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Discuss airplanes

Started by bishop_pass Jan 5, 2002 at 11:25 AM 17 replies 500+ views

Original Post

297

Jan 5, 2002 at 11:25 AM

Yes, that''s right. How about some meaningful inspiring knowledgable shared thoughts on aircraft here. Likewise, ask away all that you ever wanted to know, but were afraid to ask. Who knows, maybe someone knows the answer to your question. I will again say that my first two choices for aircraft to own would be an Aviat Husky or a Citabria. These are not cheap planes, meaning you''re not going to find a used one for $20,000, but nonetheless, they are not completely outrageous either. They are reasonable planes to aspire after. Note the performance specs on the Husky. This is an excellent plane. What stands out is it take-off distance, its range, and its ability to be retrofitted with tundra tires, skis, or floats. And of course, look at pictures of it. A note on floats: unfortunately, floats are really expensive, costing like something between $20,000 to $60,000. Here''s 3 pictures with it fitted with floats and 31" bush wheels (tundra tires). And here is a picture of it fitted with retractable skis. They cost between $5,000 and $15,000. If I were ever to do an RC plane again, I would definitely look into a large (6 feet or so) scale model of the Husky. What is so cool about flying in a plane like this is its tandem seating. The cockpit is only one seat wide, and the other person sits behind. What this means is you have excellent visibility out both sides of the plane. Each person has their own set of flight controls and instrumentation. ___________________________________

Redleaf

Jan 5, 2002 at 5:20 PM

I've always wanted a North American P51 Mustang... but I imagine that's not such a reasonable plane to aspire after.

For one thing, there are not many left.

"Don't be afraid to dream, for out of such fragile things come miracles."

Edited by - Redleaf on January 5, 2002 6:33:59 PM

bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 5, 2002 at 6:50 PM

quote:
Original post by Redleaf
I''ve always wanted a North American P51 Mustang... but I imagine that''s not such a reasonable plane to aspire after.

2500hp of V12 power (unmuffled) in the form of an Allison or Rolls Royce engine. When pushing the speed envelope of props during WWII, the limiting factor turned out to be the tips of the prop blades exceeding the speed of sound. Nonetheless, I think P-51s were on occaision exceeding 500mph.

Redleaf

Jan 5, 2002 at 7:17 PM

That''s the one.

Some of the first computer games I ever played were of Sierra''s Aces series (Aces of the Pacific, Aces over Europe). I''ve been in love ever since.

"Don''t be afraid to dream, for out of such fragile things come miracles."

bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 6, 2002 at 12:17 AM

Ok, here''s a picture which sums up the XB-70a nicely. 267 tons of mach 3 capability sitting on the tarmack born in the California desert 36 years ago.

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Gaiiden

589

Gaiiden

Jan 6, 2002 at 12:51 AM

Well lets see. I would start with my favorite business jet, the Gulfstream V-SP. Forget big jumbo jets or DC-10s (

), this baby has class . I''ll take class over size anyday. Just check out its specs. I''m still debating whether I would have someone fly it for me or just fly it myself.

For my personal aircraft, a simple Cessna would do just fine, tho I would like a twin prop. I just can''t think of a good one right now...

And for the extreme, we have the McDonnell-Douglas F-14D Tomcat. What''s so sexy about it? Try sweep wings, eleverons (the rear horizontal stabilizers act as elevators and alerions!), the fact that it can take off and land from a carrier, its speed (not too impressive compared to the latest fighter craft, but impressive none the less), and it''s radar package. I spouted about this in the hobbies thread, but I cannot help but repeat myself

The Tomcat''s AWG-9 radar system lets it target 6 different contacts at once and route 6 Phoenix missiles (range: 100nm+) to each target at once. And the Phoenix''s sleep almost all the way there before they start actively painting the target, because at 100nm+ out of engagement, jets hardly move much

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Drew Sikora
A.K.A. Gaiiden

ICQ #: 70449988

AOLIM: DarkPylat

Blade Edge Software
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bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 6, 2002 at 1:02 AM

quote:
Original post by Gaiiden
For my personal aircraft, a simple Cessna would do just fine, tho I would like a twin prop. I just can't think of a good one right now...

So would you go for a used Cessna 310? It's still going to run you $20,000 per engine for a rebuild. Or are you more of a pressurized cabin kind of man yearning for a Cessna 340A?

Really though, if you want a twin, consider an Aero Commander.

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Edited by - bishop_pass on January 6, 2002 3:08:01 AM

gavco98

141

gavco98

Jan 6, 2002 at 11:08 AM

for a personal aircraft i would go for some kind of cessna. But if i was really loaded i would definately go for a DC-10, no doubt about it. The gulfstream is a nice aircraft, but the DC10 is about 10 times the size! Ok so the rwy needed is about 3 times the size, but who cares, i still want one! I recon you could pick up a used dc10 for the same if not less than the cost of a gulfstream v.

I also wouldnt mind an F-16, they kick ass, and are quite cheap as well, at just $9m. Leaves you with lots of change for other things...

bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 6, 2002 at 11:55 AM

quote:
Original post by gavco98
for a personal aircraft i would go for some kind of cessna.

Would you take a high wing or low wing Cessna? Single or twin?

Gaiiden

589

Gaiiden

Jan 7, 2002 at 10:18 PM

heh, the Valkyrie is definetly a cool jet, but the Tomcat is my childhood love. You don''t go changing childhood loves

As for the Cessna, I''d take the over-wing, fixed gear model. Just something I can fly around locally or take weekend personal trips in, nice and slow, no rush. By double prop I didn''t neccessarily imply a Cessna. How bout a Beechcraft?

_________________________________________________________________

Drew Sikora
A.K.A. Gaiiden

ICQ #: 70449988

bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 7, 2002 at 10:30 PM

quote:
Original post by Gaiiden
As for the Cessna, I'd take the over-wing, fixed gear model. Just something I can fly around locally or take weekend personal trips in, nice and slow, no rush. By double prop I didn't neccessarily imply a Cessna. How bout a Beechcraft

Well, first of all, if I were to rate the pecking order of the three big civilian prop manufacturers, I would put Beechcraft at the top, followed by Cessna, and then Piper. This is mostly opinion, but I think it would bear out in a poll. That's not to say Pipers are not good. Piper makes some fine airplanes. And also, while I have some pretty good exposure to aviation and airplanes over many years, I am no expert on them.

A Beechcraft Bonanza is a fine little single low wing. A Beech Baron is a nice twin. A Cessna 310 is a classic twin. A Cessna 172 is your basic 4 place high wing single.

A real classic is the Piper Cub. The Cub is a single high wing. However, the big difference is the fact that the Piper Cub is a tandem seat plane, like the Citabria and the Husky. This is really the way to go, unless you need passenger space. Tandems seat one person behind the other, giving great visibility both right and left.

And, so that brings me around to the Aviat Husky, mentioned in my first post. This is a great plane! You can take-off in 200 feet. It has an 800 mile range. It has good gross take-off weight. And it is fittable with tundra tires, floats or skis.

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Edited by - bishop_pass on January 7, 2002 11:31:59 PM

gavco98

141

gavco98

Jan 8, 2002 at 2:59 PM

i would go for a high wing, as it provides much better views of the ground. When i am flying i love looking down at all the little towns below, and the various terrain etc. A low winged model would block the view slightly, although not too much. I dont really know what manufacturer i would go with, at the end of the day i would be happy with any plane.

G Coates
------------------------------------------------------------

Gavin Coates

Co-Founder

http://www.multiplayercentral.co.uk

cashcrop

Jan 8, 2002 at 5:19 PM

I want a DC-3

and I like the way saabs look.

-my first post on gamedev

Edited by - cashcrop on January 8, 2002 6:19:43 PM

GKW

Jan 8, 2002 at 8:49 PM

I would love to fly a P38 or a OV10. Anyone have any good storys from flying? I went up in a Cessna 152 a few years back on a sunny day with 30-50 knot winds. I counldn''t even count the number of times I bounced my head off the roof of the cockpit. It was like a pinball machine, we went up or down a hundred feet in nothing flat. It was the funnest ride I have ever had in a plane. Even when I found out that the lock on the door was broken as I leaned against it at 5k feet. Good thing I love flying or that would have really freaked me out. Ruined rollercoasters for me though.

The fanatic is incorruptible: if he kills for an idea, he can just as well get himself killed for one; in either case, tyrant or martyr, he is a monster.
--EM Cioran

Opere Citato

Redleaf

Jan 8, 2002 at 10:36 PM

hmm... I thought the F-14 was made by Grumman, and not MacDonnel Douglas.

"Don''t be afraid to dream, for out of such fragile things come miracles."

bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 8, 2002 at 10:46 PM

quote:
Original post by Redleaf
hmm... I thought the F-14 was made by Grumman, and not MacDonnel Douglas.

Probably so. McDonnel Douglas built the F-15.

More importantly, Grumman built the Goose, the Mallard, and the Albatross.

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gavco98

141

gavco98

Jan 9, 2002 at 5:36 AM

quote:
Original post by Redleaf
hmm... I thought the F-14 was made by Grumman, and not MacDonnel Douglas.

"Don''t be afraid to dream, for out of such fragile things come miracles."

You are correct.

I only ever got to fly a plane once, and that was in easter last year. My parents bought me a 1hr flight for my xmas, and i took it in easter. It was at the time of foot and mouth, so all you could see from the air was loads of pires burning away, and empty fields, no sheep or cattle anywhere. It was a freaky scene.

G Coates
------------------------------------------------------------

Gavin Coates

Co-Founder

http://www.multiplayercentral.co.uk

Gaiiden

589

Gaiiden

Jan 9, 2002 at 12:27 PM

quote:
Original post by Redleaf
hmm... I thought the F-14 was made by Grumman, and not MacDonnel Douglas.

I said that! really, I did

(D''oh!)

bishop_pass

Author

297

bishop_pass

Jan 9, 2002 at 1:05 PM

Has anyone been to some really good air museums? I went to the one at the Boeing plant in Washington. That is a nice museum. However, there is museum in Chino, California called "Planes of Fame" and I really enjoyed it also. At "Planes of Fame" it is less formal, allowing you to walk up under the wings, touch the planes, look inside the cockpits, duck under and inspect and touch the landing gear mechanism, etc. I was quite surprised you could do that, but thrilled. We were kneeling down underneath the wing of a P51, inspecting the gear mechanism, reveling in the engineering from 60 years ago.

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Edited by - bishop_pass on January 9, 2002 2:06:32 PM

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