Favorite plane?

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I've actually heard of that Russian demonstrator jet, via "Transformers" of all things! I have a random Decepticon mook whose vehicle mode is based on the Sukhoi Su-47. Seem to recall reading that it never entered production because Russia didn't really have viable fly-by-wire technology at that time, and by the time they did they'd moved on to other designs.

Pretty sure it uses the same FBW system as the Flanker family of fighters.

I believe it was the relatively low top speed and the declining importance of supermanueverability that played a big role in why FSW wings didn't reach serial production in any fighter. Being fast is worth more than being able to out dogfight everything in the sky because a manned aircraft can't outturn a missile and you shouldn't be ending up in a dogfight in the first place.

Supermanuverability also became less valuable than low observability, hence the shift away from designs with canard foreplanes for the 5th and 6th generation of fighters. If low observability never became a thing more research into FSW designs would have continued.

Basically, by the time we had the materials suitable for building a FSW design, the benefits weren't worth the drawbacks anymore.

I'm stuck between a de HavillandTwin Otter and a Beechcraft King Air.

Twin Otter:



King Air:



The Twin Otter has great short field takeoff and landing capability, but is not real fast.

The King Air is much faster, but needs a longer and better runway.

For what it's worth, I've ridden in Twin Otters and loved it. In one medium city where I used to live in the 1970s, the local regional airline used Twin Otters and I loved them.

I've also ridden in a corporate King Air -- I flew up to a job interview in one in 1980 and then back afterwards. They are much more stylish and comfortable than a Twin Otter.

Like the short landing and take off capacity....
of Dehavilland .