Possibly the most iconic aircraft???

[Wedgy]

'orrible and gangly used in the same sentence as Concorde??????

You BOTH are off my Christmas Card list you heathens!

[IanM]

You have to admit they do have a point.

[Dan4th]

As far as world-wide recognition, I'm sorry
to say (truly) that it would probably have to
be Boeing 747......

Probably "seen" by more living people than
any other, plus the forward fuselage "bulge".

Most iconic prop fighter? SPITFIRE!

Close second? MUSTANG!

Dan4th

[RDS]

The 747 perhaps, but I'd also include the 737 on that list.

In terms of British planes, the Concorde has to be the most iconic plane. There was no doubt that when you saw the beautiful delta-winged bird shooting across the sky that it was a Concorde.

[Spitfire]

As far as world-wide recognition, I'm sorry
to say (truly) that it would probably have to
be Boeing 747......

Probably "seen" by more living people than
any other, plus the forward fuselage "bulge".

Most iconic prop fighter? SPITFIRE!

Close second? MUSTANG!

Dan4th

AND ....linking to the Wright Brothers... Their first flight could have been made INSIDE the length of the 747 passenger cabin

[Saracenman]

it really depends upon one's interpretation of 'Iconic' really - is a 737 really as iconic as a Spitfire?

clearly the 737 has been the world's most successful airliner, but is that all it takes to be an icon?

even the Spitfire is an odd one, as many would quickly argue that 'it saved us in our hour of need' - but the credit for that should really go to the Hurricane, if numbers and statistics are the be-all-and-end-all of it.

i suggest that's it's completely impossible to pin-point exactly what makes a certain aeroplane more or less iconic than another

some just have that "WOW" factor that others lack - so in that respect, i don't personally think that the 737 even comes close to the likes of Spitfire, Concorde etc etc

sm

[Tom.com]

it really depends upon one's interpretation of 'Iconic' really - is a 737 really as iconic as a Spitfire?

clearly the 737 has been the world's most successful airliner, but is that all it takes to be an icon?

even the Spitfire is an odd one, as many would quickly argue that 'it saved us in our hour of need' - but the credit for that should really go to the Hurricane, if numbers and statistics are the be-all-and-end-all of it.

i suggest that's it's completely impossible to pin-point exactly what makes a certain aeroplane more or less iconic than another

some just have that "WOW" factor that others lack - so in that respect, i don't personally think that the 737 even comes close to the likes of Spitfire, Concorde etc etc

sm

exactly what would you rather fly in concorde or a 737?

[Dan4th]

OKAY!

The original point was what aircraft would be recognized by
the most people world-wide, not most iconic. This leaves
out 737, as it looks just like all the Aero-Booses.

I'm not saying I LIKE the 747, all I'm saying is that it is the
aircraft that would be most easily IDENTIFIED by the most
people world-wide. It's the forward BULGE that does it.

Dan4th

[Pujgnie]

The 'Most Iconic aircraft' surely has to be the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster - without any shadow of a doubt.

Vulcan and Concorde are close behind. Other military contenders would be the German BF109E, Hawker Hunter, BAC Lightning, McDonnell Phantom... to name but a few ..... (JMO)

[Dan4th]

The 'Most Iconic aircraft' surely has to be the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster - without any shadow of a doubt.

Vulcan and Concorde are close behind. Other military contenders would be the German BF109E, Hawker Hunter, BAC Lightning, McDonnell Phantom... to name but a few ..... (JMO)

Phill:

For people in the UK, you are dead on!

If you're going for World-Wide, though, the list is
probably different.....

Dan4th

[Saracenman]

i still think that the Spitfire would be at the top of a lot of lists around the world - 'man in street' straw pole

obviously the average Brit could identify one, probably the same would be true within Europe - even Eastern Europe. other continents too, when you think of the global impact of WW2 - history lessons are taught across the planet after all.

factor in to that just how much of the globe was still coloured British Empire pink in 1945 - there'd undoubtedly be an Anglo aspect to all those regions by default, whether they liked it or not!

what about Murkins though Danf? would the average man on street recognise a Spitfire?

even looking slightly obliquely at it - the legendary RR aspect of a Spitfire - RR are known across the globe

sm

[Pujgnie]

The 'Most Iconic aircraft' surely has to be the Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster - without any shadow of a doubt.

Vulcan and Concorde are close behind. Other military contenders would be the German BF109E, Hawker Hunter, BAC Lightning, McDonnell Phantom... to name but a few ..... (JMO)

Phill:

For people in the UK, you are dead on!

If you're going for World-Wide, though, the list is
probably different.....

Dan4th

OK if we are going global... I don't think too many will recognise a Hunter, Lightning etc. Concorde and 747 are probably world reknown.

Lob in a Spitfire and Lancaster.. the majority will know them, if not for the correct reasons. Icons of the air are very dependant of the age group asked that Q. (IMO)

My kids never saw a flying Concorde in the flesh... they see 747's and modern day RAF stuff (Tiffies/Hawks and Chinooks) - those are now 'thier ideas' of iconic planes. Harking back to Spitfire, Lanc and Hurricane - from my generation, those were the icons. Through younger eyes.. it looks a bit different.

So everyone will differ in what IS an iconic aircraft.. and always will do

[Tom.com]

When we have lots of members Wedgy should hold one big poll then tkae the top ten then do it again then top 5 and so on until you have 1 iconic aircraft

[Dan4th]

First, I think we need a good definiton of
the word "ICONIC" as it relates to those flying
things we're all nutz over.

Thank God there's no shortage!

Dan4th

[Saracenman]

well taking the OED definition of "Icon"............

icon
/ikon/
• noun 1 (also ikon) a devotional painting of Christ or another holy figure, typically on wood, venerated in the Byzantine and other Eastern Churches. 2 a person regarded with particular admiration or as a representative symbol. 3 Computing a symbol or graphic representation on a VDU screen of a program, option, or window.

in terms of aircraft though, i think its iconic status is not so much anything to do with what it is in terms of a collection of panels, rivets and engines - more so what it represents as a symbol

in that respect, i think that the likes of Concorde and a Spitfire stand as symbols for so many things, other than their abilities as pieces of machinery - the Spitfire particularly

it's impossible to give "iconic" a 100% true definition, but if you consider one particular aircraft's influence on World politics, science, engineering etc - very few really tick those boxes. add emotion into the mix and that's probably reduced the number to a mere handful.

sm

[MOD]

There is no such thing as the most iconic aircraft. It depends so much on your viewpoint. SM has it right, it is not just the visible "hardware" ( however aesthetically gorgeous the design may be ) but also what the aircraft represents in terms of its historical context. From a UK perspective the BoB Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft are iconic because of their place in history as well as their success as aircraft designs. There were other aircraft around in the BoB which will never receive iconic status, the Boulton Paul Defiant for one , the Bristol Blenheim and the Beaufighter also could never be considered to be iconic aircraft.

How about the C-47/DC3? From D-Day to the Berlin airlift and the birth of airline travel these aircraft became legendary and surely iconic.

The Vulcan is an icon of the Cold War era because of its role as a nuclear deterrant but it really sealed its place in history with the Black Buck missions.

I could go on... The EE Lightning. Britain's last/fastest, only( UK built) Mach 2 single seat fighter.

I think if people feel strongly enough about any aircraft and are prepared to defend it's cause then IMHO that aircraft is an icon, at least to the people who support it.