Who is the best aircraft, including copters, designer or designers[?] I have read about many and can not decide who is the best, so I am taking opinions.
I will DEFINATELY second the vote on Kelly Johnson. If you have ever read his book, “Kelly” or Ben Rich’s book, “Skunkworks” which both deal with the problems he solved in designing the SR-71, you would know why this is so. He was absolutely incredible in a world of superlative men.
Babe Ruth! The Sultan of Swat, The Wazir of Wham, The Bambino was a helluva hitter, helluva pitcher and did it all with an additional 50 lbs. he didn’t need, smoked, drank, ate too much, chased women (and caught 'em too!) and liked to party. Compared to today’s steroid abusing muscle heads, he would never get past the scouts, but his RECORDS stood for decades. Okay, so he’s second on the all time worst base stealing attempts (out of 240 attempts only 123 stolen), but only Lou Gehrig broke that record! [;)]
All kidding aside my kid asks me for my favorite things all the time: CDs, artists, books etc. I tell him that I have no “favorites” as there is just too many to choose between. MikeMKIIC is completely right that there is no greatest of all time, although Johnson certainly would be in the top five. Personally I’ve always like Burt Rutan.
Something to keep in mind, aircraft are not designed by an individual. Airplanes are not like rifles, were as Eugene Stoner or John Browning could churn out numerous brilliant designs in their brief existence on earth, Kelly Johnson had the lead role in design, but was not along. That is except for one aircraft…if anyone can name it…
I agree and concur with the era and time waffle. Rutan has computers and CF, Wright Bros. even Da Vincci, dead birds a whole lot a hope and trial and error. Heinemann had simple designs that worked and a buyer to to help pay D&R cost. For me it’s too undefined of a question. stay[8D]
Certainly Reginald Mitchell would be in a designer Hall of Fame. The Spitfire was the aircraft of it’s time and genre. Yet, Sir Sidney Camm would be in there too, from the Tomtit to the Harrier, his influence is still felt today. Another notable would be Kurt Tank, the only designer that the RLM used as a designation (the TA 154, etc), in place of the company. Of course, his later designs in India didn’t quite deliver, but I wonder what’s behind that. Roy Chadwick of course, and his wonderful Lancaster would be in there, plus his initial designs for the Vulcan. Just to add one more British designer, Geoffrey DeHavilland, and not only his early work, such as the DH.2, but also the Mosquito. Then there is Bloch who in 1949 changed his name to Dassault; Anthony Fokker, and of course Messerschmitt.
Interesting, or maybe understandable, that so many designers died before their time. I’d add to that Hugo Junkers, who opposed Hitler, and died in 1935.
I haven’t even touched the American or Russian designers! Truth is, it’s an impossible answer. Very subjective. However, it is possible to draw up a list of top designers, a hall of fame.
Kid I grew up with. Designed a set of flying wings from popsicle sticks and garbage bags. We duct taped them to his arms and shoulders, put his dad’s WWII steel pot on him, and watched him run off the roof, leaping into the air, arms outstretched, big grin on his face.
He nosed straight down into his mama’s rose bushes, landing head first in them amid the most awful flapping and hollering you ever saw. To his dismay, the rose bush he chose to demolish was his mama’s favorite, and right outside the kitchen window.
She emerged from the house, chasing him with a broom. Chased him down the street, Pinelog weaving around unsteadily, flapping his now shredded wings. I ran home shouting “Oh the humanity!”
Pinelog was never the same after that. He still lives at home, and has an aversion to duct tape and trash bags. Shouts “Contact!” a lot and makes bubbling noises.
His mama’s roses continue to win awards.
Now if you’d asked about helicopter-like design, I’da said Stinky Peterson and his little brother Doodle. That’s another story…
Jon,
LOL…Rufus “Pinelog” Byrdshaw…you idiot…LOL…what a great story! I’m still laughing.
What’s the “Pinelog” for? I’m sure there must be a good story in that.
Jon, you are wasting your talents on Purple Zeros! I hope you are writing some of these “stories” down. You should submit some to FSM, maybe they would put in a humor column.
I kinda think Celestino Rosatelli ranks up there too, he designed some masterpieces CR-32/42 to name a couple. Lets not forget the fellow who designed the Macchi Castoldi series of raceplanes and fighters Mario Castoldi, why fight the torque just make one wing a touch longer than the other to counter-act it
leemitcheltree- Actually, there is a story behind the name. When asked how he got his nickname of “Pinelog”, I was told it was because he was “dumb as a Pinelog.”
Bgrigg- I’ve been writing stuff like that for years. I keep saying I’ll have them published in a book, and just never do. I guess I oughta.
MortarMagnet- that is truly a great compliment- thanks for your kind words.
I must confess, there may be a wee bit of embellishment to the story… though it is based on actual happenings from my childhood. [;)]
LOL…
Jon, I love it.
Granpa had a similar saying…“Dumber than a stump”…fairly straightforward and to the point, I feel. Although considering the mental capacity of those to which he was referring, somewhat unfair to the stump.
Even if there may be a wee bit o’ the Blarney in your storey, it’s still beautiful.
Keep 'em coming - even if they’re off topic (just keep 'em clean) - those little stories only make the FSM Forum more fun.
Glenn Curtiss, as he made the Wright Flyer flyable by introducing the control sequence we now consider normal as well as the trycicle landing gear.
Anthony Fokker, for his obvious innovations in WWI.
Tommy Sopwith for a machine that could effectively counter Fokker’s dreaded triplane.
Louis Bleriot for rescuing the Société Pour les Appareils Deperdussin, re-naming it Société Pour L’Aviation et ses Dérivés, and coming up with the SPAD series of WWI.
Willy Messerschmitt, for his innovations including both the Bf-109 and Me-262.
Kurt Tank, for his FW-190, WWII’s first true fighter-bomber.
Igor Sikorsky- The designer of the Russian Sikorsky Grand bomber of WWI as well as an American, developing the first practical helicopter.
Clarance “Kelly” Johnson for his F-80 Shooting star.
Tom, fyi, the Dr.1 was a copy of Sopwith’s own triplane. And, a bit of partiotism on my part, Jozef Pulawski, PZL’s cheif designer up to his death in 1933. He developed all the pre-war Polish fighters (if not ALL Polish fighters in service), and itroduced the gull wing, which the Germans flipped for their Stuka. His fighters were the first mass-produced all metal designs.
all of those mechanics, gunners and aircrew that figured better and more effective ways to get the most from thier birds…from any war theatre to the bush pilots all over the world…