What would you choose to have a flight in, and why?

[V8LM]

speedtwelve said:

Fast Jet:




Why? It's British and even today would hold its own in bonkers low-level acceleration and vertical performance. Level acceleration to M1 followed by a vertical pull to the stratosphere with a roll-off-the-top. Preferably around sunset. Back on the ground 10 mins later with minimum landing fuel in time for tea and medals. I was lucky enough to spend a week at Binbrook with the Space Cadets in the last year of the Lightning. There was an F100 Super Sabre operating from there to boot, which flew most days doing semi-secret-squirrel trials. Proper fast-jet heaven... I still remember the 'BOOM' of the F100's reheat hard-lighting.


Warbird:



Why? The D-model is my favourite aeroplane. I've sat in one, complete with original armoured windscreen, gunsight and genuine kill-markings on the side. I currently display a vintage taildragger aeroplane, but would kill to fly one with 10x the power! A mate-of-a-mate has a two-stick TF-51 in California available on very generous rates. I'm still saving.....

I flew Crazy Horse (a TF-51) last year - amazing experience:



Warbird: For me, it would be Spitfire or Lancaster (have a 'thing' for Merlin powered aircraft as my grandfather designed the transmission and later supercharger drive).

Civil: Super VC10 probably. Or Constellation.

No, wait. Empire Flying Boat.

[perdu]

Growing up in the fifties and sixties

and poor

I always wished I could fly Britannia, 'cos they were beautiful.

Then going to school in the early sixties and cadet instructing in the seventies I stuck the C130 on my wish list too.

The after leaving my disbanded ATC Squadron I joined a TA unit.

Then first overseas camp - banggggg!

Flew to Dortmund? (German place, lots of concrete) in a glossy sand/brown/black C130K, ran around making soldierly noises for a while. (Blimey it was fun driving left Hand Drive Landys in a strange place)

Then Oh My God...

Bristol Britannia back to Manchester at end-ex!

Also had the pleasure of an American CH47 in '77 on Reforger.

I have spent many happy hours flying sideways on red canvas and those happy few hours on "sitting backwards airlines" in the Brit.


I slept in 8sqn's hangar at Kinloss one year as the runways were being refurbed and the Mighty Shacks were living at Lossie.

What about now?

VC10 would be epic, Tornado amazing and the Typhoon?

Incredible.


Probably be an A3summatorother to Benirifé...

Which is fine

[chilistrucker]

sadly, i know very little about planes.
so can only comment on what i've seen fly, and thought, WOW!
so, a tornado or b52

[perdu]

chilistrucker said:

sadly, i know very little about planes.
so can only comment on what i've seen fly, and thought, WOW!
so, a tornado or b52

nothing sad about it

Say what you see/think/like

There's no right thing here

[chilistrucker]

perdu said:

chilistrucker said:

sadly, i know very little about planes.
so can only comment on what i've seen fly, and thought, WOW!
so, a tornado or b52

nothing sad about it

Say what you see/think/like

There's no right thing here

saw the b52 many moons ago when i was a kid at an airshow, mildenhall i think.
it flew in landed, went down the runway, and took off again all in 1 move. as it flew away, all i could hear was car alarms

the tornado i've seen a few times, doing low level stuff, 1 used me once when i was in the truck as a target i think, up on the a68. it was really low.

[Forthright MC]

Gotta be the Lancaster for me. Been obsessed and interested in that plane for as long as i can remember (got a keen interest in Bomber Command and their various escapades) and no plane, out of all the many i have seen at air shows over the years, invokes the same kind of reactions/emotions as the BBMFs PA474 does, a truly special machine IMO a very poignant piece of national memorabilia.

Heres a quick vid clip of PA474 i shot at the Gransden show last week, whats a sight and sound

http://s1203.photobucket.com/albums/bb394/Forthrig...

[pacman1]

ooh, I just remembered another one..

Two seat, almost concordesque, simply sublime, and with full military power..





To quote Wolfman, 'this gives me a hard on'

[UnderTheRadar]

Supermarine S.6B for me. I used to have a model one as a child that would motor it's way around my bath. I quickly learned to keep the propeller away from my willy.

[aeropilot]

pacman1 said:

ooh, I just remembered another one..

Two seat, almost concordesque, simply sublime, and with full military power..

Err, <cough> four seats.


But, yes, a spectacular a/c, although not well liked by it's crews or those that have to work on it.

[pacman1]

Well, ya learn summat new every day! I've always had it in my head they were two seaters.

So, if I ever get lucky, there'd be room for me then.

[silverfoxcc]

So many to choose!!!

Military Jet fighter Lightning or Phantom
Piston Spitfire

Multi engined Vulcan/Victor B52 Blackbird

Passenger Piston Super Connie
Jet Concorde

[SVX]

pacman1 said:

ooh, I just remembered another one..

Two seat, almost concordesque, simply sublime, and with full military power..



To quote Wolfman, 'this gives me a hard on'

If you're going to do something...

[ALawson]

Well I suppose it would we a 12Sq Tornadoe in the navigator seat. My cousin ex Flt Lt of 12 Sq could be in the hot seat!

A few runs over Tain and else where in the highlands would be enough.

Failing that a SR71 trip!

[RDMcG]

aeropilot said:

Err, <cough> four seats.


But, yes, a spectacular a/c, although not well liked by it's crews or those that have to work on it.

Pretty sobering to see them all lined up to be broken up when I visited Davis Monthan........

[RDMcG]

I have had a flight in a Lancaster which was superb. (vid here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu_MC7EyZ2o )



I would fancy a flight in a B-47 with the bubble canopy...predecessor to the B-52.

[yellowjack]

graphene said:

Just found this airline in Canada - operating a Goose: http://www.pacificcoastal.com/id/38/Our-Fleet.html

Never expected anyone to share this little dream of mine. It would have to be "Cutter's Goose", from Tales of the Gold Monkey http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083488/ for the civil side, and probably another Grumman, the F6F Hellcat http://www.warbirdalley.com/f6f.htm for the military experience. Anyone know this week's lottery numbers? Thought not.

[Man-At-Arms]

HereBeMonsters said:

As well as the obvious A10 (bloody hell that's a great looking plane)

to feel the aircraft shake as it fires the depleted uranium shells from it's gun must be something incredible !

[XB70]

aeropilot said:

Err, <cough> four seats.


But, yes, a spectacular a/c, although not well liked by it's crews or those that have to work on it.

Any more info on wht the crews don't like it? Cheers

[Du1point8]

RizzoTheRat said:

Simpo Two said:

It happened for Thomas Kendal in 1960 - until the damn Arabs wrecked it: http://www.warhistoryonline.com/featured-article/a...

Sadly can't find the photos Life took on the trip; they're superb.

I've seen the pics of the wreck before, hadn't realised there was a photographer on board and photos of the trip though

Eric Mc said:

There is a flying Catalina in the UK and anyone can buy shares in it. I was on board this aeroplane at Farnborough this year - sadly on the ground.

Plane Sailing. Saw her at Farnborough a few years ago but didn't manage to get onboard. £17.5k and £150/month for a 1/20 share of the aircraft doesn't sound a bad deal to me, though £600/hour would soon rack up

think you maybe looking for these pictures:

http://www.retronaut.co/2011/11/a-day-on-a-flying-...

[anonymous-user]

SVX said:

If you're going to do something...

That would be my choice. It can take off 50 tonnes heavier than a B-52 and can also do Mach 2. Looks gorgeous as well. It's interesting how Russia and the US have gone different ways. The B1 was converted to low level work and reduced radar cross section, and the B.2 for stealth, whereas the Russians have just built something big and fast.

A buccanneer at low level would also be on the list.