What Is Your Favorite GA / Commercial Post 1950 Aircraft?

[jedihobbit]

Hey guys and gals a thread started over in the Folding Forum talking about various aircraft with the primary hit on WWII. However thought it would be neat to move the fun over here to get it in front of more people.

This will be for “general” talk about your experiences or just plan fun of telling us why you like a specific plane(s). However don’t want any “debates" & “flaming” but it would be nice it you make specific claims you provide the data. In my case a lot of the ones I’ll mention will be a subjective “I like this plane” be it for strictly looks or whatever.

However to make it easier for y’all to talk or read about aircraft you like thought to divide it up so there will be 4 threads……..

Military Pre 1950
GA / Commercial Pre 1950
Military Post 1950
GA / Commercial Post 1950

[BWM]

C-47 / DC-3 again

Seems like I was always doing IFT on one or the other and it payed good

[jedihobbit]

Originally Posted by BWM

C-47 / DC-3 again

Seems like I was always doing IFT on one or the other and it payed good

Yes the Goonies hung around a long time!

For commercial guess one of my fav Post '50 built aircraft was the "doomed" de Havilland Comet. While the proto first flew in '49 the production types didn't enter service 'til '51.....the world first commercial jet liner!!



Well off to doing some honey do runs.....later I'll tell ya about my first comercial airplane ride!

[BWM]

Yup sure was. Was nice too until they found what was causing the cabin depressurisation bugs that brought a few of 'em down. By the time that was sorted, the brits decided they'd had enough of the bad luck.

[jedihobbit]

Originally Posted by BWM

Yup sure was. Was nice too until they found what was causing the cabin depressurisation bugs that brought a few of 'em down. By the time that was sorted, the brits decided they'd had enough of the bad luck.

Yes, it too bad they were the first and therefore found out the hard way about the metal fatigue associated with pressurized cabins. By the time they had it fixed everyone was buying 707s or the DC-8.

[jedihobbit]

This is one of those aircraft that started pre-1950 but was flown mostly after, so I guess it goes here! Being of early age and a long time ago these are vague memories reinforced by what my parents told me later

My first commercial ride was at four years old and went from L.A. to Hawaii on what I believe was a Boeing 337 Stratocruiser. Dad's squadron was posted at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu and were we relocating to be with him.



It had amenities that weren't match until the arrival of the 747. It is my understanding Mom and I had "window seats" on the wing, and the window I sat next to had a large frame with latches. I've been told I kept wanting to pull on the latches while we were airborne. Think the biggest issue I made though was while looking out the window at night and seeing the engines with their cowl flaps open for cooling. The pistons were glowing red (this I do remember) and mom said I started screaming because I thought the plane was on fire and it took quite a bit to calm me down! Between trying to open the escape hatch and screaming the plane was on fire, I sure the stewardesses were very happy when I de-planed in Honolulu!

You younger guys may remember a few of these after they were converted to "Supper Guppies" to transport rocket components for NASA.

[BWM]

Originally Posted by jedihobbit

This is one of those aircraft that started pre-1950 but was flown mostly after, so I guess it goes here! Being of early age and a long time ago these are vague memories reinforced by what my parents told me later

My first commercial ride was at four years old and went from L.A. to Hawaii on what I believe was a Boeing 337 Stratocruiser. Dad's squadron was posted at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu and were we relocating to be with him.



It had amenities that weren't match until the arrival of the 747. It is my understanding Mom and I had "window seats" on the wing, and the window I sat next to had a large frame with latches. I've been told I kept wanting to pull on the latches while we were airborne. Think the biggest issue I made though was while looking out the window at night and seeing the engines with their cowl flaps open for cooling. The pistons were glowing red (this I do remember) and mom said I started screaming because I thought the plane was on fire and it took quite a bit to calm me down! Between trying to open the escape hatch and screaming the plane was on fire, I sure the stewardesses were very happy when I de-planed in Honolulu!

You younger guys may remember a few of these after they were converted to "Supper Guppies" to transport rocket components for NASA.

Uh oh... I'm in trouble now. I hate it cuz it is uuuuugly. Even the guppy looked better

[jedihobbit]

Originally Posted by BWM

Uh oh... I'm in trouble now. I hate it cuz it is uuuuugly. Even the guppy looked better

Never said it was purdy, just my first flight!!

[jedihobbit]

Usually don't let myself fall into the "would a, should a, could a" mode but do have one big regret………..while I talked the talk I never walked the walk and got my pilots license. So I'm way behind the curve on what is now available GA wise. I stopped looking 20+ years ago when Piper went under along with several others and Beech and Cessna did what was needed to stay afloat.

So, my “current” favorites for aircraft are a bit dated.

V-tailed Beech Bonanzas and most anything Mooney.

[Britgeezer]

Originally Posted by jedihobbit

Yes the Goonies hung around a long time!

For commercial guess one of my fav Post '50 built aircraft was the "doomed" de Havilland Comet. While the proto first flew in '49 the production types didn't enter service 'til '51.....the world first commercial jet liner!!



Well off to doing some honey do runs.....later I'll tell ya about my first comercial airplane ride!

I have to check, but I recall they are still flying as Nimrods (much modified) for air search rescue, why not they replaced Shackletons that were based on Lancasters!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

[jedihobbit]

Originally Posted by Britgeezer

I have to check, but I recall they are still flying as Nimrods (much modified) for air search rescue, why not they replaced Shackletons that were based on Lancasters!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

Yes a very capable aircraft almost forgot about them! Going to throw some pics up on the Military Post 1950 thread.

Glad to have ya helping us out with these aviation threads..........need a UK perspective as we Yanks (and yes I'm from VA) tend to forget "others".

[BWM]

Originally Posted by Britgeezer

I have to check, but I recall they are still flying as Nimrods (much modified) for air search rescue, why not they replaced Shackletons that were based on Lancasters!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hawker_Siddeley_Nimrod

I remember that, thanks to you bringing it up. Still a competent and very effective hunter, even for subs.

[jedihobbit]

I remember when the "sports car" of business jets first came out......the Lear 23 followed by the 24 and so on.



After graduating from HS I spent the summer of '66 visiting relatives from my mom's side of family in TX, OK, & KS. The KS trip wasn't part of the original deal but lead to two high lights of my young life. It turned out that my mom's favorite cousin work for Lear Jet and as a joke I asked it she could give me a tour. She took me serious so I spent two week in Wichita, KS and got a tour of the plant. One of the things I remember was being shown a gold plated "8-track" that was going into Frank Sinatra’s bird! The other "thrill" was my ride in my 2nd cousins HS graduation gift.......'66 Ford Mustang 2+2 GT with hi-pro kit.

[BWM]

Worked on the Canadair CL601 Challenger business jets for 1 year. Now all I do is fly in one every month or two.

[jedihobbit]

Originally Posted by BWM

Worked on the Canadair CL601 Challenger business jets for 1 year. Now all I do is fly in one every month or two.

Nice looking bird!