"Favorite Aircraft of the Golden Age?" Topic

Armand's topic on the Polikarpov I-153 has inspired me; what are some of your favorite Golden Age (1919-1939) aircraft?

Gee Bee, Q.E.D. by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives, on Flickr

The Gee Bee Q.E.D. was built in 1933 to participate in an air race from Britain to Australia. Plagued by bad luck, it failed to complete a number of races. In 1939, Capt. Francisco Sarabia flew the aircraft on a record-setting flight from Mexico City to New York City. Sarabia was killed piloting the aircraft, when an engine failure plunged him into the Potomac River. The aircraft was recovered, and today is on display in Ciudad Lerdo, Mexico.

link

Ron

You read my mind!

Gee Bee

Supermarine S.6B

While I like anything in the US military "yellow-wing" livery, my favorite is the Curtiss Sparrowhawk:

I've been a fan of the Grumman Goose since watching Tales of the Gold Monkey!

While I love the Gee Bee, I was more thinking of the Ford Tri-Motor. A plane with corrugated metal skin, what's not not to like?

Personally, I'm a sucker for the big "Art Deco" bombers of the era, such as…

Fairey Hendon

Handley Page Heyford

Amiot 143

Breguet 460

most of the French bombers, really.

Martin B-10

The P-26 Peashooter has always been a favorite:

The Staggerwing is also pretty cool:

Junkers Ju 52

Ford Tri-motor.

Hmmm, can't say I'm really a fan of any of them, but if pressed, would have to give the nod to the Spitfire forerunner, floatplane.

The Shadow beat me to it….I love the Ford Tri-Motor!

any of the Pan Am clipper flying boats also…

Blackburn Roc!!

The De Havilland Dragonfly

link

Boeing P-26 Peashooter

Another for the Goose!

Vickers Viking… made famous as the 'Vandal' operated by Biggles & co. in their interwar freelance years.

Ford Tri-motor in various configurations:

[URL=http://s439.photobucket.com/user/bielcik/media/ftm2.jpg.html]

[/URL]

[URL=http://s439.photobucket.com/user/bielcik/media/ftm8.jpg.html]

[/URL]

[URL=http://s439.photobucket.com/user/bielcik/media/ftm4.jpg.html]

[/URL]

[URL=http://s439.photobucket.com/user/bielcik/media/ftm9.jpg.html]

[/URL]

So many to choose from. One personal favorite is the Handley Page Hercules.

link

This one…

I have always liked the Interwar markings for the USAAC and USN/USMC aircraft. Robert

I do have a soft spot for the PZL P.7 too,

Gee Bee R1

Regards,

J. P. Kelly

I can't stop at just one (I have a problem).

Fairey Flycatcher by FrigateRN, on Flickr

If I hadn't posted the Flycatcher, I doubt if anyone else would have; but, I'm a bit surprised that no one so far has posted anything by Hawker.

We also need a Percival Mew Gull:

Miles Hawk Major – M.2L Hawk Speed Six 160/G-ADGP and Percival Mew Gull ZS-AHM/G-AEXF by Rosco P. Herbtrane, on Flickr

Ron

Tupolev ANT-4.

"Boeing P-26 Peashooter"

That last photo is of a Breda 27, not the Boeing Peashooter:

Clearly the Breda 27 was probably inspired by the Boeing P-26…

Now, as for my fave inter-war aircraft, I *did* have an uncle who flew a Gee Bee in one (1) race (and lived to tell about it!), but I refer designs that actually got put to use:

The Curtiss A-12 Shrike in KMT service:

The Dewoitine D510 in KMT service:

Recall that the D510 packed a 20mm cannon firing through the propeller hub…

The Fiat CR 32 Falco:

Just one of the most elegant biplane ever, except perhaps for the Hawker family of inter war biplanes:

And then, there's the category of "So Ugly It's Beautiful:"

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

Ooppss you are right Leland. Thanks. My Bad LOL. Robert

All the above are in the running.
But for me, if I could only choose it, it would be all the variations of the Northrop Gamma.

This is presuming real aircraft and not;

Who can possibly forget the immortal Humbley-Pudge Gallipoli Heavyish Bomber or the Snud U-14 flown by our gallant Soviet allies!

link

Here is the non real aircraft pic I tried to post earlier, the fabled Red Pig's Savoia S.21.

Oh, well, if it's whimsical fictitious Golden Age aircraft yer after…

I mean, what's not to love in a gigantic flying wing/flying fortress bristling with automatic cannons?

Leland R. Erickson
Metal Express
metal-express.net

I'm a big fan of the Grumman G-21 Goose

Macchi M.39

Caudron C.460