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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:23:03 PM EDT
P-51
P-40 F-4U P-47 I say the P-40 was the best looking of the bunch. Very cool, clean lines. 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:24:57 PM EDT
[#1]
P-51D |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:25:15 PM EDT
[#2]
Those P-51's give me wood.
CMOS |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:26:44 PM EDT
[#3]
As far as "best looking" I'd say the P-51D
As far as "most badass" P-47D hands down.....eight fifties baby  I love them all though. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:27:56 PM EDT
[#4]
long nose Corsair.
Best-looking .... plane ..... ever. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:29:09 PM EDT
[#5]
Oops, sorry did not see the poll.
F4U Corsair.... 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:29:13 PM EDT
[#6]
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:31:28 PM EDT
[#7]
Best looking P-51
Toughest P-47 Old soldiers never die P-40 Best all around F4U |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:35:28 PM EDT
[#8]
I say the P40 was an obsolete death trap that needlessly killed many USAAF pilots in an unequal struggle with a superior plane. The P51 was available and was not ordered into service as a fighter for TWO years after Pearl Harbour by the USAAF despite it having been in RAF service since 1942! The Truman Commission specifically criticized the .Mil for that decision. I wonder how the war in the Pacific in 1942/3 would have proceeded if Tojo had been fighting Mustangs not P39's & 40's? ANdy ETA: the Thunderbolt was totally Badass as a ground attack plane... Video Thunderbolts and 8 .50's take no prisoners! |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:37:27 PM EDT
[#9]
OK. Now, which was best looking? |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:38:30 PM EDT
[#10]
P-38
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:38:55 PM EDT
[#11]
Really? Against the superior planes of the Japanese, the AVG racked up a kill ratio that's still quite awesome.....one of the best of any squadrons ever to take to the skies. 70:1, 296 victories, 9 men lost. It was rugged, had terrific dive speed, and good firepower. It was outdated, but still VERY effective if you knew how to use it to its advantages, like Chennault did. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:44:25 PM EDT
[#12]
 That was kick-ass. How about that explosion??? |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:48:40 PM EDT
[#13]
Nope. 'Ol Hose-Nose has the prettiest lines of any plane ever flown.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:49:16 PM EDT
[#14]
P-39 had a great look IMHO.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:49:21 PM EDT
[#15]
I agree, aethetically, I think it's the prettiest plane the US put to service. 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:49:34 PM EDT
[#16]
+1 F-4U is also a favorite. Toss up. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:51:15 PM EDT
[#17]
+1, wheres this on the poll!!! |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:53:18 PM EDT
[#18]
I have to toss my vote in with the P-38. There never was nor is a better looking plane. That and the fact it was hella effective in the recon role.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:54:13 PM EDT
[#19]
Gull Wing baby!
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:56:46 PM EDT
[#20]
P51D. Without a doubt, THE sexiest man-made death-dealer to ever take flight.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:58:39 PM EDT
[#21]
The P-47!
I may be lonely, but I'm true to the Jug! |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:58:45 PM EDT
[#22]
P51D
Spitfire P47 F4U |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 5:59:04 PM EDT
[#23]
Take those pussy props and go home....
13 footers on the Corsair rules!!!! Hell that is the reason for the gull wings....so the props would clear the ground....too cool. 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:00:59 PM EDT
[#24]
I don't see what's so hot about the P-51... I think the F4U was the best looking of the bunch. Almost as pretty as the FW-190's!
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:01:09 PM EDT
[#25]
P-51 without a doubt.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:01:28 PM EDT
[#26]
This:
+ This  = 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:01:49 PM EDT
[#27]
Now how about the best SOUNDING plane.
Without a doubt, the Mustang or Spitfire with the Merlin. I could just play that like it was Mozart. Music to my ears. 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:05:23 PM EDT
[#28]
Well, against P-51Bs thru D's with the Merlin, we'dve done much better. Much better. Against the first P-51's with the Aliison? About the same as with the P-40. The Mustang was a woeful aircraft until someone got the idea to stick a Merlin in them...Horrible high altitude performance and underpowered. The Mustang that distinguished itself as a premier fighter in Europe did not enter service there until LATE 1943. From the USAF's own history of the P-51. I'm pretty sure they'd know: "The P-51 was designed as the NA-73 in 1940 at Britain's request. The design showed promise and AAF purchases of Allison-powered Mustangs began in 1941primarily for photo recon and ground support use due to its limited high-altitude performance. But in 1942, tests of P-51s using the British Rolls-Royce "Merlin" engine revealed much improved speed and service ceiling, and in Dec. 1943, Merlin-powered P-51Bs first entered combat over Europe. Providing high-altitude escort to B-17s and B-24s, they scored heavily over German interceptors and by war's end, P-51s had destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft in the air, more than any other fighter in Europe. Mustangs served in nearly every combat zone, including the Pacific where they escorted B-29s to Japan from Iwo Jima. Between 1941-5, the AAF ordered 14,855 Mustangs (including A-36A dive bomber and F-6 photo recon versions), of which 7,956 were P-51Ds. During the Korean War, P-51Ds were used primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in 1953. " I'm surprised you didn't just say that the Spitfire or Typhoon shoulda been our frontline fighter instead of all that American junk...  SG |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:07:16 PM EDT
[#29]
Best sounding I'd give to the P-38. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:08:21 PM EDT
[#30]
Shes just soooo sexy!
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:09:04 PM EDT
[#31]
I think I'll go pop Battle of Britain in the DVD player.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:09:53 PM EDT
[#32]
That is one beautiful aircraft. SG |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:10:07 PM EDT
[#33]
Yes really... They were swept from the skies with ease over the SWPAC and it was only the arrival of the P38 and F4U-1's that got some semblance of air superiority. The P40's over China were doing slash and dash attacks against older Jap fighters and bombers, not Zeros, they did not stand their ground and maintain air superiorty. My point remains valid, the USAAF could have fought the Japs in the SWPAC in 42/43 with the FAR superior Mustang if they had not sat on their hands. ANdy |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:10:21 PM EDT
[#34]
I say the F4U followed closely by the F8 Bearcat.
Best sounding would be the Hawker Sea Fury. FYI for those not in the know, the Bearcat is the fastest propeller driven aircraft in the world 528.33 mph 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:11:42 PM EDT
[#35]
Gotta be the Mustang, sexy as hell, pure class.... ANdy |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:11:54 PM EDT
[#36]
P-51D
 BigDozer66 |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:13:10 PM EDT
[#37]
Close call CFII, I see you caught yourself, the F9 was a jet.
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:14:35 PM EDT
[#38]
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:16:10 PM EDT
[#39]
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:18:07 PM EDT
[#40]
Reading comprehension is essential!  It entered RAF service in 1942 and did rather well for itself as a fighter...It could have done just as well in USAAF sevice in Feb 42 as well! Up to 20,000ft, the Allison engine did just fine. The newly-arrived Mustang was quickly recognized as being the best fighter aircraft yet to be delivered from the USA. It was found to be superior to the Kittyhawk, Airacobra and Spitfire in both speed and maneuverability at low altitudes. Maximum speed was 382 mph at 13,000 feet. At all heights up to 20,000 feet, the Mustang was faster than any other fighter then in service with the RAF. Rate of climb, acceleration, speed in a dive, stability, handling in all configurations, rate of roll and radius of turn were all rated as being satisfactory to outstanding. The armament of four 0.50-inch and four 0.30-inch machine guns was heavy and effective. The range was nearly double that of any RAF single-engined fighter. It was 25 to 45 mph faster than the Spitfire V at altitudes up to 15,000 feet. The problem was the rapid fall-off in performance at altitudes above 15,000 feet, caused by its low-altitude Allison engine which was supercharged for best performance at low levels. The Spitfire could climb to 20,000 feet in seven minutes, while the Mustang required 11. Both the Spitfire and the Messerschmitt Bf 109 were more nimble at higher altitudes. The Mustang weighed about a third again as much as a Spitfire, and was considered as being somewhat underpowered. The relatively poor high altitude performance of the Mustang was more than just a minor deficiency, since most aerial combat over Europe at that time was taking place at medium to high altitudes. Consequently, it was decided that the Mustang I could be best used for low-level tactical reconnaissance and ground attack, where full advantage could be taken of its exceptional low-altitude performance. The first RAF unit to receive the Mustang was No 26 Squadron at Gatwick which began to operate the fighter in February 1942. In April, two more squadrons received Mustangs, and eight more in June. Most of the aircraft went to Army Cooperation Command, usually replacing Curtiss Tomahawks or Westland Lysanders. The first Mustang combat mission was undertaken by Flying Officer G. N. Dawson of No. 26 Squadron on May 10, 1942, strafing hangars in France and shooting up a train. It was initially feared that the Mustang I might be mistaken for a Bf 109 during the stress of combat, and most of the Mustang Is in front-line RAF service had bright yellow bands painted across their wings. The first Mustang I operational sortie was on July 27, 1942. Mustang Is participated in the disastrous Dieppe landings by British commandos on August 19, 1942, where it saw the first air-to-air action. During this operation, pilots of No 414 Squadron of the RCAF were attacked by Fw 190s. An American RCAF volunteer, F/O Hollis H. Hills, shot down one of the enemy, which was first blood for the Mustang. In October of 1942, On a mission to the Dortmund-Elms Canal and other objectives in Holland, the Mustang I became the first single- engined fighter based in the UK to penetrate the German border. By this time, the Mustang I equipped Nos 2, 4, 16, 26, 63, 169,239, 241, 268, and 613 Squadrons of the RAF, plus Nos 400, 414 and 430 Squadrons of the RCAF, and No 309 (Polish) Squadron of the RAF. Tactical reports from RAF army cooperation units were laudatory. The Mustang I and IAs were able to take an incredible amount of battle damage. The long range of the Mustang made it an excellent tactical reconnaissance aircraft and its heavy armament made it effective against most ground targets. In 18 months of operation 200 locomotives and 200 barges were destroyed or severely damaged, and an undetermined number of enemy aircraft were destroyed on the ground. This was accomplished at the expense of only one Mustang being shot down by enemy fighters, five lost to flak, and two vanishing with no record of their fate. At low altitudes, the Mustang was faster than either the Bf 109 or the Fw 190. At sea level, the Mustang could run away from any enemy aircraft. The flaps were very useful in combat to reduce the turning radius. Mustang Is and IAs served with the RAF up until 1944. It knew few equals in the role of low-altitude interdiction and reconnaissance. http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p51_4.html |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:20:04 PM EDT
[#41]
Didn't the Russian Bear approach Mach in their turboprops? I may be wrong, threads like these get me to tap the memory banks. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:22:39 PM EDT
[#42]
I read quite well, as I pointed out above. The Merlin powered powered 'Stangs, which were more than a match for anything in the Pacific, did not go into service even in Europe Until Late 1943 (December). Before that, the A models which were Allison powered, were used primarily as recon and ground support, because they were atrociously underpowered, (which is to say SLOW, and SLOW pretty much equals DEAD) and even worse at high altitudes. From '41 to late '43, the underpowered Allison Mustangs would've done no better than the P-40 against Zekes, probably worse. If we'dve only had Super Hornets... SG |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:24:33 PM EDT
[#43]
Did you actually read my last post? A Spitfire V could eat a Zero for a scooby snack, and the Mustang 1 could outperform a Spitfire V at low to medium altitudes. ANdy |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:25:11 PM EDT
[#44]
The Bear is capable of over 500mph (.8 Mach), but since it never ran a closed course for speed, the Rare Bear gets the title. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:25:53 PM EDT
[#45]
Yes. Still wrong. SG |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:26:05 PM EDT
[#46]
Never saw combat in WWII. The jet age began in 1944 which made the Bearcat obsolete before the first one rolled off the assembly line |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:27:50 PM EDT
[#47]
The tips of the props reach near Mach 1 speeds, I think thats what your remembering. |
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:28:13 PM EDT
[#48]
I know. How does this change anything? Its still pretty
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:29:03 PM EDT
[#49]
Whatever 
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Posted: 12/29/2005 6:31:49 PM EDT
[#50]
+1 P-38 was pretty badass too. |
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