Best and worst designed aircraft?

[ivanotter]

Dear all,

May I post a topic please as a new member?

It is a bit of a "fun" topic, not to be taken too serious.

However: How much does design impact on final selection? The X-32 was probably the worst looking design ever, a big laugh. Nobody in their right mind could submit this and expect to win? or what?

Whether X-32 could "do the trick" migh have been besides the point as the "sailor inhaler" looked ugly.

Now, is good design in military aircraft by coincidence or do we have "designers" to make it look good?

"Good looking":
F4 (mean machine)
F16

Not so good:
F-8
F105


Comments?

Ivan

 

[Stargazer]

I don't know if people will take to your suggestion for a new topic (after all there have been several similar discussions in the past) but you must keep in mind that "best designed" and "beautiful" are not necessarily the same thing. The same with "worst designed" and "ugly". Marcel Dassault's maxim that "if it is beautiful, it will fly beautifully" is not always true! There have been ugly ducklings flying wonderfully and beautiful birds that flew like bricks...