The Most 'Missed' Plane

[F3Hadlow]

It's back on the circuit in a way, part of the role demo.

Yeah but it's a shame most of the RAF's solo dispalys have been axed because of this. Personally, i'd much rather see it (and other RAF types) display on it's own.

[Isak922]

No ones mentioned the SR-71 yet? Fastest aircraft in the world (Except, of course, the X-15 and Orbiters)? I know I miss the SR-71 greatly, and am saddened by the fact that it probably won't ever fly again  :'(

[Mictheslik]

(unlike the Harrier or RAF Merlin that get nothing at all!)

But theres always the Royal navy merlin

.mic

[F3Hadlow]

(unlike the Harrier or RAF Merlin that get nothing at all!)

But theres always the Royal navy merlin

.mic

Hence why I specified RAF... Not that the RN Merlin goes many places!

[Mictheslik]

(unlike the Harrier or RAF Merlin that get nothing at all!)

But theres always the Royal navy merlin

.mic

Hence why I specified RAF

Yeah, but lets face it...the only difference is one is grey and has a bulge undrneath and the other is green

.mic

[JA 37 Viggen]

KLu Starfighters... not old enough to have heard them (when going supersonic on exercises was still allowed)
Concorde


And F-14s arent gone yet...

Ivan, the United States Navy F-14D Super Tomcat left the decks of USN carriers permanatly in September 2006. And I don't even consider the IRIAF F-14As as F-14s. More like F-14Russian TomJihadCat.

[F3Hadlow]

(unlike the Harrier or RAF Merlin that get nothing at all!)

But theres always the Royal navy merlin

.mic

Hence why I specified RAF

Yeah, but lets face it...the only difference is one is grey and has a bulge undrneath and the other is green

.mic

And how many shows have you seen the RN display a Merlin at in recent years bar Biggin?

[an-225]

Off topic from the RAF/RN discussion...but I don't understand why they axed the XB-70. Just because that F-104 crashed into it (admittedly, because of the wing vortex) doesn''t mean they should have cancelled the whole thing...

[JA 37 Viggen]

Off topic from the RAF/RN discussion...but I don't understand why they axed the XB-70. Just because that F-104 crashed into it (admittedly, because of the wing vortex) doesn''t mean they should have cancelled the whole thing...

Its all about the money. She's like the F-22. Good but way to expensive! Plus with all the super high-tech crappy SAMs and ICBMs coming out they thought she was useless. Then they went for the B-58.

[Jakemaster]

DC-3...oh wait, it's still in service.

Ummm, I don't know.  All the planes I like have at least one still flying, whether it be on the airshow circuit or otherwise.

[Jakemaster]

No ones mentioned the SR-71 yet? Fastest aircraft in the world (Except, of course, the X-15 and Orbiters)? I know I miss the SR-71 greatly, and am saddened by the fact that it probably won't ever fly again  :'(

Actually, the fastest aircraft in the world is the X-43.  Set the speed record at about Mach 9.8

[an-225]

I think...way back in 2005...the local newspapers (Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph etc.) said that the X-43 could fly around the world in 5 hours...

[Ivan]

I think...way back in 2005...the local newspapers (Sydney Morning Herald, Daily Telegraph etc.) said that the X-43 could fly around the world in 5 hours...

Project Aurora comes close...
Why keep a Mach-3 plane (SR-71) when you can have a Mach-5 one that flies even higher.
SR-71 has been on the edge of retirement since the MiG-25 arrived on the scene.

[Mictheslik]

And how many shows have you seen the RN display a Merlin at in recent years bar Biggin?

Kemble had a flying example, and there have been statics at most others

What I'm really confused by is why the RAF can't disply one. They say because of operational comitments, but they have enough aircraft to dump one in the static park....maybe they cant afford the fuel

.mic

[Cessna93]

Concorde and the Wright Flyer.