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Most significant airplanes

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  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver, the "wet coast"
Most significant airplanes
Posted by castelnuovo on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 10:48 PM

Without doing any research, here are my top 5, in no particular order:

The Wright Flyer, well it started it all so may as well list it first

Boeing 707, mass transportation on long distance

Me 262 started the jet fighter era as the first operational jet fighter

Hawker Harrier, proof that a fighter can take off and land vericaly

Space shuttle,sort of an airplane, first reusable spacecraft

There are of course more, these are just of the top of my head. What else and why?

  • Member since
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  • From: Honolulu, Hawaii
Posted by Real G on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 11:02 PM

Douglas DC-3, the first truly successful transport.

Bell X-1, which broke the sound barrier.

Boeing 747, which heralded an era where air travel became available to the masses.

Airbus, who intorduced FBW, composite construction, supercritical airfoils, and modular design to airliners.

Lockheed SR-71, because aside from its nearly sci-fi advancements in aerodynamics, materials, and propulsion systems, is just too damn cool to leave off the list!

 

 

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Posted by modelcrazy on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 11:09 PM


I like your list Castel, I'm finding it dificult to add to it.

Supermarine Spitfire. It didn't win the Battle of Britain, but the Battle of Britain couldn't be won without it. Sorry Bish.

Ryan Spirit of St Louis. First to cross the Atlantic nonstop.

 

Boeing V-22 Osprey. First operational rotowing

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Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

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  • Member since
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  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, December 24, 2015 8:09 AM

P-51 and the marriage with the R/R Merlin.  Pretty much won the air battle over Europe and save countless bomber crews.

I'd stick with the DC-3, SR-71, 747 and the Spit, just because she is virtual perfection, especially with the Griffon.

  • Member since
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  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:20 AM

I second the DC-3, and would add the Ford and Fokker tri-motors, both important for growth of commercial aviation.  It is a shame there are no decent Ford tri-motor kits out there.  The Airfix kit is junk, and the RM kit is in an off-scale (enough different that aftermarket engines don't look right.  Plus it isn't that great a kit even if it were 1:72.

I would add the D-VII, as being the first really successful plane with a thick airfoil.  No one today uses anything like the other airfoils used in WW1.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
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Posted by GMorrison on Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:22 AM

Boeing 737. Can even fly without its overhead. Unbustable.

 

Also the B-52 and the C-130.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Streetsboro, Ohio
Posted by Toshi on Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:35 AM

F4U Corsair

P-51 Mustang

Donier Arrow

Me 262

Horten Flying Wing

On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell

 

Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world.  Mrs. Toshi

 

 

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  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Thursday, December 24, 2015 9:44 AM

GMorrison
Also the B-52 and the C-130.

Members of an exclusive club. Both types have been in front-line service for more than half the history of powered flight.

  • Member since
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  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Thursday, December 24, 2015 2:23 PM

Thought about the BUFF and Herc, but since I was limited to five, kept the 747 as it ushered in the realm of jumbos in civilian aviation.  And the SR as it was the first Mach 3 buster.

  • Member since
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  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 11:02 AM

B-52: Fifty years and still going strong. Nuff said. 

KC-135: Same as above and first truly successful midair refueler. 

F-16: Bought by darn near everyone in the world and an excellent fighter. 

C-130: If you can fit it through the door, we'll haul it! If you can't fit it through the door, we'll haul it anyway! And we'll land on a carrier while we're at it! 

F-106: The Six cuz it's just so durn pretty! (Hey Meng! How about a 1:72 scale Six to go with your Deuce???? Well???)

  • Member since
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  • From: N. MS
Posted by CN Spots on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 1:28 PM

Concord

SR-71

Spruce Goose

B-2

Those little Cessna 172s. Nothing special but they made a bazillion of them.  They're like the VWs of the sky!

  • Member since
    December 2015
Posted by Dash8 on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 2:34 PM

Twin Otter, Canada's very own, can take off

and land on a dime. Work horse of Canada north.

On the bench: Revell Euro Fighter 1/32

Ontario, CANADA

 

  • Member since
    August 2015
  • From: North Central Texas
Posted by Limacharlie48 on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 7:10 PM

F4U Corsair  - wonderful design, tough and fast with a great punch. 

Spitfire - Elegant and fast, a racer with guns.

Dauntless - Tough, tough, tough. Split flaps are awesome, Midway, 'nuff said.

A4 Skyhawk - lightweight, fast, tough as nails.

B29 - cause that was Grandpa Baulch's mount in War 2 and Korea

  • Member since
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  • From: providence ,r.i.
Posted by templar1099 on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 8:01 PM

I like the A-10, can fly through almost anything.Ground troops love it.

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Posted by mrmike on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 9:10 PM

The Piper Cub. Like the Model T encouraged America to drive, the Cub spawned widespread civil aviation, just in time for WWII.

  • Member since
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Posted by tankerbuilder on Thursday, December 31, 2015 9:59 AM

Hmmm;

    Here,s a few for that list . How about the Super " G " Constellation . Without a doubt the most beautiful civil aircraft in existance .

     Next and even better the Supermarine Seafire , You know , the Navalized Spit variant . Then of course the A - 10 , Talk about a flying Dump Truck of ordinance delivery !

      Those would be my choices     T.B.

  • Member since
    September 2015
  • From: The Redwood Empire
Posted by Aaronw on Saturday, January 9, 2016 1:52 PM

Sikorsky S-55 / H-19. In Korea it pioneered the airmobile operations that would become so well known in Vietnam. It was also a pioneer in civil passenger helicopter service.

 

Bell 204 / 205 / UH-1 I'm sure all are familiar with the merits of this one, need I say more?

  • Member since
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  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, January 10, 2016 10:52 AM

Phil_H

 

 
GMorrison
Also the B-52 and the C-130.
 
 

 

Members of an exclusive club. Both types have been in front-line service for more than half the history of powered flight.

 

Reminds me of an old Air Force joke- when the Air Force retires its last manned aircraft, they'll fly all the dignitaries to the ceremony in a C-47.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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    August 2014
  • From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Posted by goldhammer on Sunday, January 10, 2016 12:48 PM

Amen, wouldn't surprise me a bit.......

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  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 7:08 PM

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the B-17 Fying Fortress, America's first strategic long range bomber. Rugged, being able to deffend itself (to a degree) and sustain massive damage and still remain flying.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

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