Classic Airplanes

[fourfive8]

We’ve had airplane discussions here a few times For some purposes, I always liked the Twin Otter. And if you just have get somewhere tight and remote, as had been posted- hard to beat a Super Cub on tundra tires.

 

[Green Chile]

My parents lived near one of those private air parks and there was a P51 there. You could hear him start it from quite a distance. What a beautiful sound and plane.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

The top two American aces in WW2 flew P-38s. Number three flew the F-6 and four and five flew the P-47.

The Spitfire, P-51 and F-6 were the leading aircraft based on kills.

The leading American ace was Richard Bong with 40 kills. By contrast, Germany’s leading ace had over 300 kills.

 

[Sideshow]

My father (on the right) Flew 85 missions as a bombardier/navigator in the China / Burma theater and survived being shot down twice in B-25 G and H models earning a Distinguished Flying Cross in the process.

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The B-25 was a fabulous warbird, made famous by the Doolittle Raiders, but doing its most lethal work after being turned into both a well defended medium bomber in the J series which yours appears to be (?), and the G model which was built for low-level attack following the concepts of Pappy Gunn for a strafing gunship and ship killer. That aircraft eliminated the glass Bombardier position replacing it with a closed nose with two to four forward firing fixed 50 cal MGs and a 75mm cannon. Four additional forward firing 50's were in blisters either side of the forward fuselage. Even the top defensive turret could be locked forward in a strafing run to put down a devastating amount of fire as the aircraft conducted anti-ship skip bombing attacks or anti-airfield parafrag drops. The Bombardier flew in the co-pilot position in this aircraft. Dad swore that the airframe paused in mid-air when the 75 was fired.
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Maybe that is where the idea came for the warthog A10

 

[Altitude sickness]

My father (on the right) Flew 85 missions as a bombardier/navigator in the China / Burma theater and survived being shot down twice in B-25 G and H models earning a Distinguished Flying Cross in the process.

View attachment 715003

The B-25 was a fabulous warbird, made famous by the Doolittle Raiders, but doing its most lethal work after being turned into both a well defended medium bomber in the J series which yours appears to be (?), and the G model which was built for low-level attack following the concepts of Pappy Gunn for a strafing gunship and ship killer. That aircraft eliminated the glass Bombardier position replacing it with a closed nose with two to four forward firing fixed 50 cal MGs and a 75mm cannon. Four additional forward firing 50's were in blisters either side of the forward fuselage. Even the top defensive turret could be locked forward in a strafing run to put down a devastating amount of fire as the aircraft conducted anti-ship skip bombing attacks or anti-airfield parafrag drops. The Bombardier flew in the co-pilot position in this aircraft. Dad swore that the airframe paused in mid-air when the 75 was fired.
View attachment 715032

The man on the right, Your father. has the eyes and stare of serious man. That has seen some shit.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Quite a few of the small milk run airlines in South Africa into the 80's operated DC3's. Airsick famous. Air Rhodesia operated Vickers Viscounts, two of which were famously shot down in the bush war. They also had a few 707's and a 720. I flew all of them and liked the 707's comfort.

 

[cajunchefray]

My father (on the right) Flew 85 missions as a bombardier/navigator in the China / Burma theater and survived being shot down twice in B-25 G and H models earning a Distinguished Flying Cross in the process.

View attachment 715003

The B-25 was a fabulous warbird, made famous by the Doolittle Raiders, but doing its most lethal work after being turned into both a well defended medium bomber in the J series which yours appears to be (?), and the G model which was built for low-level attack following the concepts of Pappy Gunn for a strafing gunship and ship killer. That aircraft eliminated the glass Bombardier position replacing it with a closed nose with two to four forward firing fixed 50 cal MGs and a 75mm cannon. Four additional forward firing 50's were in blisters either side of the forward fuselage. Even the top defensive turret could be locked forward in a strafing run to put down a devastating amount of fire as the aircraft conducted anti-ship skip bombing attacks or anti-airfield parafrag drops. The Bombardier flew in the co-pilot position in this aircraft. Dad swore that the airframe paused in mid-air when the 75 was fired.
View attachment 715032

Great stuff you have shared @Red Leg . Thank You.
If we could teach the younger generations the bravery, grit and valor of this generation, our country can be stronger.
The B-25 has been one of my favorites to see at CAF airshows.

 

[Doug3006]

The Douglas Skyraider was a unique, last of its kind warplane. The last piston aircraft flown by the US….a radial engine no less! It was not a fast mover, but until the A-10 Warthog came along, there was no better close air support plane than the Skyraider.

 

[cajunchefray]

Everything in the 1940s had style. The clothes, planes, trains, car, motorcycles.

But you said plane style. I also love the WW1 military planes.

The French SPAD S.VII, the British Sopwith Camel, and the German Fokker D.VIIView attachment 714993

NAS Pensacola Aviation museum has examples of these, as well as Fokker D VII and Spads VIII. Amazing that pilots flew these wood and fabric planes into combat.

 

[Russ16]

I’ve always loved the C-47, mainly because my grandfather spent a couple of years as a crew chief based in Burma flying the hump.

I remember being at an air show with him in the 1990s and we watched one start up. He could tell the timing was slightly off by the sound—45 years after he last sat in one. When we talked to the owner later he agreed it was time for a tune up.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Does anyone remember the 94th Aero Squadron restaurant chain. We loved the little, dark nook and crannies areas and tables you could find. Maybe next to a fireplace.

94th Aero Squadron Restaurant - San Diego - About

94thsandiego.com

 

[Alistair]

Another vote for the Spitfire.

My grandfather used to pilot one of the two seater Mk IX's out of Duxford, UK back in the 90's and 00's. I went and watched a few times, a fantastic sound. A beautiful air frame as well.

I also think the FW190 is an interesting plane, especially the late war, high altitude D variants they experimented with. A very impressive aircraft, and one present in a lot of theatres and battles. Something to be said for that, even if the manufacturing workforce selection process was... problematic.

Greg's Airplanes does some good content on the WW2 and WW1 stuff.

@Daniel Cary , this might be of interest to you on the P38. Assuming you like nerdy engineering content, anyhow!

Talking of WW1 stuff, there's something to be said for the Fokker Triplanes.

I thought this was a cool video of those old birds doing their thing. Unbelievably slow airspeeds.

 

[Ryeboy86]

At 1:50 watch for the formation flight with WWII fighters.

Howard 500
The Howard 500 is an American executive transport aircraft produced by Howard Aero Incorporated during the early 1960s. The Howard 500 can accommodate 10 to 14 passengers with a large window for each. Maximum range with full reserves of 2,600 miles. Maximum cruising speed is 350 mph at 21,000 feet. The prototype flew in September 1959, and type certification was achieved on February 20, 1963.

Maximum speed: 410 mph at sea level
Cruise speed: 350 mph at 21,000 ft (economy cruise)
Never exceed speed: 450 mph
Range: 2,600 mi
Service ceiling: 35,000 ft
Rate of climb: 2,550 ft/min
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-CB17 18-cylinder 2-row radial engines, 2,500 hp each
Propellers: 4-bladed Hamilton-Standard 24E60-7037A-50 propellers
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_500

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I've been inside one of those! The Mid America Flight Museum in Mt. Pleasant, TX had one.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Quite a few of the small milk run airlines in South Africa into the 80's operated DC3's. Airsick famous. Air Rhodesia operated Vickers Viscounts, two of which were famously shot down in the bush war. They also had a few 707's and a 720. I flew all of them and liked the 707's comfort.

Flew in, not piloted!

 

[Ryeboy86]

These are pictures I took at Oshkosh Airventure last year. The C-47 "That's All Brother" lead the dropping of troops into Normandy.

 

[Ryeboy86]

Here's some more pictures for you gentlemen!

 

[Daniel Cary]

There is a bizarre movie.

I was always fascinated by this "Art Deco" looking craft.

If anyone can identify, I really like it.

Chris Issac ..

 

[BFaucett]

I've been inside one of those! The Mid America Flight Museum in Mt. Pleasant, TX had one.

Cool!!!

Sadly, the owner of the two Howard 500s shown in the video, Tony Phillippi, passed away this month (Sept 6, 2025). His company, TPAero, managed the two flying Howard 500s, N500LN and N500HP.

I'm paraphrasing here but Tony once said something like, "Do you know how to make a Gulfstream disappear on the ramp? Park a Howard 500 next to it." Why? Because nobody will be looking at the Gulfstream.

Bob F.

 

[Ryeboy86]

There is a bizarre movie.

I was always fascinated by this "Art Deco" looking craft.

If anyone can identify, I really like it.

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Chris Issac ..
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That is a Ryan Navion!

 

[Ryeboy86]

Cool!!!

Sadly, the owner of the two Howard 500s shown in the video, Tony Phillippi, passed away this month (Sept 6, 2025). His company, TPAero, managed the two flying Howard 500s, N500LN and N500HP.

I'm paraphrasing here but Tony once said something like, "Do you know how to make a Gulfstream disappear on the ramp? Park a Howard 500 next to it." Why? Because nobody will be looking at the Gulfstream.

View attachment 715154

Bob F.

What Gulfstream?? LOL.. The Howard 500 is BEAUTIFUL!!