Under-rated airplanes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roger, Roger
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MD-90. Cheap by comparison (now anyway). Graceful in appearance, like all the MD-80s. Not too fun if you're sitting in the way back, though cool if you like listening to a V2500 idling. It's just too bad Boeing killed off the MD-90 after the merger. It's fun to imagine how an MD-90NG might've turned out.
 
I think most aircraft that operated in the Pacific theater during WWII are overlooked/underrated by most people who are not historians. For whatever reason the European air war is more glamorous and those aircraft get all the attention. I believe the most underrated fighter plane is the F6F Hellcat. It had a 19:1 kill ratio(I think that’s the best ratio for any piston powered fighter?) and accounted for something like 60-70% of all aircraft downed in the pacific by the Navy.

Not to take anything away from the Hellcat, because it was a great airplane, but I think that by the time it was in service in any appreciable numbers, most of the skilled Japanese pilots were already dead. The Marianas Turkey Shoot comes to mind.

MD-90. Cheap by comparison (now anyway). Graceful in appearance, like all the MD-80s. Not too fun if you're sitting in the way back, though cool if you like listening to a V2500 idling. It's just too bad Boeing killed off the MD-90 after the merger. It's fun to imagine how an MD-90NG might've turned out.

Good one. LOVE the MD-90. One of the quietest airliners I've ever had the pleasure of riding in. Probably the quietest.
 
Not to take anything away from the Hellcat, because it was a great airplane, but I think that by the time it was in service in any appreciable numbers, most of the skilled Japanese pilots were already dead. The Marianas Turkey Shoot comes to mind.

This is true which makes the F4F Wildcat that much more impressive along with the amazing pilots who flew them. Probably didnt hurt that those Grummans were built like friggen tanks where as the Zero got nicked by a bullet and all but fell apart. The Zero is however, one of the most beautiful planes ever made if you ask me.
 
Good one. LOVE the MD-90. One of the quietest airliners I've ever had the pleasure of riding in. Probably the quietest.

Cool airplane yes. Unless you're landing with a jammed stabilizer, in which case it's very, very hot. But I like the Maddog.
 
I will say the seats on american are pretty comfy and to JS is a blast, but the plane is ugly as sin and loud. Not in a good way loud either.
 
The OP asked about under rated, NOT under powered! ;)

The Shorts 330. Ugly, but a real performer when it comes to cargo and people hauling. It's like walking with a sheet of plywood on a windy day when it comes to high crosswind landings!

I have to agree. When it first came out they were the best commuter plane out there for the reasons you stated. You really had to put that wing down on X-wind landings but then you had lots of clearance.

On the military side, the A-37 Dragonfly was looked down on but I think almost as much fun to fly as an F-4 and more reliable.
 
For WWII era I say the Bell P-39 Airacobra. It may not be so under-rated as little known.

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Swoosh...My list was gonna be P-38, P-39 and P-63
 
I think most aircraft that operated in the Pacific theater during WWII are overlooked/underrated by most people who are not historians. For whatever reason the European air war is more glamorous and those aircraft get all the attention. I believe the most underrated fighter plane is the F6F Hellcat. It had a 19:1 kill ratio(I think that’s the best ratio for any piston powered fighter?) and accounted for something like 60-70% of all aircraft downed in the pacific by the Navy.
Agreed. P-38 performed much better in the Pacific AOR for various reasons and that concentrated nose buzz saw could cleave a zero pretty quickly. Hellcat and F4F were superb, but don't seem to have the glory of the P-47, P-51 either.
http://acepilots.com/usaaf_pto_aces.html
 
Easily most underrated turboprop. Working with a couple 800+ horse Garretts, this thing was and still is a very able work horse. Easily will do 320 TAS at 270 and climb out of anywhere at 2000Ft/M with 3000 pounds of load.

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Easily most underrated turboprop. Working with a couple 800+ horse Garretts, this thing was and still is a very able work horse. Easily will do 320 TAS at 270 and climb out of anywhere at 2000Ft/M with 3000 pounds of load.

Aero_Commander_690(1).jpg

Plus it has a real ramp presence when it pulls up. I've always liked this airplane.
 
Plus it has a real ramp presence when it pulls up. I've always liked this airplane.

Except it's terribly loud and it sucks to fuel. But other than that, I like it. The Commander 1000 is where it's at.
 
Plus it has a real ramp presence when it pulls up. I've always liked this airplane.
Except it's terribly loud and it sucks to fuel. But other than that, I like it. The Commander 1000 is where it's at.

check and check.. Such a beauty the 1000 is as well. I remember landing in Gunnison, CO one time in the 690 when I was a kid and parking next to a 1000. Got a picture of both, but can't seem to find it on my laptop.
 
For basic trainers...

Grob G115. Awesome view. The RAF uses the fancy E version for their primary training. Tricky to land though (60˚ of flaps).

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Though I haven't personally flown them, I've heard good things about the Zlins as well.

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