Ugly Aircraft Contest

[Iconic Ride]

I'll go first.

(Budd RB-1 Conestoga) :sick:

With all the aviation enthusiasts here on the forum, I'm certain that I can be topped. And if this has been done here before, feel free to "merge," Mr Moderator(s).

[rocket63]

Hmmm. Cant be topped eh!I give you the "Guppy"

[Sparky]

The Fairey Gannet. What a mutt. Even its name was ugly.

[rocket63]

Mmmm. Dumpy.

How about the Caproni Stipa?

Man you ugly fat boy.

[Moxie]

This may be boring, particularly compared to the stunning Caproni Stipa (how does that thing fly?!), but I think the 737 is hideous. I loathe them and avoid flying on them whenever possible.

Does the KM Ekranoplan ("Caspian Sea Monster") count?

[arbell9]

The millenium falcon got drunk and shagged a guppy plane, this was their offspring

You got to feel sorry for the pilot of this beast, called a Phalcon i think.

[Rich H]

The Ekranoplans are fantastic bits of kit! Should have been developed much further but the Ruskies ran out of cash.

How about Beoings JSF entry:

[arbell9]

[Rich H]

Snap! Do I win?

[Iconic Ride]

A minimum of "honourable mention," Rich, with a fine "assist" by Alex.

But I think "Gramps" is currently in the lead, with a barf-o-meter reading of 9.7 :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:

Edited July 3, 2011 by Iconic Ride

[comem47]

I know about the fish, but was this the Guppy aircraft's real inspiration?

[rocket63]

Ordered 1942 as a parasite escort for the B-29, this freakish aircraft was only 14 feet 10 inches long, armament of four .5 in. Browning machine guns was planned. As development proceeded the carrier aircraft was changed to the massive Convair B-36. The XF-85 was designed to be tucked into the bomber's bomb bay, in effect each carrier aircaft would carry it's own fighter escort, up to four each. When enemy interceptors were sighted the Goblins were supposed to detach from the B-36's, drive off the attackers and then to hook back onto the carrier aircraft. On August 23rd, 1948 a brave pilot detached the prototype XF-85 from a B-29 test aircraft. Turbulent air beneath the B-29 made hooking back on a nerve-wracking and dangerous chore, several attempts were made. Near disaster struck as the Goblin suddenly pitched up, smashing the canopy on the hook and tearing the pilot's oxygen mask off. He stuffed the remnants of the oxygen hose into his mouth and made a 200 mph emergency landing on a retractable belly skid. The wheeled gear shown in the picture above was for handling it on the ground! This project was cancelled in 1949, but the prototype Goblin can still be seen today at the Strategic Air Command Museum.

[molemot]

The French aren't noted for their aesthetic appreciation when it comes to 1930's bombers.....

[arbell9]

Russian flying fortress

One for the Petrol heads, this has to be the winner. Where's my prize????

See more HERE

Edited July 4, 2011 by Alex --GT3--

[esprit s2]

My contenders are:

Edited July 4, 2011 by esprit s2

[The Veg]

Waitomo Airtruk

Bell X-14

Westland-Hill Pterodactyl V

BAE Nimrod

Blackburn Beverly

Vedo Villi

Short SB3

The aforementioned Gannet, unfolded

Westland Lysander P.12

Dunno what this monstrosity in front of the Guppy is

XB-70

Dunno but it has to be Russian!

US drone of unknown type

No idea what this is either but...WOW...

'Nuther view of the Phalcon

Edited July 4, 2011 by The Veg

[Bibs]

Ben - I don't think that site likes hotlinking mate!

[The Veg]

Well phooey...it all worked at first...but maybe it's just as well really.

[Bibs]

You were looking at the cached copy on your PC I'd imagine. PITA really.

[Iconic Ride]

Yes, gents, the competition is definitely heating up, with the Goblin and the French bomber both indexing in the high nines on the barf-o-meter. The flying car would be in the running, except that the actual flying part of it is arguably aerodynamically quite pleasing. Now, if the car itself were to "detach" in flight (I could never relax in that contraption), that would be ugly.

Whoops, just saw Paul's entry (Bleriot 125, lower left) with the bodacious tata's. Also in the running for the moment.

Edited July 4, 2011 by Iconic Ride

[Günter]

maybe its not exactly from an 'bad taste' or aesthetic-fault point, but here you can find some of our typical flying 'workmans horses' in GDR time

http://www.ddr-landmaschinen.de/seiten/flugzeuge.htm

Edited July 4, 2011 by Günter

[Iconic Ride]

Hey, Gunter! Long time, no see.

The middle picture on your link looks suspiciously like an "Ag Cat" (crop duster) from the USA. I don't read German, and "mama" is out of town visiting her folks---so no translator available today. But I do see some apparent references to the US in the text. Did the GDR buy the licensing rights?

[arbell9]

Some more in here that only their mothers would love

[redshift]

When recommended Vne is about half of Vsr....

[Sport 160]

The millenium falcon got drunk and shagged a guppy plane, this was their offspring

What is that? I must know.