Coolest Airplane you ever flew or flew in

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Thu May 31, 2012 4:41 pm

The "Coolest Planes" threads got me to thinking. What cool airplanes have you either flown or rode in?

Now I have had rides (darned expensive ones) in both a B-17 and B-24, likely the same ones other's here have paid to ride in. And, while in the USAF, I got to ride in things like the Caribou, Herc, Starlifter and Galaxy. Even a quick jaunt in a Phantom, it helps to have dated a General's daughter when he was still a Colonel and I was in high school with her (and no, I don't think he ever knew everthing, or I'd have had a free ejection seat ride

). But the two standouts weren't even US aircraft. Well, one was from the US, but the other was from Germany, Hitler's Germany.

While in Spain, the Spanish Air Force had a couple of Catalinas, and at least one Ju-52 (Iron Annie). The pilots were a likeable bunch, and a polite request, and a good bottle of American booze could get you a ride. Landing on water in a Catalina isn't so bad. But taking off seemed like we would run out of lake surface before we got airborne.

But the coolest by far, and loudest was the Ju-52. This one had been part of Hitler's Condor Legion and was left behind to bolster Franco's air force after the revolution. Somewhere, I've got photos of them. But where is a good one. I figure someday I'll open an old box and find them.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu May 31, 2012 4:47 pm

Got to "ride" in this one SEVERAL times

Terry Murbach · Post by **Terry Murbach** » Thu May 31, 2012 5:22 pm

JU87.....

rgates · Post by **rgates** » Thu May 31, 2012 5:26 pm

1928 Ford Tri-Motor. Half-hour over St. Petersburg, Florida for $20 in 1988.

DixieBoy · Post by **DixieBoy** » Thu May 31, 2012 5:40 pm

Hello Mr. Gates. I think you might have us all beat. Coolest plane I ever rode in was a Grumman Goose (at least I think that's what it was) that Chalks air service used to run from Ft. Lauderdale to Bimini in the Bahamas to go diving. Landing on the water was ... interesting.

- DixieBoy

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Thu May 31, 2012 6:05 pm

Dad had a Tri pacer, then a Cherokee, then a Comanche. But when I was in CAP we has a Korean war surplus L5 that I always liked. Low and slow!

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Thu May 31, 2012 6:55 pm

DC-3 from St. Thomas to San Juan.
Coolest ride I ever had.

Along with the classice sounds we flew very low and I had a great seat!
I'll never foget that one.

jb

Ben_Rumson · Post by **Ben_Rumson** » Thu May 31, 2012 7:17 pm

Freedom Bird.. Jan 13 1969...

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Thu May 31, 2012 7:41 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Freedom Bird.. Jan 13 1969...

That's got to be the tops.

Mine:

PT-17 Stearman with Navy Markings when I was about 7, riding front seat.
Pete/Paul ultra light. Darned thing crashed a week later and killed the guys wife.
A BT-13 always came into Chandler Airport but my brother always got to the pilot first and got the ride. There were also tons of T-6's but never managed a ride.
Varga(plant was also right across the airport in Chandler, AZ).
Cessna Skymaster was always pretty cool
Sounds lame but there is something exciting about the turbo charged Cessna 210. It's simple yet very sleek and classy looking. Sounds beefy and looks and feels fast. Always felt like you were in a Mustang or something compared to the standard fare of Pipers and Cessna's.
Military I got a few rides(some one way

) in C-130's and C-141's. Always loved the C-130's, the sound and the shape.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Thu May 31, 2012 7:43 pm

The Whale

Oly

junkbug · Post by **junkbug** » Thu May 31, 2012 8:52 pm

My Dad bought me a ride in a Tiger Moth (fabric skin bi-plane trainer) when I was 13. My birthday, I think.

A few years before that , I got to sit in the cockpit of a Japanese Ohka (Cherry Blossom, or Baka Bomb)which was propped up on blocks at the "Air Museum" at Mundeline, Ill. Of course, a flight in that would have been a one way ticket. I just walked up on the wing, slid the canopy back, and hopped in. My Dad and I loved that place. Every one else hated it, just an airplane junkyard to them.

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:13 pm

Terry Murbach wrote:JU87.....

Who flew it? Wilbur or Orville?

For myself, I'd have to say several glider rides I did on Oahu @ Kaena Point. Just a few yards off the ridges, and you could see sheep or goats, pigs. A great ride the the thermal coming off the cliff would keep you up for an hour or more.

Thunder50 · Post by **Thunder50** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:40 pm

You guys got me beat. Rode in a B-17G and a Super Constellation(always loved the Connie) were about the best I can do. Otherwise, just plain old American yankee AA1A, Cessna 150,172,182,210(rode) and 337(fly), and a Cherokee Six thrown in once. Oops, almost forgot the Champ (rode)from the aero club at Norton

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:47 pm

Only one I have flown is a technam super eagle. Nothing special but is vey kewl to ke. Should have my license by this fall. I enjoyed most my tome in chinook helos.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu May 31, 2012 9:53 pm

Back in '84 or '85, wife, son & I got a fun ride around the Long Beach/Carson area in the above. Son was able to ride up front with the pilot, and actually flew it for a few minutes. Didn't get a t-shirt... but did get a nice "captain's" ball cap!

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Thu May 31, 2012 10:09 pm

king air...25 years ago

Lefty Dude · Post by **Lefty Dude** » Thu May 31, 2012 10:12 pm

When I was in the U.S. Navy and an Aircrewman on WV-2 Super Connie, (An RC121 for your Air Force Dudes). I logged close to 1000 Hr's in 18 Months. We could stay in the Air close to 24 hr's with a full fuel load of 8700 gal's of 115/145 avgas.

I got to fly the big-bird a few times in the Right Seat, quite a thrill.

Also flew on Lockheed P2V-5,-6 & -7 Submarine Patrol Bombers. And Lockheed P3V's

An interesting website is our Squadron site; Just google " VW-1". Our Squadron Home was
NAS Agana, Guam

pshort · Post by **pshort** » Thu May 31, 2012 10:22 pm

Hey Lefty,
I was in VW-4 in JAX. the hurricane hunters from '66 - '68..
Same A/C ......... Also got in about 1K hours as a radio op and NAV maintenance.....

Paul

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Thu May 31, 2012 10:23 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Freedom Bird.. Jan 13 1969...

Dang good ride, no doubt about it.

spaceman spiff · Post by **spaceman spiff** » Thu May 31, 2012 10:39 pm

A plane that looked much like this took me on the best fishing trip of my life. We flew 3 hrs.
north of Sault St. Marie and were left for 7 days. Pops landed a 27 lb. Northern Pike.

spaceman

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Thu May 31, 2012 11:33 pm

A guy I worked for summers during college took me up in one of these. Same paint scheme.

PaperPatch · Post by **PaperPatch** » Thu May 31, 2012 11:50 pm

I got to "Ride" brakes on this B-29 during a maintenance run-up a few years back.

A few years later, I rode this over Lake Tahoe....a beautiful view was had!!!

model55 · Post by **model55** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:10 am

Never got to ride in the C130 which was Dad's Favorite but the C119 was interesting.

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:21 am

Let's see here. Been up in a Goodyear blimp back in about 1970 or so. Couple of glider rides. A SH-3 helicopter off the USS Constellation. A John Deere hot air balloon in Roswell, NM. C-141 Starlifter from Hickam AFB, HI, to NAS Cubi Point, Philippines. Assorted airliners, including the Convair 600, DC-8, DC-9, DC-10, B-707, 727, 737, 747, 757, 767, 777. DeHavilland Twin Otter, DeHavilland Bluebird (?), a very small regional airliner with 4 small engines! Used to do engine runs and taxi 747s in San Fran. Wheee! I have flown Piper Cherokee 140s and 180s, Cessna 150, 152, 172, 172RG, 182. A Bellanca Citabria.
The coolest one? The C-150 I took my check ride for my private license in, at Clark AFB, Philippines.

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:33 am

I think this is the coolest one I was in - the B29 Sentimental Journey - http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en ... ,s:0,i:123

Coolest on I ever "flew" was a Citabria owned by one of the F16 test pilots at Edwards AFB. He let me "fly" it and try some stunts. We landed on the dry lake where the space shuttle used to land and flew to California City for lunch - great day.

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:20 am

Only as a passenger,nothing as cool as a bi-plane, but:
Coolest flight: as a kid, tie between first flight in 1962, United DC-8 from Baltimore (then Friendship) to San Francisco, and 1964 Pan Am 707 from Tokyo to Honolulu. As the icing on the cake, the pilot banked the plane just so we could see Diamond Head in the early morning as they played Hawaiian music...I think the winner goes to that Pan Am flight partly 'cause I think even then at tender age of 10 as a plane nut and son of a pilot, I knew how iconic it was in modern passenger flight, ushering in the jet age only a few years earlier. Between it and the DC-8, owning the skies of the 60s. I can still hear the engines start up on the tarmac and a hushed hum at 35k feet, the smell of the crisp, clean Pan Am cabin--linens and real meals!--and aroma of the leis upon arrival beautiful girls used to give out to each passenger for free coming off the plane. Travel really was different back then!...and just to show you further how times have changed, the Pan Am pilot let my father--bored to tears as a passenger--ride the right-hand seat for a ways!

Most interesting flight: also 1962, after a 36 hour flight in rearward-facing seats with a/c on the fritz in a C-118 (DC-6) from Travis AFB (SF) to Tokyo (Tachikawa AB), C-130 on our next leg to our new home, Itazuke on Kyushu, Japan, wax in our ears, sitting sideways in paratroop jump seats, in torrential rains landing at night in two feet of water (no exaggeration). No, maybe that was the coolest! All of it great stuff for an 8-10 year old!

MrMurphy · Post by **MrMurphy** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:21 am

Oddly enough, i've been 'in' a ton of aircraft. Flew in only a few.

Lot of passenger jets and light twins.

I was 14, just finished freshman year of high school and was contemplating becoming an Apache pilot in the far future. Glasses and crappy math killed that idea, but my freshman English teacher's husband was an instructor pilot with over 15,000 hours in everything up to 747's. He was also a commander in the USNR, flew 500 hours of Search and Rescue in Vietnam in HH-3's (Jolly Green Giants) and picked up a few extra holes. So he was amenable to things most weren't.

I went from driving go-carts to flying a Hughes 300 2-seat helo. He had me do everything except radio work (I was 14, and sounded like it). Preflight, all of it. Only time he touched the stick except to correct something was to hover us out from parking, which took some experience. Dropped it on the runway and it was all mine. Flew for about an hour or so (without a door, which made left turns REAL interesting standing it on one side). Even did a power autorotation, and I managed to neither scream or wet myself since we went from flying along at 1,000 feet or so to a controlled straight down power-off dive right to the deck (we pulled out at around 30 feet IIRC).

As to stuff i've been 'in' but not flown?

B-17s (4), B-25, B-24 (3) and Franco's personal He-111, the only one left flying.

RC-135 reconaissance planes (over a dozen), KC-135 tankers, C-17's, C-5's, KC-10s, C-130s, F-16's, British FGR Tornados, half a dozen Apaches and Blackhawks and Hueys, Navy E-8 command and control planes, P-3s, bunch of other stuff. Sometimes, pulling security and being friendly with aircrew is a good thing.

20cows · Post by **20cows** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:49 am

I think this is the coolest one I was in - the B29 Sentimental Journey

I believe she was a B17 when she came to my home town back in the 70's, but maybe she grew a little since then.

One of my classmates, a high school junior at the time, got to man the controls from the right seat.

Borregos · Post by **Borregos** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:53 am

Spring fishing trip 2003

Pitchy · Post by **Pitchy** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:13 am

bdhold · Post by **bdhold** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:16 am

launched off a carrier facing the rear in a C-2 - no matter how you try, you can't keep your arms down.

Otter in an AK fly-out

bgmkithaca · Post by **bgmkithaca** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:17 am

A c-124 in "Operation Cool Mule" As an auxiliary crew member flying supplies to remote locations in Alaska during the 60's
out of Elemondorf AFB at Anchorage, Alaska. Many locations were quite scenic and far flung from civilization.

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:35 am

bgmkithaca wrote:A c-124 in "Operation Cool Mule" As an auxiliary crew member flying supplies to remote locations in Alaska during the 60's
out of Elemondorf AFB at Anchorage, Alaska. Many locations were quite scenic and far flung from civilization.

We frequently had 124s flying in and out of our base, Itazuke, in Japan. C97 was another whopper of those times. Don't recall but a few 97s there, though my father flew LeMay in one from Florida to Omaha. Til reminded recently, I'd forgotten its B-29 roots.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:57 am

Coolest I flew was a Schweizer 2-32 with an instructor long long ago.

Coolest ride is hard to filter down. I loved riding in the Grumman Goose. Once I had my whole family in one from Juneau to Pelican during a huge winter northerly. The pilot climbed high higher higher to get above the turbulence created by the mountains and we had a peaceful flight with a spectacular scene of the entire region coated in ice at the shoreline, all the way out past Cape Spencer. Most Goose flights were much lower, flying thru canyons well below mountain tops to conserve fuel. A boat that can fly!

I chartered a turbo-beaver once to fly from Elfin Cove to Juneau. The hotshot departed from the head of the cove, was airborn by the time he flew through the gut, and gave us the fastest ride to Juneau we ever had. Later that year or the next hotshot disappeared in Lynn Canal trying to get a planeload of pax from Tenakee to Juneau. He tried to beat the dark and the blizzard. They found one pontoon.

The takeoff run was started at the exteme top in this image, and the plane flew through the first constriction center-right at the level of the boardwalk. The direction of flight is from top center left to center right, over water through both guts.

samb · Post by **samb** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 2:45 pm

Got a ride in the A-26. It was drafty and fast down low.

Ji in Hawaii · Post by **Ji in Hawaii** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:14 pm

Nothing really historical or exciting since mostly modern jetliners but I always prefer a prop plane between the islands. Here's a few:

Grumman T-Cat

Cessna 208B Caravan (Pacific Wings)

DeHavilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter (Aloha Island Air)

DeHavilland DHC-7 Dash 7 (Hawaiian Air)

DeHavilland DHC-8 Dash 8 (Island Air)

Fokker F-27-500 (Mahalo Airlines)

ATR-42-320 (Mahalo Airlines)

NAMC YS-11-120 (Mid Pacific Air)

Canadair CL-44 (Flying Tiger Line)

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 3:39 pm

Ben_Rumson wrote:Freedom Bird.. Jan 13 1969...

God bless ya brother.

Oly

retmech · Post by **retmech** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:23 pm

When I first started to work at AA the Lead mechanic took me for a ride in his Aeronca Chief. Two things stick in my mind about that flight (fresh out of A&P school). We stopped at a gas station to get a gallon of "Gulftane" gasoline cause the tank was empty and we needed to fly to the airport for gas. The other was the fuel gauge. A metal rod in a cork coming out the top of the tank with a 90 deg. bend at the top to show empty! Neat little airplane!

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 4:43 pm

As a lockheed guard for 35 years I was around everything they built but didnt get to fly in any of them except the old connies and L-10-11. I love anything that flys. I am one of those nurds that will look out the side window for a 4 flight, even at night! I am checked out in a luscombe (Soloed in that) cessna 150, 152, 170, 172, cherokee, comanchee, grunman cheeta, yankee american, have owned a metalised tri-pacer and a GCBC citaberia. 52 years ago as a forrest fire fighter I got rides in Bell G-2 and G-3 and french elloette choppers, and once in a glider. I love them all. I am not current, trying to get my INR right to take the physical. I have walked away from a couple of mishaps and probley scared myself or someone else every secound flight it seems! Here is a old picture of my citaberia. I get more scarred getting on the roof to change the cooler pads! Also a picture of my citaberia being rebuilt the last time I seen it a few months ago. A long, long sad story. Also the yellow and white picture is what it looked like in between the other two. (My friends daughter ground looped it. Its a long term project.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:00 pm

Griff wrote:

Back in '84 or '85, wife, son & I got a fun ride around the Long Beach/Carson area in the above. Son was able to ride up front with the pilot, and actually flew it for a few minutes. Didn't get a t-shirt... but did get a nice "captain's" ball cap!

Who did you have to kill to get that ride? I've tried for years, even pulling out the "my uncle flew these on coastal patrol during WWII" didn't help.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:05 pm

Several have mentioned their Freedom Birds. Mine was a C-141 Starlifter, what was your's?

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 6:34 pm

jeepnik wrote: Who did you have to kill to get that ride?

My flight history is rather dull. First was an AA 727 in the late-70s/early 80s from DFW to MEM. I was under the age of 10 and scared poopless for some reason. I might have run them low on barf bags as well...

I got about 37 hours in Cessna 150s/152s from 90-92 when I was working on getting my license (which never happened). Took a puddle jumper from Ft Sill to DFW then an MD80 series from DFW to either ATL or Augusta (I don't remember if we stopped in ATL or went straight to Augusta). Another MD to DFW for leave and a DC10 back to ATL. A 747 to NTC and back (that had what looked for all the world like a 6' piece of duct tape on the outside over the cabin door

). One Blackhawk ride in Air Assault School (one and a half if you count the trip up to repel out of the bird) and 2 CH47 rides.

Oh, and another MD series to Colorado Springs and back a few years ago.

jeepnik · Post by **jeepnik** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 8:59 pm

awp101 wrote:
jeepnik wrote: Who did you have to kill to get that ride?

My flight history is rather dull. First was an AA 727 in the late-70s/early 80s from DFW to MEM. I was under the age of 10 and scared poopless for some reason. I might have run them low on barf bags as well...

I got about 37 hours in Cessna 150s/152s from 90-92 when I was working on getting my license (which never happened). Took a puddle jumper from Ft Sill to DFW then an MD80 series from DFW to either ATL or Augusta (I don't remember if we stopped in ATL or went straight to Augusta). Another MD to DFW for leave and a DC10 back to ATL. A 747 to NTC and back (that had what looked for all the world like a 6' piece of duct tape on the outside over the cabin door ). One Blackhawk ride in Air Assault School (one and a half if you count the trip up to repel out of the bird) and 2 CH47 rides.

Oh, and another MD series to Colorado Springs and back a few years ago.

I'm an old airedale. Good rides come with the bus drivers uniform. I actually went both directions of that bird. Buy I paid for it by flying to europe in a C-130 on a jump seat.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:02 pm

I have flown Piper Cherokee 140s, 180s, Sixes, Cessna 150, 152 aerobat, 172, 172RG, 182, 185, 210, luscombes, tri-pacer, Cubs, Twin Apaches, Twin Comanche, Stinson Voyager -D to Oshkosh in 73 for 3 days of the airshow, C130 , Bell Long Ranger, Bell Ranger, OH-6A.

Things I have jumped out of C-47, Caribou, C-130, C141, C-17, UH-1, UH-60, CH-46, CH-47, CH-53.

Freedom Birds: A Lot of trips to and back from places in 130s
From Iraq 2003: C-130
From Africa in 2003: C-5
From Afghanistan 2008: C17

Most fun ride: AH-1 Cobra in 1974 in the weapons seat with a pilot trying to make the Combat Engineer sick.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 9:35 pm

jeepnik wrote:
Griff wrote:
Back in '84 or '85, wife, son & I got a fun ride around the Long Beach/Carson area in the above. Son was able to ride up front with the pilot, and actually flew it for a few minutes. Didn't get a t-shirt... but did get a nice "captain's" ball cap!
Who did you have to kill to get that ride? I've tried for years, even pulling out the "my uncle flew these on coastal patrol during WWII" didn't help.

Was in on the decision process for the county tire contract... multi-million $ deal. They actually invited my boss... but she couldn't get that day free, and I was... luck.

gak · Post by **gak** » Fri Jun 01, 2012 11:20 pm

Paladin wrote:.Things I have jumped out of C-47, Caribou, C-130, C141, C-17, UH-1, UH-60, CH-46, CH-47, CH-53.

You realize those were perfectly good airplanes?!

1894c · Post by **1894c** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 12:24 am

Pitchy wrote:
:lol:

my favorite all-time plane and pilot... :)

redlevel42 · Post by **redlevel42** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 7:23 am

I rode in a Piper PA-17 Vagabond and a Cessna 170-B back in the late 60s. Took instruction in a J-3 Cub. Owned an Aeronca Chief and a Piper Super Cub Trainer in the early 70s. The SC Trainer had a 100 hp engine and no wing flaps. It was designated a PA-18, though, like the 150hp models. I got rides in an old 50s model Piper Apache twin and an old Bellanca. Back in the 50s there were 1000 acres of cotton within a 10 minute bike ride of my house. I loved to watch the old Stearman and Cub dusters. The pilots would wave at me, and even on occasion throttle back (at 50 feet altitude) and holler at me.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 8:58 am

jeepnik wrote:Several have mentioned their Freedom Birds. Mine was a C-141 Starlifter, what was your's?

Made maybe 6 or 7 trips over the years, all commercial, both out of Cam Rahn and TSN. Made one out of Udorn in a C-130A, most noisy aircraft I ever was in, Udorn to Clark Xmas eve, 1964.

There are those on this board who do not know what a "Freedom Bird" is. Probably a good thing.

Paladin · Post by **Paladin** » Sat Jun 02, 2012 1:17 pm

gak wrote:
Paladin wrote:.Things I have jumped out of C-47, Caribou, C-130, C141, C-17, UH-1, UH-60, CH-46, CH-47, CH-53.
You realize those were perfectly good airplanes?!

I was a A&P when I was 17 after working with Dad (Aerospace Engineer and III also How I got to fly so many planes) most of them did not qualify for that statement .
Plus they paid extra if the plane did not have to land to let us out.