… or Pretty Parisian Planes, but that title seems to exclude Toulouse, Provence and rotary wing, which is not my intention.
Following the Bodacious British Birds topic and @schurem 's inspiring report:
My list:
Rafale
Mirage III (and V)
Concorde
Mirage F1
Mirage IV
Mirage 2000
Super Mystère
Dauphin/Panther
Latécoère 631
(Super) Étendard
The ones that didn’t make the top 10 but deserve an honorable mention:
What’s your list? Which ones or order do you agree or disagree with?
What did I forget?
(Besides the countries that participated in design and manufacture of Concorde, Gazelle (UK), AlphaJet (Germany), A400M, Tigre and NH90 (everybody))
The only reason I can’t put Concorde at the top of this list is the same reason I couldn’t put it at the top of the Bodacious British Birds list. But for the record it is in my Top 5 of any aircraft.
I don’t disagree that your choices are definitely fair French Flyers. But I will need a moment or two to see if there are any others that I think should be in the top 10.
A fairly fair list dear @Freak . I must however strongly object to your lumping together of the different models of Etendard. They not only are very different, they are hideous in myriad different ways. The 1960s model for example has a vertical strake of insane aspect ratio under the nose. Sheer aeronautical madness!
I rate the Caravelle higher, at least in the top 5. Especially if one were to disallow Concorde for its shared British heritage (I’d say that’s a good reason to have it top both nations’ lists).
Mirage 2000 is by far the nicest looking of the mirages. Super Mystere is a very nice crate as well. Beautifully proportioned.
The Rafale is a good looking plane, but the many lumps and bumps if the EW systems mar its lines. The Rafale A prototype lacks those, but it’s proportions are off. It is too short and her shoulders too thick. The French fighter prototype liveries are the bees knees though.
The Dewoitine is not a pretty aircraft. It is like the boring illegitimate child of a Messerschmitt and a Hurricane. They made far prettier planes in that era, such as their answer to the Me-110, the Potez 63.
@schurem and @Harry_Bumcrack : I cannot exclude all collaborative projects from national lists. It breaks my heart to see the Concorde missing from so many British lists because of that. But I understand there’s a history behind this preference. Which I am really trying to stay out of, for the record.
However, I made this topic, c’est un sujet français, so to all the Anglo-Saxons:
I really like the pointy looks combined with the assertive tailplane, and the Étendard top down silhouette might be the best of the Mystère family
But you’re right, the strake is a disqualifying factor, and the nose of the Super Étendard is not pointy enough: the radar looks like it doesn’t belong there.
I am so happy to hear that! So many of these planes are beautiful in their own way: fierce, strong, muscular. I want them to get the praise they deserve but I personally just can’t put them above the pointy fighters and slick curvy helicopters.
Although (after the Rafale), everything is really close in my list.
Honestly, after seeing both the max performance takeoff at fairford and seeing that 4 engined monster leap into the sky almost vertically AND seeing one come over the trees a few weeks ago nearly on the knife edge, tail door open and drop some crates out at abingdon. That plane is AMAZING
I expected most people to disagree with me on the Mirage 2000 and Caravelle.
Caravelle may go up yet, as I may have overrated the Mirages and Mystères a bit.
I am quite certain I prefer the III and F1 to the Mirage 2000, although the order of the first 2 is up for debate. Despite the beautiful area-ruled center fuselage, the Mirage 2000’s nose and tail are too large and too small respectively to compete with the pointier jets in my list.
The Rafale is non-negotiable. I agree with your assessment of the A though.
I agree that even Blackburn aircraft look better than that Spads , but while I can see the attraction of the 28, the 11 and 17 have a daintiness that I find pleasing (probably due to the much smaller lower wings)
I also want a Nieuport in there but it’s hard to give up one of these. Not the Concorde though, I can give up the Mirage IV or the Latécoère 631. Is that acceptable?
Btw it’s funny how in French it’s “le Concorde” and in English it’s “Concorde” (no article). In my native language, we also say “de Concorde”. Which is probably why I consistently do it wrong in English. Fitting in the French topic though
, but while I can see the attraction of the 28, the 11 and 17 have a daintiness that I find pleasing (probably due to the much smaller lower wings)
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