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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-ozone!bergstrom
From: bergstrom@ozone.DEC
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Beautiful Airplanes
Message-ID: <2987@decwrl.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 2-Jul-85 21:37:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.2987
Posted: Tue Jul  2 21:37:27 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 5-Jul-85 04:21:09 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP
Organization: DEC Engineering Network
Lines: 23


 
> Nah,  I vote for the Stuka.  Who can forget those inspiring newreels
> of civilians being machine-gunned by Stukas blasting a path for the
> tanks?  Or maybe the B-29...  The image of that beautiful plane
> banking away from the mushroom cloud rising proudly over Hiroshima
> sure leaves me with a lump in my throat.  On the other hand, I can
> remember the excitement I felt while watching on TV as the sleek lines
> of an F-4 Phantom streaked across the Cambodian treetops while the
> pretty orange and yellow napalm flames bloomed below, and the crispy
> kids staggered out a bit later.  That's what those beautiful warbirds
> are really all about, isn't it?

     It would seem that the esthetics of an airplane can be appreciated
apart from considering its intended use. The modern jet fighters like
the F-14, F-15, and F-16 are, in my opinion, beautiful in shape and design,
and have amazing flight characteristics. If the majority of sarcastic
military detractors were to spend 5 years studying the Russian language,
culture, and modern history as I did as an undergraduate, they might also
appreciate these modern military aircraft for their intended uses. 

				Bob Bergstrom
				decvax!decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-ozone!bergstrom