planes you would like to own

RE: planes you would like to own

hmm…

Boeing JSTARs with extra section of minibar and and plush sofa to chill out (Makes me feel like playing god, with all the information [INFORMATION IS POWER] on hand and ability to control other aircraft)

8 F/A 18Es (escorts for my JSTARS) and maybe if someone pisses me be able to bomb the S”%t out of him/her.

I also like a fleet of vietnam era Hueys…helicopters ( with stereo playing 60’s music )

several classics , Mosquitoes, COSAIRS (in blue navy markings) they look like seagulls, P51 mustangs

RE: planes you would like to own

Actually, Garry and mixtex, despite the fact that I’m from the West, I’ve come to appreciate the An-2 and it’s one of the most interesting planes there is to be seen anywhere in my opinion. Similar to the C-130 and DC-3 in that it is so very versatile you can use it for just about anything and it will get the job done. I sure with the FAA would certify the dang thing. I’d love to get to see them here in the States.

RE: planes you would like to own

“Can you think of any others?”

Well, there are still a few other rough-it-out aircraft on the market. The PC 6, SM-92 Finist, Helio Courier… All a bit smaller as the An-2 though.

Of course it is rather strange calling the An-2 a small
plane… it has a cabin cross section comparable to a DC-3,
though obviously not as long.

Annushka is quite big. It seats 11 paratroopers, and there’s still room for a toilet in the back. A few variants have large cargo doors so they can carry a small vehicle.

Considering it first flew in about 1947 and is still used
for “covert drops” of special units it is a rather
remarkable plane. (Only undervalued in the west I might
add… it was widely used and liked in the Sov Union.)

Even better… it’s still in production. Vietnam recieved a few as-new from the PZL-Mielec plant in Poland in 2000 (production hasn’t officially ended there), and China still builds them in a new variant with winglets. And all still with the good old ASh-73 radial engine 😀 It is indeed a delicious aircraft to fly (impossible to stall that one), maintain (simple piston engine, even more dead simple surfaces and structures), and most important: use.

RE: planes you would like to own

I’ve simpler tastes than most

First of all my realistic choice, something I am actually working towards:-

The 80% scale Jabiru 8 cylinder engined Spitfire replica. 160 kts, economical, relatively short field, 2 seats. Mmmmmmm

http://www.supermarineaircraft.com/PictureGallery/picturegallery.htm

Then for the days when I don’t want to tear around, a simple Cub.

And for aeros – the Stearman.

That’s all Santa

Moggy

RE: planes you would like to own

“Can you think of any others?”

No, I can’t really…

Of course it is rather strange calling the An-2 a small plane… it has a cabin cross section comparable to a DC-3, though obviously not as long.

Considering it first flew in about 1947 and is still used for “covert drops” of special units it is a rather remarkable plane. (Only undervalued in the west I might add… it was widely used and liked in the Sov Union.)

RE: planes you would like to own

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-12-02 AT 09:13 PM (GMT)]Garry- Theres a good reason why planes like the An-3 dont sell, because people in the west only look at performace specs: speed, range, fuel economy. Thats why about every private plane on the market is built for the highest top speed which means using high wing loading, a small prop, narrow fuselage, all to maximize speed and range. Consequently these planes are dangerous at slow speeds and are practically a kamikazi mission to land in rough ground. Beating dopler radar is one advantage to An-3 type utility planes, but I simply think they are a more practical solution for moving man/material than delicate and labor/resourse intensive helicoptors. The only other light planes I know of designed to handle rough ground are the old Dornier 28, the polish PZL LALA-1 which is just a modified An-2 and then currently there are a few kit planes built for bush work. Can you think of any others?

Id like to mention something else about the sukoi aerobatic planes. Youll notice they use a very thick wing with a very rounded airfoil entry, very reminiciant of the ME-109. The main difference is the sukoi uses symetrical camber in the airfoil for inverted flight capability.

RE: planes you would like to own

I’d like an F-16.

Umm.. thats about it really, I wouldn’t want to be greedy.

Simmer

RE: planes you would like to own

Mixtec, you seem rather interested in the An-2 and An-3.
I certainly agree it is a very interesting plane… and one that the US fears strangely enough.
Without writing a disertation on how radar works, the US realised that the AN-2 is so slow that it can disappear from look down radar. It is to be used by North Korea for dropping paratroops and flying too slow to appear on radar would make it a difficult target to intercept.

(When a radar is pointed at the ground obviously the ground reflects the signal back to the antenna… any aircraft or object to be tracked would be hidden by the much larger reflection of the ground. The solution was to analyse the returning radar signals and determine which objects are moving. An object moving at 400km/h in a particular direction is likely to be something the radar operator is interested in (ie an aircraft or missile). Cars travelling on a motorway, or grass being blown by the wind or ripples on the water also move but because the move slowly they are rejected as clutter. The fear of the USAF was that the AN-2 might fly slow enough to be rejected as clutter also.)

RE: planes you would like to own

http://avia.russian.ee/air/maks/be-200.jpg

The ultimate go-anywhere business jet.

RE: planes you would like to own

The An-3 may look old fashion being a biplane but there is no better way to increase wing area without loosing roll responce that the biplane. The taildragger is also a must for rough ground, tricycle gears just wont manage really rough ground with big rocks, ruts, etc.

RE: planes you would like to own

PII.

“Kev, I’m impressed. Perhaps we are making strides afterall. Or maybe we both just have good taste in airplanes.”

You might be right but you have to remember there is another British saying for when people agree…

“Either great minds think alike, or, fools seldom differ.”

How are the flying lessons going?

Regards,

kev35

RE: planes you would like to own

The best place to look would be the Beriev homepage:

http://www.beriev.com/core.html

If you click on the “products” link you’ll find the Be-103 there.

RE: planes you would like to own

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-12-02 AT 05:09 AM (GMT)]Oooh. I like that Be-103. Any good sites with information on it?

Kev, I’m impressed. Perhaps we are making strides afterall. Or maybe we both just have good taste in airplanes.

RE: planes you would like to own

Oops sorry misread the first post. I thought it was about picking aircraft you’d want to use as a civie… not as an “airforce” as such.

I picked the AN-3 because it is very docile and very capable at low speeds, with floats I could go for holidays to the lakes in Central Otago without worrying about runways, or land on a skifield or snow covered mountain. It is also much larger than it looks (I think it is the largest single engine biplane or something) so there’d be plenty of room for gear (skis or rifles) and mates. I could also use it to go up to the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow.

The IL-103 I chose because it is a very modern light plane with excellent visibility and will be cheap to run for having a look round.

The late model Su- prop trainer I chose for aerobatics and “performance” flying without the expense of a jet.

…some pics…. (including the AN-3, a Su- prop trainer, the Il-103 and the Be-103 amphibian).
Attachments:

RE: planes you would like to own

De Havilland Chipmunk T.10, just for the memories.

A Dakota, again for the memories but also for owning a genuine piece of aviation history.

Phantom FGR 2, just for when I want to get anywhere in a hurry.

I’m a man of simple tastes so that’ll do for me.

PII, I chose two from your list, that’s getting mighty close to an agreement.

Regards,

kev35

RE: planes you would like to own

No F-4’s?? Surely you jest.

McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II
Boeing 707-320
Lockheed T-33A
Curtiss P-40N Warhawk (two-seater)
Douglas DC-3/C-47
Cessna 182T
Cessna Model 560 Citation Encore
Dassault Rafale B

RE: planes you would like to own

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 20-12-02 AT 06:42 PM (GMT)]There is a definate lack of small aircraft with rough field capability. That GarryB mentiones the An-3 which is a passanger/cargo biplane which is similar to the Polish PZL utility biplane shows just how far you have to look to find such a plane. Sure their are plenty of STOL aircraft out their, but they mainly use alot of turboprop power in conjunction with flaps to get off the ground quickly, theyre really too fast to use rough strips.
Attachments:

RE: planes you would like to own

I’d get a AN-3 (an AN-2 with a more modern turboprop engine) with floats and wheels so lakes and runways were open to me.

I also like the look of the Il-103, and for pure exhileration I’d go for the Su-42 or whatever that turbo prop trainer the Russian AF has accepted for service.

RE: planes you would like to own

Hhhhmmm, lemme see…ah yes…dont want half an air force/….just a few

Thruster T300 Microlight
Waco WMF
and a twin stick P51

Why the Thruster ? I dont wanno go whizzing around at umpteen hundred miles an hour !. gimme summat with a high wing, an open frame fuselague and a cruising sped of around 50 and I’d be so happy, why I’d even take you up for a ride as well.

Waco ?. theres just summat about that old bipe’ and lazy radial slowly churning up front.

Mustang ? you need to ask ? Sexy looks, top banana engine and just oozes cool !

Cheers

Gary

RE: planes you would like to own

To properly equip the RAF I would buy:

4 squadrons of F15 Strike Eagles
5 Squadrons of Mirage 2000s