Pure Beauty

Every time I look upon a jet-fighter, I'm reminded of a Doonesbury from 1971 (I think). B.D. is in the jungles of Vietnam with Phred when an F-4 flys overhead. He asks if there is anything so beautiful as an F-4 Phantom.

I don't know what it is, and none of my friends understand it, but when I see a fighter, I am in total awe. They are, in my mind, high art. True beauty. Looking at the sillouette of an F-16 as it passes under the sun over Chicago, and I react the way many people do when they see the Sistine Chapel the first time, except I react the same way every time. Aircraft, specifically fighter craft, are my porn. I can't take my eyes off of them, they are sheer majesty created by man. The EAA in Oshkosh Wisconsin is one of my favorite things in the world. I could sit and stare at a Raptor in flight for the rest of my life. I don't know what it is, I just find them, all military fighter craft, absloutly beautiful, worthy of my undivided attention. So far as I know, when I play Ace Combat 5, I'm the only one who watches the into every time.

Does anyone else feel this way, and do you have any idea as to why? I mean, it's functional art, in my opinion. They're not machines built to destroy and kill -- they're art that happens to have a secondary function. I had a picture of an F/A-18 on my desktop at work, but had to take it off because I would just stare at it when I hit that windows key and "D" every time. Does anyone feel this way as well?

The end of that Doonesbury comes with a butterfly fluttering its way onto B.D.'s nose, where Phred comments on Irony (It may not have been Phred but B.D.'s drafted buddy). Iront? I didn't see any, that aircraft, in my opinion, beats the pollen off of that butterfly in beauty.

So, hey, let's do two things with this thread. Name the aircraft you find most beautiful among the beauties, and lemme know if you think I'm crazy, or if you feel the same way. My fav is the F-22. The lines, profile, wings, etc. of that craft is incredible. Though the YF looks very similar, for whatever reason it doesn't hold a candle to the Raptor in my mind.

Oh yeah, and Junglejake, I agree, I see jets the same way

I actually think I can identify with that sentiment because, and ok its not a fighter but go with me, if you look at a picture of the Airbus Beluga transport it is one of the most pig ugly creations you will ever see, however when that big white bird flies over my house on a clear day it is truly a thing of beauty to behold! Why that should be I have no idea and yet it is so.

I understand completely

for me it's 2 plans, a fighter and a commercial aircraft

Mig 1.42

and airbus A-340

both, simply gorgeous

I know what you mean.

I am partial to the Y/F-23 though.......




I can't stop looking at it

AMM, I completely agree, the YF-23 is my baby, I think I might cry if I ever see/touch it, let alone fly it...

I don't know how old you guys are, so this advice might not apply to you.

If you're in highs school, take every math and science course (especially physics) you can.

If you're in college, ditto.

Join the AIAA, and then the Air National Guard. If you think looking at them is wondrous -- and it is, oh my, it is -- imagine the thrill of building and driving them.

Come on in.

The water's fine.

I appreciate what you mean. One of my earliest memories is being on the bank of a river in the early 60's where my parents had a property, a few miles from a Canadian airbase. Suddenly around a bend in the river upstream an RCAF CF-101 Voodoo came, flying about 50 feet, following the river. Evidently a low level flying exercise. In a moment it was gone, but the impression it made on me as an 11 year old was indelible.

Aircraft, especially fighters, are some of mankind's best examples of power combined with grace.

Totally agree with you dude.....ive got to admit i prefer to see and hear a spitfire or a Lancaster coming low level but the first time i saw a Vulcan coming over our house in the UK i nearly fell over with the shear emotional power this stirred within me!....i still get goose bumps when ever i see this awesome bird!
I also remember seeing two Jaguars flying down a valley in cumbria about 10ft apart from each other and remember having a total feeling of admiration and respect for the people involved with flying and operating these creations.......i think you summed it up perfectley.....AERONAUTICAL PORN!!

regards dude.

I'm a B-52 nut.

Yes, I know that it's called a Buff (Big, Ugly, Fat, F***er), but I spent years working on them, and I love 'em.

Other than the Stratofortress, I just love looking at the XB-70 Vaklyrie. Poetry in motion.

[edit on 14-3-2005 by Ouizel]

I'm personally in love with the Su-27. I would love to see one in person. I also like the F-15. Last summer, every couple days, a pair of them would fly directly over my house at low alt. Almost looked like they were going to scrape the treetops. Thats something I will never forget.

Nice to see another AC5 fan.

[edit on 14-3-2005 by sephiroth]

I'm partial for my plane...



Now it may not be a fighter, but think of it this way... In WWII and early into the cold war, Cessna 150s were mounted with small bombs (and even the occasional torpedo, I think) to help keep our coasts clear. So though it may not be one now, at least it does have some in its heritage. Plus they were also used as observation planes well into Vietnam.

As for pure warbird though, I'll have to go with the L-39 Albatros

I soloed in a C-150. If it's still around (it was in 1968), look for the plane with the claw marks on the yoke and the smell of barf on the left-hand seat.

That was me.

OtS, It's already too late for me, I'm a dropout with no future, only dreams.

Sure I could get my GED in the US, go to college...

But by the time i'm done i'm already 25.....

Originally posted by GrOuNd_ZeRo
OtS, It's already too late for me, I'm a dropout with no future, only dreams.

Sure I could get my GED in the US, go to college...

But by the time i'm done i'm already 25.....

Never too late mate. I started university when I was 25. Consider his words. Sorry for being off topic, seemed important to me.

Originally posted by junglejake
...Aircraft, specifically fighter craft, are my porn.

Damn, that's the funniest line I've heard in a long time. Good one!

Oh, I have heard that before, I had a friend who loved "machine porn".

And he loved a Squirrel too, of this internet comic or something lol, 2117, if you are reading this, no offense, but that's a bit odd

Originally posted by GrOuNd_ZeRo
OtS, It's already too late for me, I'm a dropout with no future, only dreams.

Sure I could get my GED in the US, go to college...

But by the time i'm done i'm already 25.....

I can vouch - it's never too late, especially in the US.

One of the most succesfull men I know didn't go to college untill he was 28.

The things that you DO need in the US are motivation and some smarts. This is a place where if you want it bad enough, you can do it.

I would recomend you get your GED and go out and get a degree IN WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. I can tell you from first hand experience, it is a lot easier to work hard at something you like then otherwise.

well thank you for encouraging me.

Here in Europe they make it very hard for people to do something they want to do, most people do a job they don't really WANT to do. they just take what they can.

I loved living in the US with my wife, but was forced to move back to Holland, I was not too thrilled with this, but my wife enjoys it here and she likes my brothers.

But I have no future here.

We're off the topic of airplanes, but I started university in 1971 at the age of 18 and finished in 1997. Obviously, a slow learner. Had fun in between though.

Back to planes - I soloed in a 172, although I never did get my license. But I had a great time out at the training range, practising my stalls and spins!

I love the greatest interceptor, the F-106.