Beauty is in the eye of the beholder-Aircraft Edition

Motion seconded. Dare II.



This has all the makings for a loooong thread

 

But back to WW2, another pretty brute, the Northrop P-61 Black Widow.

 

The PBY an old lady and stalwart work horse seen here at Killadeas home of 131 OTU.



The Butcher Bird, depending on what angle you look at it a beauty who also had the odd ugly line.

 

I must admit to a weakness for all the 5 series fighters but the Re 2005 was the best looking one.

 

Call it ugly if you will, but I always loved this brute!

View attachment 77750

(click the image again for BIG!)

Proof that with enough horsepower, even a brick can fly.

She is pretty, though.

Dare I

a beauty
Skyraider

If my current publishing venture pans out well, I'm looking to write a book about a Skyraider pilot friend of mine who flew over Vietnam in 1965-66. I'm just thinking now and have not broached the subject with him.

 

Proof that with enough horsepower, even a brick can fly.

She is pretty, though.

Have a very soft spot for f4 have some original spook art work.

One of the old Tiger squadron Pilots said the same brick thing to me he also said the Roll Royce engine ones are "fat arsed birds"

I think the Germans are still using them

 

In case there is any doubt the Damned Colonials were able to design ugly aircraft, here is proof they were. The Budd Conestoga.





The Budd C-93/RB-1 Conestoga was the first aircraft of original design to be fabricated entirely of shotwelded stainless steel. It was designed to meet a U.S. Navy specification for a twin-engined cargo carrier and troop transport. The Army version was known as the C-93, but the initial order was canceled due to delays caused by manufacturing problems. The Navy version was designated the RB-1, but only 25 of the initial 200 ordered were delivered before cancellation of that order.

It was a frightful looking bird. That was not the only hideous bird to come out of US arsenal. The B-18 comes immediately to mind.

 

I've always liked the Fiat Cr32, as I'm a fan of most of the Italian aircraft of the period, probably because I've liked the camo schemes they came up with.



I think one of my favorite British aircraft still is the ill fated Westland Whirlwind.

 

Big fan of the Whirlwind too Stig. Glad to hear there's a new book coming out on it.
Here's my Beauty and the Beast posting.
Beast

Handley Page Heyford
Beauty
Mitsubishi Ki-46-ii (Dinah)

 

I'll trump that Fokker Funfdecker with a Neundecker.

Well, of course it has wings - lots of 'em. But what inspired the rest of it - a railway carriage crossed with a bateau mouche? Surely the sheer horror which is the Caproni Ca60 can only be appreciated from both angles! I mean, what were they thinking? Note the detailing on the passenger windows for example ...





It achieved the magnificent height of 60 feet on its maiden flight before once more returning to the surface of Lake Maggiore in a way not originally intended by its designer. It never flew again and was destroyed in a mysterious fire soon afterwards ...

 

To stave off accusations that I was picking on the Limeys last night, I present some of the finest to come out of the 48 US States. Heaven knows there were enough ugly birds flying over Albion through the years to write a book about.

So, in the interest of fairness, here is the Army Engineering Division GAX, which was more or less was supposed to be a flying tank.

It tanked alright and was a sight to behold, but not in the way either was intended.

Lovely name, BTW. Sounds like a cat spitting up on the carpet.

 

Here is another from the flying anvil school of aeronautical thought.

The Boeing GA-2 and like the lunker above was intended to be a ground attack aircraft, with the requisite armor to protect it and ugliness to scare the enemy.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/barracks/attachment.php?attachmentid=77808&d=1333060227

 

One more aircraft lacking in curb appeal. This one is a "fighter" - the Leoning PW-2.

http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/barracks/attachment.php?attachmentid=77809&d=1333060456

 

Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik
Beauty

 

and then they breed!

 

................and back to the French. Who somehow feel compelled to have their aircraft stand in stark contrast to their women!

 

Ilyushin Il-2 Sturmovik
Beauty

Being harsh here don't like it Fairy battle with armor and cannons.

 

What are they, Canuck?

 

................and back to the French. Who somehow feel compelled to have their aircraft stand in stark contrast to their women!

View attachment 77812

If we are talking about planes and women then we only have one answer and I don't give a dam.



I do give a damned though

[YOUTUBE]6QHyCxgDfI4[/YOUTUBE]

 

Beauty







Martin Baker 5 (MB5) (P) Prototype