No question in my mind, the DC-8-63/64....the stretch 8's!. I grew up riding all over the place in those things, Hawaii, Truk, Majuro...you name it. Occaisionally even got to see my father fly them once or twice

It was his favorite bird in UAL's fleet.
Ironically, the least favorite bird was the 727. Apparently they were a bear in x-wind landings due to the wind catching unpredictably the big ol' T-Tail. Popular in Hawaii though as short-hoppers amongst the islands, at least till the 737's got real big (so to speak!

) ----->
I <----- however, at the tender age of 13 or so, was the first to discover the small red button, center of the ceiling in the Coach section, if I may say so, in absolutely no modesty whatsoever! Discovered it one flight on a Hawaiian Air 727 between Oahu and Kaui. I observed it very carefully, and finally, being the nosey, excitable boy, they all said (small paraphrase there!) asked one of the flight engineers assigned to one of our flights. After all, who better to ask? He didn't have a clue, as neither did the copilot, or even the Captain (Junior to my father, if I may be so modest as to say...). There was a long discussion amongst them and my father and the lead mechanic in Honolulu. No one, but
NO one had any idea. Still didn't, to the day they replaced them with 737's, as far as I ever knew. Just one of the little mysteries of life, I guess! Still fun being the one to point it out first
My fathers' second favorite bird, as far as I knew, was the 737. They called them the "Mini-Pigs" amonst the UAL pilots. After a few years of flying them amonst the California commuter routes up and down the US Wast Coast, he got to checking into the various airports he was arriving at as..."
HEY, HEY, HEY! It's Faaaaaaaat Albert, UAL Flight 8741, on base for arrival, SFO! (or whereever...)" His name is Alfred, btw, so a little poetic liscence there...And did you know, you can land a 737, filled with fuel, pax and luggage at KSFO, at Portland, which at the time was a single runway, taxiway midpoint. Either make the taxiway, or taxi to the end, turn around and taxi all the way back, once you have a break in the traffic. Wellll....with a full load on, the little 737 can be planted on the numbers ummm...firmly shall we say, then full reversers, brakes, everything applied to be able to make the taxiway! Saves lotsa time taxiing around, but surely a fun time being leaned forward in the seats, then sideways as the turn is made a triffle....rapidly, shall we say. Kinda fun watching the ailerons struggling to make the wings stay moderately level during that turn! Really, probably against all kindsa safety regs and policies, but understandable, and, believe it or not, appreciated, on the day's last flight, full up and just wanting to get
home for the weekend! Not that
I would know from personal experience, of course...no, really! Would I fib to y'all?? Ok, ok...don't ansawer that...
Anywho, just a little reminiscing there, thanks for letting me ramble on for a bit!
Pat☺