On the flight line...

[gypsydad]

I have flown with my friend in his Pilatus PC12...very cool pressurized turbo prop...he has it configured for 7 passengers, including bar and head. Cruise at 250-300knots at 29k feet...pretty impressive but boring to fly...too much electronics! (LOL) I got my license in HI flying a Cesena 150 doing touch and go's on Ford island back in 74...pretty sweet flying interisland...think I paid $12/hour wet! Went on to 172 and Piper 140 and the PA28A200 with variable pitch prop! That was a fun plane...but landing in Palm Springs one time, scared the heck out of me when the ground temperatures were so hot, I had to try 3 times to get it on the ground...fun times...

[skyguyscott]

Everyone has their favorite airplane or favorites in different classes of airplanes, and while there will be some overlap, there will also be widely different choices. But how about ugly? Is one person's jaw-dropping beauty another's hideous fright?

So, like those who like to slow down traffic to view the scene of an accident, I have searched the inter pipes to find the world's ugliest planes.

Historynet has a picture list of their loathsome 13, and sure enough, there are some there that I think aren't so bad. Sure the McDonnel XF-85 Goblin isn't exactly elegant at first glance, but I think it's darn clever considering it was supposed to fit inside Bob's beloved Peacemaker. If anything, it's more funny looking than ugly.



Tony, you might be interested to know the UK is responsible for more than it's fair share of entries on this list. Tell us how the same country that designed and built beauts like the Spitfire and Vulcan Bomber also gave us the Short Seamew

and from the great white north (even closer to home) the Vickers Velos!


Sure you would expect to find Soviet, German and Italian travesties on this list, and they are in all their wonderful awfulness.

I personally think the Russians might have it with their jet-powered bi-plane crop-duster, (yes, you read that correctly) the PZL M-15 Belphegor. A design that's so bad, it's gone beyond genius and back to abomination again.


Not that the Germans didn't try like Hölle to out do them with the Lippisch Aerodyne, but while it flies, sort of, it does not have wings or rotors, and so we can't really call it an airplane or even a helicopter, but gosh, it sure is ugly.


And in case you think we American's can't do ugly, at least certainly not anymore today, I remind you of the Boeing X-32. Yes, Boeing, who evidently looked to nature to draw inspiration from the noble Pelican to design our nation's joint strike fighter. Thankfully, at least, no matter how much graft, kickbacks, political contributions, or outright bribes were proffered, it wasn't enough to overlook this, this, plane? and win.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by skyguyscott

Everyone has their favorite airplane or favorites in different classes of airplanes, and while there will be some overlap, there will also be widely different choices. But how about ugly?...

My favorite ugly/unusual plane is the Blohm & Voss BV 141. You can't accuse these guys of being hidebound by convention.

[skyguyscott]

At least the BV 141 was redeemed somewhat by the fact that it was effective and even superior to it's competition, once an adequate power plant was installed. (Too little, too late, a common issue in that notorious regime)

But the Russian/Polish jet/biplane/crop duster not only didn't work very well, it was, in almost every way, inferior to the AN-12, it's officially obsolete predecessor, which, I believe continues to fly today. It is not only one of the ugliest planes (if not the ugliest!) but a classic, prototypical example of the inherent failures of the central-planning bureaucracy of the Soviets.

[Marko Polo]

F101. A or b. Possibly located outside Las Vegas or in Az

[Marko Polo]

F101. A or b. Possibly located outside Las Vegas or in Az

[jeffmc306]

Originally Posted by Jim & Susan

Speaking of the SR-71.................Coolest airplane ever built. And built on early 1960's technology. Enjoy boys.

Jim

The SR-71 has to be a top contender. Reminded me about the this story of pilot radio chatter - an F18 jet jockey trying to show off then the SR-71 keys up the mic and asks for a ground speed check!

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/sr-7...d-speed-check/

My second choice would be the P-38 Lightning. What a beautiful prop plane...

[skyguyscott]

Well, the P-38 is indeed one of the coolest-looking planes of it's era. It is often overshadowed by the P-51, and indeed there is a very old debate about which was the better fighter. Now, the P-51D is not an ugly plane at all, and it certainly is more handsome and distinctive, (and lethal) than the A model.

I do think the 38 is unfairly overlooked -- restored or replica 38s are as rare as hen's teeth compared to the 51D.

[Fly at Night]

I like it when "old" airliners are rescued from the scrap heap. As one ferrying crew said, "The farther away she got away from the junkyard, the better she flew."

My friend's airline has scooped some "old" Boeing 767s from the desert boneyard and has put them back into service. Right now, he's on his first line trip with the 767. Horray! No more woe is me -- I'll never fly a wide body.

Hope your first landing is as good as these ones, friend.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUPU2EQ36_o

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by skyguyscott

Well, the P-38 is indeed one of the coolest-looking planes of it's era. It is often overshadowed by the P-51, and indeed there is a very old debate about which was the better fighter. Now, the P-51D is not an ugly plane at all, and it certainly is more handsome and distinctive, (and lethal) than the A model.

I do think the 38 is unfairly overlooked -- restored or replica 38s are as rare as hen's teeth compared to the 51D.

"D" has the scoop?

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by Belbein

"D" has the scoop?

The "D" has the bubble canopy.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by skyguyscott

Well, the P-38 is indeed one of the coolest-looking planes of it's era. It is often overshadowed by the P-51, and indeed there is a very old debate about which was the better fighter. Now, the P-51D is not an ugly plane at all, and it certainly is more handsome and distinctive, (and lethal) than the A model.

I do think the 38 is unfairly overlooked -- restored or replica 38s are as rare as hen's teeth compared to the 51D.

My father, a still living navy combat veteran, has always claimed that if it weren't for the 38 we would have lost the war in the Pacific. That's from someone who was there and had his destroyer hit and subsequently sunk at Okinawa.

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

My father, a still living navy combat veteran, has always claimed that if it weren't for the 38 we would have lost the war in the Pacific. That's from someone who was there and had his destroyer hit and subsequently sunk at Okinawa.

Wait a minute. That's a Navy guy giving credit to the (Army) Air Force for winning the war?!!!


Was his destroyer hit by a kamikaze?

[batman]

This thread is awesome!
Have you been to Castle Air Museum?

https://video.valleypbs.org/video/by...le-air-museum/

I am a big fan of the British Avro Vulcan. The sound (howl) it made still stands the hair on my neck.

-Dennis

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Belbein

Wait a minute. That's a Navy guy giving credit to the (Army) Air Force for winning the war?!!!


Was his destroyer hit by a kamikaze?

Facts is facts, and at that time I don't think he cared which branch was "clearing the air". It was thick with enemy aircraft. Yes, a Zero hit just aft of the forward magazine. Fortunately they just barely got it flooded befor the fire reached it. He started the war at Iowa preflight to become a Naval aviator, but in the end, his eyes didn't allow him to pilot. He became a navigator and spent the bulk of the war in FL running sub search up to the Carolinas and back every day. Because of the flight training, he knows an awful lot about all US and enemy aircraft of the day.

If you're interested, pics and details have been declassified in the Reagan era, and have been updated regularly. Here:

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/04/04029.htm

APD 29 started life as DD248, a coal burning 4 stacker. One of the "Green Dragons".

[skyguyscott]

All 51s had the under-fuselage air scoop, but it was modified and refined over the course of the war, along with other improvements like the bubble canopy and improved engine that took an otherwise adequate fighter and transformed it into what many believe (thought some might argue) was the pinnacle of piston-engine fighters of it's era.




Those interested in a more detailed overview can have an interesting read at wikipedia

[GCinSC2]

But before a flight line you need a manufacturing line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBfFpcdyd5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=465-3zhQ1pA

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by dznf0g

http://www.navsource.org/archives/10/04/04029.htm

I peeked at it and after a couple of clicks had to back away. I'm a boat and ship junkie and if I'd looked at more than two, I'd be sucked into it for a week. Thanks, though. Cool stuff.

[dznf0g]

Originally Posted by Belbein

I peeked at it and after a couple of clicks had to back away. I'm a boat and ship junkie and if I'd looked at more than two, I'd be sucked into it for a week. Thanks, though. Cool stuff.

I get it, thanks for looking. I've been thinking about it for awhile. Heard the other day that we are now losing 300 WWII vets per day. Not many left. Dad will be 100 in December....still has a pretty sharp mind, but boy, is he diminutive in stature.

BTW, the dates on the Norfolk pics were added recently. From Dad's account, I believe he was on board in those pics. They left Norfolk in Feb. 1945, sailed through the Panama canal and off to the South Pacific.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Enjoy....click the blue banner for full screen.👍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNJ2hCv6bXQ

Bob
🇺🇸