# What's your favourite bomber?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [January 11, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502 "2006-01-11T15:58:49Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/41 "2006-01-12T01:52:24Z")
> [@Duckster](#):
>
> Wasn’t it the aircraft in the movie _Fail Safe_?
Yes. (That’s why I said ‘rarely’. 😉 )
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/42 "2006-01-12T02:09:53Z")
Since no one’s mentioned it yet, I’ll give a nod to the Bristol Blenheim, specifically the later, long-nose models.
Personal all-time fave, though? Hard not to go for the B-58 Hustler. Man, what a ride that would have been.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/43 "2006-01-12T03:25:46Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#):
>
> But they don’t really fit the ‘spirit’ of the poll.
I don’t suppose the “Spirit” does either, but the B-2 is my favourite bomber – just because it looks sexy. I know it ain’t all that.
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### Author:  [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/44 "2006-01-12T03:38:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I have to go with the B-24 Liberator as well but mostly because my uncle flew one in WWII. I never understood the limelight that the B-17 held in the WWII bomber department. I guess because it carried a heavier payload and looked a bit sexier…still…the Liberator was a very good plane by most counts I have heard …
Actually, the Liberator had both a higher payload, a higher speed, and a longer range than the Flying Fortress. I have heard that the B-24 would burn faster, but I suspect that the proper weapon hitting the proper spot would not do either plane much good. The B-17 probably got most of its reputation just by being out in front of the public sooner (which is not intended to claim that its famew was unjustified).
As for the Hustler, I agree that it was a hot plane, but that is not what bombers are for. It was a very fast plane with a crappy payload and almost no range that had a lot of technical problems (and a bit of in-flight instability).
When ranking “hot” bombers, it can certainly go to the head of the class, but the USAF was wise to drop it as soon as they did. Like its contemporaneous fighter, the [F-104](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=322898), it was a good demonstration that planes need to be able to do a lot more than go fast if they are to be useful.
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### Author:  [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/45 "2006-01-12T04:03:23Z")
> [@](#):
>
> As for the Hustler, I agree that it was a hot plane, but that is not what bombers are for. It was a very fast plane with a crappy payload and almost no range that had a lot of technical problems (and a bit of in-flight instability).
Details, details. 😃
BTW, here’s [the apparent favorite](http://img82.imageshack.us/my.php?image=txnmsculpture01edit6lr.jpg) of some oilfield workers with what must have been plenty of time on their hands, shot near Hobbs, New Mexico back in October. While the scale is not apparent from the photo, that sucker’s about ten feet long.
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### Author:  [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/46 "2006-01-12T04:09:21Z")
Counting “paper bombers,” I’ve had an eye on the [A/F-117x](http://www.f-117a.com/af117x.html) for a little while, now.
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### Author:  [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/47 "2006-01-12T04:34:03Z")
I gots lots of love for the B-17. The G is obviously the coolest, what with a chin turret and all, but I like the E more, because that’s te model my grandfather flew.
He was the pilot, and got shot down and was a POW for the last few months on the war in Europe.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/48 "2006-01-12T04:36:35Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#):
>
> I don’t suppose the “Spirit” does either, but the B-2 is my favourite bomber…
Yes, the Sprit fits the spirit. It’s a bomber like the B-1 or the B-24, and not an ‘attack’ plane like the A-7. (I have an ejection seat out of a SLUF, BTW.)
> [@tomndebb](#):
>
> Actually, the Liberator had both a higher payload, a higher speed, and a longer range than the Flying Fortress.
IIRC, there were a lot more B-24s made than the B-17 as well.
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### Author:  [@jhinman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jhinman)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/49 "2006-01-12T04:43:20Z")
The B17 and Lanc have all way been my favourites. But lately the B36 has been growing on me.
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### Author:  [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/50 "2006-01-12T05:32:44Z")
> [@Dorjän](#):
>
> My favorite is a tie between the B-1B and the B-58. The B-1 is just a sexy as hell plane that looks like it’s going Mach 2 just sitting still. The Hustler is just bad-ass all around.
I seconde the [B-1B](http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/bomber/burnerto.jpg). It is easily the most impressive machine standing still, flying low, or turned loose.
Runner up would be the British [Nimrod](http://www.studenten.net/customasp/axl/picture.asp?cat_id=7&ple_id=207&page=0&pte_id=3196) or the [Martin B-10](http://www.shanaberger.com/images/B-10_1.htm) (just ahead of it’s time).
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### Author:  [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/51 "2006-01-12T06:09:43Z")
Just to be different, I’ll say the ME-262. Hitler wanted it to be a bomber, didn’t he?
I got more drinkin’ to do.
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### Author:  [@MackoUr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MackoUr)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/52 "2006-01-12T06:22:41Z")
The [B-57](http://www.b-57canberra.org/) for sentimental reasons (my dad flew in them) and the [XB-35](http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b3-66.htm) because it looks cool.
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### Author:  [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/53 "2006-01-12T10:52:45Z")
> [@Small Clanger](#):
>
> [Avro Vulcan](http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/vulcan/history.html)
The Vulcan may have had the best name of all the [V Bombers](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_bomber), but the [Victor](http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/victor/) just looked far deadlier.
Shame it only saw service as a tanker in the end (by which I mean shame it didn’t lend itself to use as a conventional bomber, not shame it didn’t drop an A-bomb in anger 😉 ) The UK really built some great looking aircraft, every collaborative effort with EU countries has been frankly disappointing looking.
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### Author:  [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/54 "2006-01-12T12:27:20Z")
How about the [Blackjack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupolev_Tu-160)? Otherwise known as the Tupolev Tu-160, there isn’t a bigger, faster bomber around.
I’m impressed by the [B-36 Peacemaker](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convair_B-36), too.
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### Author:  [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/55 "2006-01-12T12:39:30Z")
> [@Magiver](#):
>
> Runner up would be the British [Nimrod](http://www.studenten.net/customasp/axl/picture.asp?cat_id=7&ple_id=207&page=0&pte_id=3196) or the [Martin B-10](http://www.shanaberger.com/images/B-10_1.htm) (just ahead of it’s time).
Isn’t the Nimrod a reconnaisance plane?
The Vulcan was always my favourite. It just _looked_ deadly.
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### Author:  [@Otanx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otanx)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/56 "2006-01-12T12:50:25Z")
Already mentioned but the B-1 is my favorite. B-52 comes in a close second. How about the EB-52 Megafortress from the Dale Brown books? I think a B-52 with a V tail painted all black would be awsome.
-Otanx
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### Author:  [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/57 "2006-01-12T15:02:40Z")
> [@Dominic Mulligan](#):
>
> Isn’t the Nimrod a reconnaisance plane?
There’s a maritime patrol variant, torpedoes and depth charges can be carried.
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### Author:  [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/58 "2006-01-12T15:12:25Z")
The B-52, because I’ve been inside one! 😃 The others are all imaginary as far as I’m concerned.
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/59 "2006-01-12T15:33:11Z")
Oh, my, the B-1B Lancer. A beautiful, sleek, fast plane. I wrote a paper in college on the Air Force’s political canniness in spreading out manufacturing contracts to as many Congressional districts as possible. During an alien invasion, the President travels from Washington to NORAD aboard one, in the science-fiction novel _Footfall_.
The B-58 Hustler was indeed featured in _Fail-Safe_, but it’s called something else in the movie (or, at least, I remember that it was called something else - a fictitious name - in the book). Very cool-looking.
Stukas were also badass-looking planes, although they did a lot better against Polish cavalry (I know, I know, a military myth) than any determined fighter opposition.
My vote goes for the B-1B. I even have a little toy Lancer, complete with movable wings, on my bookshelf, so you know I’m partial.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2006, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-favourite-bomber/339502/60 "2006-01-12T15:36:28Z")
Incidentally, I worked on the B-1 project at Edwards. My first day, as my lead and I were driving on base to pick up some data, we saw smoke in the distance. B-1A, tail number 159, had gone down. It was a little eerie driving to the hangar over the next few days and seeing Rockwell pilot Doug Benefield’s tan Porsche 924 sitting in the lot.
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