I think that the Spitfire, Harrier Jump Jet, and Concorde are arguably the most iconic aircraft in the world. They just look bloody great.
Supermarine Spitfire will always be the best that we've produced... Just look at her!!
The Spitfire is the greatest plane ever, IMHO. I live near Meopham in Kent, I am lucky that almost every spring and summer day a Spitfire flies over my house (I guess from Biggin Hill, they have the fly a Spitfire hanger there) and when the southern airshows are on, I get to see the BOB memorial flight once maybe twice a day (on weekends) come over, all at about 1000 feet or so, the Merlin engines are just music to my ears. Great to see and hear.
Thanks to wiki .. just to think that the first non stop transatlantic flight was a bit less than 100 years ago !
'The world's first nonstop transatlantic flight (though at 1,890 mi, or 3,040 km, far shorter than Lindbergh's 3,600 mi, or 5,800 km, flight) was made by British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown, in a modified Vickers Vimy IV bomber. They left St. John's, Newfoundland on June 14, 1919 and arrived in Ireland, the following day'
I've been in a concord for a school trip or something, sadly it never took off. You can see why it failed. Why pay the high price to save a few hours in an economy seat when you can save yourself £500 or so and get a flat bed in business class?
No doubt as technology increases it will one day be commercially viable to have supersonic travel but with some airlines ditching first class as the real money is to be either made in business class and super cheap economy (I expect buy on board long haul to become popular soon) it's not a priority at present.
I think that the Spitfire, Harrier Jump Jet, and Concorde are arguably the most iconic aircraft in the world. They just look bloody great.
The Harrier, fantastic plane too, I also liked the Mosquito.
Agreed, there was a prog on History Channel about the Mosquito, brilliant stuff, in fact there are so many that were built that are just so fit for purpose.
I met a pilot of the SR-71 many years ago, when it was still in use.
He said that the plane leaked 1/3 of its fuel from the hanger to 30,000 feet because they built it so as the plane heated up, the parts would expand and close the gaps causing the leaks. So that once it was higher up, the first thing it had to do was get refuelled and then sprint to high speed to conserve the fuel.
Also, one time he was cruising at ultra-high altitude (he would not tell me how high but said you could see the curve of the Earth and that the sky was black, not blue.) Anyway, he was over Kansas and lost engine power. He was able to glide all the way down to California and land. From Kansas!
To me, the fact Western Civilization has not improved on the Concorde or SR-71 in nearly half a century shows some kind of decline of The West. The future is now like the present and nothing like we were promised.
on a more sombre note.. I suppose that the start of the death throes of Concorde was the Paris crash/disaster in 2000 .. over 100 killed, absolutely terrible tragedy and awful subsequent publicity .. the beautiful machine lost its allure ((:<)
I've been to Brooklands museum alot since 2012 , my son loves the place and walking under the Concorde gave me shivers done my spine! Anyone else been? It's in Weybridge
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Yes indeed, we do make a good looking plane, apart from the bit the French added of course.
Great to see and hear.
NSFW
'The world's first nonstop transatlantic flight (though at 1,890 mi, or 3,040 km, far shorter than Lindbergh's 3,600 mi, or 5,800 km, flight) was made by British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown, in a modified Vickers Vimy IV bomber. They left St. John's, Newfoundland on June 14, 1919 and arrived in Ireland, the following day'
No doubt as technology increases it will one day be commercially viable to have supersonic travel but with some airlines ditching first class as the real money is to be either made in business class and super cheap economy (I expect buy on board long haul to become popular soon) it's not a priority at present.
Ok it probably would have been retired by now but 2003 was a disgrace.
Along with Red Phone boxes, Pubs and the Mini it was part of a bygone, but more interesting, era.
White. Smooth. Elegant. Great performance. Awesome.
He said that the plane leaked 1/3 of its fuel from the hanger to 30,000 feet because they built it so as the plane heated up, the parts would expand and close the gaps causing the leaks. So that once it was higher up, the first thing it had to do was get refuelled and then sprint to high speed to conserve the fuel.
Also, one time he was cruising at ultra-high altitude (he would not tell me how high but said you could see the curve of the Earth and that the sky was black, not blue.) Anyway, he was over Kansas and lost engine power. He was able to glide all the way down to California and land. From Kansas!
To me, the fact Western Civilization has not improved on the Concorde or SR-71 in nearly half a century shows some kind of decline of The West. The future is now like the present and nothing like we were promised.
The Harrier prevented the invasion of Belize by Guatemala. Stick that in your F15 pipe and smoke it.