Favorite Plane???

[Jakemaster]

Light aircraft: Donno
Military: F-15C Eagle.
Warbird: P-51D
Helicopter: AH-64D and 'Littlebird'.
Commercial:
DC-9
MD80
MD87
MD88
MD90
Boeing 717. There is no plane which is in the same class which compares to the 717 in sound, safety, looks, efficiancy and payload. None. It's simply the best plane.

The only reason it didn't get many orders was it was to late, to small and lacked the range (Wasn't intended for the anyway).

Well since its your favorite, I assume you know the DC-9 and 717 are the same plane, the 717 designation was given after Boeing purchased Douglas Commercial and began producing the DC-9.  The 717 was updated to have new avionics and I believe some slight design changes, but again, same plane.

EDIT: I also assume you know all those MDs that you listed are pretty much the same, the 7, 8, and 90 are streched variants of the 80

Gee, and here I was thinking the MD87 was SHORTER than an MD80. Silly me  ::)
(Get your facts straight, the MD87 is the smallest MD80 member)

And I would not call the DC9 and 717 the same plane.
That's as accurate as calling a 737NG "the same plane as a 737-100".

Now to topic. For me it's a toss-up between the L1011 and 737NG. I cant decide.

Ooops, I sometimes get those mixed up.  I know the DC-9 and 717 arent the same, but they are both the same design, right?  Didn't the 717 come about as an updated DC-9?  Or am I just being crazy?

[NDSP]

I would feel much safer in a DC-3

1. Have you ever even been in one???
2. Your just saying that because you need a good responce.
3. Did you ever realize that if the pilot falls asleep or something happens to him, theres no chance for the plane to stay in the air (hint hint, no autopilot) and will run out of fuel and ditch.
4. If it hits turbulence during the night and the altitude indicator fails, its gonna be a rough night.
5. I no someone whos has been on both, he said that when he was on the DC-3 he was afraid it wasn't gonna make the trip (I am not lying just for a comeback). Yet when he was on a 747 with my family and I,

[Jakemaster]

Sorry it turned into such a big arguement, but part of the purpose of this forum is education.  I know a whole lot about aviation and airplanes thanks to this forum.  Before I came here I knew what a plane was, and that was about it.  I didn't know any terminology nor could I even identify a plane without getting in the passenger seat and looking at the safety information card.  Now I can identifyvirtually anything I see, I know about as much as any pilot knows about flying, and I have a couple thousand hours in the sim (probably more than 10,000 by now).

What I mean is that posts like this is where one learns the most.  People read these posts and if there is something useful posted they commit it to memory, and being such a huge DC-3 fan and supporter I don't want anyone getting the wrong information.

Also, there have been tons of favorite plane threads and every time half of those who respond basically list every aircraft they've ever seen.  Not many have just one favorite because we are all aviation fanatics and love ANYTHING with wings (except the A380, so ugly!)

[Chris_F]

[quote][quote][quote]
SO...although the DC-3 has crashed MORE TIMES than the 747, compared to the 747, the DC-3 has a lower PERCENTAGE rate of accidents in the civilian market.

[Hagar]

I've been watching this thread with interest. I couldn't name my favourite plane as the list would be far too long.

I don't know why everyone picks on Jake (Blue Man) for his infatuation with the DC-3. It's high on the list of my own favourites. It was a revolutionary design & way before its time so rightfully earned its place in history. It's one of those aircraft that fits the description "If it looks right it will fly right". The fact that many are still giving useful service today is a tribute to the manufacturers & design team.

While it's completely different from the DC-3 in many respects the B747 has some similarities & is also a classic. I think it looks extremely graceful for an aircraft of that size. Everyone said it was too big but it proved them all wrong by becoming the most successful jet airliner ever built. I don't think that record will be beaten for a very long time, if ever. Although she's getting on a bit now I would still prefer travelling on a 747 over any other jet airliner in service.

Just a couple of points. Blue Man said:

Your super heavy 747, however, needs lots of thrust to stay airborne, so if both pilots die and the plane continues on AP and runs out of fuel, well then it goes down, and not softly.

That's not the case & the 747 makes a very efficient glider. Read THIS There have been several similar incidents.

we are all aviation fanatics and love ANYTHING with wings (except the A380, so ugly!)

I never understood why people feel they have to criticise the appearance of the A380. Perhaps it's some sort of misguided loyalty to Boeing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder & new things sometimes take a little getting used to. I remember thinking how fat & ugly the 747 was when I first saw one. That seems an awfully long time ago now.

[Woodlouse2002]

This is my favorite plane...



It's a beauty isn't it?

[NDSP]

Except For the A380, its so ugly

LMAO, read my signiture

[rjkcomputerwiz]

the best plane ever is the a380-800   NOT

The real best plane ever is the 757-232

Also the 747-400

[NDSP]

[quote]the best plane ever is the a380-800

[C]

Perhaps it's some sort of misguided loyalty to Boeing.

I'm not the only one's who's noticed that then...

As for the A380 bashers, certified on both sides of the Atlantic now, so in service by Q3 of 2007 (when's the 787 appearing - first flight before 2009 perhaps)...


As for the debate:  

a) Jake - You've been told before. The Spit wins hands down (particularly a clipped Mk V with stubby spinner)

as for others:

Biplane - Gloster Gladiator - beautiful to look at and a very benig roar from the Mercury

Bomber - Avro Lancaster - to see one today is an emotional experience to think of the forgotten men of Bomber Command, the force (after the U-Boat fleet) with the highest percentage losses of WWII

Commercial jet - Conceptually the Comet - no horrid engine pods. Grace - the VC-10. Coming up to today, the A-330 is very sleek, and we'll wait and see how the 787 appears. The 747 has been the world beater for 36 years though.

GA - Tough one. Maybe from the murmorings I hear, the Liberty XL2 will become as much of a classic as the C150...

Enough...

[Jakemaster]

Perhaps it's some sort of misguided loyalty to Boeing.

I'm not the only one's who's noticed that then...

As for the A380 bashers, certified on both sides of the Atlantic now, so in service by Q3 of 2007 (when's the 787 appearing - first flight before 2009 perhaps)...


As for the debate:  

a) Jake - You've been told before. The Spit wins hands down (particularly a clipped Mk V with stubby spinner)

as for others:

Biplane - Gloster Gladiator - beautiful to look at and a very benig roar from the Mercury

Bomber - Avro Lancaster - to see one today is an emotional experience to think of the forgotten men of Bomber Command, the force (after the U-Boat fleet) with the highest percentage losses of WWII

Commercial jet - Conceptually the Comet - no horrid engine pods. Grace - the VC-10. Coming up to today, the A-330 is very sleek, and we'll wait and see how the 787 appears. The 747 has been the world beater for 36 years though.

GA - Tough one. Maybe from the murmorings I hear, the Liberty XL2 will become as much of a classic as the C150...

Enough...

Just because the A380 has been certified doesn't mean its any less ugly

And the spit LOSES, it can't even TOUCH the DC-3s greatness!

[Omen_Nemo]

Biplane - Fairey Swordfish

Bomber - Avro Vulcan

Commercial jet - The Comet

GA - Piper Tomahawk

Vintage Military - Soko Kraguj

[C]

Just because the A380 has been certified doesn't mean its any less ugly

But it does mean it's bashers can belt up about it being really late (in a project this big it's hardly late at all to be fair) and being general doom and gloom merchants...


One more thing...

And the spit LOSES, it can't even TOUCH the DC-3s greatness!

Oooooooh no it doesn't...

[Jakemaster]

Just because the A380 has been certified doesn't mean its any less ugly

But it does mean it's bashers can belt up about it being really late (in a project this big it's hardly late at all to be fair) and being general doom and gloom merchants...


One more thing...

And the spit LOSES, it can't even TOUCH the DC-3s greatness!

Oooooooh no it doesn't...

I have commented in the past about the A380s lateness, but that was bashing Airbus's tactics, not the plane itself.

And there are two types of planes in the world, DC-3s and planes that wish they could be as good as a DC-3

[C]

And there are two types of planes in the world, DC-3s and planes that wish they could be as good as a DC-3

Lol! Nice one! I like that...