WW11 the most aesthetically attractive aircraft.

[rickoshea52]

Apart from the obvious candidates like Spitfire and Lancaster for me I have always liked the Dakota, Dauntless and Sunderland. I've also always like the Nakajima Kate and the simplicity of the Mitsubishi Zero.

[yak face]

I forgot ,another contender for me ,the de Havilland dh 89 dragon rapide/dominie , another beautiful design from de Havilland (and dont forget the daddy of them all the DH 88 comet ,although thats not ww2 ) tony

[Guest]

This is a great tread.

For me it has changed some many times. When I was a kid it would have been the Spit or the Hurricane but think that stemmed more from my love of War comics. Then when I started to look into these things as a teenager with trips to airshows and museums It would have been the P-51 Mustang or the ME 262 (still recovering from the Victory Show yesterday 2 Mustangs ) moving on to things like the Meteor and the F86 Sabre. but to me at this moment in time I like the more obscure or less well known planes to be honest.

After a trip to the Classic Air Force a couple of years ago my new favorite's are The De Havilland Vampire

The Vampire was developed during the Second world war but missed it by about 6 month. It didn't have a very long RAF life only about 10 years in all It had two noticeable first's. It was the first Jet fighter to fly across the Atlantic and a Navy version was the 1st Royal Navy carrier Jet. The Vampire was exported world wide with some still being in service into the 1980's

The other is the De Havilland Venom

The Venom was a replacement for the Vampire and Meteor and again was exported world wide it was finally retired in 1983 with the last country to have it in service being Switzerland.

The reason I love these 2 planes is because they both look very futuristic but in an old fashion sort of way They look like they have come from a Gerry Anderson show or from the pages of Dan Dare. They may not have been very good or lasted long in service with the RAF but there is something about them that fascinates me.

[Guest]

lol just read the title again.

Only one of my planes will count thenops:

[Guest]

May be Paul but it is interesting. Thought the Vampire, as a young boy when it was about, was a boys dream a different configuration.

Laurie

[stona]

lol just read the title again.Only one of my planes will count thenops:

But they are beautiful aeroplanes

Steve

[colin m]

To answer the question simply, DH Mosquito. But, the B17, to me, always just looked right.

[Guest]

Just had my 7 year old read this over my shoulder and has told me to add his top 5

1) Fokker wolf 190 ( his words the short nose one the long nose looks daft)

2) spitfire but only the ones done in camo not the stupid silver one his words again.

3) hurricane

4) P51 mustang especially Jannie and jumping jack ( the ones we saw yesterday at the victory show )

5) and the last one is I think the ME 262 or in his words the cool jet one out of red tails.

He then followed this all up with dad the Germans stuff was way cooler then the British and American stuff and this was all said while he was stood there in his new replica Luftwaffe cap. Lolo_O

[Guest]

Isn't it good that taste in women (or to be pc, members of the opposite gender) and aircraft is so subjective!!!!!

[papa 695]

I'm with Colin on this one the Mosquito all the way

[Guest]

The grumman duck or the short Sunderland bother quirky but beautiful planes (sorry just call me mad ken, or kp is nuts)

[Guest]

The old Dakota must be up their, a classic aircraft, flew for decades in both military and civilian service, beautiful simple lines. Derek

[Guest]

I agree with you Derek. The amazing thing about this aircraft is that it was a transporter and came within a division of its own. Neither fighter nor bomber.

Even to day 80 years later it still looks the part.

Laurie

[Ian M]

Been thinking about this over the day and there are a good few ideas as to what is "Aesthetically pleasing". Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. (or beer holder as my dear old dad used to say).

Personally I cant see that ANY bomber is a thing of beauty, many are more pleasing to the eye than others. Purposeful? The Lancaster is a great looking, purposeful machine, but is it beautiful?

Someone called the Walrus. which actually I find quite easy on the eye. Is beauty and aesthetics the same thing...?

So in an attempt to clarify why I like the Spitfire:

It has good proportions, the lines are sleek and graceful and the original design was still clear in its genes right though to the last version/mark.

Ian M

[Guest]

Good enough for me Ian. The description of aesthetical : the qualities in a person or thing that as a whole give pleasure to the senses.

Beauty is not necessarily part of that as the Walrus is not beautiful but certainly gives pleasure (to me). An elephant or a meir cat are not beautiful but my god they do please the senses.

Spitfire although not my first choice has all the things you mention. I just love the wings and that big projecting nose for the Rolls. It is the ultimate fighting machine of its time (as is to me the Harrier Sea Jet).

Thursday it is over Jersey with the two Lancasters and all landing at the airport. Plus the Arrows. They stay over night and I know why ! For instance within 500 yds of our flat there are 45 restaurants (includes KFC ).

I also add to my list the Typhoon as that looks just what it was the ultimate tank buster. Big and watch me I am in charge.

Next week Fleet Air Arm Museum so that may affect my judgement again. What ever camera ready plus my aesthetical senses.

Laurie