🚀 go-pugleaf

In <alien.026m@acheron.amigans.gen.nz> alien@acheron.amigans.gen.nz (Ross Smith) writes:

>I'm trying to compile a list of the more, shall we say, unflattering
>descriptions that have been applied to various aircraft over the years.
>Does anyone know any good ones? The short list I've been able to recall
>myself goes something like this ... sources omitted to protect the
>guilty :-)

>Buccaneer : "The Banana Bomber." (The prototype was given the codename ARNA
>(A Royal Navy Aircraft), and "Blackburn ARNA" soon became "Black Banana".)

>E-3 Sentry : "A Boeing 707 being raped by a flying saucer."

>F-4 Phantom : "So ugly I thought they'd delivered it upside down."

>F-15 Eagle : "Living proof of the American theory that even a brick will
>fly if you hang enough engines on it."

>F-104 Starfighter : "A missile with a man in it."

Also described as a pregnant hatpin on a razor blade. Known in the
RCAF as the widow-maker.

>F-117 : "The first aircraft designed by electrical engineers."

>Mitsubishi G4M : "The one-shot lighter." (A Japanese bomber of WW2, with a
>habit of catching fire at the slightest provocation.)

>Tu-95 Bear : "A triumph of brute force over the laws of aerodynamics."

>Any more? (The above are all military planes, but I'm interested in civilian
>examples too.)

Well, old geezers like me remember the GeeBee Racer, can't remember any
unflattering names, but it was basically a humungous radial engine with
an extremely short body and wings - your basic bumble bee.

The the WWII Bell Aircobra known as the Iron Dog - suitable for slow,
wide circles.

There was also a Martin twin engined bomber that I think they called
the Flying Coffin. They say the Florida gulf is full of them.

There is a humpbacked biplane they use for cropdusting. Ugliest thing
I ever saw, but it flies. Can't remember who builds it.


>--
>...... Ross Smith (Wanganui, NZ) ...... alien@acheron.amigans.gen.nz ......

>"I blame you for the moonlit sky and the dream that died with the Eagle's flight
>I blame you for the moonlit nights when I wonder why are the seas still dry
>Don't blame me, sleeping satellite"                              (Tasmin Archer)

Bob
>--