Best looking airplane in your log book.

Inverted, that second pic is awesome! Although I have no idea what it is, I loooooove that plane. What is it?
 
Best looking classic in my logbook....

Winner here IMHO. A-10, -117 and Phantom.....all dream machines to me. Hacker has to take a close second though. @ Bunk, yeah the T-45 leaves something to be desired performance wise, esp for advanced stage stuff (ie ACM)....would have given my left nut to fly a TA-4J....by now they probably would have gotten the big motors in use elsewhere, and glass cockpits. Still a cool little jet though!
 
Yep its a Marchetti SF260.

2rfbpzt.jpg
 
Winner here IMHO. A-10, -117 and Phantom.....all dream machines to me. Hacker has to take a close second though. @ Bunk, yeah the T-45 leaves something to be desired performance wise, esp for advanced stage stuff (ie ACM)....would have given my left nut to fly a TA-4J....by now they probably would have gotten the big motors in use elsewhere, and glass cockpits. Still a cool little jet though!

There is talk about putting a new motor in it with a burner but then how long could you stay up, 15-20 minutes? It already has little to no fuel. The Navy should have made the Goshawk an intermediate trainer and kept the Skyhawk or gone with a more advanced jet trainer (if the money was there of course). Countries like S. Korea have the T-50 for their advanced training, about as close as one can get to the real thing. I think it has the Hornet engine in it, goes Mach 1.2, can turn and fight with the big boys. Such is money now days. I think versions of the Hawk 100/200 have an interchangeable cockpit so that the Hornet's cockpit can be put in it...or whatever jet you want. I will say though the T-45 is superior to the T-2C in terms of performance. Some of my Hornet buddies love it and some are so so about it. I'm a former COD guy so I'm loving it :D
 
There is talk about putting a new motor in it with a burner but then how long could you stay up, 15-20 minutes? It already has little to no fuel. The Navy should have made the Goshawk an intermediate trainer and kept the Skyhawk or gone with a more advanced jet trainer (if the money was there of course). Countries like S. Korea have the T-50 for their advanced training, about as close as one can get to the real thing. I think it has the Hornet engine in it, goes Mach 1.2, can turn and fight with the big boys. Such is money now days. I think versions of the Hawk 100/200 have an interchangeable cockpit so that the Hornet's cockpit can be put in it...or whatever jet you want. I will say though the T-45 is superior to the T-2C in terms of performance. Some of my Hornet buddies love it and some are so so about it. I'm a former COD guy so I'm loving it :D

In hindsight, it is so simple compared to the Hornet (or I'd guess the COD as well), so it is probably a refreshing airplane to go back to at some point in your career. Save the limited legs (legacy Hornet shortcoming too), and it's runway/offroading prone antics, it is a great little ride. But I agree, there should be a better stepping stone from advanced to whatever flavor of Hornet most studs go to the fleet to fly. Having dual engine training prior to the FRS could be a bonus as well....in terms of learning those skills of compound EP management and getting a jet safely on deck vice shelling out
 
I may have misunderstood you, but that's not an A-4 of any stripe. That's a Bae Hawk we bought and cleverly renamed. Welcome to the multi-national conglomerate world.

Nope, you were right. I just misidentified it. Proves that the handheld device is still not always the best for looking a pictures. Does look pretty similar though except for the missing "hump" from the D and E models and the leading edge lift devices. How did you end up scoring time in that?
 
Nope, you were right. I just misidentified it. Proves that the handheld device is still not always the best for looking a pictures. Does look pretty similar though except for the missing "hump" from the D and E models and the leading edge lift devices. How did you end up scoring time in that?

Bunk is an instructor in Kingsville (one of the 3 bases we have T-45's at)
 
About 45 minutes in this airplane:
CWCoupe-1.jpg


One of a kind Waco CRG built for the Ford Reliability Tours:
CRG.jpg


First airplane I ever got to control (when I was seven - Grandpa started teaching me to keep the wings level, etc) - Also learned dead reckoning in numerous trips from KC-Hamilton, OH and KC-Blakesburg in this airplane:
114-1439_img-1.jpg


A friends Stinson SR8E - not this one, but almost identical:
Reliant.jpg


My Grandpa's Howard:
howard_dga15_green_taxiing.jpg
 
Not near as cool as any of the warbirds...but anyway here's the best I can do:
65cc367682939f5e62ca57d3b6dd148381888443
1992 F33A Bonanza, totally redone inside and out. Absolutely a blast to fly!
 
In hindsight, it is so simple compared to the Hornet (or I'd guess the COD as well), so it is probably a refreshing airplane to go back to at some point in your career. Save the limited legs (legacy Hornet shortcoming too), and it's runway/offroading prone antics, it is a great little ride. But I agree, there should be a better stepping stone from advanced to whatever flavor of Hornet most studs go to the fleet to fly. Having dual engine training prior to the FRS could be a bonus as well....in terms of learning those skills of compound EP management and getting a jet safely on deck vice shelling out

Oh yeah, so much simpler than a COD. I think with the tactical guys, not much in terms of tactics so it has to be nice as well. For me though, it's like going from a short bus :o to driving a C6.

Bunk is an instructor in Kingsville (one of the 3 bases we have T-45's at)

If I were a tac air guy, instructing out of VT-86 would be the sweetest deal. I knew a few guys out of there, all front seat time, fun flying.
 
Do I have to pick just one?


dq2fiq.jpg

Is that the Golden Gate Bridge peeking out from the layer there? Looks like it could be over the bay.

As for me, beauty being in the eye of the beholder?

n500029719_14945_4060.jpg


The old Cessna I solo'd in over Osan AFB in South Korea. Will always be one of the most gorgeous aircraft in my opinion.... [/end sentimental moment]

Mike & Hacker take the cake btw.
 
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