# Early post WWII aircraft = GORGEOUS!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 7, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166 "2003-04-07T21:22:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/1 "2003-04-07T21:22:47Z")
[F8F Bearcat](http://www.compass.dircon.co.uk/F8F.htm)
[F7F Tigercat](http://warbirdalley.com/f7f.htm)
Two of the most beautiful aircraft ever produced, IMHO.
What are your faves?
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/2 "2003-04-07T21:24:23Z")
[Both, together.](http://www.flyvintage.com/gallery.pl?op=display&size=normal&pic_id=199)
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### Author:  [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/3 "2003-04-07T21:33:18Z")
The most beautiful aircraft ever produced?
Hmmm. I’d say the [Lockheed Constellation](http://users.chariot.net.au/~theburfs/images/connie1.jpg) (actually this is a Super Connie) is one of the prettiest.
I’m also fond of DC 10’s and MD 11’s (the successor to the DC 10). They look so damn cool! [Check this one out.](http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=197639&WxsIERv=TWNEb25uZWxsIERvdWdsYXMgTUQtMTE%3D&WdsYXMg=VmFyaWc%3D&QtODMg=SG9uZyBLb25nIC0gS2FpIFRhayBJbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsIChIS0cgLyBWSEhIKSAoQ2xvc2VkKQ%3D%3D&ERDLTkt=Q2hpbmEgLSBIb25nIEtvbmc%3D&ktODMp=MTk5OA%3D%3D&WNEb25u=QWlyIENhbm9u&xsIERvdWdsY=UFAtVlBN&MgTUQtODMgKE=Q2xhc3NpY2FsIEFwcHJvYWNoIGF0IEthaSBUYWs%3D&YXMgTUQtODMgKERD=MzcxNQ%3D%3D&NEb25uZWxs=MjAwMS0xMC0yNg%3D%3D&static=yes&size=L)
And of course, Concorde kicks ass, too.
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### Author:  [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/4 "2003-04-07T21:52:01Z")
Personally, I thought the Germans had the best looking aircraft category wrapped up with the Me-262 and the Go229… Although the Curtis Ascender was pretty cool, too.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/5 "2003-04-07T22:06:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Although the Curtis Ascender was pretty cool, too.
“Ass-ender”? ('Cause, y’see it’s a canard, and…)
😃
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/6 "2003-04-07T23:02:36Z")
I have to go for the F-86 Sabre [www.spitcrazy.com/sabre.htm](http://www.spitcrazy.com/sabre.htm)
Cool name, too.
But for a passenger plane, the Connie has to be the best of all time.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/7 "2003-04-07T23:02:59Z")
Pics, pics! I need pics!
Though I know what the flying shark (Me262) looks like, lovely jet.
**Coldie** , that Rio airport shot of the airliner is awesome!
I must include [this](http://www.flyvintage.com/gallery.pl?op=display&size=normal&pic_id=1042) classic.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 7, 2003, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/8 "2003-04-07T23:12:42Z")
**kunilou** , that’s one of my fave jets ever.
I’m having a hard time finding pics of late 40s to real early 50s Navy jets, though… I know they had them…
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### Author:  [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/9 "2003-04-08T00:29:23Z")
[http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomber/b42/b42\_en.htm](http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomber/b42/b42_en.htm)
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/10 "2003-04-08T00:54:12Z")
Some good choices so far. Someone already mentioned the Connie, there’s the [Beech 17 Staggerwing](http://www.srv.net/~twest/oleyeller/staggerwing.htm), and I have a soft spot for the [DeHavilland Beaver](http://www.ventureaviation.com/aircraft/DeHavillandDHC2-CGWCT-Pics.html).
But the all time favorite?
[Northrop Gamma](http://www.angelfire.com/va2/aerodrome/alpha/gamma.html)
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### Author:  [@Toddly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toddly)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/11 "2003-04-08T02:32:00Z")
I always loved the look and the sound of the P 51 Mustang. They have an airshow here once per year and about 2-3 of these beauties fly together in formation. [Here](http://www.cloudnet.com/~jfb/P-51.jpg) is a picture.
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### Author:  [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/12 "2003-04-08T02:39:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by kunilou \*
> \*\*I have to go for the F-86 Sabre [www.spitcrazy.com/sabre.htm](http://www.spitcrazy.com/sabre.htm)
>
> Cool name, too.
> \*\*
Hey, **kunilou**. The lead jet from that team is on a pedastal in Trenton, Ontario. The guy who led the team was [Fern](http://www.geocities.com/sdanb80/Numismatics/Aviation/1997_20S_CanadairF86Sabre.jpg) [Villeneuve](http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Aviation_Art_International/0015.htm). I worked with him the last two summers at the Central Region Gliding School in Trenton, Ontario. Nowadays he’s the Chief TowPilot for the school.
He’s a cantankerous old man, but we love him 😉
The [Bellanca Scout](http://flyingarts.net/visualsoarcery/web_images/photos/Gliding/28MAY12.jpg) is what Fern flies these days.
I’ve got a bias for the [2-33](http://www.engsoc.org/~thastie/sgs233a.htm)
[Both Together](http://www.glidingmagazine.com/PhotoGallery/163.JPG)
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### Author:  [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/13 "2003-04-08T02:47:20Z")
Hmm, the link in the word “Fern” doesn’t seem to work right.
Instead, go [here](http://www.geocities.com/sdanb80/Numismatics/Aviation/), and click on “1997\_20S\_CanadairF86…\>” to look at the commemorative coin that the Royal Canadian Mint struck in Fern’s honour.
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### Author:  [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/14 "2003-04-08T02:48:57Z")
No mention for the spitfire? (does it count as a post-war plane, since it existed in-use post war)
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### Author:  [@Buck\_The\_Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_The_Diver)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/15 "2003-04-08T02:58:46Z")
For your consideration, the sexiest plane that EVER took to the sky: [The Lockheed P-38J Lightning](http://www.cafark.org/P38.html).
If I win the lottery, I **WILL** own one of these.
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### Author:  [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/16 "2003-04-08T03:00:54Z")
Every ‘Top Gun’ dreams of flying this one;
[SR-71](http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/SR-71/Small/EC91-0365-7.jpg)
[SR-71 Afterburner](http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/SR-71/Small/EC92-1284-1.jpg)
Then there are the pretty ones:
[F-104 Starfighter](http://www.starfighters.nl/)
[B-58 Hustler](http://www.b-58hustler.com/)
[U-2](http://www.af.mil/news/factsheets/U_2S.html)
[Northrup YB-49](http://northrop.host.sk/northrop_yb49.htm)
[Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star](http://1000aircraftphotos.com/PRPhotos/LockheedT-33.htm)
[N9MB Flying Wing](http://www.mucheswarbirds.com/N9MB.html)
The **N9MB** was the major payoff for assembling this post. I never knew about this flying wing trainer and, yet, it is one of the snazziest airplanes I have ever seen. Thank you, **NoClueBoy** , for inspiring my research. This prop-driven all-wing aircraft embodied the equivalent of a ‘little red sports car’ for every Air Force ‘Top Gun’ of that time. How cool!
Honorary Mentions:
Without the primary variants of these two planes, the Battle of Britain might have been lost. The Spitfire’s Merlin III engine must have meant everything. With a nod to the legendary quality of Rolls Royce, one of their V-12s must have been the dog’s bark when you were in the pilot’s seat.
Once the Mustang was able to benefit from a supercharged engine, everything must have improved immensely. These two simple planes rather single-handedly helped win the battle for air superiority during W.W.II.
[P-51 Mustang](http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p51.htm)
[Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX](http://home.nycap.rr.com/airwarrior/Spit-IX.html)
This timeless warbird is so cool that it needs no justification.
[Lockheed P-38 Lightning](http://www.mucheswarbirds.com/P38.html)
This modern one too:
[A-10 Thunderbolt ‘Warthog’](http://www.danshistory.com/a10.html)
I’m with you **Lobsang** , the Spitfire is one of the Kings!
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/17 "2003-04-08T03:05:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Lobsang \*
> \*\*No mention for the spitfire? (does it count as a post-war plane, since it existed in-use post war) \*\*
Sure, i mentioned the Vaught F4U
I just really like the Bearcat.
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### Author:  [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/18 "2003-04-08T03:18:45Z")
You guys might like our local air museum: [Castle Air Museum](http://www.elite.net/castle-air/)
I’m not really a plane person myself, but I work on the former base, with an office right on the runway. I can’t help but notice them sometimes (my favorite is the P51 Mustang, which we don’t have, but sometimes fly through).
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### Author:  [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/19 "2003-04-08T03:28:32Z")
Oh, how could I forget?
CF-105: The [Avro Arrow](http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/nam/Digital_archives/english/showmodel.cfm?Image_ID=6891)
[Here’s Another](http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/nam/Digital_archives/english/showmodel.cfm?Image_ID=32432) of the Arrow.
Now THAT’s a dream plane.
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### Author:  [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)
#### Post date: [April 8, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166/20 "2003-04-08T04:05:33Z")
Other pretties (from ANY era):
[Boeing P-12](http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/early_years/ey12.htm)
[Mitsubishi Raiden](http://digilander.libero.it/dreamswings/ImmaginiModelGallery/J2M2_02_P650.jpg) (it’s a model… hard to find real photos)
[Focke Wulf FW-190](http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/annex/an47.htm)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/early-post-wwii-aircraft-gorgeous/167166.md?page=2)