The Most Elegant Aircraft Ever Built

[viapanam]

Thought this might be a fun thread to start.
In the second chapter of my MA thesis, I make the assertion that the British built two of the most elegant aircraft ever to fly - Comet and Concorde. Obviously this is a highly subjective statement for a historian to make, but I will stand by it.

So my question for everyone in the forum is, what do you believe is / was the most elegant aircraft ever to fly. Not the most successful, powerful, unique, popular, etc, but the most elegant.

Why Comet? I believe the recessed power plants give Comet a true elegance of line. And I think the dramatic lines of Concorde speak for themselves. Of course elegance of design don't necessarily lead to success, and neither Comet nor Concorde came anywhere near to commercial success. Nevertheless, both were innovative, first of their class aircraft that gave Britain a certain distinction in the air.

[moose135]

Even though I'm an old Boeing guy, my two picks for this would be the Lockheed Super Constellation and the TriStar.

[NIKV69]

IMO nothing beats the Queen of the skies.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKl2aMd-T5Y

[lijk604]

Elegance for me, the Concorde & the B747.


Now Moose, the L-1011 was a great aircraft, but elegant?

[cancidas]

gotta agree with nick..... 747!!

[wunaladreamin]

For me, I'd have to say the Boeing 747 or the Boeing 307. Theres just something about a highly polished plain aluminum 307 that just subtly SCREAMS class.

[snydersnapshots]

All right, you're probably going to call me weird--you wouldn't be the first--but I'd have to say the Boeing 314 is one, and I'll agree with Moose above on the Connie for another of the most elegant.

[gonzalu]

For me, I'd have to say the Boeing 747 or the Boeing 307. Theres just something about a highly polished plain aluminum 307 that just subtly SCREAMS class.

The one at the Smithsonian makes me emotional!! Beautiful airplane.

For me the SR-71 is very elegant as is the North American XB-70 Valkyrie
however, for traditional airliners:

--De Havilland Comet despite its poor history.
--The Convair 880 and Boeing 707 are very close so they get equal billing, although the way the engines were mounted on the Convair, wow!

[snydersnapshots]

The one at the Smithsonian makes me emotional!! Beautiful airplane.

Do you realize how close they came to losing that airplane?

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/03/29/seattle-plane-crash.htm

[Zee71]

It is difficult to pick one from the bunch of so many elegant aircraft since they have their own uniqueness. So I grouped mine to commercial, and military.

Commercial - The Queen of the Skies.....the 747, she stands out from the rest, and is easily recognizable. Don't mess with this gal, she has been around a long time and gone through a few makeovers with her recent being the 747-800 series.

Military - Definitely the SR-71 Blackbird, from the sharpness of her edges to her pointed engines she is a marvel to look upon. The other is the B-58 Hustler, with her delta wing and 4 engines. She too has an elegance.

[Skylanerg]

The Lockheed L-1049C Super Constellation and Beech Model 17 Staggerwing.

[MarkLawrence]

I agree totally with the Boeing 747 - but - my second choice would also be the Constellation..

[viapanam]

So far I stand alone with Comet.
I love the 747 - I remember standing inside the Pan Am terminal watching the inaugural push back ... and then come back with yet another overheated engine. (Almost missed that, we were walking towards the parking lot when I looked back and saw it returning to the gate). I also like the suggestion of the Convair 880 - I hadn't even considered that; I do think the 707 merits consideration as well. I have never been a huge prop fan - so I will defer opinion on the Connie. I'll stand by my original statement for my thesis (the chapter deals with the diplomatic machinations between the US, France and Great Britain to secure Concorde landing rights) but I love the additional suggestions.
I will also throw this one out - the Caravelle. It was mainly United that flew it within the US (if I remember correctly) but there was a certain elegance about that one as well.

[Spunker]

I've got to go with the Connie and the Tristar

[727C47]

DC3,707,727,747,Lockheed Constellation ,all tied for 1st !!!

[hiss srq]

I am going to go with the 727-200 or the A330-300..... I love the 330. Turn off all the automation and it will fly just like any other airplane and if the 330 sim in CLT holds true, it is hard to make a bad landing short of dropping a wing at 20 feet and driving the gear into the ground.

[megatop412]

You ask me, DC-3 takes the cake- simple design, stunningly beautiful, very elegant lines

and that's cool you actually remember witnessing the engine overheat on the inaugural Clipper flight, I've only ever read about it

[viapanam]

and that's cool you actually remember witnessing the engine overheat on the inaugural Clipper flight, I've only ever read about it

I was 13 at the time, and was lucky that my mom was fairly tolerant of my plane spotting addiction. We lived in Westchester, and normally I would take the New Haven (in its pre-MTA days) to GCT, subway to Jamaica, and the Q-41(?) to the airport. But that didn't work too well at night. In those days, there was a balcony restaurant in the terminal which gave you a birds-eye view of the gate. My mom sat up there while I cruised the terminal. Funny how you just remember some things. Once the clipper had pushed back, we headed back to the parking lot (this was before the roof top parking was available at the World Port) which was directly in front of the terminal. I looked back and saw the 747 coming back. I hate no idea what was happening. So I rushed back in and started asking a million questions in rapid fire succession - as a 13 year old is want to do. We did not stay for the delayed departure with the new aircraft (Mom had her limits), but it was an adventure.

[MORS-AB-ALTO]

The rarely spoken of French Bloch MB.161 along with the Connie for props. Gulstream V and Tri-star for jets.

[captmjk16]

The rarely spoken of French Bloch MB.161 along with the Connie for props. Gulstream V and Tri-star for jets.

I've gotta agree with the Gulfstreams for sure, anything from the IV, V, 450, 550 and now 650 class are very elegant aircraft. Beautiful curves, massive wings and engines and those famous oval windows. I'd have to add the Piaggio Avanti to the list as well, maybe not the most well liked look out there, but there's no denying the beauty of that fuselage shape.

[Speedbagel_001]

My personal favorites also include Concorde and 747 (with shorter upper deck). Also a fan of the Blackbird as well.
But I'd like to add a different candidate to the list: the Beechcraft Starship!
And let's not forget one of my other all-time favorites: Airwolf

[stratoduck]

For me, the Fairchild 24 with the Ranger engine (Ranger was located at Republic airport) was the prettiest aircraft:

http://www.abpic.co.uk/images/images/1143625M.jpg

For the jets, i think the most elegant lines were on the Gulfstream II.

[Art at ISP]

If I had to pick just 1, I would go with the Super Constellation. It is not only the most elegant, but I think one of the most beautiful airplanes ever built. It would in my estimation be followed by Concorde, but the Connie is just a bit more elegant.

[cardi03]

The Connie for sure.

[Speedbird1]

While Concorde really wasn't elegant inside the passenger cabins except for the leather seats, her design and shapely delta wings was the most elegant design outside. Due to supersonic design, there was no room for elegant except for the china and food served. As for elegance inside an aircraft, the B747 original is the winner. When starting service, First Class passengers actually were treated to live entertainment on some flights. If memory serves me, Frank Sinatra,Jr. performed and a piano was provided. Don't forget the Spiral Staircase ! I am still uncertain if the A380 qualifies as elegant; I heard some offer showers and even a small casino. So the A380 gets a question mark for elegance?

[Marcelo F. De Biasi]

Hmm, this is a difficult one. But...

Military >> Lockheed SR-71; Messerschmidt Bf 109; Supermarine Spitfire
Civilian >> Lockheed L-188 Electra; Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde; Boeing 787 (those wings are just AMAZING!)

[jhickman]

Shorts SKYVAN. LOL