Favorite Aircraft

[BilltheCat]

I worked with the Phantom F-4's. 4D and 4E.

It used to belch dark smoke like a trucker burning down the freeway. Used to scare the hell out of the bad guys. I had more than one bite from those pylons too.

Still think it the finest pile of junk to ever go to war.

[Sgt Pleiku]

As a Phormer " Phantom Catcher" I'm pretty partial to ol' " double ugly" the F-4.

Then again if you've ever seen a SR-71 take off, its like a religious experience.

Now a lot old timers will tell you though the best aircraft ever made was C-47 (DC-3).

[revwardoc]

I was TDY at Clovis AFB in New Mexico in support of an AF Academy summer program involving cadets becoming aquainted with various types of aircraft including C-141's (my planes) and F-4's. One day they took several cadets on flights in F-4's and the pilots took advantage of these kids, turning the training flights into roller-coaster-from-hell events. They would take the cadets up to heights where they had to keep the oxygen masks on then do a series of loops, turns, rolls, dives, etc where they were forced to keep their breakfasts down or drown in their own vomit if they hurled in their masks. It was funny as hell to watch them when they first got in the cockpit, grinning nervously, and comparing it to when they returned, white as a sheet (even the black cadets!), legs wobbling, hands shaking. One of them almost made it back to the "shack" before he puked...in his helmet! He had the whole damned flightline to foul, but chose his helmet, a future supply officer.

At the end of the day the pilots asked if any of us Starlifter mechanics wanted to fly with them in the Phantoms and we jumped at the opportunity. I remember sitting out at the end of that runway with the brakes locked, the engine going full bore and the pilot asking me if I was ready. Before I could finish saying, "Yes, sir!" he hit the afterburners and we took off like the proverbial rocket. I heard someone speaking to me and the following conversation went something like this:

me: "What? What?"

pilot: "I said, Why are you screaming?"

me:"Was I?"

pilot: "Yeah! Hold on to your balls! Here we go!"

He then proceeded to do all the "fun" things he had done with cadets. I remember almost laughing (almost) during a dive as I watched the ground approach with terrifying swiftness because it was just like watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon except I was Wiley Coyote, and we all know how he always ended up. All in all, it was a great experience and I'm proud to say I kept it all down, but it took me a few days to get my balls out of my throat!

[BilltheCat]

Great story. I was lucky enough to get a ride in an F106 delta dart the Canadian AF was using when we went to a Maple Flag one year. Imagine going a million mph just above the tree tops!

now THAT was a religious experience!

[MORTARDUDE]

Never got to ride on any of those great planes. I envy you all. A good friend of mine at work, who has since passed, told stories about the SR-71 being refueled and the fuel spilling out because the air body expands when it gets to top speed. Any truth to that ? How did you prevent fires ? One hell of an aircraft. Thanks.

Larry

[The Stripey 1]

My job involved aircraft... As a passenger Service Specialist, I manifested you troopers on your flight, sold you your in-flight meals, drove you to and from the aircraft, loaded and unloaded your baggage, then as Fleet Service Specialist at Travis, I pulled and replaced empty coffee and water jugs, replaced the chains and devices on C141s, delivered in-flight meals... a mundane job to be sure, but, someone had to do it.

I have a special place in my heart for the C-54. While stationed at Kindley AFB in Bermuda, I got to fly on one as Flight Attendent, serving tea, coffee and in-flight meals to the crew and passengers traversing between the mainland and our island paradise.
The bird, "seven too sick won't run" was UNpressurized so we didn't fly any higher than about 8000 feet. And yes, she did break down alot, but it was usually on the mainland when this or that would go out.
It was a Cush job until they closed the base and I volunteered for Nam.

I'd like to put in a good word for the JATO assisted C-123. A small version of the C-130, these lil work horses used to slam you in your seat upon take-off. And they could climb at about a 60 degree angle, quickly too.
Loved the C-130. Hated the C-7A.

[chucktoo1926]

Dutchy ------ I'm with you. To me; the most beautiful, most all around good fighter plane was the beloved P-38.
AS for bombers, can any other touch the B-17. They could shoot
that workhorse full of holes, loose a couple of engines and she would still bring her men back home.I never flew a plane, but then I can't sing either. but I can still spot the best when hear them

[Yossarian]

While a lot of really great aircraft have been named in this thread, my absolute favorite will always be the venerable Thud (D model).