^ Rall and Hartmann were sure the Me 109 was the best plane of the war, until the end - they were still able to beat P51s, but to fly the 109 at the edge of its flight envelope needed a well-trained pilot.

It looks very good but I do not think it is the most pretty plane though - the initial question was the favourite aircraft, and this is a completely personal view that has not nescessarily to do with performance .. or looks alone.

I always thought the P-40 a very pretty plane, and the Mosquito - the Spitfire is a bit too posh for my liking.
The Heinkel He 112 was also a very nice plane, but the version with radiators in the wings.
I also like the B17's looks .. or the P 38.

Too much nice planes, hard to judge :03:

This is an impossible question for me....I love so many of them....

I'll make a list....

B-17G
P-40
TBM/TBF Avenger
P-51
F6F
B-24
B-29
Bf-109E or later
Bf-110
He-111
The later models of the Fw-190

I have more but this is all I can remember off the top of my head at the moment.

I see you've all gone for fighters, with a couple of big bombers thrown in for good measure.

Me - Westland Lysander Mk.III :D

Talk technical all you want, talk speed, talk range, talk weapons. The pilots with the biggest balls went in to the enemy's back yard only with a pistol and a passenger, and they did it at night with only a map and a compass! And they did it in a Lysander.

http://www.airpowerworld.info/other-...d-lysander.jpg

I'm amazed nobody has mentioned the Spitfire or Hurricane.

Two stalwarts that done the business when Britain and the Commonwealth stood alone with their backs against the wall.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...edit4_ver2.jpg
http://www.learning-to-fly.com/image...Hurricane3.jpg

This is my mate and his Mk.26 Spit. Ok, Ok, not a true Spit, but still . . .

http://www.thisisgrimsby.co.uk/image...09/4451903.jpg

LOL...God loves a tryer :)

+1

and I'll add the P-40 B\C = Flying Tigers.

Hono(u)rable mention:
F4 Wildcat. Sure, it's ugly, but it held it's own against the Zero in the dark days of WW2.

http://img.wp.scn.ru/camms/ar/574/pics/3_38.jpg

http://www.planefax.com/radar/Hells_...igers_1942.jpg

http://www.spitcrazy.com/Bf109labusch.jpg

F4 is on my list. Under dog for sure but made it's mark. Not ugly to me. I think it is a nice looking plane.

Best plane that ever flew. Almost 80 years old and still in service around the globe.

http://www.douglasc47.org/C-47_T9_So...tedge-home.JPG

Douglas C-47 Skytrain

P-38

Great plane and one of great designs for USN.


Another twin tailed beast i like:
http://www.airpowerworld.info/ww2-fi...lack-widow.jpg

I think August has a winner there.
The DC3 was used by all the allies plus the axis and was used in all theatres throughout WW2

The one that can be recovered more intact than the others.

P-40 got around as well.