Favourite planes

[scutty brown]

Indeed.
But cost over runs and problems with the delivery system for the Sky flash??  Missile led to the Nuclear Deterrent being handed over to The Royal Navy.

Skybolt     External Link/Members Only

Skyflash was an air-to-air missile

[FLYING BLUE]

Some have mentioned military aircraft on this thread including 2 of my favourites:

The Avro (HS) Vulcan & the HP Victor (bomber / tanker)

I had the enormous & very scary pleasure of riding in a Vulcan when I was in the air cadets (RAF Waddington I think but not 100% sure) - Noisy is the 1st word that springs to mind

We should also consider this VTOL aircraft as a marvel of 1960's British engineering - I don't know how to post photos on here but I am referring of course, to the HS Harrier (jump jet)

[Corus Boy]

Some have mentioned military aircraft on this thread including 2 of my favourites:

The Avro (HS) Vulcan & the HP Victor (bomber / tanker)

I had the enormous & very scary pleasure of riding in a Vulcan when I was in the air cadets (RAF Waddington I think but not 100% sure) - Noisy is the 1st word that springs to mind

We should also consider this VTOL aircraft as a marvel of 1960's British engineering - I don't know how to post photos on here but I am referring of course, to the HS Harrier (jump jet)

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This is ten years old!

Britain's entire fleet of Harrier jump jets, the veteran plane scrapped in last year's defence review, has been saved - by the American military.

All 74 of the planes are to fly again for the US m arines in a deal that is expected to be closed within a week.

The Ministry of Defence said last night that negotiations were in their final stages. Reports in the US suggested the Marines were already preparing for their arrival.

The sale of the Harriers is bound to raise fresh questions about the wisdom of retiring the much-admired aircraft, which the Americans intend to use until 2025.

Speaking to the NavyTimes, Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich, chief of the US Navy's supply corps, said buying the Harriers made sense because many of the jets had been recently upgraded, and the US already had pilots who could fly them.

[Bogof60]

Skybolt     External Link/Members Only

Skyflash was an air-to-air missile

Thanks Scutty.
I was not sure of the name which was why I added the???

[PepeMAGA]

As a young lad, I was once treated to a sight similar to this (although probably even lower):

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Bonus Brrrrt:

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Nice

[mr.bluesky]

Favourite Yank plane F16- Fighting Falcon

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[mr.bluesky]

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This is ten years old!

Britain's entire fleet of Harrier jump jets, the veteran plane scrapped in last year's defence review, has been saved - by the American military.

All 74 of the planes are to fly again for the US m arines in a deal that is expected to be closed within a week.

The Ministry of Defence said last night that negotiations were in their final stages. Reports in the US suggested the Marines were already preparing for their arrival.

The sale of the Harriers is bound to raise fresh questions about the wisdom of retiring the much-admired aircraft, which the Americans intend to use until 2025.

Speaking to the NavyTimes, Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich, chief of the US Navy's supply corps, said buying the Harriers made sense because many of the jets had been recently upgraded, and the US already had pilots who could fly them.

Scared the shit out of the Argentinian pilots during the Falklands war. They nicknamed it the black death

[Bogof60]

Favourite Yank plane F16- Fighting Falcon

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The one that even the Americans favoued The Tornado to but could not politically purchase

[the groper]

Just remembered this odd looking thing, Lockheed F117 Nighthawk

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[Ghost89]

No need to go to The States to see An SR 71 or a B29.
There are both at IWM Duxford. In the same hanger is A B52, B17, and B24 and many many more American aircraft.
The American Hanger includes a memorial to the lives lost by The USAAF during WW2. Last time I was there a F15 was parked outside.
The British Hanger includes Concorde, a Lancaster, Victor and I tbink the 3rd of the V bombers a Valiant
These are just the large planes stored inside. There is also The last remaining airworthy B17 in Europe Sally B of. Menphis Belle fame.

Well worth a visit for aircraft buffs.

Favourite plane in my dreams to fly would have to be a jet fighter such as The F14. Top Gun has a lot to answer for.

Duxford is fantastic. Been a few times and never get bored of it. It’s great to go in the summer and sit outside with a cuppa and just soak up the spitfires that take off and fly over head. I’m planning to go again this year.

[Corus Boy]

Just in case any of you flight fanatics have not heard of it;

Visit Mach Loop on YouTube or better still take a few days out!

External Link/Members Only

[sir wanksalot]

I remember when I was a young lad my next door neighbour would take me to Manchester Airport (nothing dodgy!!) and we'd go to the spectator gallery outside with our VHF radio and book of plane markings.

I absolutely loved it!

There was also a field near the airport when loads of plane spotters would stand and watch the planes come in for landing about 100 ft above your heads.


Not sure if either of those places are accessible any longer

[Corus Boy]

I remember when I was a young lad my next door neighbour would take me to Manchester Airport (nothing dodgy!!) and we'd go to the spectator gallery outside with our VHF radio and book of plane markings.

I absolutely loved it!

There was also a field near the airport when loads of plane spotters would stand and watch the planes come in for landing about 100 ft above your heads.


Not sure if either of those places are accessible any longer

Many such places are closed or restricted nowadays.

For obvious and sensible reasons.

But if you really want some spectator sport;

External Link/Members Only

[fisherofsouls]

Never forget standing on the road at the end of Doncaster airport runway as it took off for its last ever flight. What a sight.

Or RAF Finningley as it used to be 

[fisherofsouls]

Many such places are closed or restricted nowadays.

For obvious and sensible reasons.

But if you really want some spectator sport;

External Link/Members Only

I was driving past Heathrow a couple of years ago and was quite surprised to see, at the western end of 09L, a gaggle of spotters with all manner of equipment.  I like to think there was a detachment of SAS hidden in the field beyond primed for action, but I think it's more likely HAL security guards watching the cameras while eating a doughnut...

[timsussex]

Early 1960's my Father (RAF groundcrew during the war) took me to an open day at RAF Acklington in Northumberland
The flying display included a couple of passes by an EE Lightning. Once comparatively slowly over the runway and once over the crowd (no namby pamby H&S in those days)
At the end of the crowd run he turned the reheat on and climbed vertically It was so loud that it vibrated your innards - I still remember the feeling nearly 60 years later !

[superchamp]

Early 1960's my Father (RAF groundcrew during the war) took me to an open day at RAF Acklington in Northumberland
The flying display included a couple of passes by an EE Lightning. Once comparatively slowly over the runway and once over the crowd (no namby pamby H&S in those days)
At the end of the crowd run he turned the reheat on and climbed vertically It was so loud that it vibrated your innards - I still remember the feeling nearly 60 years later !

Similar to my experience of the EE Lightning at a late 60's RAF Abingdon open day. Stood with my old man on the airfield, with hundreds of people around us, but when the Lightning went verticle, and the ground started shaking, my memory is that I lost most of my peripheral vision so in my mind there was just me, my dad, and the Lightning rapidly disappearing into the sky above us and an empty airfield. Funny how the mind works.

Where we lived, on the RAF Brize Norton circuit, we would get VC10's, Britannia's, Argosy's etc. flying over at rooftop level. Pre regulation days of course.

[joe_lloyd99]

I'm not an aviation nut by any means but I often see the Airbus Beluga flying over Chester into Hawarden. Very interesting design for a specific purpose.

[mr.bluesky]

Similar to my experience of the EE Lightning at a late 60's RAF Abingdon open day. Stood with my old man on the airfield, with hundreds of people around us, but when the Lightning went verticle, and the ground started shaking, my memory is that I lost most of my peripheral vision so in my mind there was just me, my dad, and the Lightning rapidly disappearing into the sky above us and an empty airfield. Funny how the mind works.

Likewise remember seeing an F4 Phantom at an airshow doing a low level flypast. The noise from it was enough to rattle your fillings ( not that I had any in them days )

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[Monk277]

For commercial flying, I like the 787 "dreamliner",  the carbon composite fuselage means the pressure inside the cabin is higher, it really makes a difference in comfort on long haul (not that I've been doing much of that).

For recreational flying, I fly a C42 but have a soft spot for the Blackshape Prime.

For "in my dreams" flying, got to be Concorde.  It's day has gone, but the fact that it was so far ahead of its time and nothing has replaced it in terms of capability speaks volumes for the beauty of this craft and the technological wizardry of the people that designed and built it.

I’ve been looking at doing my NPPL recently, so I could fly a C42 or Skyraider, but I’ve been told it may be better to do an LPPL instead to future proof myself?

[Thephoenix]

I'm not an aviation nut by any means but I often see the Airbus Beluga flying over Chester into Hawarden. Very interesting design for a specific purpose.

Even better views from the 'Chocks Away' cafe on the airfield.


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[Thephoenix]

Early 1960's my Father (RAF groundcrew during the war) took me to an open day at RAF Acklington in Northumberland
The flying display included a couple of passes by an EE Lightning. Once comparatively slowly over the runway and once over the crowd (no namby pamby H&S in those days)
At the end of the crowd run he turned the reheat on and climbed vertically It was so loud that it vibrated your innards - I still remember the feeling nearly 60 years later !

Brings back memories of the last airshow at Liverpool (Speke) Airport in 1956.
As you say, very little safety precautions and no apparent restrictions to flying over the heads of spectators.
The fright and excitement of Hawker Hunters suddenly appearing from nowhere and roaring above you.

There were over 100,000 spectators but the day turned to tragedy.

My friends and I were about 15, and looking forward to the highlight of the show which was a French 'Birdman' (below)
who was supposed to glide down with wooden wings.

My recollection is watching the aircraft flying over, then seeing a shape descend slowly and drift away from view.
We weren't very impressed, and everyone was obviously puzzled.
We only found later that as he jumped from the plane he was knocked unconscious when hit by the tailplane and his parachute only partly opened.



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[Thephoenix]

Just in case any of you flight fanatics have not heard of it;

Visit Mach Loop on YouTube or better still take a few days out!

External Link/Members Only

Fabulous day out in the Welsh Valleys.
Some brilliant footage on YouTube.
I regularly drive on the A487 and you never know what's suddenly going to appear above your head.
There's a popular car park for enthusiasts.


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[Bogof60]

British Grand Prix late 80,s
Playing to a petrol head crowd who were used to the loud noise of F1 cars who would resonate in your chest.
Tornado breaking Mach 1
Not allowed then but it did.
Then The Vulcan low and slow.
Then low and slow and on to re heat and vertical.
Just wow.
Then followed by Concorde doing the same with the same engines.
Juust double wow.
Just remember there were very few Fighter jets that could catch The Concorde.
IIRC correctly only one did and it was a Lightning.
No military aircraft could sustain M2 for any length of time.
Its the same as WW2
No Navy Ship could sustain the speed of The QM or QE whiich is why they sailed un escorted across the Atlantic

[Bogof60]

Edit it was early 80,s

[Squire Haggard]

Early 1960's my Father (RAF groundcrew during the war) took me to an open day at RAF Acklington in Northumberland
The flying display included a couple of passes by an EE Lightning. Once comparatively slowly over the runway and once over the crowd (no namby pamby H&S in those days)
At the end of the crowd run he turned the reheat on and climbed vertically It was so loud that it vibrated your innards - I still remember the feeling nearly 60 years later !

Sounds amazing. I only know the Lightning from the Airfix kit.

[mr.bluesky]

Fabulous day out in the Welsh Valleys.
Some brilliant footage on YouTube.
I regularly drive on the A487 and you never know what's suddenly going to appear above your head.
There's a popular car park for enthusiasts.


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I have often seen these clips on YouTube and wondered exactly where it is. 

[Bogof60]

Tornado low and fast
Fabulous
At M+
Even better

[superchamp]

Low Flying Spitfire 

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[webpunter]

+1000
I went to the Battle of Britain memorial in 2015
More Spitfires there than at any other time post war apparently
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The sound of Merlin engine makes the hairs on my arms stand on end

2nd the hurricane

3rd & 4th Wellington / Lancaster bombers, quite how they got off the runways full laden is beyond scary

Supermarine Spitfire. Best plane of WW2 by far.  in fact one of the greatest planes ever built. Not many left flying now unfortunately.  Love to see them at airshows.

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[webpunter]

B29 superfortress
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It was only when i looked that i found that:
"The intended use of Superfortresses in WWII was to bomb Japan, but the first B-29 was deployed to England in March 1944
It was sent to the European theater to trick the Germans into thinking that B-29s were to be based in England,
and to disguise the concentrated use of Superfortresses against Japan"

Enola Gay
The two flights must be the ones that delivered the greatest 'single' impact of WWII
Bringing the war against Japan to a close & saving hundreds of thousands of US Marines' lives

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[cunningman]

The sound of Merlin engine makes the hairs on my arms stand on end

Try living near Old Warden - they have a Spit and a Hurricane and the sound is quite easily identifiable.
They do plenty of warmups after maintenance and before displays.  Its a very identifiable sound, somehow.
And when The BoB memorial comes to visit - its heaven.
I do wish there were more airworthy Mozzies though.
(Also, fun watching the Arrows when then come over - and how and where they idle the ones that are not center stage)

[webpunter]

Holy .....
The reaction of the camera crew says it all
Intially you can't see it coming as its on the tree line

Low Flying Spitfire 

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[hullad]

I served in the RAF starting as a brat and ending up my entire career on Vulcans at Scampton. It was an awesome aircraft, a bit of a nightmare to service, but once the vices had been ironed out it constantly performed above its design.

One memory is of launching twenty eight at one go once, middle of the night 112 Olympus engines going at full chat
. The ground shook, the air thick with smoke and deafening. The entire neighbourhood was awake fairly sharpish a lot of complaints,  it never happened again for ten minutes it was epic.

Other planes of note The Lightning , guaranteed to mess you pan up without enough drip trays as it pissed fuel out everywhere.

I was about to go on my Tornado conversion course and I developed a medical problem that forced an early retirement, I have worked on the last Vulcan  since and still do at Robin Hood Airport,  RAF Finningley to those who remember and home to 230 OCU with Vulcans and Hastings

[mradventures]

because im a oddball...
yak 9u for the prettiest aircraft, and i like soviet stuff :o

i also really like the typhoon for its aggressiveness.... the hawker typhoon

[Corus Boy]

Likewise remember seeing an F4 Phantom at an airshow doing a low level flypast. The noise from it was enough to rattle your fillings ( not that I had any in them days )

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RAF St Athan!

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That's one way to get a visit to the CO's office! An RAF Phantom II at full burner beats up an RAF base.

"Traditionally, on leaving overhaul at Saint Athan, aircraft's would do a fly-by for the benefit of the ground crew who had worked on it. The pilot of this particular Phantom FG1, a retiring Wing Commander, was chatting to a member of the ground crew the day before the departure flight. He said he was going to fly between the hangars and that the guy should be ready with a camera to record the event. It was due to be his last flight, so he was going to do something 'special'.

The ground crew weren't too convinced of the pilot's claim, but stood around as usual anyway watching as the F4 took off, destination Leuchars. As the photo shows, the pilot was not joking, you can see the afterburner diamonds quite clearly in front of the hangar. You can also see personnel standing underneath it.

The recently tuned Speys allegedly shook a man working in the roof of one of the hangars enough for him to fall and break his leg. These hangars are set east to west, about 75 yards apart, and you can estimate the height from the length of the Phantom. Immediately after the event, the pilot was contacted by the tower and was instructed in no uncertain terms to 'return and land immediately'.

He did so and was given a severe rollicking. I don't know what action was taken, but it was his last flight in any case. What a way to go out, I wonder if it ranks as one of the shortest logged emergency-free Phantom flights?

This story is not exaggerated - I don't know the original photographer, but the picture was taken on an ordinary instamatic camera, and then a blow-up was made. The original is, as a favour, temporarily in the possession of the current Station Commander at St Athan who is an ex-F4 jockey. From the enlargement I have made the Phantom as XV575. The aircraft was scrapped in September 1991, but its legacy has to be this photograph."

[Corus Boy]

A very honourable mention;

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The Mosquito is unique among World War II fighters because it is made primarily of wood, not metal.

The Royal Air Forces’ (RAF) “fast bomber” first flew in November of 1940.  In order to keep weight down, the speedy plane was constructed primarily of spruce, birch plywood, and balsa wood.  This building method had the added bonus of preserving war-critical duralumin and steel for other military aircraft projects.  The Mosquito was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engines, similar to those seen in the RAF’s Spitfire and Hurricane.

The “Wooden Wonder” Mosquito became one of the fastest, far-flying, and most versatile aircraft of World War II.  Examples operated as bombers, fighters, fighter-bombers, night fighters, reconnaissance planes, and trainers.  The last of the over 7,700 examples built flew well into the jet age, retiring in the early 1960s.

Are there any WW2 mosquitoes still flying?

The de Havilland Mosquito is a British two-engine multi-role combat aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 7,781 planes built, 30 survive today, four of which are airworthy. Eight planes are currently under restoration.

[Corus Boy]

And in the real world, I always has feelings for;

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Burt Rutan’s Long-EZ

[mr.bluesky]

A very honourable mention;

Hidden Image/Members Only

The Mosquito is unique among World War II fighters because it is made primarily of wood, not metal.

The Royal Air Forces’ (RAF) “fast bomber” first flew in November of 1940.  In order to keep weight down, the speedy plane was constructed primarily of spruce, birch plywood, and balsa wood.  This building method had the added bonus of preserving war-critical duralumin and steel for other military aircraft projects.  The Mosquito was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engines, similar to those seen in the RAF’s Spitfire and Hurricane.

The “Wooden Wonder” Mosquito became one of the fastest, far-flying, and most versatile aircraft of World War II.  Examples operated as bombers, fighters, fighter-bombers, night fighters, reconnaissance planes, and trainers.  The last of the over 7,700 examples built flew well into the jet age, retiring in the early 1960s.

Are there any WW2 mosquitoes still flying?

The de Havilland Mosquito is a British two-engine multi-role combat aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 7,781 planes built, 30 survive today, four of which are airworthy. Eight planes are currently under restoration.

  a great aircraft and incredible to think it had a wooden airframe. I remember as a kid having an airfix model of it and it came complete with a Messerschmitt  ME109. 2 aircraft in 1 box,    kept me occupied for hours over Christmas  lovingly putting them together and painting them. Had loads of aircraft models as a kid but ran out of room to keep them so ended up giving them all away  I think that started my interest in aircraft both civil and military . Incedently there is a statue of the great Sir Frank Whittle inventor of the jet engine in my home city Coventry.

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[Watts.E.Dunn]

Didnt he have some connection to Lutterworh IIRC?...

[timsussex]

not a plane but for those in the SouthEast have a trip to

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[mr.bluesky]

Didnt he have some connection to Lutterworh IIRC?...

Yes although born in Coventry he carried out a lot of his work just outside Lutterworth.  On one of the traffic islands on the approach to Lutterworth there is quite an impressive sculpture of a jet fighter aircraft in honor of him and his connection to Lutterworth

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[FLYING BLUE]

A very honourable mention;

Hidden Image/Members Only

The Mosquito is unique among World War II fighters because it is made primarily of wood, not metal.

The Royal Air Forces’ (RAF) “fast bomber” first flew in November of 1940.  In order to keep weight down, the speedy plane was constructed primarily of spruce, birch plywood, and balsa wood.  This building method had the added bonus of preserving war-critical duralumin and steel for other military aircraft projects.  The Mosquito was powered by a pair of Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engines, similar to those seen in the RAF’s Spitfire and Hurricane.

The “Wooden Wonder” Mosquito became one of the fastest, far-flying, and most versatile aircraft of World War II.  Examples operated as bombers, fighters, fighter-bombers, night fighters, reconnaissance planes, and trainers.  The last of the over 7,700 examples built flew well into the jet age, retiring in the early 1960s.

Are there any WW2 mosquitoes still flying?

The de Havilland Mosquito is a British two-engine multi-role combat aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied air forces during World War II. Of the 7,781 planes built, 30 survive today, four of which are airworthy. Eight planes are currently under restoration.

My dear old father used to pilot the Mosquito.......

[mradventures]

i think theres a flying mossie in canada or new zealand

ive seen one in a musuem here in the uk you could get close too... it really *felt* like it wanted to fly again

[Jonestown]

i think theres a flying mossie in canada or new zealand

ive seen one in a musuem here in the uk you could get close too... it really *felt* like it wanted to fly again

The have three at the Dehavilland Museum near St Albans, also some mighty fine Vixens.

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[GingerNuts]

i think theres a flying mossie in canada or new zealand

ive seen one in a musuem here in the uk you could get close too... it really *felt* like it wanted to fly again

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[Thephoenix]

Flying the Typhoon through the 'mach loop'

As I posted earlier if you're around mid Wales take the A487 between Aberystwyth and Dolgellau via Machynlleth, or the B4405 from Tywyn. The Mach loop car park is clearly marked on Google maps on the A487
It's only a short walk to one of the ridges for the best view of low flying displays ever.
There are lots of videos on you tube, and you're likely to see the biggest to the smallest military aircraft flying low through the valley past where you're standing.
It's not unusual to get a wave from the pilots.

This video is of an RAF Typhoon.
Near the beginning you can actually see the A487 below.
..... breathtaking stuff and well worth a visit.

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Great with earphones

[Corus Boy]

I have often seen these clips on YouTube and wondered exactly where it is. 

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[mr.bluesky]

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    must visit this place in the summer

[ik8133]

RAF St Athan!

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That's one way to get a visit to the CO's office! An RAF Phantom II at full burner beats up an RAF base.

"Traditionally, on leaving overhaul at Saint Athan, aircraft's would do a fly-by for the benefit of the ground crew who had worked on it. The pilot of this particular Phantom FG1, a retiring Wing Commander, was chatting to a member of the ground crew the day before the departure flight. He said he was going to fly between the hangars and that the guy should be ready with a camera to record the event. It was due to be his last flight, so he was going to do something 'special'.

The ground crew weren't too convinced of the pilot's claim, but stood around as usual anyway watching as the F4 took off, destination Leuchars. As the photo shows, the pilot was not joking, you can see the afterburner diamonds quite clearly in front of the hangar. You can also see personnel standing underneath it.

The recently tuned Speys allegedly shook a man working in the roof of one of the hangars enough for him to fall and break his leg. These hangars are set east to west, about 75 yards apart, and you can estimate the height from the length of the Phantom. Immediately after the event, the pilot was contacted by the tower and was instructed in no uncertain terms to 'return and land immediately'.

He did so and was given a severe rollicking. I don't know what action was taken, but it was his last flight in any case. What a way to go out, I wonder if it ranks as one of the shortest logged emergency-free Phantom flights?

This story is not exaggerated - I don't know the original photographer, but the picture was taken on an ordinary instamatic camera, and then a blow-up was made. The original is, as a favour, temporarily in the possession of the current Station Commander at St Athan who is an ex-F4 jockey. From the enlargement I have made the Phantom as XV575. The aircraft was scrapped in September 1991, but its legacy has to be this photograph."

Brilliant.

I witnessed a Phantom practicing for an air show flying low level up side down with it's undercarriage extended.