Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP 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