:agree:

I know what you mean. Big, ugly, and clumsy. But there is just something about them that makes you love 'em. :salute:

Messerschmitt Bf-109 E-4

http://imageshack.us/a/img59/3854/photooct04085537.jpg

This particular one was flown by Helmut Wick when he commanded JG2 in November 1940. I've made a model of it!

I always felt that the P-47 was underrated by many the P-51 takes all the glory when in fact it was the P-47 that started really wearing down the down the Luftwaffe in late '43 and early 44' before the P-51B came onto the scene.Also the highest scoring wing in the 8th Air Force was equipped with P-47s though out the war.

The P-47 was much better at ground attack being much more durable than the P-51.The P-51 was a bit prone to battle damage in comparison to other US designed aircraft even pilots that had much success in them will tell you this if they are honest.

The P-40 is another underdog it was by no means the best design but it held the line for a while and in the CBI some untis flew them well into 1944.Units in Europe often went from the P-38 or P-47 to the P-51 CBI units went from the P-40 to the P-51D and some units went to later model P-38s imagine the jump in ability those pilots enjoyed.

I am surprised so far no fans of Russian Japanese or Italian aircraft.

Lets give these guys some credit.

One of my favorites is the La-5/7 series they where fairly impressive aircraft and many of the higher scoring VVS aces achieved most of their kills in La's.The La-7 had a 14 cylinder radial that produced 1,850HP most Soviet fighters where light weight and agile the La-7 could top out at around 411MPH.
http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/...ps61d4625f.jpg

A favorite Japanese aircraft of mine would be the Kawanishi N1K Kyofu it was a float plane fighter that the Japanese later resigned a bit to develop the N1k1 Shinden.It was powered by a 14 cylinder radial engine and put out 1,400HP.Only 89 N1Ks where ever produced but the design showed great potential and the Shinden was subsequently developed from it.
http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/...psc3ce866c.jpg

For the Italians I really like the Savoia-Marchetti SM.79.This aircraft was first designed in 1934 as an air racer.It actually set some world records in the 1930's for carrying a weight of 4,410lb load over 1,240 mi at an average speed of 266MPH.It was powered by 3 9 cylinder radial engines pushing out 960 HP each a bit anemic by WWII standards but this plane gets high marks more for its looks like all things Italian.
http://i1162.photobucket.com/albums/...ps177620b1.jpg

Supermarine Spitfire
http://i1224.photobucket.com/albums/...psc10268cc.jpg

For the reliable workhorse, I'd go with the DC3's counterpart, the good old Tante Ju. There are still some around - she flies occasionally over my house:

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/4955/ju2pb.jpg


As a tech demo, I find the Me 262 pretty cool - the dawn of a new era of flight:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...t_ILA_2006.jpg

MkV Spitfire
http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1425/img1040nd.jpg
http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/8039/img1044cz.jpg

P-47G Snafu
http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8995/img0818vh.jpg
http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/3930/img0815vg.jpg

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/1396/img0863et.jpg
http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/1214/img1205g.jpg

I may be wrong but I think I recall reading in a magazine article about photo recon Spitfires that the fastest photo recon mission flown by a propeller powered aircraft was flown by a Spitfire.I will have to see if I still have that magazine.

"Chalk up one more Jerry Me109 on the board for Jimbuna lads!":Kaleun_Cheers:

Off the top of my head, you are correct.

[PEDANTISM] Bf-109, dammit, Bf-109![/PEDANTISM]

:yep:

The Lockheed L-133, the 1939 design for a jet that technology-wise was the equal of planes from the 50´s.
Much more advanced than the Me-262 or the De Havilland. Such a shame none were ever built.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-133

http://tanks45.tripod.com/Jets45/His...133/L133_1.jpg

Hurricane. My mother helped build them.

Shortly after that shot was taken we got moved along for touching the damn thing :)

On a trip to the 'Planes of Fame' museum at Chino
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planes_of_Fame_Air_Museum
http://planesoffame.org/index.php?page=static-flying
with my friend Rocky we were admiring a restrored Bf-109G when he said they were hard to stall and grabbed one of the forward wing slats and racked it out and in a couple of times. WHACK! WHACK!

To my surprise no one came over and yelled at us.

Yeah but my friend fired her engine up :)



http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/6...nimationli.gif

I was cheeky and touched the Sopwith Pup, Spitfire and Hurricane at the RAF Museum. No-one came along to have a go at me, but I did get static shocks from both the Hurri and Spit! :haha:

These are some of the prettiest planes ever...

Don't you just love the sound of those engines? :Kaleun_Smile:

I love World War 2-Korean War age military aircraft.

F-86 Sabre is one of my favorite jets of all time but this isn't a jet thread. It's for WW2 aircraft. I like the Mosquito and B-25 too...I forgot to add them to my list earlier....


And the A6M....gotta love the "Zeke" :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

I'm also fond of WW2 dive bombers...the Stuka, Dauntless, Helldiver, D3 Val...