Now for me the title of "most beautiful prop-powered aircraft" would normally go to the Spitfire, closely followed by the Mosquito or Mustang or Hurricane.That was until I found this absolutely stunning creation by , of all people, Bugatti:



A very brief history from t'internet:

"After World War I and his great successes in automobile racing, Bugatti decided to take the Germans head on in the Deutsche de La Muerthe Cup Race, known as the Coupe Deutsch. This was an aircraft race equivalent to the Thompson Trophy Race held in the United States. With this desire to beat the Germans, he hired Louis D. de Monge to design an airframe. The original concept was for a single-engine aircraft, but later was changed to accommodate two modified Bugatti model 50B engines in an effort to break the world airplane speed record.

Construction of the aircraft was undertaken on the second floor of a furniture factory in Paris. The French government was aware of the advanced design and Bugatti received a contract for a light pursuit plane designated as the Model 110P based on the Model 100P racer. In 1938-1939, while the Model 100 was under construction, the threat of war increased. The aircraft had to be completed by September of 1939 to enter the race. The deadline was not met and the beautiful blue bird never took to the air."

If ever an aircraft needed to be reconstructed for flight today it must be this!

However from a nation that brings us Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani Zonda it should come as no surprise that it is just dripping with style!!!

But the old adage that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is a very true one, so whats your champion for the most aesthetically pleasing prop-powered aeroplane?

That is one astonishing plane.

I personally cant decide on a best looking plane, everytime i decide, another appears!

Sorry Bo_Nidle, but she does not compare to the elegance of a battle damaged Hurricane that has struggled back to her airfield in the summer of 1940.

In fact, this creation that you have drawn our attention to never flew.

My grandfather sailed with Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 and he is still alive today thanks to inputs from this forum and many diverse viable downloads..

Best Regards,
MB_Avro.

It's nice looking an' all, but it ain't a Whirlwind is it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HqhgfdMVwU

I know this will sound strange but my answer for today is:

Embraer Tucano

There are photo's on the NASA site of an experimental F16 with similar reverse swept wings

190D-9.

quote:

Originally posted by Bo_Nidle:
However from a nation that brings us Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani Zonda it should come as no surprise that it is just dripping with style!!!

Ah, but Bugatti was only BORN Italian, he was a French citizen when this plane was built (in Paris). Doesn't that make it French?

I think that bugatti thing is kinda ugly. As for my fave, it is very hard to decide. I used to think mustang, but not so sure nowadays. Spit and Hurri are absolutely majestic, but, brace yourselves boys...

One of the top contenders in my mind is the zero. It is the plane that looks more like a bird to me than any other. So it's beauty isn't rugged, gorgeous, majestic, stylish or anything like that, it's beauty is somehow natural.

Say "Bonzai!" if you love the zero!

The most beautiful plane?

IMHO the Red Bull DC-6 is a close contender. Saw the bird at ILA 2008 and wo-hoo, that big baby is a stunner! And what a sound, too - the sound of those 4 R-2800s at full throttle is just unbelievable

And oh yeah, their B-25 rocked too BTW

Is it me, or are those slightly forward-swept-wings on that thing!?

I could swear this has been posted before with the same "most beautiful plane" claim at that time.

Anyhow, nice looking: yes. Most beautiful, not IMO. I don't know what is, but this doesn't stand out above the rest to me.

QUACK!

It has to be the de Havilland Albatross. Pure poetry in motion!

Wow, I like it, I want to see it fly!

http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/4051L-1.jpg

And what to think of this "beauty": a Blohm und Voss Ha141.

quote:

Originally posted by Uufflakke:
And what to think of this "beauty": a Blohm und Voss Ha141.

There are some sick, sick people on this forum.