What do you think is the best looking jet ever made?

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

I think it had puffer reaction control rockets in the nose as well.

In the film version of The Right Stuff, Yeager's accident in the NF-104 was portrayed using one of the Luke AFB F-104Gs.

Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 18th December 23:00

I LOVE the Starfighter scenes form that film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5zY-4ZtkY

Now that's a good looking jet: Imagine it being a Hawker Hunter instead? Naaaaaaa.

[dr_gn]

eharding said:

dr_gn said:

eharding said:

spitfire-ian said:

IIRC the Hunter is one of the few jets (if not the only one) which you can fly with the canopy open.

The JP is another.

I thought it was standard practice on many of the early carrier-launched jets, to leave the canopy open during launch, so that in the event of a mishap, the pilot had a chance to get out? Presumably they could therefore fly at low altitudes with an open canopy?

Good point.

I'd think that most canopies which slide backwards on rails can be opened and closed in flight - obviously there are airspeeds above which the buffetting inside the cockpit becomes unacceptable. I quite like aerobatting the Yak with the canopy open, where you're getting about 320kmh diving in - about 200 mph - perfectly comfortable provided you've got decent headgear.

Rear or sideways hinged canopies are a different kettle of fish, obviously.

Edited by eharding on Friday 18th December 23:07

Did you see the thread on here about the Su-27 (or whatever it was) and the supposed ejection and subsequent Mach 2 flight with no canopy? Turned out to be a fake.

[Skywalker]

F-14 can - even if it wasn't part of the design spec.

[Eric Mc]

dr_gn said:

Eric Mc said:

I think it had puffer reaction control rockets in the nose as well.

In the film version of The Right Stuff, Yeager's accident in the NF-104 was portrayed using one of the Luke AFB F-104Gs.

Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 18th December 23:00

I LOVE the Starfighter scenes form that film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5zY-4ZtkY

Now that's a good looking jet: Imagine it being a Hawker Hunter instead? Naaaaaaa.

They used a white painted Hawker Hunter in the film to replicate Scott Crossfield's Douglas 558 Skystreak II. You only see it for a brief flash in the barbeque scene.

[eharding]

dr_gn said:

eharding said:

dr_gn said:

eharding said:

spitfire-ian said:

IIRC the Hunter is one of the few jets (if not the only one) which you can fly with the canopy open.

The JP is another.

I thought it was standard practice on many of the early carrier-launched jets, to leave the canopy open during launch, so that in the event of a mishap, the pilot had a chance to get out? Presumably they could therefore fly at low altitudes with an open canopy?

Good point.

I'd think that most canopies which slide backwards on rails can be opened and closed in flight - obviously there are airspeeds above which the buffetting inside the cockpit becomes unacceptable. I quite like aerobatting the Yak with the canopy open, where you're getting about 320kmh diving in - about 200 mph - perfectly comfortable provided you've got decent headgear.

Rear or sideways hinged canopies are a different kettle of fish, obviously.

Edited by eharding on Friday 18th December 23:07

Did you see the thread on here about the Su-27 (or whatever it was) and the supposed ejection and subsequent Mach 2 flight with no canopy? Turned out to be a fake.

I think they *did* do some air-to-air shots of the Sukhoi without a canopy, but obviously, going a hell of a lot slower that that.

There is that famous shot of the F-14 cabriolet, when a Naval non-aviator in the back seat pulled on the wrong bit of furniture, and left in a hurry.

As I understand it the same thing happened to an RAF Tornado a couple of years ago, but on that occasion the command eject settings meant the front seater went too, much to his surprise.

However, the trick under discussion is to open the canopy and still have the option of closing it again afterwards.

[eharding]

Skywalker said:

F-14 can - even if it wasn't part of the design spec.

Are you sure? - See above. It doesn't count if the canopy parts company with the airframe.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

dr_gn said:

Eric Mc said:

I think it had puffer reaction control rockets in the nose as well.

In the film version of The Right Stuff, Yeager's accident in the NF-104 was portrayed using one of the Luke AFB F-104Gs.

Edited by Eric Mc on Friday 18th December 23:00

I LOVE the Starfighter scenes form that film:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I5zY-4ZtkY

Now that's a good looking jet: Imagine it being a Hawker Hunter instead? Naaaaaaa.

They used a white painted Hawker Hunter in the film to replicate Scott Crossfield's Douglas 558 Skystreak II. You only see it for a brief flash in the barbeque scene.

Yep I remember that one. I thought it looked like a Hunter, but wondered why, for that scene, they didn't just use a model? On the Starfighter in-cockpit scenes, it obviously isn't the single-seat Starfighter they use, but I wonder what it is? There seems to be metal framework around the outside of the canopy.

[Eric Mc]

There was a large collection of aircraft gathered together for the film but only a small selection ended up being seen in the final cut. I'm sure some of the unused footage of a replica Bell X-2 was incorporated into an episode of "Quantum Leap".

[RizzoTheRat]

annodomini2 said:

DieselGriff said:

sax player said:

does any one have a picture of a plane the americans tried to sell to germany in the 60's/70's. Think it may have been a lockhead. Starfighter? got nick named the widow maker. Or am i completely misled
Shaun.

Yes it's the f104 Starfighter and they did sell them to Germany and Italy and quite a few others as well. There's millions of images on google and Airliners.net has quite a few.

Or the flying coffin

Stubby wings make for weird handling characteristics,, which caught some of the pilots out.

And the bottom ejection seat caused issue.

The U2 spyplane is based on an F104

One of the major issues with it was apparently due to the blown flaps (venting engine gas through the wings for more lift), if you lost the engine you generally advised to eject rather than try and land it as the landing speed without the engine was insanely high.

[munroman]

A long time ago we were passing Prestwick Airport and a couple of RCAF Starfighters were taxiing for take off.

We pulled in at a handy lay-by and they lined up side by side, and as they ramped up power it was a 'feel the internal organs move' sort of moment, they shot up and over Arran, magnificent!

(After seeing how small the wings were, they were almost a missile with a man inside!)

[Skywalker]

I do apologise for neglecting this cheeky rascal.





A bit like an amphibious Victor?

[dudleybloke]

some variants of the A-4 skyhawk are quite eye pleasing.

[Jem Thompson]

I have always loved the Boeing 727, finally saw one up close the other day .

[RobM77]

Although I love the look of the Lightning, Tornado etc I always liked more organic lines in aircraft. If it has to be military, I'll go for the original F16:



If it can be any jet though, then this gets my vote everytime:

[motomk]

In no particular order...I like the functional too.
Victor...used to live where they were based a long long time ago.
C17
B747-400F mainly but the passenger one is ok too
B52
An124
Faster stuff...
Tornado
F15
Harrier
Su27
Slower stuff...
Cessna Conquest
C130
The boxy Electric looking trains that used to take me to Liverpool from London and Birmingham....86-???? pretty fast things for a train.
HST125 another train.

[MPoxon]

RDMcG said:

This...... Blackbird

+1 For the almighty Blackbird

[Drew b]

Jem Thompson said:

I have always loved the Boeing 727, finally saw one up close the other day .

I've always loved the 727.Used to fly on the Dan Air ones to Gibraltar to see my parents when dad was based there.Noisy buggers too!

[Jem Thompson]

I just love that central exhaust (wrong word?), and the way its lower than the inlet. As of today I am obsessed with the 737-800, because santa got me a gift voucher to fly one in a proper simulator. Kai Tak here I come

[Drew b]

Jem Thompson said:

I just love that central exhaust (wrong word?), and the way its lower than the inlet. As of today I am obsessed with the 737-800, because santa got me a gift voucher to fly one in a proper simulator. Kai Tak here I come

You've chosen the easy option then?

[thatone1967]

Jem Thompson said:

I have always loved the Boeing 727, finally saw one up close the other day .

My first ever flight was in a Lufthansa 727 in the mid 80's