Discuss SimV's Greatest Aircraft Of All Time

[Tweek]

Fair points, Jake. But there's no need to keep backing up your choice. It's up to people to make their own minds up, and it certainly won't make you 100% right! It's a very opinionated subject, and so cannot be resolved.

But answer one (four) question(s) (as have been asked before).

If a Spitfire flies by at an airshow, and you ask a non-aviation enthusiast what it is, what will they say? Spitfire!

If a Hurricane flies by at an airshow, and you ask a non-aviation enthusiast what it is, what will they say? Spitfire!

If a Mustang flies by at an airshow, and you ask a non-aviation enthusiast what it is, what will they say? Spitfire!

If a DC-3 flies by at an airshow, and you ask a non-aviation enthusiast what it is, what will they say? *

*Note, 90% of the time, the answer won't be 'DC-3', 'C-47', 'Dakota', or 'Skytrain'.

[edzmen]

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Good [true!!] point there old chap!
I'd forgotten about that one...

The other day an RAF Tucano flew over our house and my Mum said, "Oh look, a Spitfire..."
And yes; my mum isn't into planes but I dont think even she would know a 'Dac'...
it's just "an old plane" to non-aviation-goers...

Sorry Jake - hard luck old fella...

[C]

If a DC-3 flies by at an airshow, and you ask a non-aviation enthusiast what it is, what will they say? *

Lancaster generally in the UK...

The other day an RAF Tucano flew over our house and my Mum said, "Oh look, a Spitfire..."

When the Tucano first entered service it was sometimes referred to as the "Mini-Spitfire", a bit harsh considering it is the same size, the same weight (there or therabouts!), has similar hp to an early Mk I or II Spitfire, and generally carries twice as many people!

[edzmen]

When the Tucano first entered service it was sometimes referred to as the "Mini-Spitfire", a bit harsh considering it is the same size, the same weight (there or therabouts!), has similar hp to an early Mk I or II Spitfire, and generally carries twice as many people!

Anybody would think you were sticking up for the 'TinCan' over the Spits Charlie!!!

[C]

Anybody would think you were sticking up for the 'TinCan' over the Spits Charlie!!!

Never... Not with something of the Tincan's build quality...

[edzmen]

Never... Not with something of the Tincan's build quality...

Why, did the Shorts Bros make a bit of a bodge-job of it??  ;)

[wealthysoup]

Without the DC-3, there would be no Concorde, no 737, no 747.  In fact, if it wasnt for the DC-3, we probably wouldnt travel by air as much as we do.  

The 747, like the DC-3, revolutionized air travel again.No MAJOR design aspects were different from earlier aircraft.  

Without the wright flyer there would be no DC3


If it wasnt for the wright flyer we might not be flying at all

The wright flyer revolutionized air travel, because everything was a MAJOR design aspect.

p.s. I didnt actually vote for the wright flyer but its probably just as if not more important than the dc3 in terms of flying (although theres not many of them flying today )

[krigl]

I voted Concorde and the Blackbird because they are awesome machines, and the 737 because it is so ubiquitous and very common, very successful. All depends on how you define "great" IMHO.

The DC3 was used in the Corrs' video "Leaves Me Breathless' so there's no way I'm voting for that

[C]

Without the wright flyer there would be no DC3


If it wasnt for the wright flyer we might not be flying at all

The wright flyer revolutionized air travel, because everything was a MAJOR design aspect.

To be fair, if the Wright brothers hadn't flown the Wright Flyer, there were plenty of others who would have done similar things. There were several who were very close to flying in or before 1903 (Percy Pilcher being one of the better known men, who unfortunately befell an accident some time before), and there has always been speculation that someone may have had limited success pre December 1903...

[ozzy72]

Well I'm totally not surprised by the winner because she is one of the most iconic aircraft of all time. She lives up to the maxim of "If she looks right she'll fly right".
Whether it is the earlier models (the most manufactured being the V)

The unusual type 509 (Tr.9) two-seater (and the first one I sat in!)

Or her mighty final incarnation the Mk.24

The Spitfire always looks good with her graceful lines and elliptical wings.
A lady for all seasons airshows

[town]

Without the wright flyer there would be no DC3


If it wasnt for the wright flyer we might not be flying at all

The wright flyer revolutionized air travel, because everything was a MAJOR design aspect.

p.s. I didnt actually vote for the wright flyer but its probably just as if not more important than the dc3 in terms of flying (although theres not many of them flying today )

I would have to disagree there. The Wright brothers based there flyer on some previous work by german and english scientists. and the europeans were not that for behind.

I think one of the main contributers to modern aviation was Louis Bleriot with his channel crossing IX.

[wealthysoup]

What Im trying to say is that out of all these planes they MAY not have even existed if it wasnt for the wright brothers, yes there were others close to flying but when you look at it the wright brothers were WAY ahead of their time

[Jakemaster]

Youre giving the wright flyer WAY too much credit.  MANY people were developing planes at the same time as the wrights.  In fact, if Langly hadnt crashed a few weeks before the rights flew, he woulda been the first.

Okay, so the Spit is recognizable.  But since when does being recognized easily make you the greatest thing?  Show anyone a picture of Hitler, im sure theyll all say 'thats hitler', but in no way is he the greatest person of all time.

SO the DC-3 isnt easily recognized by everyone, but so what?  Its still a great aircraft that has done its work and continues to do it economically and reliably.  It revolutionized air TRANSPORT, and did so many things for so many people.  I dont care that the spitfire won, in my eyes the DC-3 will always be the greatest aircraft of all time.

[C]

in my eyes the DC-3 will always be the greatest aircraft of all time.

Really? We'd never have guessed!

Well done RJM...

[Tweek]

Okay, so the Spit is recognizable.  But since when does being recognized easily make you the greatest thing?  Show anyone a picture of Hitler, im sure theyll all say 'thats hitler', but in no way is he the greatest person of all time.

I think it's a bit different than that! The Spit is recognised for all the right reasons, rather than the wrong.