Most significant airplanes

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.

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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???)

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.

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.

F4U Corsair

P-51 Mustang

Donier Arrow

Me 262

Horten Flying Wing

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

Also the B-52 and the C-130.

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.

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.

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

Steve

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!