Disappointed the Beech Staggerwing wasn't on the list, as it was a far more beautiful aircraft, popular and produced in quite a range of models, with radial engines up to 600 hp and a top speed of over 200 mph. Unlike the others on this list, the Staggerwing had retractable landing gear.
We've had two Staggerwings in the family. They are awesome aircraft; none better. A 5 place pursuit fighter, a joy to fly and a constant mystery whether the landing gear is going to stay under it.
When the list is compiled by flipping open the "Huge-Ass Book of World (Eurocentric) Aircraft" on a check-out line tower at Books-A-Million, this is what you get.
They should have added the PT-17 Stearman. During WW2, bomber pilots learned to fly in Stearmans. We lived near a training air base during the war and it was the most beautiful sight you could ever see, a bunch of Stearmans flying in V formation low right over our house. With yellow wings and blue fuselage, what a sight and what an exciting noise it was.
You left out the Beechcraft Model 17, also known as the Staggerwing. It was unique in that the lower wing was ahead of the upper wing. It was beautiful and had a spacious cabin. It was also fast.
No shit dude. The Staggerwing is super cool. My Uncle was rich and had a ranch on the Texas New Mexico border. Had his own airstrip and owned a Staggerwing. I remember riding in it (copilot seat) when he took us to Austin for UT football games. (1960s). Beautifully engineered and he had an undocumented Argentinean mechanic with a rather pronounced german accent to keep it and his other planes in top shape. Every time we landed in Austin other pilots would drool over her "City of Bronco" but I guess some were drooling over my sister (she was hot). Probably the most beautiful Bi Plane ever built. Great performance. We got 175mph cruise with 600 miles range and a payload of 1100 pounds. You won't find another plane from 1932 that can even approach those figures.
This was the exact same comment I was going to make. How can you talk about 'beautiful' biplanes without the Staggerwing? Still, there were some beautiful aircraft in this video I'd never heard of.
I'm sorry, but this list is a joke. The Beech 17 "Staggerwing" is without reasonable question the most beautiful production biplane ever and IMO the most beautiful aircraft ever. It's only rival are 1-ofs, and IMO the only thing close to the Staggerwing is it's improved clone, the Griffon Lionheart, of which only 1 flies as of today, and a great video is available here on youtube.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When asked which was the most beautiful aircraft her had ever seen, a Spitfire pilot relied; The Supermarine Walrus. This was an amphibious biplane used by the British during WWII. When asked why he replied that he had been shot down over the channel, was freezing to death and in danger of drowning when he saw one coming in to rescue him.
I just had a look at the Walrus and, I must say, that it is a plane that only a mother, or a shot-down pilot, could love. Still, full marks for being fit for purpose.
Believe it or not the Walrus was fully stressed for shipboard catapult launches and fully aerobatic. However, such manouvres were known to drench the occupants when the bilges emptied over them. 😂
I really believe the SPAD XIII should be somewhere on this list. it was a beautiful plane that photographed well and was a favorite of Allied pilots. It was easily as beautiful as any other fighter aircraft flown in World War I.
I would have had the Albatross DIII in there and the Sopwith Pup instead of the Camel. Also, the Hawker Hart is a more beautiful machine than the Fury.
How can you leave of the Beech Staggering. Not just *THE* most beautiful bi-plane. But one of the most beautiful planes of any kind. Also the Boeing Stearman.
I agree with everyone saying the Staggerwing needed to be on this list, and the Stearman. But I'm also a big fan of the Grumman F-3F. The Sikorsky S-38 is also prettier than most things on this list. So many great missed opportunities here. Some of these were not pretty planes. I am happy about the DeHavaland Dragonfly and the An-2 though.
@@brooksroth345 AB-2s are neat in that they are one of the safest planes to fly. Unless you do something stupid, they are hard to crash. Even losing the engine, you just pull back on the stick until it feels like it is about to stall, and the slats will pop out and allow you to safely glide to the ground at a very slow speed.
I'm beginning to think that a lot of these "best of" lists are actually done by film school kids that really don't know their subject matter. Most of the truly beautiful biplanes seem to be left out, leaving us with some truly odd ducks from military forces. At least they gave us the Marquardt Charger. But to leave out the Staggerwing? Early and late Waco cabins? Sorrell Hyperbipe? Pitts special? Stolp Starduster? Schneider Cup racers? Latter day biplane racers? Really? Someone really needs to take a couple of trips to Oshkosh and Blakesburg...
The Staggerwing Beach easily should have been #1 and it wasn’t even on the list? Really? WTF! There’s no way I can ever take this guy seriously from now on.
I agree with other comments previously made that there were some misses on this list. The Ki-10 is only attractive if one ignores everything forward of the wings; the Fiat CR.32 can't hold a candle to its younger sibling, the CR.42; the DH.2 looks like half an airplane; and the An-2 is very utilitarian-looking. Plenty of worthy candidates got overlooked: the Buecker Jungmann, the Stampe SV4, the SPAD XIII, and the Pitts Special, to name just a few, but one of the most egregious omissions has to be the Stearman Kaydet
I don't know how you could leave out the Beechcraft 17, especially considering kyou included the Kawasaki Ki-10, which has always struck me as clunky-looking, and the Antonov An-2, which isn't really ugly, but is just very institutional-looking. I've always liked the look of the Fiat CR.32. I especially liked the struts, replacing most of the wires, bracing both in tension and compression. I had never heard of the Fairey Fantôme, but it IS quite good looking.
I knew from the start that the Beechcraft Stagger Wing would be No.1. That it wasn't even mentioned left me , well, staggered. A friend of mine's father had one to travel North and South America for his Auto Parts business after WW2. It was... the bis-jet of its time. He once flew it over the Andes. - I can only forgive him for replacing it because he traded it in for an Aero Commander Shrike; another most beautiful airplane.
What a beautiful video! Several of them unknown to me! I think the early Curtiss flying boats deserved to be on the list. Keep up loading these type of documentals. Congratulations!!
My father flew both, and many other a/c throughout his life. W/O hesitation he would say the Beech 17 was the most beautiful aircraft ever produced, and I completely agree. With that having been said, I suggest you look up: Griffon Lionheart. It is an updated Beech 17 nearly cloning it in composites and streamlining via removal of struts, and other minor changes. It is also gorgeous!
Your perception of beauty is WAY different than mine- The DH-2?? Are you KIDDING? looks like it's about to fall apart-HORRIBLE. What about the Pitts aerobatic stunt planes? GORGEOUS!! - or the Albatross DIII or DV? look at the shape, the wings are amazing. I do agree on the Dragonfly- that is stunning:)
Its really unfortunate Top Five blinkered himself to only see military biplanes in the majority of examples. The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is one of the most beautiful biplanes because it can be called brutish and glamourous. It even looks good on floats!
The Beech Staggerwing and Fiat CR42 are far more deserving omissions from this selection. The Boeing Stearman with it's engine cowling would also fit in well, but, without the cowling it looks like a Victoria's Secret model with her lips cut away.
How can no Albatrosses be on this list?!? They are all gorgeous! I always loved the Nieuport because of its role in a great Twilight Zone episode! Seeing it against the huge 'modern' fighters of the '50s and '60s really illustrates the scale that fighter jets have grown into!
I had a chance to fly in an AN-2 when I worked at Grumman in N.Y. The plane was built like a dam tank ! They said it was ugly but, I thought it was impressive and large ! I think you would have had trouble wrecking one if you could. We also had a Grumman J2F Duck being restored by volunteers.
A German Greek flew in a AN-2 over the Atlantic to N.Y. And circled the statue of liberty with it. He was asked what kind of helicopter was this because of its low speed. Travel speed is around 118 mph. He made a tanker out of it just to with to large cylindrical additional tanks in it, I think.
Interesting mix proves beauty in the eye of the beholder. AN2 while good I wouldn't say it's a looker. I always thought the Sopwith pup was prettier than the camel. plus honerable mentions Avro 504, any SPAD, fokker DR 1, swordfish, hawker Hart & Stearman
@@PoochAndBoo point taken with DR-1 slipped into fav WW1 mode. But stand by the old string bag. I've several images of oil paintings with it looking really good with a torpedo strapped underneath.
Maybe you should "revise" your list and make it the 25 Most Beautiful Biplanes Ever Made... I am in agreement with many who have commented, the Beechcraft Staggerwing should have been #1 hands down followed by any Waco aircraft built in the 1930's. While many of the airplanes on this list would have incredible service records, some none the less lack the definition of beautiful (a "pusher" aircraft as beautiful?).
A pusher beautiful? See the Cessna Sky Master. It's a hybrid but still beautiful and very unique. Funny nickname: Cessna Mix-Master. Our NorCal Forest service used them for spotter planes but replaced them with OV-10 Broncos. I just love twin boom aircraft: P-38 Lightnings, Mix-Masters, Broncos....
@@wellshutchins6885 I should revise my comment Wells, the pusher aircraft in this segment were WWI aircraft and they were far from pleasant to the eyes (at least to mine anyway)! 😆
Fun video to watch, although every viewer is going to come up with at least one that should've been on the list. I can think of three myself. Since the biplane became the most accepted airframe of early aviation, how about producing "beautiful biplane" videos from each era? WWI, interwar, WWII -- as well as sport / stunt aircraft and golden age general aviation? You might also produce a video of two biplane types not often talked about: WWI bombers and interwar passenger transports.
I guess this is a very subjective list--beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. They all look like great and beautiful planes. Surprised not to see any WACOs on the list. I flew a UPF-7 several times. I thought of it as the Harley Davidson of the skies. WACO made some very attractive biplanes
The Grumman Hellucenator was a beautiful Plane that once broke the sound barrier by flying backwards at night to cool its tail because it had parked in a pepper patch during the day. It was designed by Lucerne Imastanker.
I just can't take seriously any list that fails to mention a work of art like the Albatross D series. Here's one of the first bi-plane fighters of World War One which immediately proceeded to slap around those Morane box kites the Allies laughingly mistook for fighters, and they looked good doing it. It was the Albatross that introduced the concept of aerodynamics and then would make most bi-plane designs look like crude after thoughts for decades to come. Now it gets passed up on this list for a meat-hook abortion like the Kawasaki Ki-10? Sorry, for a moment there, I thought we were talking about asthetics. 🤣
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... though I, too, cannot understand why someone would not mention the Albatross, but include the DH.2. Was the DH.2 important? Sure! Iconic? Certainly! Beautiful? Weeeeeellll...
Witnessed two Polikarpovs ( both types) flying in New Zealand in 2008. Totally amazing . The display demonstrated its manoeuvrability and as it did a low pass at top speed the engine sound was just a leisurely chortle. Its shape of the fuselage reminded me of a cigar butt. Not much room for a passenger though. Cheers from Downunder👍🇦🇺🇳🇿
The Nieuport 28? Not the best fighter, but the ranking here is for beauty/style alone isn't it? This is why I don't understand why the actual qualities of the aircraft themselves are considered. The Nieuport 28 was sleek and had nice, clean lines. Compared to the often flimsy looking planes of 1914-1915 the Nieuport 28 appeared to be from another era completely. Well, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
The Fairey Fantome is my favorite for graceful shape and proportions. The Avia reminds me of a p-40 with a second wing. Really enjoyed this documentary! BTW, why be disgruntled because your fave isn't on the list? Make your own video if you don't like this one.😚
No.3 - it is odd that no mention is made of the DH.82 *Tiger* Moth, even though it is the aircraft that gets shown most in this section of the clip; the narrator keeps talking about the DH.60 ̶"̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶M̶o̶t̶h̶,̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶M̶o̶t̶h̶"̶ No.2 - the correct pronunciation of the trademark is "AH:via" (with the first syllable stressed).
Three Gloster Gladiators named faith hope and charity held off the Italian air force from Malta before Spitfires were flown in off of a carrier.what a special and beautiful Biplane...
The three Gladiators based at Malta during the war were actually Sea Gladiators ex Fleet Air Arm replete with arrester hooks. They were named Faith, Hope & Charity. I think the Polikarpov Po2 (aka U2) has a more impressive record than the I-153. Used as an agricultural aircraft it was pressed into service during WW2 where several female squadrons continually harassed German positions during night raids. Such was the disruption caused that the aircrews were known as Night Witches & the aircraft as sewing machines due to their engine noise. Its disappointing that the iconic Fairey Swordfish is not included as it was responsible for neutralising the wartime Italian fleet & making the crippling blow on the Bismarck. The Supermarine Walrus which was a pusher prop amphibious biplane is responsible for rescuing a great many allied aircrews from the sea in the European Theatre. I may be a Brit but just to show I have no prejudice I think both the Fleet & Travelair 4000 biplanes should be in there too along with the Stearman PT17. On the modern sports front the Pitts Special S1 is a remarkable aerobatic biplane along with the Christen Eagle. I do understand however that to include all these iconic aircraft would have required a longer video.
*"Hawker Fury" designers and engineers .... we're all really appreciate, that this predecessors plane of the famous British monoplane the "Hawker Hurricane" .... they were skilfully designed and produced !!!!*
It amazes me how many (often quite educated) people assume that the biplane/sesquiplane configuration and fixed undercarriages are sad relics of our aviation past. Both together and separately, they remain perfectly valid design options. Depending of course on the purpose of the aircraft under design.
The Boeing Stearman with it's engine cowling would also fit in well, but, without the cowling it looks like a Victoria's Secret model with her lips cut away.
Also, a sesquiplane is not precisely a biplane with a lower wing that is smaller than the top ( if that were true, a LOT of biplanes would be sesquiplanes ! On a true sesquiplane, the lower wing is less than half of the area of the upper wing. The Nieuport 11, 17 and 18 would be good examples.
Enough of the monotonously repetitive "iconic" already! The French Spad should have been included, and the Sopwith Snipe was an improvement over the Camel. Probably the most elegant were the D.H. twins. The Antonov choice was a good looking, if somewhat portly, aircraft. The Hawker Fury... absolutely belongs there. Personally, I would have included some of the "tween the wars" aircraft from Curtiss (P-6E) and Grumman (F3F-3). Some might argue for the Boeing P-12/F4B. The Beech Staggerwing... O.K. ...but I always thought that the vertical tail and rudder were kind of wimpy. Ain't nobody's baby be ugly so there will be those who will figure that the Stranraer, Walrus, Swordfish etc. should have been included.
Disappointed the Beech Staggerwing wasn't on the list, as it was a far more beautiful aircraft, popular and produced in quite a range of models, with radial engines up to 600 hp and a top speed of over 200 mph. Unlike the others on this list, the Staggerwing had retractable landing gear.
I could not agree more.
It was the first aeroplane that came to mind when I read the clickblurb.
TOTALLY! Beech Staggerwing is gorgeous.
Came to the comments to find someone who would mantion the beech, and there it was....top comment, couldnt agree more
We've had two Staggerwings in the family. They are awesome aircraft; none better. A 5 place pursuit fighter, a joy to fly and a constant mystery whether the landing gear is going to stay under it.
When the list is compiled by flipping open the "Huge-Ass Book of World (Eurocentric) Aircraft" on a check-out line tower at Books-A-Million, this is what you get.
They should have added the PT-17 Stearman. During WW2, bomber pilots learned to fly in Stearmans. We lived near a training air base during the war and it was the most beautiful sight you could ever see, a bunch of Stearmans flying in V formation low right over our house. With yellow wings and blue fuselage, what a sight and what an exciting noise it was.
I never knew how dense and solid our atmosphere is until I took an acrobatic flight with my son in an Stearman. It was red
How old are you
@@dancingtrout6719 85
The Stearman may have been a good and very venerable aeroplane, but its appearance was graceless, even ugly. Hence not appearing here.
You left out the Beechcraft Model 17, also known as the Staggerwing. It was unique in that the lower wing was ahead of the upper wing. It was beautiful and had a spacious cabin. It was also fast.
No shit dude. The Staggerwing is super cool. My Uncle was rich and had a ranch on the Texas New Mexico border. Had his own airstrip and owned a Staggerwing. I remember riding in it (copilot seat) when he took us to Austin for UT football games. (1960s). Beautifully engineered and he had an undocumented Argentinean mechanic with a rather pronounced german accent to keep it and his other planes in top shape. Every time we landed in Austin other pilots would drool over her "City of Bronco" but I guess some were drooling over my sister (she was hot). Probably the most beautiful Bi Plane ever built. Great performance. We got 175mph cruise with 600 miles range and a payload of 1100 pounds. You won't find another plane from 1932 that can even approach those figures.
So many comments about the Staggerwing!
A sinful omission in my opinion, I watched this clip feeling certain that I would see a clip of the Staggerwing....nope.
This was the exact same comment I was going to make. How can you talk about 'beautiful' biplanes without the Staggerwing? Still, there were some beautiful aircraft in this video I'd never heard of.
And, on a high speed run they sound so good.
I'm sorry, but this list is a joke. The Beech 17 "Staggerwing" is without reasonable question the most beautiful production biplane ever and IMO the most beautiful aircraft ever. It's only rival are 1-ofs, and IMO the only thing close to the Staggerwing is it's improved clone, the Griffon Lionheart, of which only 1 flies as of today, and a great video is available here on youtube.
Two thumbs up!
Maaaannnn the staggering? Really? Just in the category of cabin biplanes the staggering doesn’t win in my opinion.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and in in this case your eye is wrong. The Hawker Hart is the most beautiful biplane ever made.
Here Here … totally agree
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. When asked which was the most beautiful aircraft her had ever seen, a Spitfire pilot relied; The Supermarine Walrus. This was an amphibious biplane used by the British during WWII. When asked why he replied that he had been shot down over the channel, was freezing to death and in danger of drowning when he saw one coming in to rescue him.
I just had a look at the Walrus and, I must say, that it is a plane that only a mother, or a shot-down pilot, could love. Still, full marks for being fit for purpose.
Believe it or not the Walrus was fully stressed for shipboard catapult launches and fully aerobatic. However, such manouvres were known to drench the occupants when the bilges emptied over them. 😂
@@davidjordan9759 Our USN pilots LOVED the Catalina and Kingfisher. I doubt their crews had to pay for drinks.
The Beach craft Stagger wing was the most beautiful biplane ever built hands down
Nah, it's as ugly as fuck. The wings go the wrong way.
I really believe the SPAD XIII should be somewhere on this list. it was a beautiful plane that photographed well and was a favorite of Allied pilots. It was easily as beautiful as any other fighter aircraft flown in World War I.
I see your point but for a French fighter my choice is the Neiuport 28.
@Bender B. Rodrigues Which one?
@Bender B. Rodrigues No harm done. I have written things wrong too. I should have known what you really meant.
I would have had the Albatross DIII in there and the Sopwith Pup instead of the Camel. Also, the Hawker Hart is a more beautiful machine than the Fury.
And also the Albatros
How can you leave of the Beech Staggering. Not just *THE* most beautiful bi-plane. But one of the most beautiful planes of any kind.
Also the Boeing Stearman.
Totally bios list.
@@u2mister17 biased
I agree with everyone saying the Staggerwing needed to be on this list, and the Stearman. But I'm also a big fan of the Grumman F-3F. The Sikorsky S-38 is also prettier than most things on this list. So many great missed opportunities here. Some of these were not pretty planes. I am happy about the DeHavaland Dragonfly and the An-2 though.
I love the AN-2 maybe because I got to ride in one.
@@brooksroth345 that's awesome! So jealous!
@@brooksroth345 AB-2s are neat in that they are one of the safest planes to fly. Unless you do something stupid, they are hard to crash. Even losing the engine, you just pull back on the stick until it feels like it is about to stall, and the slats will pop out and allow you to safely glide to the ground at a very slow speed.
I saw Stagger Wing about 20 years ago. He was trying to taxi in bad weather. It ground looped a few times. Beautiful bi-plane. Probably #1 for most.
I'm beginning to think that a lot of these "best of" lists are actually done by film school kids that really don't know their subject matter. Most of the truly beautiful biplanes seem to be left out, leaving us with some truly odd ducks from military forces. At least they gave us the Marquardt Charger. But to leave out the Staggerwing? Early and late Waco cabins? Sorrell Hyperbipe? Pitts special? Stolp Starduster? Schneider Cup racers? Latter day biplane racers? Really? Someone really needs to take a couple of trips to Oshkosh and Blakesburg...
How about the Albatross D-5a.
I agree with you there
The Staggerwing Beach easily should have been #1 and it wasn’t even on the list? Really? WTF! There’s no way I can ever take this guy seriously from now on.
I agree with other comments previously made that there were some misses on this list. The Ki-10 is only attractive if one ignores everything forward of the wings; the Fiat CR.32 can't hold a candle to its younger sibling, the CR.42; the DH.2 looks like half an airplane; and the An-2 is very utilitarian-looking. Plenty of worthy candidates got overlooked: the Buecker Jungmann, the Stampe SV4, the SPAD XIII, and the Pitts Special, to name just a few, but one of the most egregious omissions has to be the Stearman Kaydet
I don't know how you could leave out the Beechcraft 17, especially considering kyou included the Kawasaki Ki-10, which has always struck me as clunky-looking, and the Antonov An-2, which isn't really ugly, but is just very institutional-looking. I've always liked the look of the Fiat CR.32. I especially liked the struts, replacing most of the wires, bracing both in tension and compression. I had never heard of the Fairey Fantôme, but it IS quite good looking.
Yeah, the Beach 17 Staggerwing is the best looking of all biplanes.
I know how he left it out.
He's a dumbass living in his mama's basement. He makes videos by looking up crap online and acting like he's an expert.
I knew from the start that the Beechcraft Stagger Wing would be No.1. That it wasn't even mentioned left me , well, staggered. A friend of mine's father had one to travel North and South America for his Auto Parts business after WW2. It was... the bis-jet of its time. He once flew it over the Andes. - I can only forgive him for replacing it because he traded it in for an Aero Commander Shrike; another most beautiful airplane.
Obviously, the author never saw a Beech Staggerwing! I really expected it to be #1!
What NO Pitts Special? Amazed!
Or Christen Eagle?
What a beautiful video! Several of them unknown to me! I think the early Curtiss flying boats deserved to be on the list.
Keep up loading these type of documentals. Congratulations!!
How about the Stearman and the Beech Stagger Wing
My father flew both, and many other a/c throughout his life. W/O hesitation he would say the Beech 17 was the most beautiful aircraft ever produced, and I completely agree. With that having been said, I suggest you look up: Griffon Lionheart. It is an updated Beech 17 nearly cloning it in composites and streamlining via removal of struts, and other minor changes. It is also gorgeous!
@@timhardin7511 Looked at the Griffon Lionheart and it's very cool. My dad also flew many older aircraft as well as a Staggerwing on several occasions
The Curtiss P-6E Hawk, the later Curtiss YP-23 Hawk, and the Heinkel He-51 are three of my favorites that weren't on the list. Good list even so!
Right. Why did the Japanese copy make the list, and not the original?
Beech Staggerwing and the Curtiss P6-E Hawk.
Albatros D. Va in its war colors deserves a spot on this list.
Your perception of beauty is WAY different than mine- The DH-2?? Are you KIDDING? looks like it's about to fall apart-HORRIBLE. What about the Pitts aerobatic stunt planes? GORGEOUS!! - or the Albatross DIII or DV? look at the shape, the wings are amazing. I do agree on the Dragonfly- that is stunning:)
Absurd not having the Beech 17 Staggerwing on this list. Arguably the nicest looking and performing biplane ever built.
The Bücker Jungmeister is missing.
Its really unfortunate Top Five blinkered himself to only see military biplanes in the majority of examples. The Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is one of the most beautiful biplanes because it can be called brutish and glamourous. It even looks good on floats!
And if one landed in 1940, you'd expect somebody like Gene Tierney or Clark Gable to step out of it.
Or if one landed in 1974 (CF-EKA) you'd have seen me stepping out...
The Beech Staggerwing and Fiat CR42 are far more deserving omissions from this selection.
The Boeing Stearman with it's engine cowling would also fit in well, but, without the cowling it looks like a Victoria's Secret model with her lips cut away.
yes.
DH Tiger Moth for me. Probably the most common biplane still flying in numbers and still lovely to fly .. like most DeHavilland aircraft
How can no Albatrosses be on this list?!? They are all gorgeous!
I always loved the Nieuport because of its role in a great Twilight Zone episode!
Seeing it against the huge 'modern' fighters of the '50s and '60s really illustrates the scale that fighter jets have grown into!
I had a chance to fly in an AN-2 when I worked at Grumman in N.Y. The plane was built like a dam tank ! They said it was ugly but, I thought it was impressive and large ! I think you would have had trouble wrecking one if you could. We also had a Grumman J2F Duck being restored by volunteers.
A German Greek flew in a AN-2 over the Atlantic to N.Y. And circled the statue of liberty with it. He was asked what kind of helicopter was this because of its low speed. Travel speed is around 118 mph.
He made a tanker out of it just to with to large cylindrical additional tanks in it, I think.
I've allways liked the shape of the Albatross. 👍👍👍
Interesting mix proves beauty in the eye of the beholder. AN2 while good I wouldn't say it's a looker. I always thought the Sopwith pup was prettier than the camel. plus honerable mentions Avro 504, any SPAD, fokker DR 1, swordfish, hawker Hart & Stearman
I agree that the Pup was a more pleasing design than the Camel. But the Swordfish? I wouldn't call it beautiful. And the Dr-1 isn't a biplane.
@@PoochAndBoo point taken with DR-1 slipped into fav WW1 mode. But stand by the old string bag. I've several images of oil paintings with it looking really good with a torpedo strapped underneath.
Nice 1, thanks for the walk down memory lane, I knew most of them, an built models of some of them.
love that the belgian beauty the Fantôme gets some love :D you forgot the Stampe SV4 tho
Maybe you should "revise" your list and make it the 25 Most Beautiful Biplanes Ever Made... I am in agreement with many who have commented, the Beechcraft Staggerwing should have been #1 hands down followed by any Waco aircraft built in the 1930's. While many of the airplanes on this list would have incredible service records, some none the less lack the definition of beautiful (a "pusher" aircraft as beautiful?).
A pusher beautiful? See the Cessna Sky Master. It's a hybrid but still beautiful and very unique. Funny nickname: Cessna Mix-Master. Our NorCal Forest service used them for spotter planes but replaced them with OV-10 Broncos. I just love twin boom aircraft: P-38 Lightnings, Mix-Masters, Broncos....
@@wellshutchins6885 I should revise my comment Wells, the pusher aircraft in this segment were WWI aircraft and they were far from pleasant to the eyes (at least to mine anyway)! 😆
Fun video to watch, although every viewer is going to come up with at least one that should've been on the list. I can think of three myself.
Since the biplane became the most accepted airframe of early aviation, how about producing "beautiful biplane" videos from each era? WWI, interwar, WWII -- as well as sport / stunt aircraft and golden age general aviation?
You might also produce a video of two biplane types not often talked about: WWI bombers and interwar passenger transports.
Beechcraft Model 17 Staggerwing is DEFINITELY #1
The Stearman has to be on this list.
In my opinion the Albatross DIII is a must in any well looking biplanes list.
yup the real thing
War thunder players are loving this, there ain’t no way they won’t enjoy this like I did, amazing work here you’ve done!💪🏽❤️
Hawker fury definitely has my vote … you can see the direct relationship to Hawker Hurricane…and she is beautiful
I guess this is a very subjective list--beauty in the eye of the beholder and all that. They all look like great and beautiful planes. Surprised not to see any WACOs on the list. I flew a UPF-7 several times. I thought of it as the Harley Davidson of the skies. WACO made some very attractive biplanes
The Grumman Hellucenator was a beautiful Plane that once broke the sound barrier by flying backwards at night to cool its tail because it had parked in a pepper patch during the day. It was designed by Lucerne Imastanker.
Not only the staggerwing wasn't there but during ww1 the spad was a sleek looking bird
Only one I ever looped was a Jungman. Fabulous plane to fly.
Yep, the stagger-wing is by far and away the most beautiful. Sorry to see it miss this list too.
I just can't take seriously any list that fails to mention a work of art like the Albatross D series.
Here's one of the first bi-plane fighters of World War One which immediately proceeded to slap around those Morane box kites the Allies laughingly mistook for fighters, and they looked good doing it. It was the Albatross that introduced the concept of aerodynamics and then would make most bi-plane designs look like crude after thoughts for decades to come.
Now it gets passed up on this list for a meat-hook abortion like the Kawasaki Ki-10? Sorry, for a moment there, I thought we were talking about asthetics. 🤣
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder... though I, too, cannot understand why someone would not mention the Albatross, but include the DH.2.
Was the DH.2 important? Sure! Iconic? Certainly! Beautiful? Weeeeeellll...
@@Groffili Right? But since the DH.2 represented one of the few times the Brits thought outside the box, they get a point for trying.
yes sir that is my no. 1 plane pure sex
I think a revision of the title to Best, instead of Beautiful, might be in order but either way, some excellent biplanes!
Thank you for posting.
The SBD Helldiver should be included.
Pitts is the best bi-plane for me.
Bad list fella
Staggerwing has always had my heart.
I might be straight, but I absolutely LOVE biplanes. And triplanes too! ;)
Forgetting to mention the best biplane ever made is simply unfair . The Fiat CR42 deserves his space
Witnessed two Polikarpovs ( both types) flying in New Zealand in 2008. Totally amazing . The display demonstrated its manoeuvrability and as it did a low pass at top speed the engine sound was just a leisurely chortle. Its shape of the fuselage reminded me of a cigar butt. Not much room for a passenger though.
Cheers from Downunder👍🇦🇺🇳🇿
Good video cool planed😊
No Staggerwing? C'mon!
British fairey swordfish looks better than a lot of these but the Staggerwing is pure drool material 🤤
Vídeo Espetácular!! Um biplano mais bonito e Incrível que o outro!🌟
The Albratoz DIII could be number 1 on the list...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But I think the Beech Stagger wing should have made it on your list.
The Waco Stagger wing trips my switch as the most beautiful
I didn't thing Waco had any stagger wings. They did produce some nice cabin biplanes though.
@@WAL_DC-6B There were a couple that would visit our local airport in the early 70's.
@@WAL_DC-6B They did and they were fast for their time too.
The Nieuport 28?
Not the best fighter, but the ranking here is for beauty/style alone isn't it? This is why I don't understand why the actual qualities of the aircraft themselves are considered. The Nieuport 28 was sleek and had nice, clean lines. Compared to the often flimsy looking planes of 1914-1915 the Nieuport 28 appeared to be from another era completely.
Well, I suppose beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
“This biplane is the shape of human flight.
Its name might better be First Motor Kite.”
-Robert Frost (1874-1963)
Late in the video but I quit immediately when I realized you werent including the Stinson. sayonara!!!!!!!!!!!
The Fairey Fantome is my favorite for graceful shape and proportions. The Avia reminds me of a p-40 with a second wing. Really enjoyed this documentary! BTW, why be disgruntled because your fave isn't on the list? Make your own video if you don't like this one.😚
No.3 - it is odd that no mention is made of the DH.82 *Tiger* Moth, even though it is the aircraft that gets shown most in this section of the clip; the narrator keeps talking about the DH.60 ̶"̶T̶h̶e̶ ̶n̶a̶m̶e̶'̶s̶ ̶M̶o̶t̶h̶,̶ ̶J̶a̶m̶e̶s̶ ̶M̶o̶t̶h̶"̶
No.2 - the correct pronunciation of the trademark is "AH:via" (with the first syllable stressed).
If it's got a radial engine, it gets high marks. Love those round engines.
Interesting choices. No list of most beautiful Biplanes is complete without the Laird LC-B NC6906 and the Staggerwing Beech.
For pure appearance beauty, the Curtis P6E Hawk is the best of the best.
New sub ! Liked 🙏😎👏👏😉
Don't forget the cabin Wacos, they're almost as beautiful ans the staggerwing beech, and even rarer!
I myself, have always liked the look of the Curtiss Jenny JN-4D of WW1.
Uhm, how about the Christen Eagle??? Anyone??? Or the Pitts it was derived from!! Two of the MOST beautiful bipes ever to take flight!!
You left out the Pitts Special
The Skybolt has unusal grace. The Easy Riser should be included as well.
Three Gloster Gladiators named faith hope and charity held off the Italian air force from Malta before Spitfires were flown in off of a carrier.what a special and beautiful Biplane...
S.E.5a from WWI. Wonderful biplane.
Beautiful aircraft
The three Gladiators based at Malta during the war were actually Sea Gladiators ex Fleet Air Arm replete with arrester hooks. They were named Faith, Hope & Charity.
I think the Polikarpov Po2 (aka U2) has a more impressive record than the I-153. Used as an agricultural aircraft it was pressed into service during WW2 where several female squadrons continually harassed German positions during night raids. Such was the disruption caused that the aircrews were known as Night Witches & the aircraft as sewing machines due to their engine noise.
Its disappointing that the iconic Fairey Swordfish is not included as it was responsible for neutralising the wartime Italian fleet & making the crippling blow on the Bismarck.
The Supermarine Walrus which was a pusher prop amphibious biplane is responsible for rescuing a great many allied aircrews from the sea in the European Theatre.
I may be a Brit but just to show I have no prejudice I think both the Fleet & Travelair 4000 biplanes should be in there too along with the Stearman PT17. On the modern sports front the Pitts Special S1 is a remarkable aerobatic biplane along with the Christen Eagle.
I do understand however that to include all these iconic aircraft would have required a longer video.
Focke Wulf FW 44 "Stieglitz" is missing.
Great video, but I would have expected to see the Beechcraft Staggering included. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful planes ever built!
You mentioned Mr.DeHaviland several times. Beaver...I know single wing....yet one of the greatest aircraft to ever take wing.
*"Hawker Fury" designers and engineers .... we're all really appreciate, that this predecessors plane of the famous British monoplane the "Hawker Hurricane" .... they were skilfully designed and produced !!!!*
Wot no Wacos? And where's the Stearman?
great video!!! Thanks!!!
The De Haviland Dragonfly is something else.
You could fly with it on the battle of britain memorial Day in Duxford. I did and it was marvelous
Wish I could have been there. @@Bohemian_lost
i'm actually surprised the AN-2 didn't make this list. She's a really pretty plane, is on postage stamps, has posters.
It amazes me how many (often quite educated) people assume that the biplane/sesquiplane configuration and fixed undercarriages are sad relics of our aviation past.
Both together and separately, they remain perfectly valid design options. Depending of course on the purpose of the aircraft under design.
I truly believe the Beech Staggerwing is the most beautiful biplane. The Eagle II is number two. The rest are kinda ugg I'm afraid.
Looks like you have never seen a Stearman or a Waco UPF7
The Boeing Stearman with it's engine cowling would also fit in well, but, without the cowling it looks like a Victoria's Secret model with her lips cut away.
Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
Boeing-Stearman Model 75 ???
The Besler steam biplane ???
Yup .... Staggerwing is my favorite!
Beech Staggerwing aside, the omission of the Spad, Stearman and Jenny strip credibility from this list.
Also, a sesquiplane is not precisely a biplane with a lower wing that is smaller than the top ( if that were true, a LOT of biplanes would be sesquiplanes ! On a true sesquiplane, the lower wing is less than half of the area of the upper wing. The Nieuport 11, 17 and 18 would be good examples.
Avia B 534 was also last scoring biplane fighter when shots down Ju-52 in Summer 1944
Enough of the monotonously repetitive "iconic" already! The French Spad should have been included, and the Sopwith Snipe was an improvement over the Camel. Probably the most elegant were the D.H. twins. The Antonov choice was a good looking, if somewhat portly, aircraft. The Hawker Fury... absolutely belongs there. Personally, I would have included some of the "tween the wars" aircraft from Curtiss (P-6E) and Grumman (F3F-3). Some might argue for the Boeing P-12/F4B. The Beech Staggerwing... O.K. ...but I always thought that the vertical tail and rudder were kind of wimpy. Ain't nobody's baby be ugly so there will be those who will figure that the Stranraer, Walrus, Swordfish etc. should have been included.
The vo sounded like Simple History's vo. Its the best voice
No "Stringbag"?? ;)
The SPAD XIII is missing in this vidéo ...