Posted on 07/02/2005 1:07:16 PM PDT by The Other Harry
My personal favorites are the DC3 and the J3 Cub. Aeroncas weren't bad either.
I seem to like tail-draggers.
I have never piloted a DC3, but I have flown in one. That was down from Miami into Key West in the setting sun. They should still make them. There was an airplane.
I have piloted a J3. It was a bitch to taxi, but it was great fun to fly. If I could get one for a reaonable price (which is not possible these days), I would. I sometimes go out to the local airport just to look at the one they have. It's really nice.
An Aeronca would be fine also. Low and slow.
I suppose an F14 or a Warthog would be okay also. Those are a little over my head.
> The J-3 was actually designed by William Taylor of
> Taylorcraft fame who sold it to Piper. I once had an
> instructor prove that the Cub will fly backward if you
> have a headwind of 40 plus MPH. With a stall speed of
> 35, you can have an negative ground speed.
I bet you an Aeronca can fly faster backwards than a J3.
Lance Armstrong could beat an Aeronca. They aren't much good for getting places. Only for punching holes in the sky.
What is that, anyway? I do want one.
> If I ever won the lottery I would spend a chunk of it on
> a B-17.
I can think of a place or two where you might be able to use it. ;)
Getting the appropriate munitions could be a bit of a trick.
I've always like P-51s, too. Something about that cool belly scoop.
The best planes ever made in my book are the ones that RTB safely.
I see people have been spying on my house again...
> If I ever won the lottery I would spend a chunk of it on
> a B-17.
"I can think of a place or two where you might be able to use it. ;)
Getting the appropriate munitions could be a bit of a trick. "
I wouldn't want to fly it. I'd put it in a climate-controlled environment and let it age like a vintage wine.
Never realized they had Concorde service. I flew Braniff several times between 1985 and 1989, out of Dallas. Never had a bad flight. It was sad to see them go.
Found an interesting site on Braniff history. Apparently the Concorde was the only non-US-made equipment they used. Here's a link to their first bankruptcy in 1982. Closing down an airline isn't an easy thing to do:
http://www.braniffinternational.org/history/finalhours.htm
They did, but they never had a Concorde in Braniff livery, that is a mockup picture. BN had their crews that flew from DFW to IAD, then they handed the plane back, to AF, IIRC.
John Nance has a great book about Brannif, Flying Colors, all about the bankruptcy and all that. It came in handy when my airline went Ch 11, but we came out of it.
anything with a radial engine and balloon tires...come to think of it....that sounds like my wife (rim shot)
Why was the Concorde scraped? It was wasn't it? I love flyin in 747's.
None are scrapped, all are in museums. Cost too much to operate, planes got old.
In the US, there are 3 in museums, at the new Air & Space annex in DC, one in Seattle and in Manhattan on the Intrepid.
Because I own and fly one - and I've never had more fun in my life!
That's why I chose it as the best plane ever made! Ask anyone who has had one.
;-)
Dasher
>
But they have to have that beautiful SC flag on them
Thats my baby
You still haven't told me what it is.
(Maybe I can get that off the jpg link.)
Pitts Special.
> Pitts Special.
What do those go for? It looks like at least $70,000 to me.
New - probably $175K - used - I've seen them as low as $30k - but they are "rough".
They are a dream to fly - but not an easy skill to master.
My favorite, the B-58 Hustler. Saw it once and fell in love with it.
http://uploadyourimages.com/view/040314b58_hustler.jpg
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