The most Charismatic Warbirds?

[hairy]

There have been plenty threads on the best of this and the best of that, this is a slightly different question. What I am after is that aircraft that you really like but do not really know why. Bascically those aircraft with the "X" factor, they may not have been successful, they could have been awful to fly, they may have fallen out of the sky alot, they may have been the best of their type or the worst but you still like them, even though you may have never told anyone.
For me it is the early glazed-nose Venturers/Lexingtons and with jets its the F-8 Crusader.which I have never seen in real life. (Civillian wise its the Fletcher Ag-plane in all it guises and updates )

So please share your aeronautical perversions, there will be no ridicule (well not too much anyway),so reveal away.

So here we go...............

What are the most charismatic warbirds to you?

Photos welcome

Last edited by hairy on Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Mike]

To me, the most charismatic warbird is also, IMHO, the most significant single airframe flying today.

The sole airworthy European representative of the RAF bombing campaign and the 55,000 airmen who gave their lives during WWII whilst serving in Bomber Command. Flown every week between May and October, and seen by literally millions of people each summer.

The RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight's Lancaster, PA474.





Although I've seen it fly probably over a hundred times, at least once every season for the past 30 years barring one year when it was grounded for spar replacement, it still brings a tear to my eye each and every time.

[Mudge]

Mike...you know how I feel about my beloved P-38 but in this case, I gotta' agree with you.

Mudge the charismatician*

*One who appreciates charismatic stuff.

(OK...OK...I made that word up. )

[Jerry O'Neill]

I've always liked the Vought SB2U Vindicator. Never did much, but I think it's cool!
As far as jets go, this isn't a stretch, but I love the utilitarian uglyness of the A-10! Always have and always will!
Jerry

[hairy]

I've always liked the Vought SB2U Vindicator. Never did much, but I think it's cool!

Now we're cooking with gas, heart not brain (sort of like buying an italian sports car).

Mike, emotion and a good reason, cool.

[Roger Cain]

I always liked the Vought OS2U Kingfisher float plane and in the jet era, the B-58 Hustler.......

[Ztex]

This thing is danged ugly but...What a machine!

[Tulio]

For that particular "je ne se quois" [sp?] please check me in with the Westland Whilrwind . . .

But the question is actually moot, because there is a certain airplane, oh, I don't know, called the Mustang . . . . : )


Saludos,


Tulio

[oz rb fan]

This thing is danged ugly but...What a machine!

darn thats one big stick!!!
but the most charasmitic hasn't flown yet in warbird term's but will be a beaufighter no matter where it flys
paul

[RickH]

XB-35 or YB-49

Way be before its time, got a raw deal because of politics.

[P-40less in TX]

Great looking, sturdy and reliable, fairly successful, ubiquitous -

yet supposedly outclassed by nearly every fighter of the war. This baby got a lot of our boys home early in the war, it was fighting in the toughest times and gave as good as it took. That's charisma to me.

My vote.





As for jet age, hands-down it's the B-36. Six turnin' and four burnin', how odd is that?? I love it.

[Former Member]

Although I've seen it fly probably over a hundred times, at least once every season for the past 30 years barring one year when it was grounded for spar replacement, it still brings a tear to my eye each and every time.[/quote]

I get the same feeling when I see more than one B-17 flying in formation at an airshow. The Flying Fort will always hold a special place in my heart!

John

[retroaviation]

Well, for me, it's hands down the Hawker Sea Fury. I know it's one of the "more popular" Warbirds nowadays, but it is rarely anyone's first choice to walk up to when surrounded by Mustangs, Corsairs, etc.................at least not until they see it fly.

As far as one of the "lesser popular" airplanes that this thread is really about, the Westland Lysander and the Fairey Swordfish were both pretty neat airplanes to me. They're both hideous, but cool lookin' at the same time.

I have no idea where this fascination of British airplanes came from. This is the first time I've actually noticed that I've had this condition.

Gary

[Former Member]

I always marveled at the ME-163 Komet or "Flying Egg" and the pilots that were brave enough to fly it into combat (and attempt to land it!).

John

[P-40less in TX]

Can't forget the XF-85 Goblin and it's concept as well.