Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

[WARPT]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

Ok, if we're talking "Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac"
"fighter" being the key word....
I would have to say the Fokker DR1 triplane!

[First time Juke]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

most beautiful prewar aeroplane.... I know its not a fighter, but damn its gorgeous and the french government commissioned a fighter version that was never built...

http://museum.eaa.org/collection/air...00%20Racer.asp

I did not know Bugatti 100P was a fighter design..but it was.

http://www.bugattiaircraft.com/plane.htm

[KAHNZILLA]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

The P-6E is very nice and I also liked the Heinkel He 51.

[Leo]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

The P-6. The Boeing P-12, the F3F I always liked. The Sneider cup racers were just pure art!
My favorite was the XP-38. Gleaming aluminum, tiny inlets and partially exposed exhaust. From the front it just looked FAST and a lot like a racer.
The early Curtiss Hawks, 75, etc. were nice too.

[David E. Wells]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

I'd like to throw in the Hall Bulldog...as Bob Hall went on to Grumman and had his hand in the Tigercat and Bearcat!...D.

[hm66sk]

Re:Bugatti 100P model

http://cgi.ebay.com/1-48-BUGATTI-100P-1938-French-Air-Racer-MINT_W0QQitemZ390018701837QQihZ026QQcategoryZ1189QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

For those so inclined. I have no affiliation with this seller.

[johnnyrace]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

How about the Curtiss P-37 ???...sure looks fast

[Flyer57]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

Leo hit the nail on the head.
XP-38 or the first variants of the production before they put the chin scoop on it.
That was the most beautiful Pre War FIGHTER.
With all the early 30's types being mentioned, I'm wondering why my very first thought has not been mentioned.
The P-26 was gorgious. Well proportioned, and sleek.
It hits all the criteria too. Pre War but not War.

[eagledriver]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

Actually, the P-26 did see service against the Japanese with the Chinese in 1937 and Philippine forces in 1941/42.

[Flyer57]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

You guys are too brutal I'm taking my ball and going home.
I'm gonna tell my dad what you said and then you'll see.
Hmmmmph

[Smiley]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

I'll still stand on the XP-38, the "XP" did'nt see combat sevice....
The geek factor is rising on this post.
How about the Sparrowhawks that the Akron and Macon carried? Even with the tubes on top it was pretty sweet.
The P-26 always seemed a little clunky and Art Deco to me, more like a sport plane or some of the Kinners.

[Frank C.]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

I like Juke's choice. Renard R-37.


Frank C.

[GRNDP51]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

The p-37 looks sort of like a p-40. Both curtiss planes

[evanflys]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

Hey guys,

I found this one in a book today at my friends hanger


Polikarpov I-17

Evan

[First time Juke]

Re: Most beautiful prewar ( WW II ) fighter ac ?

Talking about I-16..here is VEF I-16..but I-19 was ( would have been ) a beast !

http://www.aviastar.org/air/latvia/vef_i-16.php

http://wp.scn.ru/en/ww2/f/1190/188/0/1