Unique and/or influential aircraft; civil and military

[Stryder50]

This could go into "History" or "Military", but I think given about 120 years of flight, this is more likely the better area. Partial motivation is the following article about one of the more versatile twin engined bombers of World War Two;

Low-Level Gunship: The B-25J-2 Mitchell​

...

Low-Level Gunship: The B-25J-2 Mitchell

By: Warren GrayCopyright © 2021“In every battle, there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.”— General Ulysses S. Grant.The North American Aviation (NAA) B-25 Mitchell medium bomber holds the rare distinction of being the first American...

www.gunpowdermagazine.com

 

[ReinyDays]

My first thought was the Boeing B-52 ... main stay of the US Air Force for 66 years and counting ... though the SR-71 is sexier ...

On the civilian side, I'd pick the Aviat Eagle II ... bring extra barf bags ...

Aviat Eagle II - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Esdraelon]

This could go into "History" or "Military", but I think given about 120 years of flight, this is more likely the better area. Partial motivation is the following article about one of the more versatile twin engined bombers of World War Two;

Low-Level Gunship: The B-25J-2 Mitchell​

...

Low-Level Gunship: The B-25J-2 Mitchell

By: Warren GrayCopyright © 2021“In every battle, there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.”— General Ulysses S. Grant.The North American Aviation (NAA) B-25 Mitchell medium bomber holds the rare distinction of being the first American...

www.gunpowdermagazine.com

View attachment 497028

YEP! Pappy Gunn turned them and the A-20 Havoc into the scourge of the Solomons. Between the 4-.50 cals in the nose and the "parafrags" they dropped, Japanese aerodromes became seriously deadly places to serve in.

 

[toobfreak]

One of my favorite is the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber. They only made two to experiment with and one crashed. I was lucky enough to see the surviving one in person.

 

[Oddball]

 

[Oddball]

 

[westwall]

The Connie was a true pleasure to fly in.

Gosh those were the days!

 

[Oddball]