 Editor in Chief Bill   | 12 Feb 2018 5:03 p.m. PST |
Which military aircraft was the best-looking, dedicated bomber? (Fighter-bombers do not count.) |
| Tommy20 | 12 Feb 2018 5:11 p.m. PST |
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| TheWhiteDog | 12 Feb 2018 5:12 p.m. PST |
Any era? I was always partial to the Handley-Page Victor. If we're talking WW2 or prior, it's a toss-up for me between the B-24 and the B-10. |
| Striker | 12 Feb 2018 5:14 p.m. PST |
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| Garand | 12 Feb 2018 5:19 p.m. PST |
Personally always partial to the B-25 or the A-20. For modern stuff the Bone. Damon. |
| evbates | 12 Feb 2018 5:19 p.m. PST |
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| Skeets | 12 Feb 2018 5:29 p.m. PST |
Always favored the B-25 as my father flew in them in the SW Pacific in WW2. |
| Frankss | 12 Feb 2018 5:32 p.m. PST |
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79thPA  | 12 Feb 2018 5:34 p.m. PST |
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| Winston Smith | 12 Feb 2018 5:41 p.m. PST |
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| Coelacanth | 12 Feb 2018 5:43 p.m. PST |
The Douglas SBD Dauntless. Ron |
| BadMoon | 12 Feb 2018 5:45 p.m. PST |
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| Coelacanth | 12 Feb 2018 5:53 p.m. PST |
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| FABET01 | 12 Feb 2018 6:02 p.m. PST |
B-58 Hustler or B-70 Valkyrie. |
| JimSelzer | 12 Feb 2018 6:10 p.m. PST |
ditto on the Dauntless
Helldiver a close 2nd
JU 88 3rd |
| 377CSG | 12 Feb 2018 6:19 p.m. PST |
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 ColCampbell | 12 Feb 2018 6:27 p.m. PST |
Gotta be the B-17 for me as that was the bomber in which my dad flew (top turret gunner/flight engineer) in WW2. Jim |
| Allen57 | 12 Feb 2018 6:28 p.m. PST |
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| zoneofcontrol | 12 Feb 2018 6:37 p.m. PST |
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| Generalstoner49 | 12 Feb 2018 6:53 p.m. PST |
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| PzGeneral | 12 Feb 2018 7:05 p.m. PST |
B-17. It looks like a no-nonsence war machine. |
| sneakgun | 12 Feb 2018 7:15 p.m. PST |
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| Rich Bliss | 12 Feb 2018 7:15 p.m. PST |
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| Desert Rat | 12 Feb 2018 7:21 p.m. PST |
The de Havilland Mosquito and the Martin B-26 Marauder both have very graceful lines. |
| Tgerritsen | 12 Feb 2018 7:26 p.m. PST |
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| Narratio | 12 Feb 2018 7:38 p.m. PST |
Best looking? I'd go with the 'so-ugly-it-is-beautiful' the French Voisin. The Vickers company created one of those engine in the nose jobs, the Wellesley, I rather like that. |
| Old Contemptibles | 12 Feb 2018 8:02 p.m. PST |
This is easy. It is the B-47 hands down. If you don't believe me just ask the girl from Ipanem. YouTube link
Boeing B-47 Stratojet: Most Beautiful Bomber Ever.
(Drop the mic.) |
| Uparmored | 12 Feb 2018 11:52 p.m. PST |
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| Patrick R | 13 Feb 2018 1:28 a.m. PST |
The Short Sterling has a certain "Je ne sais quoi"
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| John Armatys | 13 Feb 2018 1:31 a.m. PST |
Another vote for the Vulcan. |
| langobard | 13 Feb 2018 1:41 a.m. PST |
WW1 Handley Page Type O WW2 Lancaster with honorable mention to the B24 Post WW2 Vulcan with honorable mention to the B52 Overall, I'd probably go with the Handley Page… |
| Gunfreak | 13 Feb 2018 2:15 a.m. PST |
B2 and B52 It's only a trainer bomber if it can't drop nukes! |
| warwell | 13 Feb 2018 2:29 a.m. PST |
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| ZULUPAUL | 13 Feb 2018 3:20 a.m. PST |
B-24 (I'm a little prejudiced since I live near the site of the Willow Run plant in Michigan that built over 6K of them..one every 58 minutes) |
| Vigilant | 13 Feb 2018 3:32 a.m. PST |
My dad flew in Lancasters and Halifaxes during and after WW2, so I am biased towards them. He always thought that the B17 and Mosquito were the best looking aircraft of his era. |
| robert piepenbrink | 13 Feb 2018 4:07 a.m. PST |
B-52, with the B-47 for first runner-up. But my heart's with the Canberra. I spent years in one of the last units, and it was a great unit. |
| redbanner4145 | 13 Feb 2018 5:17 a.m. PST |
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| KSmyth | 13 Feb 2018 5:58 a.m. PST |
XB-70 Valkyrie or if looking for a non-prototype, the B-1. Both have beautiful lines. |
| 14th NJ Vol | 13 Feb 2018 6:19 a.m. PST |
For me:
1). Mosquito
2). B-26
3). B-58
4). TU-95 |
| dwight shrute | 13 Feb 2018 7:22 a.m. PST |
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| Ed Mohrmann | 13 Feb 2018 7:23 a.m. PST |
Too many to list – Tu-160/Tu-22M are pretty airplanes
in high-speed configuration. The Tu-4 (never built beyond prototype) also a good-
looking aircraft, for all that it resembles the Valkyrie. For older aircraft, can't beat the SBD for tactical while
in my mind the Lancaster and B-17 tie for first in the
strat bomber division… |
| 15mm and 28mm Fanatik | 13 Feb 2018 7:44 a.m. PST |
There are strategic bombers and tactical bombers, both dedicated to its specific role. Best looking strategic bomber: B-1 Lancer
Best looking tactical bomber: FB-111 Aardvark |
| Scott MacPhee | 13 Feb 2018 7:46 a.m. PST |
The B-24 looks like it means business.
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| Andrew Walters | 13 Feb 2018 8:35 a.m. PST |
I reject the premise of the question. I can't find a way in my mind to compare my visual appreciation of the B-17 and B-29, much less to compare these with the B-70 and the B1-B. I'm surprised no one has mentioned B-2, I would have put that in the running. Anyone who says B-52 is confusing form and function. I can't think of any visual virtue it has, other than it's unique arrangement being inextricably linked to getting difficult jobs done perfectly and reliably for generations. That thing is a monster. |
| skedaddle | 13 Feb 2018 9:01 a.m. PST |
He 111 Love the all glass nose. |
| GGouveia | 13 Feb 2018 9:27 a.m. PST |
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| 21eRegt | 13 Feb 2018 9:55 a.m. PST |
Mitchel B-25 all the way. |
| Patrick Sexton | 13 Feb 2018 10:09 a.m. PST |
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| Sailor Steve | 13 Feb 2018 12:40 p.m. PST |
I like a lot of different planes for a lot of different reasons. That said, for absolute best looking I've always loved the lines of the Vulcan. |
| BuckeyeBob | 13 Feb 2018 1:21 p.m. PST |
B-36…Props and jets combined on a huge wing. |
