Which is the most beautiful airplane that has ever been built?

The 757 looks like its forehead was stung by a thousand wasps and its windscreen makes it look sadder than Wall-E does. Its wings are far too stubby to be in proportion with its length.

It's a triumph of engineering and flies very well, but it shows that sometimes engineering throws good looks out the window.

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Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit

757 is a funny way of spelling Concorde. Right to jail with you.

We absolutely agree on the SR-71 though. Simply the most visually stunning aircraft ever built, in my humble opinion.

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4ofheartz@reddit

Absolutely stunning. Years ago, I met several couples who’d just flown in on the Concord. Retired couples. Once in a lifetime experience. Got to hear all about it. Sounded fantastic!

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ScienceMechEng_Lover@reddit

How did they take this pic? Did they need a 2nd Concorde because the only other option would be to use a military aircraft.

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Jessie_C_2646@reddit

If they're subsonic, any aircraft can fly alongside for photos.

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Would the Concorde be able to fly subsonic with that angle-of-attack though? I know landing is different than cruise, but doesn't the Concorde have that droopy nose mechanism because it needs to fly at high AoA when landing in order to generate enough lift?

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Jessie_C_2646@reddit

When they're at landing speed, yes. But subsonic cruise which any Learjet can match doesn't require a high angle of attack.

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BigDiesel07@reddit

Now I am picturing a C150 trying so hard to take fly-by photos

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Jessie_C_2646@reddit

You'd need a really fast shutter speed and extra-good reflexes.

"Darn! missed! Ask them to turn around and we'll try it again."

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GenericAccount13579@reddit

This is famously the only inflight photo of a concord while supersonic

It was taken by a tornado and apparently could barely keep up

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hellorhighwaterice@reddit

I believe for this picture they selected option B. There's a story here and the photographing airplane was either a Lighting or a Tornado.

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ScienceMechEng_Lover@reddit

I'm surprised the RAF were willing to spend all that time, money and fuel for a cool shot but I guess that makes sense as the Concorde is half British.

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Cefizelj@reddit

It was shot by RAF Tornado in ‘85 over Irish Sea.

Tornado had to return to base after few minutes flying flat out on afterburners and Concord flew off over the Atlantic.

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Cefizelj@reddit

By the way, this is the only photo of Concorde flying at supersonic speed taken bay RAF Tornado fighter jet in 1985.

Although the Tornado could match Concorde’s cruising speed it could only do so for a few minutes due to fuel consumption when flying with afterburners.

Several attempts were made to take the photo, and eventually the Concorde had to slow down from Mach 2 to Mach 1.5.

After racing to catch the Concorde and struggling to keep up, the Tornado broke off after just four minutes, while Concorde accelerated and flew off to New York.

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Fresh-Word2379@reddit

Facts

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PeteForsake@reddit

The de Havilland Dragon Rapide. Those curves...

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hhaattrriicckk@reddit

Mitsubishi f2 zero

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ShittyLanding@reddit

Hard to beat a clean viper

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hhaattrriicckk@reddit

f2 Mitsubishi zero

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BigDiesel07@reddit

So naked!

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Flanker305@reddit

Sukhoi Flanker

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emptywinebottlez@reddit

The P-38 Lightning.

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quiguy87@reddit

Boeing B314 Clipper

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AcePlanespotting@reddit

Avro Vulcan

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UrgentSiesta@reddit

B-2 Spirit or Concorde.

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UniformGolfLimaYanke@reddit (OP)

I second the B-2, it looks straight from an alien engineering tec. Its abstract and abnormal design is the most epic from aviation history!

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UrgentSiesta@reddit

To me it’s that it’s so organic looking - like a cross between a manta and stingray.

Concorde is different - just pure form following function, but in a decidedly aesthetic manner.

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Cumulus-Crafts@reddit

Superguppy :D

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rdm55@reddit

Bristol Brabazon

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Unusual-Pumpkin-7470@reddit

Republic XF-12 rainbow is one of my personal favourites due to the sleek cockpit and engine nacelles.

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AverageAircraftFan@reddit

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Educational-Low-2401@reddit

Wright Flyer. Gotta respect your elders.

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Far_Leg5028@reddit

Concorde or the Supermarine Spitfire

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rrickitywrecked@reddit

Vought F4U Corsair

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taddymason_01@reddit

SR-71

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Active_Sock177@reddit

Lockhead c-130 Hercules is a thing of beauty ...for the eyes and ears.

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AtomWorker@reddit

Saab Draken; while it's not my favorite fighter I'd argue it's the most beautiful. And the Concorde, of course.

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private8221@reddit

I would go with the queen of the sky. Clean configuration, or take off/landing configuration doesn't matter. The B747 is just an amazingly looking aircraft.

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Initial-Chemical748@reddit

Focke-Wulf Fw 190

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chaseinger@reddit

our weekly iteration of that very question and the answers will be, in no particular order, concorde, 747 and dc9.

and then i'll add the ju52 to be edgy.

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GrafZeppelin127@reddit

I humbly submit the Vickers VC10:

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Cefizelj@reddit

Respect

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Average_Joe_Dirt@reddit

For me, the B-17

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vlkr80@reddit

SR71 in general A380 for passenger AN 226 freight

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stetkr19@reddit

Macchi MC.72

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kirajoana23@reddit

Lockheed Electra L10

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commsbloke@reddit

I will go against the crowd and say Vulcan

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Fresh-Word2379@reddit

Continental/German Condor. Lockheed Electra. T-38. B-58. F-111 (sleeper). Wright Flyer. P-51. Vigilante. F-86. 747-8F. Vulcan. Zero. FW-190.

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davidspdmstr@reddit

Lockheed Constellation

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Designer-Salary-7773@reddit

Military : XB-70 Commercial jet : Concorde Commercial piston: Lockheed L-1649 GA turbine: Lear 23 GA piston: Beech DA17S

Pick one : L-1649

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Awesome_coder1203@reddit

For commercial, I think it’s the A350-1000

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Finbarr-Galedeep@reddit

Spitfire

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FuzzyArgument4636@reddit

SR-71 Blackbird

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Terrible_Log3966@reddit

DeHavilland DH.103 Hornet

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PicnicBasketPirate@reddit

The DH.88 Comet is my preference

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Terrible_Log3966@reddit

Also a beauty!

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Capitaine_Crunch@reddit

As a Dash 8 fan I had to look that one up. She's gorgeous!

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Terrible_Log3966@reddit

A prettier Mosquito!

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plathrop01@reddit

Concorde, 747 (specifically the -200), and the Connie. Each tried to do something different and do it with style, and they achieved that in every case.

For military, I really love the F4U Corsair--something about the bend in the wings just gets me.

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Jessie_C_2646@reddit

Douglas Dakota.

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HappyGnumff@reddit

There are only two answers, Concorde and the SR71. Everything else is periphery.

Distant Second etc:

Mirage 3: Simple, perfect B-70 Valkyrie: Balls F4U Corsair: Mid century beauty TU-154: Utterly stunning Hawker Hunter: Simply elegant

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