[Old Crow]

It is time to rise to the aid of the Skunkmeister and present a more passionate articulation of the inescapable (unless you are blind) fact of the Mustang's preeminent position as the most attractive, exciting and iconic warbird to grace the skies during World War 2.

Hold your tongues, you Spitfire afficionados. Graceful- yes, manly- maybe, best-looking- not quite. The Spit still has that British thing going, that vague sense that it is just a little off. Perhaps it is the quaint but spindly u/c.

Don't trifle with me, gull-winged fanatics. The Corsair is nice, it is true, but most aesthetic? I don't think so. Interesting, no doubt, but just not a classic beauty.

I could go on. The Jug is tough looking and fierce, but it isn't a classic looker. Bf-109, too spindly and frail-looking. Fw-190? Looks good in the pit bull sense only.

Nope, I'm afraid the only sane, reasoned (and obviously correct) answer is the Mighty Mustang, the pretty pony from North American.

Gaze upon her perfect proportions; a spinner on her nose of ideal proportion (unlike the schizophrenic cone of varying dimension gracing all those different marks of Spitfire); the gentle dip below the nose, like a starlet's perfectly turned chin; the scoop beneath the wing- not too far forward nor too far aft- suggesting the thoroughbred nature of the 'stang. The long, sleek nose, drawing one's mind to thoughts of the magical Merlin housed securely within, perhaps the perfect mating of airframe to powerplant as if the Gods on Olympus were its progenitors. And that canopy- sleek, proud and unadorned, confident enough in its own beauty to forego frames, braces and other accouterment.

And lest we forget the body- that fuselage of elegant proportion- just the right amount of definition and curve. Not too skinny and not too beefy.

You want wings? The Mustang gives you wings. You can have your elliptical wings: nice though they may be gazed upon from a distance, up close they betray an imperfect mien, like the girl who looks good only with a healthy portion of makeup. The Mustang's wings are real, athletic, exuding confidence- and they look good whether clad in paint or nothing but bare metal.

Nope, Skunky is right. Nothing, repeat nothing, looks better than a sleek and powerful P-51, whether she is flaunting her wares in the bright sky or curled up at rest on the tarmac.

Whew... I think I need a shower.

[Ara1]

The Mustang's angular lines don't do it for me like a Spit's does.

[Cardinal]

Originally Posted by Old Crow

It is time to rise to the aid of the Skunkmeister and present a more passionate articulation of the inescapable (unless you are blind) fact of the Mustang's preeminent position as the most attractive, exciting and iconic warbird to grace the skies during World War 2.

Hold your tongues, you Spitfire afficionados. Graceful- yes, manly- maybe, best-looking- not quite. The Spit still has that British thing going, that vague sense that it is just a little off. Perhaps it is the quaint but spindly u/c.

Don't trifle with me, gull-winged fanatics. The Corsair is nice, it is true, but most aesthetic? I don't think so. Interesting, no doubt, but just not a classic beauty.

I could go on. The Jug is tough looking and fierce, but it isn't a classic looker. Bf-109, too spindly and frail-looking. Fw-190? Looks good in the pit bull sense only.

Nope, I'm afraid the only sane, reasoned (and obviously correct) answer is the Mighty Mustang, the pretty pony from North American.

Gaze upon her perfect proportions; a spinner on her nose of ideal proportion (unlike the schizophrenic cone of varying dimension gracing all those different marks of Spitfire); the gentle dip below the nose, like a starlet's perfectly turned chin; the scoop beneath the wing- not too far forward nor too far aft- suggesting the thoroughbred nature of the 'stang. The long, sleek nose, drawing one's mind to thoughts of the magical Merlin housed securely within, perhaps the perfect mating of airframe to powerplant as if the Gods on Olympus were its progenitors. And that canopy- sleek, proud and unadorned, confident enough in its own beauty to forego frames, braces and other accouterment.

And lest we forget the body- that fuselage of elegant proportion- just the right amount of definition and curve. Not too skinny and not too beefy.

You want wings? The Mustang gives you wings. You can have your elliptical wings: nice though they may be gazed upon from a distance, up close they betray an imperfect mien, like the girl who looks good only with a healthy portion of makeup. The Mustang's wings are real, athletic, exuding confidence- and they look good whether clad in paint or nothing but bare metal.

Nope, Skunky is right. Nothing, repeat nothing, looks better than a sleek and powerful P-51, whether she is flaunting her wares in the bright sky or curled up at rest on the tarmac.

Whew... I think I need a shower.

With Old Crow's poetically articulated sonnet on the merits of the Mustang I feel forced to reconsider my initial preference for the Spitfire ...

[Folgore]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

I don't know Folgore, I've been thinkin' about this one..I don't have any Spit models to do a side-by-side comparison to, but that Spitfire fuselage looks pretty bony to me!... .....Is it really thicker than the Mustang?...You shouldn't go by GMP's example. It's wrong!..

I'm not going by any one model, Good Sir Stinky, but by overall image. The Spitfire's fuselage just seems a trifle fuller and more rounded to me ... more feminine -- just like those lovely, embracing elliptical wings. The Mustang's fuselage and wings are sharper and more angular -- but in more of a fragile than manly way. Don't get me wrong: the Mustang's a lovely aircraft, but a little thin for my taste. The Spitfire: now there's a real woman -- a true English Rose! Hubba hubba!

[sniperUK]

For pretty little fighters the Spitfire does it for me.......BUT for gracefulnees impact and beauty I give you



(and not just because I flew in this one last week )

[SKUNKY]

I'm going to have O.C. write my epitaph (don't get your hopes up fellas, 'ol Skunky ain't going anywhere yet [unless tank nut runs me over again])....

That's what I'm talkin' about, right there. A most fitting tribute to the most aesthetically pleasing aircraft of WW2 - and possibly ever.

Outstanding, Old Crow....THANKS!.....You da man.......

Folgore, the Spit still looks like more of a Skinny Minny to me, especially when the English Rose is exhibiting her knock-kneed, bony legs!.....

[jim]

Originally Posted by SKUNKY

I'm going to have O.C. write my epitaph (don't get your hopes up fellas, 'ol Skunky ain't going anywhere yet [unless tank nut runs me over again])....

That's what I'm talkin' about, right there. A most fitting tribute to the most aesthetically pleasing aircraft of WW2 - and possibly ever.

Outstanding, Old Crow....THANKS!.....You da man.......

Folgore, the Spit still looks like more of a Skinny Minny to me, especially when the English Rose is exhibiting her knock-kneed, bony legs!.....

So lets hear it for the big bellied sharp angled Mustang then!

Sniper you get my vote for the Cat, when the Cat takes to air its poetry in motion.
So the vote goes to the Spitfire MKV and the Catalina. YEEEEEaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaH. (that was my Kermit frog impression there).


BTW OC nice bit of prose but like your description of the Spit, its a bit off.

[Folgore]

Originally Posted by jim

So the vote goes to the Spitfire MKV and the Catalina. YEEEEEaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaH. (that was my Kermit frog impression there).

Gentlemen: Kermit has spoken. The English Rose MkV and the Catalina it is.

Now don't make me bring out Miss Piggy to stifle any dissenters...

[Shawn 507]

Originally Posted by Folgore

I'm not going by any one model, Good Sir Stinky, but by overall image. The Spitfire's fuselage just seems a trifle fuller and more rounded to me ... more feminine -- just like those lovely, embracing elliptical wings. The Mustang's fuselage and wings are sharper and more angular -- but in more of a fragile than manly way. Don't get me wrong: the Mustang's a lovely aircraft, but a little thin for my taste. The Spitfire: now there's a real woman -- a true English Rose! Hubba hubba!

The Spitfire is English Rose, ok fine. But I'll take the tough as nails, lean and mean Queen of the Prairies Mustang. Some like them a triffle fuller, others athletic.
- Shawn

[jim]

Originally Posted by Shawn 507

The Spitfire is English Rose, ok fine. But I'll take the tough as nails, lean and mean Queen of the Prairies Mustang. Some like them a triffle fuller, others athletic.
- Shawn

Erm hate to disagree but you cant get more athletic than a Spit. The Spitfire MK1 to the MK1X were English roses but when the Gryphon engine was fitted she became a lean mean snarling fighting machine.So if you like your planes with plenty of UMPH then look ye no further.

If you would like to check them out go watch them beat up the airfield at Duxford on show days,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, AWESOME.


BTW the Mustangs nice too!