string (banners, windsocks, spinners) and have the kite pull 'em up. And they'll fight you. The bigger ones need 300-500 pound test line...and it's really recommended that you tie them off to something sturdy, like a tree, or a car.

[Gman]

the mig from back in its day

[Paragon]

Global Hawk UAV

Edited by Paragon, 18 June 2006 - 10:51 AM.

[moubeus5018]

I am a huge fan of flight and here are some of my favorites:
helos=Mi 24 hind because its a cross between an apache and a blackhawk.
fixed wing=A 10, F 15, F 16, F 22, Sukhoi su 37, and the b 1b.



You have to love the supersonic and biggest payload bomber.


And I forgot the eurofighter 2000 typoon.

Edited by moubeus5018, 17 July 2006 - 03:48 PM.

[Mr Zarwid]

I've always had a longing to fly in the planes of old, not the best, not the fastest, certainly not safe. (Wings are made of canvas, when you go into a steep dive, they had a tendency to rip right off!)

But where else can you get that classic feel, the open cockpit of years gone by, with nothing but a flight cap and goggles as your protection, and perhaps a flimsy strap for a seatbelt.

I particularly have always thought the Sopwith Camel to a particularly aluring plane.



This is the last remaining original flyalbe Sopwith Camel in the world!

I also like the Fokker Dr.I while not as fast a biplane, it can climb higher and dive farther.



I also enjoy helicopters, my favorite would have to be the AH-6 Little Bird, not because of firepower, but manouverability.

[Falcon]

Sopwith Camels are the SHIT.


You can't beat the breeze through your hair behind a prop...

The Fokker Dri Triplanes are pretty cool too, but the camels are so much faster. The Triplanes can turn like nobody's business, and turn SHARPLY for that matter, but the Camels were on the winning side of the war, so we all know which was better anyway...lol.



But I suppose turning sharply would be nice...exhibit a)

Yep. That's a camel...
I'd still take one of them over a modern fighter anyday.

I think war aircraft in World War I made for much more skill required on the part of the pilot. Now, all these missiles that seek out targets and shit like that make it too easy (relatively speaking). I don't wanna start a debate, but when you've only got a front-mounted chaingun for anti-personnel and dogfighting, it's a lot harder than just locking onto a target and letting loose with a sidewinder.

And this could happen...(it still can, but isn't likely, because nobody's ever that close anymore...)

Edited by Falcon, 06 July 2006 - 02:35 PM.

[bogboogalars]

Mine Would have to be the...http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reserve-info.de/luftwaffe/Intdat/comanche.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.reserve-info.de/luftwaffe/comanche.htm&h=448&w=550&sz=53&hl=en&start=19&tbnid=QlF8lMhNANX1XM:&tbnh=105&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3DComanche%2Bhelicopter%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DX
The comanche.

and the...http://wwhttp://www.aero-pix.com/fl/f15/f15-a.jpgF-14
w.military.cz/wallpaper/page2/f14.jpg the F-15 aaaaaaaaand the
http://images.google...t...DUTF-8&sa=N
X-02 Wyvern(I know its not a real plane but tit is still cool)

It won't let me post images.java script:emoticon('', 'smid_12')

Edited by bogboogalars, 07 July 2006 - 04:29 PM.

[moubeus5018]

You play Ace Combat?




My favorite helicopter would have to definatly be the a/m h 6 little bird.



You just cant go wrong with speed, agility, and a mix of 70 mm rockets and 7.62x51 mm MINIGUNS.

Edited by moubeus5018, 17 July 2006 - 03:50 PM.

[CaptainSlug]

I used to make Flight Sim aircraft and I tended to collect weird aircraft.
Here are some I love a little too much.

De Havilland Venom Mk.4

X-31 EFMD
RFB FanTrainer
Bede BD-5J

And helicopters...
Kamov Ka-50
RAH-66 Comanche (had the pleasure of making the flight sim one with the help of official schematics from the design team)
Ah-1S Super Cobra

Edited by CaptainSlug, 11 July 2006 - 09:59 PM.