To anyone that took part in the 100 most significant aircraft survey please do not take offense.
As I read through this list of aircraft I find myself scratching my head. To me it appears that its a top 100 list of favorite aircraft. Some of the rankings are very surprising or just don’t make sense.
How does the B727 end up 78th on the list? or the Bell X-1 13th?
Why does the F-14 place ahead of the F-15? The F-15 has had a good deal more combat experience in the Mid East with Israel. Well hollywood did make a movie featuring the F-14, maybe thats it?
If the F-14 and F-15 are in the mid 20’s, why is the F-16 all the way down at 51? Based on production numbers and export sales the F-16 beats both of them hands down. Not to mention the fact that the F-16 is the only one of the three being used by a major flight demonstration squadron. I think that it’s on par with the other two.
Wheres the King Air? any of them…90, 100, 200, 300 or 350. This thing absolutely owns the turboprop market.
The B17 says “Bomber” indeed.
Must not be in any particular order is my guess. . .
Neat how the Wright Flyer made the number spot. . . Hey I think I may have voted in error for it, see how that chad is not all the way through?
Recount, recount, [%-)] hanging chads, voter did not know how to vote properly. [:(!] Rules were not clear enough. [X-)] [?] Where were the results counted? [D)]Palm Beach or Dade County? [banghead][banghead]
If you recall in voting, there was no ranking system. The places were determined by the number of votes, not the ranking system. I voted for the Wright Flyer, and apparently just about everyone else did, too. It was a vastly important aircraft. Are the reanings a bit off? Maybe in your eyes, but by vote, no. They are dead on. Maybe the F-15 didn’t get recognized as much as the F-14. So what? At least it made the list. The world does not revolve around the poll. I’m satisfied with the results, and I think FSM did a great job with the idea. [2c]
Facts I have learned while on the www:
1.)It is very tough to try and pull someones leg on the internet.
2.) Sarcasm does not come across well.
3.) If you do not put LOL on your posts everyone will think you are serious, and usually an *%#@ .
Let me say that obviously these are just my opinions. There is no right or wrong answers to this poll. It’s just that many of the choices do not make sense to me. The wright flyer is an obvious choice for number one and it makes perfect sense to me. The DC3 as number two, while I may not agree with that, It too makes sense that it’s second on the list. I can understand the logic behind it. As for the F-14, F-15 and F-16 I’m not saying that they should be higher or lower on the list. I was merely using these as one example. In my mind the three of these planes are all similar as far as capabilities. So it would be logical to think that they would all be very close to each other on the list.
I guess what it all boils down too, is that there were a few surprises to me on the list. I was curious if anyone else was surprised.
Thats all…no right or wrong answers[:)]
Darren
BTW…“problem” was not the best choice of words. I should have phrased the question better, my bad!
I thought it was great. The only thing wrong with it was it wasn’t the top 1000! LOL It is insightful as far as showing what planes we modelers find important.
I was very surprised to see the Spirit of St. Louis in 39th. There were a few other suprised but I think that one was the biggest especially when looking at some of the A/C that finished above it. I’ve got to agree with darenbb that many people voted for their favorite and not the “most significant.” But hey it was an opinion poll, and I’m sure many of us disagree with the results. I still found it very interesting
It was interesting, to see what modelers who read Fine Scale think, after all thats what it was. I’ve seen some other top 100 lists in other aircraft publications, all different. All depending on point of view of who’s doing the list. We could do top 10.000 and something would get left off or put on that somebody doesnt agree with.
I don’t take these things very seriously because they’re amiguous and subjective. I usually read the results, roll around on the floor and move on. [:p]
It’s kinda like doing the show circuit, seeing the same models at each show on the circuit, and seeing a different result at each show. Things like this poll do turn out to be nothing more than popularity contests, often times. The problem is, ‘everyone’s an expert’. Nuthin’ new, it’s the same ‘ole story. And there’s nuthin’ wrong with it…
Just to stir the cauldron a bit, it seems to me that the premise of the survey should have been “the most popular”, or " the most familiar". What is “significant”? Staving off WWIII by flying fail safe for over 20 years, eg the B-52? Sustained flight at Mach 3, eg the SR-71? What is “significant”? To whom? The T-34 (Beechcraft) has been training Naval Aviators for about 50 years. Is that significant? The A-4 Skyhawk has flown more combat sorties than the F-14, F-18, F-15, and F-16 combined. Is that significant?
And then there are passenger and cargo miles flown! The B-36 and the B-58 had very short service lives, but their very existance may have prevented another world war. Is that significant?
Would a rose by any other name smell as sweet? Significant or not significant, that is the question? If nothing else the controversy gets us to think and share ideas. Life is good.
I’ve never met an airplane I didn’t like! Cheers, rangerj
I became a member just to find this topic on the forum! Clearly, the poll is so general that it amounts to a popularity contest. Everyone has a favorite plane, and favorites problaby get the most votes.
The plane that stood out for its apparent lack of significance was the F-104 Starfighter - one of the most significant aircraft of the second half of the 20th Century. It’s U.S. career was fairly insignificant as a combat aircraft, but if you look at the pioneering aspects of its design, its world-wide manufacture and service, contribution to the space program, speed and altitude records, etc., it clearly is more significant than its standing on the list. It might also soon be the holder of the land speed record, another first!
I thought FSM did a great job with the poll. But do disagree on somethings. But not much you can do about that when its already done and over with.[banghead][censored][banghead]