[dgthe3]

Just thought to start a new thread that shouldn't get too political, but anytihng can happen!

One rule here, please exclude the Avro Arrow because there are threads deticated to that wonderful piece of Canadian technology.

So, feel free to include any type of aircraft, be it fixed wing, chopper, airship, commercial or military. None of that matters. Just describe why you think it should be here.

[Rev_Blair]

The Beaver. A true work horse that could land, depending how it was outfitted, on water or ice or in a field. It is the ultimate Canadian aircraft, built to serve people in a wide variety of places and situations.

It's also the first plane I ever went up in.

[mcpuck]

The CF 100 was a solid home-made fighter for the Canadian Airforce.

I selected this not because it is a fighter but because it represents a potential for Canadian engineering and our ability to stand on our own feet as a nation.

[Streaker]

The 727 was a fairly run-of-the-mill airliner, but I've been fond of it ever since I was about 7 or 8 years old.

My parents and I were going to Winnipeg to visit family and as was usually the case we flew Air Canada. So we got to the airport and as we were boarding the plane I noticed that the cockpit door was open. I stopped for a moment to look in and the Captain noticed me staring. Next thing I know he's inviting me into the cockpit and we talk for a couple of minutes before he asks me if I would like to stay in the cockpit FOR TAKEOFF! I accepted the invitation! The crew strapped me into a seat behind the Captain's, put some headphones on me so I could listen to the ATC, and away we went....total rush!

After we reached cruising altitude I went back to the passenger compartment thinking that it couldn't get any better. I was wrong. As we approached Winnipeg, a flight attendant came by and asked me to return to the cockpit for the landing. For an 8 year old boy this is about as good as it gets, eh?

Can you imagine this happening nowadays?

Thanks again, Captain Stewart!

[Robair]

The p51-d Mustang. This world war II relic still dominates the fastest motor sport on earth today doing 500+ mph passes in Reno!

And all I need is about 200,000.00 so I could own its downscale grandkid, the Thunder Mustang.

Now accepting donations...

[putz]

Well since the Arrows out

I dunno have to be a toss up between the British Toronado, the Harier and the SR-71 blackbird.

[xerxes]

For me, ny soft spot is for the P-38 Lightning. I've always like the way it looks and (during my infantile fascination with guns) impressed by its armaments. But apart from that, it was the plane used to assasinate Admiral Yamamoto. Furthermore, it brought on the research into aircraft that could break the speed of sounds becuase, during some high speed dives, the p-38 could break Mach 1 and subsequently break apart.

My second favourite would be the A-10 as it combines lethality with minimalist functionality and at a low cost which goes to show that the air-force can actually produce a cheap, functional plane.

[dgthe3]

Hard to choose, isn't it. And the same planes are going through my mind. The SR-71 flew so fast and so hight you couldn't shoot the thing down unless you used something like an ICBM. and the Beaver, such an icon of the far North. To stop an A-10 you literally need to cause the airplane to disintegrate (don't tell Rev what it's gun fires!). The P-51's and P-38's of WWII are classics. The Harrier, the thing can't go far but man can it manouver.

But one of my favourites that hasn't been mentioned so far is the big ol Lancaster. Arguably one of the best bombers of WWII.

[DMP08]

I've always loved the AH-64 Apache Longbow Helicopter. That page has great info and pictures at the bottom. I enjoyed being able to fly it while playing Desert Combat. Here is an in-game shot of what the Apache Helicopter looks like in the game.

[Streaker]

One plane I really dig is the Messerschmitt Me262. The world's first operational jet fighter. It was a huge technological breakthrough at the time, far in advance of anything else in the skies.

[Dan74]

This outta start a shit storm and that is not my intention.....
But I love the F22 that is an amazing machine.
But I think the New F 35 joint strike fighter will steal the show.

[dgthe3]

Hmmm. The F-35 will end up as a great aircraft. but The F-22 will be the dominant fighter in the sky. That is it's role, air DOMINANCE, the F-15 was just an airsuperiority fighter and it has never had an air to air loss, last time i checked. However, the F-35 will be much more useful in the field because of the different versions and because it will be easier to repair because it has a simplier design and there will be far more (and cheaper) parts.

The Me262 was fast and that's about it. Has anyone heard about the big flying wing type bomber Germany was getting ready to produce? Legend has it that it was even going to be coated in radar absorbant material, basically it would have been the stealth bomber as we think of it today, and Germany would have had it

The Longbow, that thing looks deadly, and is! It is essentially a hover tank (the A-10 is a flying tank). Way better than the now cancelled Comanche.

And to all of this, i would like to add the BUFF (Big Ungly Fat uh ... Fellow) B-52. Been in service for 50 years and there are plans to keep it in service for another 50

[norad]

I don't really have a favorite, guys. The ones that I like are: P-51 Mustang, Spitfire, F-22 Raptor, F-15 Eagle, F-14 Tomcat, F-111, F-117 Nighthawk-also known as the stealth fighter-F-101, also known as the Voodoo, F-104 Starfighter, and on and on. Sorry, I don't really have a favorite. I like them all! They have their own capabilities, which means each one has it's own personality, so to speak.

[dgthe3]

The only ones that i question from your list are the Voodoo and the 'Vark. I've never heard anyone say they like them. Please further explain your rationality for picking these rather, uh ... unique aircraft.

I think my number one favourite is on your list, the F-14 Tomcat. I've been in love with that plane ever since i say Top Gun as a kid, then i found out what the plane could actually do!

[norad]

I can't to be honest...I just like them. I like aircraft, any type of aircraft. It's hard to explain why I like these two. As I mentioned, they each have their own capabilities.

I admit that the F-111 Ardvark had a lot of problems with engines, design, etc., but this baby could get to an altitude of 60,000 ft, and it could carry nukes. What's not to like about that? Just kidding...

As for the Voodoo, or F-101, it helped out in the Cuban missle crisis, and it has 4 20mm cannons! She never really had too many capabilities; low altitude bombing or carrying a nuke, but I still like her design.

I find that I like the F-14 Tomcat quite a lot, dgthe3. At the London International Airshow I watched that baby sweep her wings back; I forget what altitude the aircraft was at, but it was up there. The airshow in London has different themes; one year it was the Year of the Phantom. Noisy as hell those F-4's were, but what a sight! Another year it was the F-15 Eagle. I watched that aircraft fly low over the runway, at quite the speed I might add, and took her back to a verticle climb! The pilot was reading off the altitude he was at, and jeez, he was at 20,000 ft in no time!